The offseason gives teams an opportunity to shake up their rosters in all sorts of interesting ways ahead of the coming season. Each year also comes with trade rumors for various players. Whether it’s due to injury or impending free agency, certain players always seem more likely to be dealt than others. With that in mind, here is a look at one player from each National League Central team who could be dealt before Opening Day rolls around in 2027. 

Milwaukee Brewers: William Contreras

After reportedly turning down a contract extension in 2025, the superstar backstop will hit the open market in 2028 as one of the most sought-after free agent catchers in recent memory. Contreras is one of the best all-around players in the game, with 15-plus home runs and a batting average of .260 or better in five consecutive seasons. Not only that, Contreras put the Brewers on his back during the playoffs with a .373/.448/.588 slash line, a 1.036 OPS, three homers and nine RBIs. That production earned him World Series MVP honors, making him all the more desirable this offseason.

With Contreras reportedly declining a proposed extension last offseason, it’s unlikely that Milwaukee gets a deal done now. However, the catcher has proved himself to be an invaluable commodity. Now that the Brew Crew has won their first World Series title, ownership could be provoked into spending more money to retain Contreras. That being said, they haven’t shown a propensity for spending in the past. That could leave Contreras as a viable trade candidate for this offseason, with plenty of teams in desperate need of catching help.

Chicago Cubs: Colin Rea

Rea is due just $6.5 million for 2027 before becoming an unrestricted free agent in 2028. The 38-year-old still has a bit of baseball left in him, pitching to a 4.34 ERA across 137 innings of work in 2026. Most of that time was spent in between the starting rotation and a bulk-relief role in the bullpen. With Chicago’s rotation woes heading into 2027, it’s unlikely they’ll be willing to deal from a place of weakness. However, Rea could net a decent return if the Cubs can interest the right party.

It might be difficult to see how Rea still has the ability to contribute at the big-league level. A 4.34 ERA on the season isn’t exactly incredible, but the righty looked great down the stretch. The veteran pitched to a 2.61 ERA across his final seven games and a 3.40 ERA over his last 15 appearances of the year. Rea has proven he’s more than capable of filling out the back-end of a rotation. He shouldn’t be relied upon to anchor a group, but he could provide valuable depth to teams in need of starting pitching.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Ryan O’Hearn

After signing a landmark deal with the Pirates, O’Hearn delivered quite well in 2026, hitting 18 homers with a .770 OPS. That was about the same as his career-best 2025 season (17 HRs, .803 OPS). The slugger is in the second year of his two-year, $29 million deal with Pittsburgh before he hits free agency again in 2028. It’s the largest free agent contract the Pirates have ever given out in terms of average annual value. O’Hearn will make $15 million in 2027, making him an inexpensive option for teams in need of a slugger to balance out their lineup.

O’Hearn spent the majority of the season split evenly between right field and first base (335.1 INN apiece). The slugger seems best suited as a first baseman and designated hitter, with a .970 fielding percentage in the outfield. O’Hearn also posted -4 Outs Above Average in right field compared to +1 OAA at the cold corner. With Spencer Horwitz relatively set at first base, O’Hearn could be on the move as a one-year rental. An O’Hearn trade could bring Pittsburgh a sizable return that would set them up for the future.

MLB’s 2026 RBI king won’t become a free agent until 2029. However, St. Louis has proven themselves capable of trading away aging talent to bolster their farm system with fresh talent. Burleson has been a consistent contributor for the Cardinals over the last few years. He’s hit 20-plus homers with a batting average of .275 or better in two of the last three seasons. He has an OPS above .800 in each of the last two years and is fresh off of a ridiculous 116-RBI season. Sure, RBIs are more of a team statistic, but it’s still impressive.

Burleson is still eligible for arbitration until 2029, making him a more affordable option than O’Hearn for teams in need of first base help. He’s also proven himself to be a viable defensive option at the cold corner (+7 Fielding Run Value). That was a marked improvement from previous years (-5 FRV, 2025). Burleson’s lack of injuries in his career is also a major plus for his case. He played 160 games in 2026 and has played 150 or more games in two of the last three seasons. In the only year he didn’t, he played in 139 contests.

Cincinnati Reds: Elly De La Cruz

De La Cruz remains one of the most intriguing trade candidates on the market this offseason. The superstar shortstop turned down a massive contract extension from the Reds in 2025. Reportedly, it would have made him the highest-paid player in franchise history, even surpassing Joey Votto’s 10-year, $225 million extension. Only a few teams have the prospect capital to get a deal done, but those same teams are in dire need of a star shortstop to get them over the hump. De La Cruz would certainly provide that.

The 24-year-old is fresh off of his first 30/30 season. It’s just the fourth in Reds’ franchise history alongside Eric Davis (1987), Barry Larkin (1996) and Brandon Phillips (2007). De La Cruz has stopped stealing as much since his landmark 67-stolen base season in 2024. He’s still one of the most electric talents in all of baseball. That combined with his ability to play every day (140-plus games in three consecutive seasons) make him a fascinating trade candidate. He won’t become a free agent until 2030, but Cincinnati might opt to trade him for a massive prospect haul instead of holding onto their star.