27. RHP Riley O’Brien, St. Louis Cardinals
2026 Stats: 29 G, 29.1 IP, 27 H (1 HR), 31 K, 7 BB, 3.68 ERA
Contract: 1 year, $795,050 (free agent after 2030)
True, Riley O’Brien is under St. Louis’ control for four more seasons. But he’s also 31 years old, so moving him now while he’s worth something is the wise play. He’s more of a setup man than a closer type, but a darn good one because of high-90s heat, good control and a knack for getting ground balls.
26. RHP Luis Castillo, Seattle Mariners
2026 Stats: 13 G, 61.0 IP, 60 H (8 HR), 61 K, 23 BB, 5.16 ERA
Contract: Year 4 of 5-year, $108 million (2028 vesting option)
If anyone is going to be the odd man out in Seattle’s rotation, it’s Luis Castillo. He’s not the guy the Mariners acquired back in 2022, but he still has a rubber arm that eats innings and occasionally flashes high-90s heat. And if the Mariners’ piggyback experiment proved anything, it’s that he can work as a hybrid long man/fireman out of the bullpen.
25. 3B Isaac Paredes, Houston Astros
2026 Stats: 61 G, 252 PA, 9 HR, .242 AVG, .333 OBP, .416 SLG
Contract: 1 year, $9.35 million (2027 team option)
Right-handed batters are slugging below .390 for the first time since 1992. Simply in that context, Isaac Paredes has value. His special brand of pull power plays anywhere, but it figures to be especially useful at a park that caters to that kind of power.