On Facebook
On Flipboard
On Twitter
More must-reads:
- DeMeco Ryans sounds displeased with officiating after C.J. Stroud concussion
- Mike Vrabel responds to accusation that Patriots simulated Falcons' snap on key fourth-quarter play
- The 'NFL Passing YPG leaders' quiz
Breaking News
Trending News
TODAY'S BEST
Dream (but realistic) trade targets for every MLB team this offseason
Every MLB offseason brings its share of blockbuster rumors and bold predictions, but some trade ideas actually make sense — for both sides. With free agency about to heat up and front offices reshaping rosters for 2026, Yardbarker MLB writers looked at one dream (but still realistic) trade target for every MLB team. From contenders looking for that final piece to rebuilders seeking a spark, these hypothetical moves blend star power with plausibility. Here’s how all 30 teams could swing a deal that transforms their outlook heading into next season (2025 records in parentheses). AL East Baltimore Orioles (75-87) | LHP Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers: The Orioles traded for ace right-hander Corbin Burnes before the 2024 season, and that worked well. Why not try to employ the same strategy with Skubal, an ace in his own right, as Baltimore looks to bounce back from a last-place finish? Skubal’s elite 2.21 ERA in 2025 would be a perfect fit atop the rotation. Boston Red Sox (89-73) | 2B/OF Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals: It’s unclear whether prospect infielders Kristian Campbell or Marcelo Mayer are the answer up the middle, but there’s no doubt that Donovan would be an established upgrade over both. The 2025 All-Star would bring positional versatility and solid offensive production (.772 career OPS) to a lineup that had trouble scoring at times. New York Yankees (94-68) | 1B/OF Bryce Harper, Philadelphia Phillies: New York could lose outfielders Cody Bellinger and Trent Grisham and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt in free agency, so the Yankees theoretically have both of Harper's positions to fill this winter. The veteran’s left-handed swing is made for the Yankee Stadium right-field short porch, which could help him improve upon a 2025 season in which he produced an .844 OPS, the lowest since his rookie season in 2012. Tampa Bay Rays (77-85) | LHP Mackenzie Gore, Washington Nationals: Typically, the Rays trade pitchers who are young but increasingly expensive (LHP Blake Snell, RHP Tyler Glasnow and RHP Chris Archer). This time, though, it could make sense for Tampa to swing for the fences with Gore, who boasts immense strikeout upside (10.4 K/9 in 2025) and is controllable through the 2028 season. The All-Star southpaw could also thrive in the team's analytics-driven pitching lab. Toronto Blue Jays (94-68) | RHP Joe Ryan, Minnesota Twins: The Blue Jays nearly won the World Series, so they have a lot to look forward to. However, it wouldn’t hurt Toronto to replace members of its oldish rotation with someone like right-hander Ryan, whose 3.42 ERA in 30 starts with the Twins in 2025 should make him one of the top trade candidates of this offseason. — Seth Carlson AL West Athletics (76-86) | Infielder Nolan Gorman, St. Louis Cardinals: The A’s received virtually nothing from second and third in 2025. Former top prospect Zack Gelof should get another chance to prove himself, but the A’s do not have many options at third. Gorman, who hit 27 homers in 2023, may not cost much and could provide a respectable stopgap at the hot corner. Houston Astros (87-75) | IF/OF Brendan Donovan, St. Louis Cardinals: The Astros missed the postseason for the first time since 2016; the outfield was a key factor in that. Astros outfielders posted a .665 OPS, 25th in the majors. Donovan, who has predominantly played at second and left, would solve a black hole in the middle of the lineup and provide a needed left-handed hitter. Los Angeles Angels (72-90) | RHP Brady Singer, Cincinnati Reds: The Angels and Reds line up perfectly as trade partners. The Angels have a logjam in the outfield with either Jo Adell or Taylor Ward expected to be traded during the offseason. Meanwhile, the Reds have plenty of pitching and need help in the outfield. Singer, who has one more year of team control left, would be the most likely Reds pitcher to be dealt. He would solidify the middle of L.A.'s rotation. Seattle Mariners (90-72) | 3B Alec Bohm, Philadelphia Phillies: Because Eugenio Suarez is expected to sign elsewhere in free agency, the Mariners will once again be looking for help at third. Bohm had been on the trading block during the 2024-25 offseason but remained in Philadelphia because no one would meet its price. Bohm hit just 11 homers and 18 doubles in 2025, crushing his trade value. Texas Rangers (81-81) | RHP Mitch Keller, Pittsburgh Pirates: The Rangers should have a solid top of the rotation with Jacob deGrom and Nathan Eovaldi. However, neither pitcher is a paragon of health. Keller has thrown at least 159 innings in each of the past four seasons and is under team control through 2028. He would be a solid middle-of-the-rotation arm. — David Hill AL Central Chicago White Sox (60-102) | 1B Triston Casas, Boston Red Sox: The rebuilding White Sox made progress in 2025 but have many holes remaining. Acquiring a player such as Casas could be a perfect buy-low option while improving the power for a team that ranked 23rd in the majors with 165 homers. Cleveland Guardians (88-74) | RHP Edward Cabrera, Miami Marlins: The Guardians need help in the lineup, but several top prospects are expected to make an impact in 2026. The same cannot be said for the rotation that is lacking a top-of-the-rotation arm. Cabrera finally put everything together for the Marlins in 2025 and is under team control through 2028. Miami has pitching depth, so Cabrera could be available. Detroit Tigers (87-75) | 3B Josh Jung, Texas Rangers: The Tigers need a third baseman and Jung could be the answer. The 2023 All-Star has seen his star dim over the past two seasons as he battled injuries and contact woes. Jung may need a change of scenery and could be what the Tigers need to get his brother, Jace, to tap into his potential. Kansas City Royals (82-80) | OF Jarren Duran, Boston Red Sox: The outfield was one of the worst in the majors in 2025, ranking 29th with a .633 OPS. Duran may not be the player he was in 2024, but his ability to drive the ball into the gaps, excellent speed and stellar defense would be a perfect fit in Kauffman Stadium. Minnesota Twins (70-92) | RHP Jonah Tong, New York Mets: The rotation disappointed in 2025 and sorely needs an ace. The Twins began to dismantle the roster at the 2025 trade deadline, so it's unlikely that pitchers Pablo Lopez or Joe Ryan will be with Minnesota in 2026. Both will be expensive. — David Hill NL West Arizona Diamondbacks (80-82) | RHP Pete Fairbanks, Tampa Bay Rays: The Diamondbacks had issues with the bullpen throughout 2025 (27th in the league with a 4.82 ERA) and it will likely be a point of emphasis for the team this offseason. Fairbanks totaled 27 saves last season and pitched a career-high 60.1 innings. There is a club option for $11 million that the Rays will likely pick up only if they can trade him. At 32, Fairbanks might be worth it for one season in the desert. Colorado Rockies (43-119) | RHP Freddy Peralta, Milwaukee Brewers: It’s a new day in Denver with a new GM coming soon. Colorado desperately needs starting pitching, especially an ace. The Rockies have a crowded outfield in terms of proven players and prospects, so they could work a deal with Milwaukee, a team that they have traded with, and secure a big arm. Los Angeles Dodgers (93-69) | OF Steven Kwan, Cleveland Guardians: After a year in which the Dodgers had to overlook some deficiencies in the outfield with Michael Conforto and Teoscar Hernandez, landing someone like Kwan makes sense for the two-time defending champions. Kwan doesn’t strike out much (only 8.7 percent of the time in 2025), something the Dodgers needed when their offense sputtered in the postseason. San Diego Padres (90-72) | RHP Sandy Alcantara, Miami Marlins: Depending on what happens with pitchers Michael King and Dylan Cease, the Padres are going to need someone who can step in as a face of the rotation. Alcantara, 30, has a $19 million deal for 2026 and a $21 million team option for 2027, so he won’t come to San Diego cheap. However, the NL West will be another arms race in 2026, and Alcantara could be a fascinating addition for the Padres. San Francisco Giants (81-81) | LHP JoJo Romero, St. Louis Cardinals: Adding a solid southpaw to the bullpen is rarely a bad move, and the 29-year-old Romero has been quietly building a reputation as one of the best lefties in the late innings. He’s controlled through arbitration through the 2026 campaign and has logged 57 holds over the past three seasons. Pitching is expected to be a priority for the Giants this offseason. — Kevin Henry NL East Atlanta Braves (76-86) | SS Jeremy Pena, Houston Astros: The former World Series MVP was drafted by the Braves out of high school in 2015 but chose not to sign. Perhaps a reunion is in order in Atlanta, which has desperately needed a true shortstop since the departure of Dansby Swanson during the 2022 offseason. The 28-year-old Pena was named an All-Star in 2025, batting .304 with 17 home runs and 62 RBI in 125 games. Miami Marlins (79-83) | 1B/OF Alec Burleson, St. Louis Cardinals: Miami exceeded expectations in 2025 and, if they have a strong offseason, could be a sleeper contender for an NL wild-card spot in 2026. Before that happens, though, they must solve their first base conundrum by trading for Burleson, who can play there and in the outfield. Burleson, who will turn 27 on Nov. 25, posted a career-high .801 OPS with 18 homers and 69 RBI in 2025. New York Mets (83-79) | LHP Tarik Skubal, Detroit Tigers: Skubal, in line for his second straight AL Cy Young Award, would be a dream trade candidate for any team but especially owner Steve Cohen and the Mets. New York desperately needs a frontline starter after its pitching largely failed it in 2025. Philadelphia Phillies (96-66) | C Adley Rutschman, Baltimore Orioles: Longtime catcher J.T. Realmuto is a free agent and, despite entering his age-35 season in 2026, is expected to be a hot commodity on the open market. It’s clear the Phillies must get younger at the position, and acquiring the former No. 1 overall pick from Baltimore would be a solid way to secure their future at backstop and keep their competitive window open. Rutschman, who will turn 28 on Feb. 6, hasn't lived up to his draft pedigree but still has decent upside. Washington Nationals (66-96) | RHP Jonah Tong, New York Mets: The Nationals are more than one piece from being competitive, so Washington’s focus should be who they can acquire in potential trades for left-hander MacKenzie Gore, 2B Luis Garcia Jr. and OF Robert Hassell III. Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller proposed a wild divisional trade that would send Tong to the Nationals for Gore. — Lauren Amour NL Central Chicago Cubs (92-70) | RHP Shane Bieber, Toronto Blue Jays: Chicago leaned heavily on veteran arms in its rotation, with 34-year-old Matthew Boyd anchoring the staff. Bieber, 30, joined the Blue Jays this season, posting a 4-2 record with a 3.57 ERA and 1.017 WHIP. With Chicago expected to be a playoff-level team in 2026, Bieber could be another experienced arm to help with a deep postseason run. Cincinnati Reds (83-79) | LHP JoJo Romero, St. Louis Cardinals: The Reds need reliable back-end bullpen arms, and Romero offers late-inning experience. He became the Cardinals’ closer after the team dealt Ryan Helsley to the New York Mets. In 2025, Romero posted a 2.07 ERA, a career best in the big leagues, in 61 innings. Milwaukee Brewers (97-65) | 1B Pete Alonso, New York Mets: Milwaukee's lineup struggled to produce consistent power in 2025, finishing 22nd in MLB with 166 home runs. Alonso, who launched 38 home runs — leading all first basemen — would be an immediate upgrade. He also hit .272 and drove in 126 runs, the second most in the majors. Andrew Vaughn filled the role well after being traded to Milwaukee midseason, but Alonso would be the definitive No. 1 option. Pittsburgh Pirates (71-91) | 2B Brandon Lowe, Tampa Bay Rays: The Pirates haven’t made much of a trade splash in recent offseasons, so dealing for a proven bat like Lowe would be smart. He hit .256 with 31 home runs in 2025, bringing power and veteran experience to a younger lineup. St. Louis Cardinals (78-84) | RHP Dylan Cease, San Diego Padres: The pitching staff lacked swing-and-miss stuff in 2025, finishing 29th in MLB in strikeouts. Cease delivered 215 strikeouts over 168 innings — sixth most in MLB — and led the majors with 11.52 strikeouts per nine innings. — Taylor Bretl
Rapoport: Steelers Fans Have 3 Big Names To Watch For Via Trade
After a massive 27-20 win over the AFC-leading Indianapolis Colts on Sunday afternoon, which saw four-time MVP quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the offense record 27+ points for the third consecutive week, the 5-3 Pittsburgh Steelers have a two-game lead in the AFC North. Now, Steelers General Manager Omar Khan could be looking to add some more help ahead of the NFL's November 4th trade deadline. That help could come in the form of a potential wide receiver. With an opportunity to capitalize on building a division winner this season, the Steelers are looking to add another weapon on offense. According to NFL Network insider Ian Rapoport, Pittsburgh is hoping to make a move before Tuesday's trade deadline. "Aaron Rodgers' Pittsburgh Steelers are also in the trade market," Rapoport said. "My understanding is they are looking for receiver help in advance of Tuesday's 4 p.m. trade deadline. A couple of names to watch: Jakobi Meyers, Rashid Shaheed, the speedster from the New Orleans Saints, and maybe even Jaylen Waddle." This news should give Steelers fans a sense of excitement. While Rodgers is currently near the top of the league with 17 passing touchdowns, and even though the offense continues to utilize eight or nine different pass-catchers each week, perhaps a trade for a veteran player could help take offensive coordinator Arthur Smith's group to a whole new level. Top wide receiver DK Metcalf had just two catches for six yards in Sunday's win, which may actually be a good thing, as other players are getting more involved. Still, the addition of another receiver could help complement the Pro Bowler. Steelers receiver Calvin Austin III was the only wide receiver to record over 10 receiving yards against Indianapolis. The addition of a new receiver could make the Steelers' offense harder to defend, seeing as they love to utilize every position player on the field in a multitude of ways. Steelers Adding 1 More Pass-Catcher Could Make A Huge Difference Austin was the team's leading receiver against the Colts, as he caught five passes for 56 yards. The next four pass-catchers on that list, in terms of receiving yards, either play tight end or running back. While it isn't bad that Pittsburgh is utilizing the tight ends and running backs through the air, it could get old by the time the season reaches December and potentially January. Smith and Rodgers will need to continue to throw wrinkles at opposing defenses. It was good enough on Sunday in the red zone, even if the collective only recorded 225 yards. That is why the addition of big-play threats such as Jakobi Meyers, Rashid Shaheed, or Jaylen Waddle could prove to be quite significant. Meyers recorded over 1,000 yards for the first time in his career in 2024 on a struggling Las Vegas Raiders offense. Shaheed is averaging nearly 15 yards per catch and just under seven yards per rush as a dynamic player for the New Orleans Saints. Waddle is just 26 years of age and has three career 1,000-yard seasons. Any of these players would be an intriguing complement to Metcalf. Imagine an offense where Rodgers is the quarterback and defenses have to account for his arm, Metcalf, a deep tight end room, Austin, running back Jaylen Warren, and a key number two wide receiver. That is a dangerous offense, and if the Steelers' defense plays the way that it did on Sunday at Acrisure Stadium, forcing turnovers left and right, the sky could be the limit. That is how significant a trade for a wide receiver could be before the deadline hits.
DeMeco Ryans sounds displeased with officiating after C.J. Stroud concussion
Quarterback C.J. Stroud suffered a concussion in the second quarter of the Houston Texans' 18-15 home loss to the Denver Broncos on Sunday when he took a crunching hit as he attempted to slide following a scramble. Broncos cornerback Kris Abrams-Draine was initially penalized for unnecessary roughness, but referees eventually picked the flag up after a replay showed that Abrams-Draine hadn't hit Stroud in the head. While speaking with reporters on Monday, Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans addressed his thoughts on that play. C.J. Stroud concussion showed when quarterbacks are, aren't protected "It’s a tough play," Ryans said, per Jonathan M. Alexander of the Houston Chronicle. "Quarterback is sliding. I thought quarterbacks are protected when they slide. But what I’m learning is, as long as you don’t hit them in the head or neck area, if they slide and you hit them in the chest, then that is just fine. That is what I learned." As ESPN's DJ Bien-Aime shared, Ryans said shortly after the Texans fell to 3-5 on Sunday that he felt the hit on Stroud was unnecessary roughness because Abrams-Draine "hit the quarterback when he was sliding and giving himself up." Stroud was still in the NFL's concussion protocol as of Monday afternoon, and it's unclear if he'll be available for Houston's home game versus the Jacksonville Jaguars (5-3) on Nov. 9. "I spoke to him last night," Ryans said about Stroud. "He’s feeling a little bit better. We’ll see how the week goes and how he progresses throughout the week." What Texans would expect if Davis Mills has to start vs. Jaguars Backup quarterback Davis Mills replaced Stroud against the Broncos and completed 17-of-30 pass attempts for 137 yards with no touchdowns or interceptions. Mills began Monday atop the Houston depth chart with Stroud not cleared to practice. "I expect him to go out and do his best," Ryans said about Mills possibly getting the start for the Jacksonville game. "Just play the offense the proper way and make great decisions with the football." Shortly after Ryans spoke with media members, ESPN BET had the Texans as 1.5-point favorites over the Jaguars. Ryans may not reveal Stroud's status for the Jacksonville game before Friday at the earliest.
Dolphins’ Jaelan Phillips trade draws sobering Mike McDaniel reaction
The Miami Dolphins’ season has not gone as planned. Through nine weeks, they are 2-7 and near the bottom of the AFC. Any aspiration of playing in the postseason is a thing of the past. That reality prompted the stunning trade of Jaelan Phillips to the Philadelphia Eagles on Monday. The Dolphins landed a 2026 third-round pick for Phillips, whom they drafted in the first round in the 2021 NFL Draft. After the trade was announced, Miami head coach Mike McDaniel was asked for his thoughts. He did a great job putting it into perspective, as captured by ESPN reporter Marcel Louis-Jacques. “That part of the business, I absolutely despise in terms of having to say goodbye to a player,” McDaniel said. “It was a very healthy conversation, and it was understood that sometimes the best interests of a team long term doesn’t overlap with the interests in one game for one player.” McDaniel did address how you can avoid this type of scenario, and that is by winning. Unfortunately, that is something Miami has not done much of. After being drafted 18th overall four years ago, Phillips had an immediate impact. He posted 8.5 sacks and 42 total tackles during his rookie season. The former Miami Hurricane edge rusher then had seven sacks the following season. But over the last few years, injuries have derailed his ability to help the Dolphins’ defense. Phillips played in a total of 12 games over the course of the 2023 and 2024 NFL seasons. But thus far this year, he has remained healthy and played each week, racking up a trio of sacks. The Eagles have a clear need on defense: edge rusher. So, this move makes a lot of sense for Philadelphia. Unlike recent seasons, the Eagles rank near the bottom in sacks. Phillips will be a free agent after the season. But even if he leaves after this year, the Eagles will receive a compensatory third-round draft pick. So, it seems like a win-win for Philadelphia. Meanwhile, the Dolphins kick off their rebuild.
Customize Your Newsletter
+
Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!
PRIVACY POLICY EDITORIAL POLICY CONTACT US
ABOUT YARDBARKER TERMS OF SERVICE
Use of this website (including any and all parts and
components) constitutes your acceptance of these
Terms of Service and Privacy Policy.
This site is for entertainment purposes only.
There is no gambling offered on this site.
Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-Gambler.
