MLB.com published an article on Sunday titled “The most expected players to switch teams this season (so far)..” The article ranked the top 18 players who switched teams this offseason by projected Wins Above Replacement in 2026, according to FanGraphs’ Steamer projections. Those 18 players include three former Twins, and new Minnesota first baseman Josh Bell received an honorable mention.
Ex-twins Sonny Gray, Jorge Polanco and Tyler Mahle are among the “projected players to switch teams this season”
Gray, who was traded by the St. Louis Cardinals to the Boston Red Sox for pitching prospects Richard Fitts and Brandon Clarke and cash, sits at No. 1 on the list with an expected WAR of 3.9. Gray, 36, posted a 4.28 ERA in 180 2/3 innings last season, but his 3.39 FIP, 26.7% strikeout and 5.0% walk rate suggest he will return to the version of himself that finished second in the American League Cy Young voting with the Twins in 2023.
Polanco, who signed a two-year, $40 million deal with the New York Mets to become their first baseman, ranks 10th with an expected WAR of 1.8. After the Twins traded Polanco to the Seattle Mariners for right-handed pitchers Justin Topa, Anthony DeSclafani and Darren Bowen and highly regarded outfield prospect Gabriel Gonzalez in the 2023-24 offseason, Polanco struggled in 2024 and re-signed with Seattle on a one-year, $7.75 million contract. In 138 games last season, the former Twins second baseman posted 2.6 fWAR and slashed .265/.326/.495 (132 wRC+) with 26 home runs and 78 RBI.
In Game 2 of the 2025 ALDS against the Detroit Tigers, Polanco hit two home runs off back-to-back AL CY Young Award winner Tarik Skubal to give the Mariners a 3–2 victory. Then in Game 5 of the series, Polanco hit a walk-off single in the 15th inning to send the Mariners to the ALCS to face the Toronto Blue Jays.
As for Mahle, the righty starter signed a one-year, $10 million contract with the San Francisco Giants after two seasons with the Texas Rangers. He ranks 15th on the list with an expected WAR of 1.5. The Twins acquired him from the Cincinnati Reds at the 2022 Trade Deadline, and he only played in nine games with Minnesota from 2022 to 2023 due to injuries. He also struggled to stay healthy when he signed a two-year deal with Texas, appearing in just three games in 2024 and 16 in 2025. He was dominant last year when healthy, posting a 2.18 ERA in 86 2/3 innings.
Additionally, Bell, who Minnesota signed to a one-year, $7 million contract, is listed as an honorable mention with a projected WAR of 1.1.
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