While blockbuster trades during Spring Training are rare, they do happen.
A recent survey conducted by The Athletic revealed which stars league executives believed could be traded before Opening Day.
Here are the three players most likely to be wearing new uniforms by April.
CJ Abrams — Shortstop, Washington Nationals
The San Francisco Giants and Washington Nationals were engaged in trade talks for star shortstop CJ Abrams during the offseason, but a deal never materialized.
At least one American League executive believed that the two teams were close on a deal, telling Jayson Stark of The Athletic, “I know they had legs.”
Abrams is a dynamic, young, and controllable talent at a premium position, but his development has plateaued over the past two seasons. The 25-year-old shortstop has never hit more than 20 home runs in a season, and his +107 WRC+ suggests he’s been only marginally above league average at the plate.
After being demoted late in 2024 and experiencing a subpar 2025, it appears the Nationals are willing to move on from a player they once considered a cornerstone of their future.
Sandy Alcantara — Starting Pitcher, Miami Marlins
At 30 years old, former NL Cy Young winner Sandy Alcantara is coming off the worst season of his MLB career. He finished 11-12 with a 5.36 ERA in 31 starts, but his campaign was a classic tale of two halves.
One of the top trade candidates at last year’s deadline, Alcantara experienced a revival in the second half of the season, finishing 7-3 with a 3.33 ERA.
Miami has a wealth of high-upside arms in their pitching rotation, and depending on what they see from Alcantara during Spring Training, he could become expendable.
While a trade deadline deal remains more likely, the veteran right-hander should still command a high price if moved.
Isaac Paredes — Third Baseman, Houston Astros
The Astros have a logjam in the infield, and Isaac Paredes could be the odd man out.
After Houston brought back franchise icon Carlos Correa to man the hot corner, Paredes—who posted a solid .809 OPS with 20 home runs last year—suddenly found himself without a clear everyday role.
According to Jayson Stark, the Astros have hit the gas pedal on making a potential deal. All four of the votes for the Astros’ third baseman came in the final 24 hours of his executive poll, a sign that Houston is aggressively looking to move the 26-year-old.
“That’s going to be a tough situation to manage,” one MLB executive said when surveyed, “if everyone is healthy.”
With Christian Walker also requiring at-bats and Yordan Alvarez locked in at DH, the Astros could turn Parades into a left-handed bat or added pitching depth.
