These 5 MLB Trades Can Still Happen Before Spring Training
Spring training and the 2026 MLB season are right around the corner, with pitchers and catchers due to report in a couple weeks. There is still a lot of offseason left, however. Several quality free agents remain unsigned and the trade market is buzzing. Multiple stars are eagerly (or not so eagerly) waiting on the other shoe to drop.
5 Realistic Trade Scenarios
Let’s dive into five realistic trade scenarios based on the latest MLB reporting and the current competitive landscape.
1. Nationals Trade CJ Abrams to Royals
The Kansas City Royals are dead set on improving their outfield depth chart, which was a sore spot throughout a disappointing 2025 campaign. CJ Abrams has three years left on his deal and was an All-Star before his 25th birthday. Abrams can hit for power from the left side and he’s a menace on the bases, giving Kansas City another premium runner next to Bobby Witt Jr.
However, Abrams has spent his entire career at shortstop to date, and he’s a dreadful infield glove. Following in the path of Oneil Cruz, Abrams’ range and athleticism could play more effectively in center. The Royals would need to cough up a lot to acquire Abrams on such favorable financial terms, starting with 2025 first-round pick Sean Gamble and a trio of pitchers, including Ben Kudrna and Luinder Avila.
2. Cardinals Trade Brendan Donovan to Mariners
Brendan Donovan is not the most exciting “star” on the market, but there’s a reason so many teams have rumored interest — and why the St. Louis Cardinals should be able to get a nice haul with two years of arbitration left on his contract. Donovan just checks boxes, with a solid defense at multiple positions, infield and outfield, and a sound approach to the game.
The Seattle Mariners still need to fill some gaps in the infield after Jorge Polanco’s departure, with Eugenio Suárez’s return also far from guaranteed. Donovan won’t provide the raw power those two did, but he can hit toward the middle of the lineup and toggle to left field as needed. The Cardinals can ask for a haul including Lazardo Montes, Jurrangelo Cijntje, and Nick Becker, all of whom have tantalizing tools and potential outcomes.
3. Red Sox Trade Jarren Duran to Reds
The Cincinnati Reds missed out on Kyle Schwarber and have otherwise done very little to build on last season’s Wild Card team. A leap from Elly De La Cruz is to be expected, but if Cincy wants to level up in such a competitive division, Nick Krall and the front office need to be surveying the trade market with intent. One obvious target is Boston Red Sox outfielder Jarren Duran.
Duran has led the AL in triples in back-to-back seasons and is an impressive line-drive hitter with some pop and major speed on the bases. The Reds would put Duran in left or right field, where his arm plays well and his lackluster instincts are more easily hidden. In return, the Reds would move off of Matt McLain after a turbulent two years and move Sal Stewart to second base full time.
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 Astros’ plans moving forward. The San Francisco Giants are on the prowl for a second baseman, and Paredes has expressed openness to that positional switch in the past. Paredes’ career OPS of .667 in San Francisco is cause for concern, but there’s a good chance his numbers normalize over a full season.
The Astros can take the long-term gamble on an 18-year-old shortstop with elite speed and defensive tools in Jhonny Level, as well as Carson Whisenhunt, who has faltered a bit in recent years but is close to regular MLB starts. Parks Harber has a sick name, and while it’s fair to question the outlook for a 24-year-old stuck at High-A, the dude mashed last season and he produces big-time exit velos.
5. Tigers Trade Tarik Skubal to Dodgers
Other teams “need” Tarik Skubal more, but the Yankees reportedly got shut down in recent trade conversations. The Mets just acquired Freddy Peralta. If Skubal does end up on the block, he will command a steep price. The Los Angeles Dodgers’ best offer so clearly blows past the competition, with Emmet Sheehan, River Ryan, and Zhyir Hope all potential game-changers for the Detroit farm system.
The Dodgers can infuse the Detroit farm system with quality replacement arms and potential offensive cornerstones. Sheehan posted a 2.82 ERA across 15 appearances (12 starts) in his second MLB campaign, while Ryan has electric stuff and a promising first four big-league starts. Hope is a potential five-tool star in the outfielder, with excellent pull-side power and a disciplined, low-strikeout approach.
