The landscape of Major League Baseball trade talks often centers around players approaching free agency and excelling on teams that have seen their playoff aspirations falter. Commonly referred to as "rentals," these players are valued for their potential to significantly bolster a contending team, even if it is only for a brief period before they enter the free-agent market. Notable examples from last summer's trade season included Jack Flaherty (from Detroit to Los Angeles), Yusei Kikuchi (Toronto to Houston), Tanner Scott (Miami to San Diego), Carlos Estévez (Los Angeles Angels to Philadelphia), and Jesse Winker (Washington to New York Mets). Ahead is a ranking of the top 25 rental candidates anticipated for the 2025 MLB trade market, evaluated based on current performance, expected impact, remaining club control, and the likelihood of being traded. Additionally, some honorable mentions provide a broader view of potential trade targets.

Jarren Duran, Mitch Keller, along with various non-rental targets, are also expected to emerge in the trade discussions. Pitchers like Tyler Anderson (Los Angeles Angels), Jalen Beeks (Boston Red Sox), and Aaron Civale (Cleveland Guardians) are among the candidates to watch. Other notable pitchers include Zach Eflin (Baltimore Orioles), Erick Fedde (St. Louis Cardinals), and Andrew Heaney (Pittsburgh Pirates), while key hitters such as Yoán Moncada (Los Angeles Angels), Tommy Pham (Pittsburgh Pirates), and Luis Rengifo (Los Angeles Angels) also command attention.

At number 25, Shelby Miller of the Arizona Diamondbacks emerges as a compelling candidate, having signed a one-year deal worth $1 million in the offseason. His current statistics reflect a strong performance with a 1.98 ERA and 9.9 K/9 in 37 games. Although he has been sidelined with a forearm strain, his showcase of skills may attract interest from teams looking for bullpen help. Meanwhile, Michael Lorenzen of the Kansas City Royals, ranked 24th, offers a mixed bag of results this season with a 4.61 ERA in 99.2 innings. Despite his oblique strain keeping him out of action since early July, he remains a player of interest due to his previous success and production in high-stakes scenarios.