What happened: Front offices holding trade candidates entering their final year of team control are unlikely to move them for prospect packages, according to Jon Morosi. The group includes Logan Gilbert, Steven Kwan, Joe Ryan, and Sandy Alcantara. Clubs negotiating ahead of the 2027 season are prioritizing established major-league talent over minor-league returns.

Why it matters: Contenders seeking frontline pitching and contact hitting will need to surrender active big-league assets rather than farm depth to land proven contributors. That high acquisition threshold threatens to stall early offseason discussions across the league. Clubs holding expiring stars must decide whether to negotiate contract extensions or risk seeing their leverage diminish.

What to watch: Front offices will test market price tags as winter meetings approach, gauging whether asking prices soften.