These 5 MLB Trades Can Still Happen Before Spring Training
Spring training and the 2026 MLB season are just around the corner, with pitchers and catchers due to report in a couple of weeks. However, there is still a lot of offseason left, with several quality free agents remaining unsigned and the trade market buzzing. Multiple stars are eagerly waiting for the other shoe to drop.
5 Realistic Trade Scenarios
Based on the latest MLB reporting and the current competitive landscape, here are five realistic trade scenarios that can still happen before spring training:
1. Nationals Trade CJ Abrams to Royals
The Kansas City Royals are looking to improve their outfield depth chart, and CJ Abrams can provide a high-risk, high-reward path to upgrading their offensive profile in center. Abrams has three years left on his deal and was an All-Star before his 25th birthday. He can hit for power from the left side and is a menace on the bases, giving Kansas City another premium runner next to Bobby Witt Jr.
The Royals will need to give up a lot to acquire Abrams, including 2025 first-round pick Sean Gamble, and a trio of pitchers, including Ben Kudrna and Luinder Avila. Washington needs bullets on the mound after the MacKenzie Gore trade, and Kudrna projects as a mid-rotation starter with a healthy three-pitch mix.
2. Cardinals Trade Brendan Donovan to Mariners
Brendan Donovan is a solid defender at multiple positions and can hit toward the middle of the lineup. The Seattle Mariners need to fill gaps in the infield after Jorge Polanco’s departure, and Donovan can toggle to left field as needed. The St. Louis Cardinals should be able to get a nice haul for Donovan, with two years of arbitration left on his contract.
The Mariners have one of the strongest farm systems in baseball, and the Cardinals can take advantage of this by acquiring Lazardo Montes, Jurrangelo Cijntje, and Nick Becker. Montes is a huge power bat, Becker is a 6-foot-4 shortstop with a solid athletic foundation, and Cijntje is a switch pitcher with a broad scope of imagination.
3. Red Sox Trade Jarren Duran to Reds
The Cincinnati Reds missed out on Kyle Schwarber and need to build on last season’s Wild Card team. Jarren Duran is an impressive line-drive hitter with some pop and major speed on the bases. The Reds can use Duran’s bat in the heart of the order, and he can play left or right field, where his arm plays well and his lackluster instincts are more easily hidden.
The Red Sox have an outfield logjam to clear out, and Duran feels like the odd man out. In return, the Reds can move off of Matt McLain and move Sal Stewart to second base full-time, with flexibility to cycle Stewart, Duran, and others through the DH spot as needed. The Red Sox can acquire McLain, who comes with an extra year of club control, and Cam Collier, who projects as a potential Willson Contreras successor.
4. Astros Trade Isaac Paredes to Giants
Isaac Paredes rebounded with an All-Star campaign for the Houston Astros in 2025, but it’s not clear how he fits into the team’s plans moving forward. The San Francisco Giants are on the prowl for a second baseman, and Paredes is the cleanest, easiest fit. Paredes has expressed openness to a positional switch, which can help prolong his value as a defender.
The Astros can trade Paredes to the Giants for Jhonny Level, an 18-year-old shortstop with elite speed and defensive tools. Carson Whisenhunt, who has faltered a bit in recent years, is close to regular MLB starts, and Parks Harber, who mashed last season, can produce big-time exit velos.
5. Tigers Trade Tarik Skubal to Dodgers
Tarik Skubal is a highly sought-after starting pitcher, and the Los Angeles Dodgers have the best offer. The Detroit Tigers need to operate with cold, calculated business interests at heart, and trading Skubal to the Dodgers can infuse their farm system with quality replacement arms and potential offensive cornerstones.
The Dodgers can offer Emmet Sheehan, who posted a 2.82 ERA across 15 appearances in his second MLB campaign, and River Ryan, who has electric stuff and a first four big-league starts resulting in a 1.33 ERA. The Tigers can also acquire Zhyir Hope, a potential five-tool star in the outfield, and Alex Freeland, a very Tigers-coded hitter who is smart, savvy, and quick out of the box.
