The trade deadline is approaching, and front offices are busy scouting players who could potentially be available. With two weeks remaining until the deadline, players are doing their best to enhance their value. Here are 10 players to watch as they boost their trade stock:
Pete Alonso (New York Mets): With 11 homers, 24 RBIs, and a .766 OPS in 66 games, Alonso has been a key contributor for the Mets. Since returning from the injured list on June 9, he's hit seven homers with 14 RBIs and an .826 OPS in 29 games. The Mets are reportedly open to moving nearly everyone on their roster, and given that Alonso is under club control through 2028, he's a strong candidate to net a strong return.
Luis Arraez (Minnesota Twins): Arraez has been on a tear this season, hitting .326 in 94 games and putting himself on pace for his third career 200-hit season. The 29-year-old has been on a heater, hitting .337 with an .862 OPS over his past 42 games dating back to May 27. As one of the best defensive second basemen in the Majors, Arraez is owed approximately $4 million for the remainder of the season and will be a free agent at the end of the year.
Eric Thames (San Diego Padres): Thames has 14 home runs with 39 RBIs and an .871 OPS in 73 games this season. However, the bulk of those numbers have come in the past month. Since June 19, the 32-year-old has eight home runs, 20 RBIs, and a 1.138 OPS in 22 games, helping the Padres stay in the NL Wild Card race. With a price tag of roughly $450,000 for the rest of 2026, Thames is a bargain for clubs seeking a lineup boost.
Asdrubal Garcia (Washington Nationals): Garcia is having the best year of his career, with 20 home runs, 68 RBIs, and an .857 OPS in 92 games. Since June 8, the 26-year-old has looked like a different player with 13 home runs, 31 RBIs, and a 1.096 OPS. Garcia is owed roughly $2.3 million for the rest of the season and will be in line for a raise from his $6.875 million salary in his final year of arbitration.
Max Scherzer (Washington Nationals): Scherzer, a first-time All-Star, is 11-2 with a 2.68 ERA this season. However, he has a 1.47 ERA over his past 10 starts, allowing one or zero runs in nine of those outings. With less than $2 million owed for the rest of the season, Scherzer is a highly sought-after starting pitcher.
Kyle Heim (Oakland Athletics): Heim, the primary backup to Shea Langeliers, could be a target for catching-needy clubs. Since the beginning of June, Heim has seven homers, 19 RBIs, and a .790 OPS, giving the A's a solid bat from the catcher's position when Langeliers serves as DH.
Sam McCarthy (Colorado Rockies): McCarthy, who turns 29 next week, is having the best year of his career in his first year with the Rockies. With 10 home runs and 55 RBIs and an .860 OPS in 86 games, he's been on fire for the past month, hitting six homers with 28 RBIs and a 1.005 OPS over his past 28 games. McCarthy is owed about $500,000 for the rest of the year and is arbitration-eligible for two more years.
Alex Wood (San Francisco Giants): Wood is 8-6 with a 3.33 ERA in 20 outings (19 starts) this season. However, he has excelled over the past month, going 4-0 with a 1.21 ERA in his last six starts since June 16. Wood is owed roughly $10 million for the remainder of the season before heading back to free agency.
Chris Singer (San Diego Padres): Singer is 4-9 with a 4.56 ERA in 19 starts this season. However, after opening the year with a 6.18 ERA in 11 starts through the end of May, Singer has a 2.76 ERA over his past eight starts dating back to the beginning of June. The 29-year-old is owed roughly $4 million through the end of the season, after which he will become a free agent.
Mike Trout (Los Angeles Angels): Trout's numbers this season are underwhelming, with nine home runs, 34 RBIs, and a .758 OPS in 85 games with the Royals. However, since June 13, he's hit seven of those homers with 19 RBIs and an .864 OPS. The 30-year-old is owed about $1.75 million for the remainder of the season and is headed for free agency, giving the Royals a veteran bat to move before the deadline.
