25 MLB players who could get traded this offseason

The Major League Baseball offseason is officially underway! The Atlanta Braves are the only team to have taken notice thus far, bringing in R.A. Dickey and Bartolo Colon to strengthen their staff.

While Atlanta is winning the offseason right now, that seems unlikely to continue. There is significant talent available on the free-agent market, but it’s also pretty clear this year’s crop is watered down. The starting pitching market is particularly troublesome, as 36-year-old Rich Hill is the best starter available.

Hill is a good player, and deserves to get paid, but you can understand why some teams may be hesitant to spend $20 million per year on a guy who wasn’t even in the majors two years ago. Because of that, the trade market may prove to be more active than usual this winter.

There are a number of intriguing names already being bandied about. Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Sale seems to be the biggest of the bunch, but the White Sox have other pieces that could be attractive. The Detroit Tigers have already said they’ll listen to offers on all players, including Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera. And, of course, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Yasiel Puig seems destined for a change of scenery. Maybe he’ll be dealt for another player currently on the block … like Milwaukee Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun.

Those are some exceptional players, and the truth is, we’re just scratching the surface. With that in mind, here are 25 players we think could be dealt this offseason.

Chris Sale, P, Chicago White Sox
With the free agent pitching market regrettably thin, there’s no better time to trade one of the game’s best pitchers. With the White Sox trying to figure out what’s next for their flailing franchise, they could get an enormous haul for Sale, who has three years and $38 million left on his contract (including two years of team options).

Chris Archer, P, Tampa Bay Rays
Archer didn’t have the best year in 2016, but the team that trades for him will know his potential. It might actually be safer to take a gamble on Archer and trade a few pieces for him rather than taking a chance on what’s available on the free agent market. Archer is young, talented, and under team control until 2021. Try to find someone like that on the open market.

Brian McCann, C, New York Yankees
McCann’s time with the Yankees hasn’t been terribly productive, but he did provide a bridge to rookie phenom Gary Sanchez, who now has the starting job. He’s got two years and $34 million left on his contract, plus a $15 million vesting option. He’s still hitting at least 20 homers a season, and so for a catcher he’s definitely tradeable. But the Yankees need to be realistic about their asking price unless they want to pay a 32-year-old backup catcher $17 million next year.

Wade Davis, RP, Kansas City Royals
Davis, one of the best relievers in baseball as recently as 2015, spent more than half of 2016 on the disabled list with a forearm strain. His history was enough for the Royals to pick up his $10 million option for 2017, but that doesn’t mean they have to keep him. In reality, they may not be able to afford Davis for longer than this year. And if they can’t re-sign him, it might be best to just trade him and get something back.

Andrew Miller, RP, Cleveland Indians
Everyone saw what Miller is capable of in the playoffs this year. And there are teams that will want that at all costs. They’d have to absolutely bowl Cleveland over with an overwhelming offer, so the chances of it happening are low. But that doesn’t mean that teams shouldn’t try.

Ryan Braun, LF, Milwaukee Brewers
Braun just turned in his best season in four years, but it was for the rebuilding Milwaukee Brewers. Braun is too talented to stay on a team going nowhere for awhile, and he makes too much money for a small market rebuilding team to keep him. He’s got four years left on his contract (which comes to a total of $76 million), and a mutual buyout in 2021. With Braun’s past, the Brewers might not get as much for him as they want, but he’d be a fine addition to any team looking for a bat and some decent defense.

Miguel Cabrera, 1B, Detroit Tigers
The Tigers are listening on everybody, so it only makes sense that Cabrera’s name has quickly become the hottest on the hot stove. Soon to be 34, Cabrera remains one of the most productive hitters in baseball. He hit 34 home runs in 2016 while posting another sensational batting line at .316/.393/.563. He’s still due at least $220 million through the 2023 season, but could instantly solidify a contender’s lineup if they’re willing to pay the money and the prospects required.

Yasiel Puig, RF, Los Angeles Dodgers
It’s time for Puig and the Dodgers to make a clean break, and this offseason is a great time to do it. If a team can’t afford the prices that Mark Trumbo and Yoenis Cespedes will draw, putting in an offer for Puig could be a great option. He had an up-and-down 2016, some of which seemed to be related to his behavior (and the Dodgers’ handling of it), but that’s exactly why a new setting could be best thing for him.

Joey Votto, 1B, Cincinnati Reds
It could happen! Votto is the most expensive player on the rebuilding Cincinnati Reds, but for good reason: he’s insanely talented. Any team could use a player like that, but they’d have to be able to afford not only Votto’s future price tag, but the cost of the trade itself. Still, given Votto’s durability and resiliency, that trade could be worth it.

JD Martinez, OF, Detroit Tigers
Tigers GM Al Avila said that changes are coming to the team, and declining to extend Martinez’s two year, $18.5 million contract is one of those changes. Martinez still has one year left on that contract, but after his third straight impressive season, this is the best time to trade him. The Tigers would get at least one useful piece back in return, and they’d cut some payroll.

Carlos Gonzalez, RF, Colorado Rockies
Even though the Rockies are staffing up (and according to their owner will set a franchise record for payroll in 2017), and even though Gonzalez just had his best year since 2013, it might be time to say goodbye. He’s got just one year left on his contract, and a trade could bring in helpful pieces, like more pitchers they can sacrifice in the never-ending battle between the Rockies and the thin, thin air of Coors Field.

Sonny Gray, P, Oakland Athletics
It’s another year of “will they, won’t they” with the A’s and Sonny Gray. The 27-year-old is coming off an injury-riddled season, but came into last year with a career 2.88 ERA over nearly 500 innings. On top of that, he’s under team control through 2019. If you think Gray is bound to bounce-back, he’s an exceptional target for teams hoping to pick up a young, cheap pitcher. His value is incredibly low right now, however, so the A’s could wait until he proves himself in the first half if they really want to deal him.

Kyle Schwarber, OF, Chicago Cubs
Schwarber ended up making a difference to the Cubs in the World Series, but the question still remains: where does a National League team play a guy like Schwarber, who should ideally be a DH? The Cubs can find a place for him, and they are probably willing to do that, but he’d fit so much better on a team where he doesn’t have to play the field. He might not go anywhere, but the Cubs should be listening, since every team now truly knows what Schwarber can do.

Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pittsburgh Pirates
It seems crazy to think the Pirates would part with McCutchen, but we were having the same conversation just a few months ago. McCutchen is coming off the worst offensive season of his career, but is still just 30 years old and has a history of superstar-level performance. He’s owed a modest $14 million in 2017 and has a $14.5 million option in 2018. That’s appealing, even if McCutchen doesn’t fully recover his old form.

Brian Dozier, 2B, Minnesota Twins
Dozier’s value has never been higher, and that could be a good thing for the rebuilding Twins. The 29-year-old is coming off an incredible season in which he mashed 42 home runs while playing second base. That type of pop is tough to come by, and should make Dozier appealing to other clubs. On top of that, his contract is laughably affordable. Dozier will make just $6 million in 2017 and $9 million in 2018. It might be a tough sell for Minnesota, considering he’s one of the club’s best players, but it’s a trade worth exploring.

Jose Quintana, P, Chicago White Sox
If the White Sox are truly going to sell, Quintana seems a likely target to go. While he’s clearly a step down from Sale, Quintana has a 3.41 ERA over five seasons in the majors. He’s still just 27, and is making less than $10 million per season until 2019 (when options kick in). He’s good, he’s young and he’s cost-controlled. There’s not much more you could ask for in a pitcher.

Justin Verlander, SP, Detroit Tigers
It seems the Tigers are making a wider range of players available than we anticipated coming into the offseason, and there are reports now suggesting that extends to Verlander, a long-time franchise cornerstone. Verlander’s trade value rebounded in 2016 thanks to a Cy Young-caliber season. And though he’s still owed $84M over the next three seasons, he’ll definitely have value for big-spending teams looking for a top-of-the-rotation bulldog.

Evan Longoria, 3B, Tampa Bay Rays
Longoria is scheduled to make $94 million through the 2022 season, which given the current free agent landscape should prove to be a bargain. The financial situation should appeal to teams looking to add an impact bat. Longoria is also coming off one of his most productive seasons, delivering a career-high 36 home runs.

Howie Kendrick, Util, Los Angeles Dodgers
Kendrick is looking for a defined role and consistent playing time, neither of which are likely to come in Los Angeles. As such, he’s shaping up as one of the most likely players to be moved this winter. Kendrick has one year and $10M left on his contract, so he could serve as a sensible stopgap for a contender.
TRADED: Kendrick was dealt to the Phillies in exchange for Darin Ruf and Darnell Sweeney.

Jake Odorizzi, P, Tampa Bay Rays
Get ready for another offseason in which we wonder whether the Rays will deal all their young pitchers. Odorizzi once again joins Archer and Drew Smyly on the market. Odorizzi gives up far too many home runs, but there’s still a lot to like here. He’s 26, under team control through 2019 and tossed a career-high 187 ⅔ innings last year. He won’t fetch as much as Archer in a deal and should be looked at as a solid consolation prize.

Ian Kinsler, 2B, Detroit Tigers
If the Tigers sell, Kinsler seems like one of the club’s most attractive pieces. Though he’s 34, Kinsler is still effective at the plate, and he isn’t owed a ton of money moving forward. Kinsler will make just $11 million next season, and has a $10 million club option for 2018. He’s not as big a name as Verlander or Cabrera, but Kinsler will be much easier to move in a deal.

David Robertson, RP, Chicago White Sox
Robertson saw his numbers take a slight decline last year, but he’s still among the best closers in the game. While there is plenty of reliever talent on the market, Robertson comes at a significantly lower price. The 31-year-old will make $12 million in 2017 and $13 in 2018. That’s a far cry from the type of deal Aroldis Chapman will receive. Teams that miss out on the free-agent options have a tremendous fallback in Robertson.

Sean Doolittle, RP, Oakland Athletics
Doolittle falls into the same category as Robertson. He’s a great fallback for a team looking for bullpen help and he won’t cost a ton of money. He’s also a lefty, which helps. The 30-year-old Doolittle did miss time with injuries last year, but performed well when on field, and recovered his velocity late in the season. He’ll make just $2.6 million in 2017, under $5 million in 2018 and has options for 2019 and 2020.

Vince Velasquez, P, Philadelphia Phillies
If there was ever a time to trade a guy like Vince Velasquez, a power pitcher with great potential, this is the year to do it. Teams who are desperate for pitching could be willing to take a flier on Velasquez, who’s had some issues with injuries and general proficiency on the mound. The Phillies are entering the final stages of their rebuild, though, and might want to hang on to a young guy with potential.

Drew Smyly, P, Tampa Bay Rays
Smyly falls into exactly the same space as Odorizzi. He’s 27, under control through 2018 and just tossed a career-high in innings pitched. Problem is, he wasn’t as good. Smyly posted a 4.88 ERA over 175 ⅓ innings last year, a far cry from what he’s shown in the past. Amazingly, Smyly’s struggles with the long ball make Odorizzi look like a ground ball machine. Still, there’s value and potential here. Smyly should cost the least in a deal and remains an intriguing pitcher who had a down year in 2016.

The Stew’s Chris Cwik, Liz Roscher and Mark Townsend contributed to this post.

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