Top 50 MLB Trade Deadline Candidates: Best Fits and Landing Spots for 2025

Major League Baseball's trade market is ever-evolving, and to keep you updated, ESPN's Kiley McDaniel and Jeff Passan have put together a list of potential trade candidates that will be updated regularly depending on their performance -- and that of the teams which could be involved in potential deals leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.

1. Alex Bregman, 3B, Boston Red Sox

Chance of trade: 10% Bregman has been an elite big league hitter since he entered the league in 2016 but has leaned more into power this year, with his highest isolated power since 2019. Most of his underlying power indicators (barrel rate, maximum exit velo, average launch angle and hard hit rate) are at career highs. His $40 million salary -- and the chance to opt into two more years at $40 million annually -- significantly shortens the list of teams that would take on his deal. Best fits: Chicago Cubs, Detroit, New York Yankees, New York Mets

2. Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox

Chance of trade: 25% Duran had a huge breakout season in 2024, posting the seventh-best WAR in the majors at 6.7. He overperformed his underlying metrics, though -- i.e. had some lucky outcomes -- and those metrics have regressed a bit this year. Now he's underperforming them -- he has been unlucky -- so his true talent is somewhere south of that star-level 6.7 figure but better than the roughly 2 WAR (commensurate with a solid regular) he's on pace for this season. Best fits: San Diego, Atlanta, Cleveland, Kansas City, San Francisco, Philadelphia

3. Sandy Alcantara, SP, Miami Marlins

Chance of trade: 60% Alcantara was arguably the best pitcher in baseball in 2022, winning the NL Cy Young unanimously. He was more solid than spectacular in 2023 and missed 2024 with Tommy John surgery. He has been tinkering this season to try to get his pitch mix and locations right in hopes of regaining his former glory. It is starting to look as though he is turning the corner to become a midrotation starter (or better?) once again as he has posted a 2.74 ERA in four June outings. The Marlins could hold on to him until the winter, when teams like Baltimore would be more inclined to acquire him and the final two years of his contract. Best fits: Chicago Cubs, Houston, Boston, Toronto, Arizona, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Diego, Baltimore

4. Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers

Chance of trade: 20% Peralta has been a steady presence for years, averaging 140 innings pitched with a 3.49 ERA over the past four seasons. He's on track to do that again, with his heavily used fastball coming in at a career-high average velo of 94.9 mph this season. He has an ultra-cheap $8 million option for 2026. Best fits: Boston, Houston, Toronto, St. Louis, Arizona, San Diego, Baltimore

5. Eugenio Suarez, 3B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Chance of trade: 50% Suarez is in a contract year and, despite turning 34 years old before the trade deadline, is sitting near career highs in isolated power and wRC+ (which measures overall performance). His fielding metrics have declined in recent years, but he's still an acceptable defender at third base. Even if the Diamondbacks don't offload their free agents-to-be, Suarez could move because they have Jordan Lawlar raking in Triple-A and primed to take over at third. Best fits: Detroit, Milwaukee, Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Kansas City, Seattle, San Francisco, Seattle

6. Seth Lugo, SP, Kansas City Royals

Chance of trade: 40% Lugo has posted mid-3.00s or lower ERAs for five seasons despite having below-average fastball velocity and good-not-great strikeout rates. His ability to strand runners and limit hard contact comes in part due to his nine different pitches. With a Nathan Eovaldi-type contract awaiting Lugo in free agency, Kansas City could opt to move him, especially if Cole Ragans' injured shoulder doesn't improve. Best fits: Chicago Cubs, Houston, Toronto, San Diego, Los Angeles Dodgers

7. Zac Gallen, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Chance of trade: 30% Gallen was excellent for the past three seasons but now, in a contract year, is posting career-worst numbers in almost every category. His stuff looks pretty similar, but he's allowing much more damage when hitters make contact. Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen said the team does not plan to deal away players at the deadline, but if Arizona doesn't make a run, it could reap a huge return with all of its impending free agents. Best fits: Toronto, San Diego, Houston, Chicago Cubs

8. Merrill Kelly, SP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Chance of trade: 30% Kelly doesn't have big raw stuff, posting the second-lowest average fastball velocity among pitchers with 90 innings pitched this season. His changeup is his best pitch by a wide margin, and he gets by with location and off-speed stuff. He was a stalwart in the Diamondbacks' run to the 2023 World Series, striking out 28 in 24 innings with a 2.25 ERA. Best fits: Toronto, Boston, St. Louis, Houston, Chicago Cubs

9. Josh Naylor, 1B, Arizona Diamondbacks

Chance of trade: 30% Naylor is batting over .300 this year as a lefty-hitting first baseman in a contract year on pace for about 20 homers. Naylor faces left-handed pitchers more often than the next player on the list but hasn't been particularly good at it. His on-base skills and lack of strikeouts make him an especially attractive acquisition candidate for postseason contenders. Best fits: Seattle, Boston, San Francisco, Texas

10. Ryan O'Hearn, 1B, Baltimore Orioles

Chance of trade: 85% O'Hearn is having an out-of-nowhere career year, hitting over .300 (and with the underlying metrics to support that) along with being on pace for a career high in homers. He doesn't face lefty pitchers much at all, and his splits suggest that he shouldn't. Best fits: Seattle, Boston, San Francisco, Texas