As the 2026 MLB offseason approaches, each National League Central team has at least one player who could be moved before Opening Day 2027. From All-Star catchers to veteran starters and emerging superstars, here is a breakdown of the top trade candidates and their potential landing spots.
Milwaukee Brewers: William Contreras
After reportedly turning down a contract extension in 2025, Contreras is set to hit free agency in 2028. The catcher has posted 15-plus home runs and a .260-plus batting average in five straight seasons. In the 2026 playoffs, he slashed .373/.448/.588 with a 1.036 OPS, three homers, and nine RBIs, earning World Series MVP honors as the Brewers captured their first title. Milwaukee has historically avoided big spending, making Contreras a viable trade candidate. Potential landing spots: Phillies, Red Sox, Yankees.
Chicago Cubs: Colin Rea
Rea, 38, is owed $6.5 million in 2027 before becoming a free agent in 2028. He posted a 4.34 ERA over 137 innings in 2026, splitting time between the rotation and bullpen. However, he finished strong with a 2.61 ERA in his final seven games and a 3.40 ERA over his last 15 appearances. The Cubs' rotation needs make a trade unlikely, but Rea could provide back-end depth for a contender. Potential landing spots: Blue Jays, Mets, Padres.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Ryan O'Hearn
O'Hearn is in the second year of a two-year, $29 million deal (the largest AAV in Pirates history) and will earn $15 million in 2027 before free agency in 2028. He hit 18 home runs with a .770 OPS in 2026, similar to his 2025 career-best (17 HR, .803 OPS). Primarily a first baseman/DH, he posted -4 Outs Above Average in right field versus +1 at first base. With Spencer Horwitz entrenched at first, O'Hearn could be moved as a one-year rental. Potential landing spots: Diamondbacks, Mets, Twins.
St. Louis Cardinals: Alec Burleson
Burleson, the 2026 RBI leader with 116, is under team control through arbitration until 2029. He has hit 20-plus homers with a .275-plus average in two of the last three seasons and owns an .800-plus OPS in each of the last two years. Defensively, he improved to +7 Fielding Run Value at first base in 2026 after a -5 FRV in 2025. He played 160 games in 2026 and has topped 150 games in two of the last three seasons. The Cardinals have a history of trading aging talent for prospects. Potential landing spots: Blue Jays, Cubs, Diamondbacks.
Cincinnati Reds: Elly De La Cruz
De La Cruz, 24, rejected a massive extension in 2025 that would have surpassed Joey Votto's franchise-record $225 million deal. He just completed his first 30/30 season (30 HR, 30 SB), only the fourth in Reds history alongside Eric Davis (1987), Barry Larkin (1996), and Brandon Phillips (2007). Though his stolen-base total dropped from 67 in 2024, he remains one of baseball's most electric talents and has played 140-plus games in three straight seasons. He is not a free agent until 2030, but Cincinnati could cash in on a massive prospect haul. Potential landing spots: Braves, Mariners, Yankees.
