The 2025-26 MLB offseason has seen a flurry of important trades centered on top pitching talent, including Freddy Peralta joining the New York Mets and MacKenzie Gore heading to the Texas Rangers. While headline players dominate attention, the movement of promising prospects in these deals, collectively known as the top MLB traded prospects, will ultimately define how each franchise fares in the coming years.
This comprehensive review ranks the 15 most significant prospects exchanged across MLB this offseason, highlighting six who appeared on the latest Baseball Prospectus Top 100 list. These emerging stars will shape roster construction and competitive outlooks moving forward.
Promising Prospects on the Fringe
Before diving into the official rankings, several pitchers and hitters deserve acknowledgment for their potential to influence the field in the near future. Among pitchers, right-handers Anderson Brito and Luis Perales (both from Tampa Bay and Washington respectively), Alejandro Rosario and David Sandlin have drawn some attention for their skills. On the hitting side, outfielders Yeremy Cabrera, Devin Fitz-Gerald, Cristian Hernández, Brendan Jones, Abimelec Ortiz, Austin Overn, and Tai Peete are all names worth tracking.
Prospects Ranked 15 to 11
15. RHP Yhoiker Fajardo – St. Louis Cardinals
At just 19 years old, Fajardo exhibits advanced polish with a 6’3″, 181-pound frame that lends itself well to future development as a middle-of-the-rotation starter. His motivation stems from a solid foundation of three quality pitches and an impressive command for his age. He was included in the deal that sent Willson Contreras to the Red Sox.
14. C Caden Bodine – Tampa Bay Rays
Bodine, 22, impressed at the collegiate level with a .318 average and a keen defensive skill set behind the plate, offering the Rays a potential solution at catcher. Though his power is limited, his bat-to-ball ability paired with defensive aptitude positions him as a probable starting backstop. He was acquired in exchange for Shane Baz by the Orioles.
13. RHP Michael Forret – Tampa Bay Rays
Forret, 21, dominated minor league hitters last season with a 1.58 ERA, 91 strikeouts in 74 innings, and a minuscule .157 opponent batting average. Standing 6’3″ and weighing 190 pounds, he boasts a four-pitch repertoire and is steadily refining his command, making him a promising candidate for growth within the Rays’ pitching depth. He was moved in the same trade that sent Shane Baz to Baltimore.
12. LHP Jake Bennett – Boston Red Sox
Bennett, 25, offers a mature arm with a high floor and near-MLB readiness. His mid-90s fastball and effective changeup, combined with his imposing 6’6” frame, make him a viable bullpen weapon who could transition to a rotation role. The Red Sox acquired Bennett in exchange for Luis Perales from the Nationals, prioritizing immediate availability over long-term risk.
11. OF Slater de Brun – Tampa Bay Rays
Selected 37th overall with a $4 million signing bonus, de Brun brings a dynamic 55 hit and 65 speed toolset with polished skills uncommon for a prep hitter. Frequently compared to Corbin Carroll for his ceiling, de Brun’s value lies in his potential as a table-setter and future center fielder despite limited power. He was part of the Shane Baz trade to Baltimore.
Promising Talent Ranked 10 to 6
10. OF Dillon Lewis – Miami Marlins
At 22, Lewis bounced back after a strong 2025 season featuring 22 home runs and 26 steals, placing him among only 16 minor leaguers with 20/20 seasons. His power-speed profile earned praise as a draft steal, having been selected in the 13th round in 2024. Miami acquired him as part of the Ryan Weathers deal with the Yankees.
9. LHP Brandon Clarke – St. Louis Cardinals
Clarke’s debut season was hampered by blister issues limiting him to 38 innings, though his strikeout rate of 60 in 174 batters faced shows significant upside. At 22, Clarke combines athleticism with top-tier arm talent. Health is a concern, but his capability to develop into a frontline starter remains intact. He was traded to St. Louis in exchange for Sonny Gray to Boston.
8. SS Gavin Fien – Washington Nationals
Fien, one of the top power bats in the 2025 prep class and 6’3″, 200 pounds, was drafted 12th overall and profiles as a future corner infielder with balanced 55/55 hit and power potential. Though still inexperienced, he projects as a fixture on future Top 100 prospect lists and a creator of run production. His rights were traded to Washington in the MacKenzie Gore deal with the Rangers.
7. OF Jacob Melton – Tampa Bay Rays
Melton is ready for a larger MLB role after an impressive Triple-A season boasting a .286 average, .389 on-base, and .556 slugging. At 25 years old, he profiles as a power-over-contact hitter who could challenge for an Opening Day spot following his acquisition in the Brandon Lowe trade with the Pirates.
6. RHP Jurrangelo Cijntje – St. Louis Cardinals
Cijntje, ranked No. 93 on the Baseball Prospectus Top 100, presents an unusual background as a former switch-pitcher who will concentrate on right-handed throws going forward. His 22-year-old frame houses electric stuff with 120 strikeouts in over 108 innings. Called up via the Brendan Donovan trade to the Mariners, Cijntje remains a player to watch as he nears MLB readiness.
Top Five Emerging Prospects Traded This Offseason
5. RHP Brandon Sproat – Milwaukee Brewers
Holding No. 90 on the Top 100 list, Sproat made his MLB debut last September after solid minor league seasons featuring 244 strikeouts over 237.1 innings. The 25-year-old University of Florida product came to Milwaukee as part of the Freddy Peralta deal with the Mets. He is vying for a rotation spot behind established starters and figures to make a strong impression this spring.
4. OF Jhostynxon García – Pittsburgh Pirates
García, a highly versatile outfielder ranked No. 84, has demonstrated consistent progression through AA and AAA levels. After being overshadowed on Boston’s depth chart, his trade for Johan Oviedo to the Pirates provides a chance to secure a starting role. With a strong arm and 55-grade power, he carries quiet potential as a budding offensive contributor who could impact the NL Rookie of the Year race if he breaks camp as a regular.
3. C Harry Ford – Washington Nationals
Ford’s path was blocked in Seattle by Cal Raleigh, the 2025 AL MVP runner-up, but his trade for reliever José A. Ferrer has cleared a more direct route to playing time. Ranked No. 62 on the Top 100 list, Ford blends defensive athleticism with rare speed for a catcher and boasts a strong on-base percentage above .400. He will also represent Team Great Britain in the 2026 World Baseball Classic, highlighting his international pedigree.
2. OF Owen Caissie – Miami Marlins
Ranked No. 44 on the prospect list, Caissie’s athletic 6’3″ frame, raw 60-grade power, and plus throwing arm make him a key acquisition for Miami. Originally acquired by Chicago with expectations to fill the right field vacancy, his involvement in the Edward Cabrera trade lands him as an immediate starter. His minor league numbers substantiate his readiness as a middle-of-the-order presence.
1. SS/OF Jett Williams – Milwaukee Brewers
Williams, 22, has been a top Mets prospect since being drafted 14th overall in 2022 and holds the No. 39 spot among Baseball Prospectus’s top 100 prospects. Standing 5’7″ with above-average tools, he was traded alongside Brandon Sproat in exchange for Freddy Peralta. With the Brewers’ shortstop position locked by Joey Ortiz and other infield prospects, Williams is expected to transition to the outfield, potentially securing a center field role by mid-2026.
The complex shifts in prospect movement this offseason reveal a clear strategic emphasis by several organizations on youth and long-term value. The inclusion of multiple top MLB traded prospects in blockbuster trades underlines the urgency to build rotations and lineups with high ceilings. As these prospects develop, their success or struggles will directly inform whether these trades become defining moments or missed opportunities for their new franchises.
