American League Central2 of 6

Chicago White Sox: OF Mike Tauchman
One year of arbitration eligibility remaining, estimated at $2.5M-$3.5M

There’s still a non-zero chance they’ll move Luis Robert Jr.’s $20 million salary. But considering Chicago is almost surely still at least a year away from contending, its much more likely trade candidate is the soon-to-be 35-year-old outfielder who just had one of the best seasons of his career in advance of his final year of team control.

Cleveland Guardians: OF Steven Kwan
Two years of arbitration eligibility remaining, 2026 salary estimated at $8M-$9M

One winter removed from trading away all of Josh Naylor, Andrés Giménez and Myles Straw in the name of reducing costs, it wouldn’t surprise anyone to see the Guardians part with their final two years of control on this two-time All-Star, four-time Gold Glove left fielder. In fact, this could be where the aforementioned Elmer Rodriguez-Cruz (and more from NYY) lands, as the Yankees could clearly use Kwan.

Detroit Tigers: RHP Jack Flaherty
$20M in 2026, Free Agent next winter

Tarik Skubal is a stone-cold lock to be talked about the most as a trade candidate—not just among Tigers, but in all of baseball this winter. However, it’s hard to imagine anyone is going to offer enough for one year of the two-time reigning Cy Young winner to get Detroit to move him.

With Gleyber Torres accepting his qualifying offer, it becomes even more likely Detroit will try to trade away Flaherty, lest they have four players (Torres, Flaherty, Javier Báez and possibly Skubal, whose salary in arbitration remain to be seen) making at least $20 million next season.

Not only would moving Flaherty save some coin, but it also better enables them to use 2026 to find out which pitchers they can count upon for 2027 and beyond. But that hinges to some extent on how confident they are in Reese Olson, Ty Madden and Keider Montero being both healthy and part of the starting rotation mix heading into next season.

Kansas City Royals: LHP Kris Bubic
One year of arbitration eligibility remaining, estimated at $4.5M-$6M

For all the talk of the Brewers and Tigers possibly moving Freddy Peralta and Tarik Skubal, why aren’t more people speculating about this 2025 All-Star’s final season before free agency? The Royals already have Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha, Cole Ragans, Noah Cameron and quite a few more-than-viable No. 5 starters at their disposal, so if they can turn Bubic into a similarly-priced outfielder who can actually contribute on offense, why wouldn’t they pursue that?

Minnesota Twins: RHP Bailey Ober
One year of arbitration eligibility remaining, estimated at $4.5M-$7M

If the Twins trade any of Joe Ryan, Pablo López or Byron Buxton, they’re probably trading all of them and Ryan Jeffers to steer headlong into a rebuild. But with Ober, they could dump some salary without setting off another fire-sale chain reaction, as a projected Ober-less rotation of Ryan, López, Simeon Woods-Richardson, Taj Bradley and David Festa/Zebby Matthews/Mick Abel could be solid.