Top 20 trade candidates: D-Backs stars provide deadline intrigue

We rank the top 20 players who could be shipped out prior to the July 31 trade deadline. Current performance, position, age, and years of control were taken into consideration.

1. Eugenio Suárez, D-Backs

Position: 3B
Age: 33
Contract: FA after 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Suárez is the best bat on the trade market after the D-Backs reportedly made all their pending free agents available amid a disappointing season. He ranks fourth in the majors in homers at the All-Star break and has a legit shot to reach 50 for the season. It's rare to see a player with these types of power numbers up for grabs.

2. Jarren Duran, Red Sox

Position: OF
Age: 28
Contract: Under team control through 2028 ($8M club option for 2026, arbitration-eligible in 2027-28)
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

It's wild to think the Red Sox would be willing to part with Duran after reeling off 10 straight wins to get back into contention for the AL East title. However, Boston does have an outfield logjam with the arrival of No. 1 prospect Roman Anthony and the emergence of Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela. Trading Duran, a 2024 All-Star who's locked up for years, could significantly bolster the club's pitching. As evidenced by the Rafael Devers blockbuster, Craig Breslow isn't afraid to make a splash.

3. Joe Ryan, Twins

Position: SP
Age: 29
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2027
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️

Ryan could be the best starting pitcher available if the Twins decide to sell. Minnesota will likely wait as close to the deadline as possible to see where it sits in the wild-card standings (the team is currently four games out of the final spot). The club would seek a huge return for the All-Star right-hander since he's under team control for two more years.

4. Seth Lugo, Royals

Position: SP
Age: 35
Contract: Signed through 2025 with $15M player option for 2026
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Royals are in a somewhat similar situation as the Twins when it comes to their ace. Kansas City isn't a definite seller yet, but it would be wise to trade the 2024 AL Cy Young runner-up. There's a very real chance Lugo declines his player option to pursue a multi-year pact in free agency. Losing the right-hander for nothing doesn't make sense if Kansas City could add controllable talent to its young core instead.

5. Josh Naylor, D-Backs

Position: 1B
Age: 28
Contract: FA after 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Naylor will likely suit up for his third team in the last two years unless the D-Backs get hot coming out of the break. The 2024 All-Star is one of the few impact bats available, having racked up a combined 79 homers with 342 RBIs and a 122 wRC+ over 482 games since the start of 2022. He owns a career-best .361 on-base percentage in 2025.

6. Jhoan Duran, Twins

Position: RP
Age: 27
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2027
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️

Duran, like Ryan, would need to fetch a massive return in order to persuade the Twins to trade him. The definition of a bullpen demon, he's sitting in the 100th percentile for fastball velocity and ground-ball percentage. The closer's also in the 98th percentile for barrel rate, which means nobody squares him up. Contenders should be drooling over the prospect of getting a guy with this type of skill set who's under contract for multiple potential playoff runs.

7. Mitch Keller, Pirates

Position: SP
Age: 29
Contract: Signed through 2028
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The cost-conscious Pirates look like they're already primed to move Keller after inking him to a five-year, $77-million extension in February 2024. The right-hander is reportedly generating a ton of interest, as he's making $15 million in 2025 and is owed $54.5 million through 2028. Keller isn't going to lead a rotation, but he could be a solid No. 3 on a postseason club.

8. Emmanuel Clase, Guardians

Position: RP
Age: 27
Contract: Signed through 2028 (two club options for $20M in 2027-28)
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️

It's hard to imagine the Guardians without Clase, one of the faces of the franchise. Yet Cleveland has a slew of cheap high-leverage relievers capable of replacing the star closer if the team wants to save money to improve in other areas.

9. Zac Gallen, Diamondbacks

Position: SP
Age: 29
Contract: FA after 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Gallen would be a lot higher on this list if he wasn't going through the worst season of his seven-year career. The 2023 NL Cy Young finalist could be a boom-or-bust addition for two-plus months. He's got the potential to be a front-end starter based on his resume, but his Baseball Savant page tells a different story.

10. Edward Cabrera, Marlins

Position: SP
Age: 27
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2028
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Marlins might be figuring it out: They're 19-10 over their last 29 games heading into the second half. So why would Miami trade one of its best young starters? Well, the demand for pitching could be so high that cashing in on Cabrera's value would seem like a no-brainer.

11. Ryan O'Hearn, Orioles

Position: 1B/OF
Age: 31
Contract: FA after 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Orioles are set to be sellers after entering the season with aspirations of winning the AL East. Baltimore's front office already shipped out reliever Bryan Baker, which should be the first of many moves. O'Hearn, who started in the All-Star Game, is one of the club's biggest trade chips.

12. David Bednar, Pirates

Position: RP
Age: 30
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2026
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Bednar, who posted an NL-high 39 saves in 2023, is the best closer who's legitimately up for grabs. The two-time All-Star is once again dominating following a demotion to Triple-A in April and a rough 2024 campaign.

13. Merrill Kelly, Diamondbacks

Position: SP
Age: 36
Contract: FA after 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The D-Backs have a chance to rebuild their entire farm system with a transformative deadline. Kelly would bolster the floor and ceiling of many playoff-bound rotations. He also owns a career postseason 2.25 ERA with 28 strikeouts over 24 innings.

14. Taylor Ward, Angels

Position: OF
Age: 31
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2026
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Ward seemed like a lock to be traded at last year's deadline, but for whatever reason, the Angels held on. Now they look like a team on the rise with plenty of young talent, and the slugging outfielder doesn't fit the timeline for contention.

15. Sandy Alcantara, Marlins

Position: SP
Age: 29
Contract: Signed through 2027 ($21M club option for 2027)
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Alcantara was widely viewed as the top pitching target heading into the 2025 campaign. However, the 2022 NL Cy Young winner has been getting hammered since returning from Tommy John surgery. He could be a steal if he returns to his pre-elbow-injury form, and the Marlins are probably itching to dump his contract.

16. Luis Severino, Athletics

Position: SP
Age: 31
Contract: Signed through 2026 with $22M player option for 2027
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Athletics and Severino need to split up. The former All-Star keeps bashing the club's interim home of Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, while the team would love to find somebody else to pay the right-hander $25 million in 2026 and potentially another $22 million in 2027.

17. Marcell Ozuna, Braves

Position: DH
Age: 34
Contract: FA after 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Braves reportedly plan to keep their players who are under contract beyond 2025. Ozuna doesn't fall into that category. The three-time All-Star should be Atlanta's biggest trade chip after hitting a combined 79 long balls with 204 RBIs and a 148 wRC+ between 2023 and 2024.

18. Griffin Jax, Twins

Position: RP
Age: 30
Contract: Arbitration-eligible through 2027
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️

The Twins may not want to part with Ryan or Duran, but dealing Jax could be wise since relievers can be very volatile. Jax's value might never be higher: He owns MLB's best K/9 among pitchers with at least 40 innings this season.

19. Cedric Mullins, Orioles

Position: OF
Age: 30
Contract: FA after 2025
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Mullins is another player the Orioles will likely trade. He offers a nice combination of power and speed, plus good range in center field. He's swiped at least 30 bags in three different seasons over his eight-year career.

20. Luis Robert Jr., White Sox

Position: OF
Age: 27
Contract: Club options for $40M in 2026-27
Trade probability: ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Things change quickly in pro sports. Robert was one of the top players on the trade market at last year's deadline. Now he's been a disaster offensively for two seasons. He's still a great center fielder with speed, and age is on his side - but he's owed way too much money for a glove-first player. The White Sox would be selling low on the 2023 All-Star if they finally decide to move him.