With the uncertainty surrounding the labor negotiations ahead of the 2027 season, Philadelphia Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski and his fellow MLB decision-makers find themselves in an interesting spot. According to Jon Morisi of MLB Network, pending free agents may have new value on the trade market.
Hearing MLB trade candidates with 1 year of control left — Logan Gilbert, Steven Kwan, Joe Ryan, Sandy Alcántara, et al — are unlikely to be moved for prospects this month, because teams aren’t sure what kind of 2027 season to expect.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) November 8, 2026
However, sources say pending free agents…
Philadelphia has several attractive contracts for opposing squads looking for a deal under this trade format. Jhoan Duran, Zack Wheeler, Bryson Stott, Brandon Marsh, Brad Keller, and Tim Mayza all will become free agents ahead of the 2028 campaign if they're not extended. While it seems unfathomable that Dombrowski would deal his ace, Wheeler, or his closer, Duran, just about any option should be on the table to fix the Phillies' ailing offense.
Stott and Marsh have significant value for Philadelphia
Per Spotrac’s Market Value Average Annual Value, Stott leads the way in projected market value at $12.6 million AAV, ahead of Duran ($11.3M AAV), Marsh ($11M AAV), and Mayza ($1.9M AAV). Since Wheeler and Keller are expected to retire at the end of their current deals, they do not have a listed market value on Spotrac.
Currently, Stott ranks fifth on Spotrac’s 2028 MLB Free Agent list for position players based on his market value projection. Ronald Acuna Jr. ($36.5M AAV), Bo Bichette ($30.5M AAV), Jeremy Pena ($17.8M AAV), and Isaac Paredes ($24.9M AAV) are the only position players ahead of the Phillies infielder. After a seamless transition to third base during the 2026 season, it would be hard to see Stott playing outside Citizens Bank Park without a high-profile player like Sandy Alcantara ($19.5 AAV) returning as part of such a deal.
Despite second-half struggles that reduced him to platoon usage at the end of the season, Marsh still displayed All-Star-worthy talent in the first half of the 2026 season. Could he be the key player if the Phillies were to target right-handed-hitting catcher William Contreras ($14.3M AAV) or switch-hitting backstop Adley Rutschman ($7.9M AAV)?
Tim Mayza’s contract might seem like a throwaway in this scenario; however, that nearly $2 million in value could prove extremely useful. It could be enough to entice the Detroit Tigers to send Matt Vierling ($3.2M AAV) to provide … you guessed it … a right-handed hitter to even out the Phillies batting order.
From a bookkeeping perspective, these trades would let the Phillies improve part of the team while keeping the financial report in check during these uncertain times. Right now, that seems to be about the only way MLB general managers can operate until the grievance between MLB and the MLBPA is resolved.
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