Dark Horse Deals: Which Surprising MLB Stars Could Shake Up Winter Trades?

As the chilly winds of the offseason start to pick up, and the countdown to the winter meetings ticks on, we’re seeing the MLB trade scene stir from its slumber. Just this past weekend, the baseball world was abuzz with the Rangers and Mets swapping Marcus Semien for Brandon Nimmo—a move that caught a few off guard. Not to be outdone, the Boston Red Sox shook things up again with their scoop of Sonny Gray from the Cardinals on Tuesday. It’s clear: teams aren’t just sitting on their hands; they’re gearing up to make waves. So, who’s heating up as this offseason’s trade bait? And why might their current squads be ready to part ways? Stick with me as we dig into five players who could be the game-changers in this winter’s MLB shuffle. LEARN MORE

While baseball waits for free agents to sign as we inch closer to the annual winter meetings, the trade market has begun to take shape. Following the Rangers’ and Mets’ swap of Marcus Semien and Brandon Nimmo over the weekend and the Boston Red Sox’s acquisition of Sonny Gray from St. Louis on Tuesday, other teams are likely eager to get in on the action.

Who are the most likely trade candidates right now, and why would their current teams move them? Let’s break down five trade candidates who could shake up the MLB offseason.

Nolan Arenado, 3B, St. Louis Cardinals

Another offseason, another round of Nolan Arenado trade rumors. Last winter, the Cardinals’ third baseman was rather picky about where he wanted to play in 2025, limiting the spots he could be moved. Arenado went so far as to veto a trade that would’ve sent him to the Houston Astros; they then pivoted and signed Christian Walker.

But after a down season in ‘25 and with an increasing desire to be out of St. Louis, Arenado is likely to be more open-minded this time around about where he will play next season. The 34-year-old third baseman hit just .237 with 12 homers this year, his lowest total since his rookie season.

For the Cardinals, you’d imagine new president of baseball operations Chaim Bloom would like a fresh start as he looks to rebuild what has been a stagnant Cardinals roster for the past several seasons. An Arenado trade appeared to be the best thing for both sides last winter, and one year later, nothing has changed.

MacKenzie Gore, LHP, Washington Nationals

Left-hander MacKenzie Gore was one of baseball’s breakout performers in the 2025 season, striking out a career-high 185 batters and being named an All-Star for the first time. Gore also happened to be one of baseball’s most talked-about trade targets leading up to the deadline, and with him pitching for a team in full rebuild mode, you could understand why.

After the firing of former general manager Mike Rizzo, the likelihood of the team allowing an interim GM to trade a controllable starting pitcher felt remote. But with new president of baseball operations Paul Toboni at the helm in D.C., moving Gore seems more realistic now.

Gore, 26, would be an intriguing acquisition for any team looking to add pitching. He has proven to be one of baseball’s best strikeout artists from the left side, and he has three more years of club control. In a pitching market without a lot of youth, the Nationals’ southpaw stands out.

Steven Kwan, LF, Cleveland Guardians

There are very few players as well-rounded as Steven Kwan. Offensively, Kwan has elite bat-to-ball skills, he’s a great baserunner, and he has begun to tap into some power over the past two seasons. You can also make the case that Kwan is the best defensive left fielder in the game, having won the AL Gold Glove for left field every year he has been in the big leagues.

So why would the Guardians move a player that talented? They have too many contact-only bats in their lineup, and with Kwan two years away from free agency, he might be more expensive than Cleveland can stomach in his final years of arbitration.

Multiple contenders attempted to acquire Kwan at the July trade deadline, and while it’s not a sure thing that Cleveland moves him this winter, the Guards have been open to listening to offers. At some point, another team might meet their price.

Freddy Peralta, SP, Milwaukee Brewers

Of all the players listed, Freddy Peralta seems to be the one most likely to be wearing a new uniform come Opening Day. But why? Peralta is coming off the best season of his career in 2025. He led the National League with 17 wins and had a career-best 2.70 ERA with 204 strikeouts in 33 starts. The Brewers’ ace has transformed himself into one of the best pitchers in baseball.

But when it comes to Milwaukee, you have to look at their history. In recent years, when players have one year left of club control, the Brewers generally move them before they reach free agency. Some of those players have included Josh Hader, Corbin Burnes and, most recently, Devin Williams last offseason.

“Clearly, there’s a lot of interest in Freddy,” Brewers president of baseball operations Matt Arnold said at the GM meetings. “He means a lot to our group, but certainly a ton of interest there. And I’ve said before, we can never shut the door on anything with anybody in our market. We’ve had to make some very tough decisions over the years. … I mean, we want to try to compete next year, and I think he could be a really big part of that, like he has for a long time.”

If a team is in the market for starting pitching and isn’t opposed to a short-term rental, it’ll be tough to find a better option than Peralta.

More MLB news

Red Sox reportedly land SP Sonny Gray in trade with Cardinals

Jarren Duran, OF, Boston Red Sox

Teams have had their eye on Jarren Duran for some time, and this offseason could be the one in which he’s finally jettisoned from Boston. He’ll have his fair share of suitors, as he has turned himself into one of baseball’s most dynamic players. Duran had a .256/.332/.442 slash line in 2025, with 41 doubles, 13 triples and 16 homers to go with 84 RBI for the Red Sox in 157 games.

What’s more, the Red Sox outfielder has the fourth-most extra-base hits in MLB (153) since 2024 and has led baseball in triples the past two seasons. You can easily see how his talent would be tantalizing for any contender looking to add instant offense to a lineup. Duran has also transformed into an above-average defender, with +32 defensive runs saved and +8 outs above average over the past two seasons.

But at the same time, the Red Sox’s outfield has gotten crowded over the past several seasons, with Duran, Ceddane Rafaela, Wilyer Abreu and the arrival of phenom Roman Anthony. Boston needs to move one of those players to clear up the outfield logjam and add some starting pitching. And while Duran is often brought up as the player most likely to be moved, Abreu has also come up in conversations.

Boston will have a high asking price for either player, and in their quest to supplement the rotation, one of their young outfielders is likely to turn into a trade centerpiece.