The trade deadline is a week away and you’re probably going to hear more rumors of deals than you can handle in that time. When the hot stove cooks, the focus for position players most often is on what their bat can bring to a lineup.

But if you’ve been here long enough, you know we like to focus on defense, so we pay attention to what trade candidates could bring in that area (if you haven’t been here long enough, now you know that’s what we do).

We could easily list 20, 30, or even 50 players, but in the interest of crafting something readable, we’re giving you a summary of those who are pertinent and those who are interesting, either in terms of the skills they bring or those they don’t.

Diamondbacks third baseman Eugenio Suárez is the biggest available bat. He’s the NL leader in home runs and RBI. But defense is not his strong suit. In fact, with -4 Runs Saved in 2025, he’s on pace for his 9th season with negative Runs Saved in the last 10 seasons. He hits more than enough to make up for that over an extended period of time.

There are other third basemen who could be available who bring good defense to the field. If Nolan Arenado decides to waive his no-trade clause, he would be an intriguing acquisition. Arenado is no longer the superstar he was in 2022, but he tallied 6 Runs Saved last year and has 5 in 2025.

Rockies 30-year-old third baseman Ryan McMahon, 4 years younger than Arenado, has similar defensive stats as Arenado. But his offensive numbers, especially given he plays half the season in Coors Field, leave a lot to be desired.

That’s kind of a trend on this year’s trade market. The really good hitters aren’t good defensive players and vice-versa (most teams aren’t going to trade someone who is good at both).

One exception has been Orioles outfielder Ramón Laureano, who is hitting .279 with an .861 OPS and 3 Runs Saved in both left field and right field. Laureano’s defensive value is in using his arm to deter baserunners. He has an MLB-best 35 Outfield Arm Runs Saved since 2018 but also has -28 Runs Saved from range in that time.

He’s been a more complete player than Cedric Mullins, whose 2025 has been an aberration but perhaps a change of scenery would help. Mullins had 5 and 7 Runs Saved in center field in 2022 and 2023, respectively, but has slipped to an MLB-worst -16 there this season. Another Oriole who could get dealt is Ryan O’Hearn, who has -11 Runs Saved at first base and -10 in right field for his career.

If Jarren Duran, Wilyer Abreu, Adolis García, or Steven Kwan are actually available (we’re skeptical, but others are listing them on their rumor mills), any of them would be the best outfield defenders. Duran led center fielders in Runs Saved last season and is playing a solid left field for the Red Sox. Abreu, Duran’s teammate, won the Fielding Bible Award in right field last season and ranks 3rd at the position in Runs Saved this season.

One of the players Abreu is behind is García, whose 14 Runs Saved are the most at the position. García was primarily known for his arm in the past, but in 2025 he has shown the kind of range he’s never had before.

Kwan led left fielders in Runs Saved in 2022 and 2023 and looks like he’ll do so again in 2025, as he’s paced the field with 14 Runs Saved.

The other standout outfield defender and one more likely to get dealt is Harrison Bader of the Twins. He has 8 Runs Saved in left field and 3 in center field entering Wednesday. He has a track record that is largely good, with past seasons of 15 and 18 Runs Saved in center field. This is his first year in left and the transition has been smooth. He ranks 2nd to Kwan with 17 Good Fielding Plays at the position.

Bader has more to offer as a hitter than two other solidly-performing defensive outfielders who could get dealt, Pirates left fielder Tommy Pham and White Sox outfielder Michael A. Taylor. Pham has been very good in left field, where he ranks tied for 3rd in Runs Saved in 2025. Taylor, who has always played a good center field, has 5 Runs Saved in right field and ranks 2nd in Runs Saved for an outfielder over the last five seasons.

White Sox center fielder Luis Robert has had past seasons of 9 and 7 Runs Saved, but he’s managed 1 and now -2 the last two years and hasn’t thrown a runner out trying to advance in either season. But he was a 5-WAR player as recently as 2023 and has had a recent 8-game offensive surge so he may be coveted for his potential as a hitter and fielder.

One of the better infield defenders who could be available has been traded during two of the past three seasons, Guardians first baseman Carlos Santana. Santana has been a below-average hitter at first base this season but he’s enjoying his third straight very good year with the glove. In fact, only Matt Olson has more Runs Saved at first base than Santana both this season and over the last three seasons.

That rounds out our list for now, though other players becoming available would certainly interest us (Ke’Bryan Hayes, anyone?). Happy Hot Stove to you!