The offseason is here! At MLB Trade Rumors, our Top 50 Free Agent List and the contract/team predictions associated with each player has come to be an annual tradition and one of our most anticipated pieces of the year. However, free agency only makes up a portion of the offseason roster reconstruction that MLBTR fans follow so voraciously. Trades are every bit as pivotal to weaving the offseason tapestry, though they’re inherently a bit more difficult to predict, as they involve valuing multiple players and are generally less dependent on precedent.
We took a look at 25 trade candidates early last offseason and saw six of the top eight moved, with seven overall members of the list changing hands (and another five eventually being traded during the 2024 season). We’re upping that number to 35 this time around, in large part because a few teams figure to have a broad number of players available on the market.
The White Sox will continue their “anything that’s not nailed down” approach to the trade market, and the Cardinals for the first time in recent history are taking a step back and adopting a more future-looking approach as they overhaul their player development department. (Put another way: they’ll be selling off a whole lot of veterans.) The Rays have several players nearing the end of their control windows in Tampa Bay, which always drives player movement. The Rangers are looking to drop back under the luxury tax threshold while simultaneously looking to add multiple starting pitchers.
Before we get to the list, a note on methodology. This isn’t a strict ranking of players’ trade value, nor is it solely about likelihood of being moved. We’re trying to balance both of those things, an inherently subjective exercise. All projected salaries for arbitration-eligible players are courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz.
1. Garrett Crochet, LHP, White Sox | Arbitration-eligible through 2026 ($2.9MM projected salary in 2025)
No mystery here. Crochet was the most talked-about trade candidate for much of the summer and only wound up staying put in Chicago after reports surfaced that he was seeking an extension if he was to pitch in the postseason and was adamant about remaining a starter in the aftermath of a trade. Crochet, the No. 11 pick in the 2020 draft, has been a high-profile arm since the moment he was drafted but has been beset by injuries.
The 2024 campaign was Crochet’s first full season back from Tommy John surgery and first full season as a big league starter. He entered the year with just 85 professional innings due to those health woes but pitched 146 innings out of the Chicago rotation. Fatigue was an issue down the stretch, as his results faded late in the year, but Crochet still notched a 3.58 ERA with elite strikeout and walk rates (35.1% and 5.5%, respectively). He averaged 97.2 mph on his heater and shouldn’t have many — if any — workload restrictions next year. He’s an ace-caliber arm (2.69 FIP, 2.53 SIERA) who’s being paid like a middle reliever because his lack of innings has curbed his earning power in arbitration. Every contender in MLB will be calling the White Sox about Crochet this winter.
2. Ryan Helsley, RHP, Cardinals | Arb-eligible through 2025 ($6.9MM projected salary in 2025)
The Cardinals made clear they’re taking a step back, cutting payroll, and focusing on revamping their player development practice. The 2025 season isn’t going to be a competitive one for them. Helsley is one of the best relievers in the game, with a 1.83 ERA over his past three seasons. He saved an MLB-best 49 games in 2024 while pitching to a 2.04 ERA with a 29.7% strikeout rate, 8.6% walk rate and a fastball that averaged 99.6 mph. He’s controlled for one more season and carries a modest arbitration projection because he was injured for part of 2023 and didn’t have a full season of closing work until 2024.
The St. Louis bullpen has several trade candidates, with top setup man JoJo Romero also a surefire trade candidate who’s controlled through 2026. But Helsley is the big fish in the Cardinals’ bullpen, and he’s a virtual lock to be traded this winter.
3. Erick Fedde, RHP, Cardinals | Guaranteed $7.5MM in 2025
Fedde might not be quite as much of a lock as Helsley to move, but he’s not far behind. The former first-round pick washed out after several injury-plagued years with the Nats but reinvented himself in the Korea Baseball Organization in 2023, taking home KBO MVP honors in a dominant showing. He returned to MLB on a two-year, $15MM deal with the White Sox that looked like a bargain almost immediately. Fedde was traded to the Cardinals at the deadline when St. Louis was still in “go for it” mode. The team’s priorities have changed, and they can now recoup some young talent by peddling Fedde on the heels of 177 1/3 innings of 3.30 ERA ball, during which time he punched out 21.2% of opponents against a 7.2% walk rate. Fedde isn’t an ace and might not be quite as good as that 3.30 ERA suggests, but he’s a clear No. 3 or 4 starter who’s being paid like a reclamation project. He’ll generate a lot of interest, and since he’s a free agent after 2025, there’s no reason for a retooling Cardinals club to hang onto him.
4. Devin Williams, RHP, Brewers | Signed through 2025 ($10.5MM club option for 2025, which is his final arbitration season; Brewers could buy out for $250K. Projected $8MM arbitration salary)
Many will assume Williams is on here because of the unfortunate way in which his season — and the Brewers’ season — ended. That’s not the case, however. Williams stood as an obvious trade candidate long before that postseason meltdown. The Brewers are no strangers to trading their best players as they progress through their arbitration years and are particularly frugal when it comes to relief pitching. Josh Hader was in trade chatter for years before being moved with 1.5 seasons of club control remaining. Williams is arguably as good — or at least as talented — on a per-inning basis and will be more affordable.
Williams can command a solid trade return for his final season of club control, while the Brewers save some money, add to their base of young talent, and turn the ninth inning over to a more affordable arm like Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe or Joel Payamps. Milwaukee isn’t far south of its 2024 payroll even if Williams is traded and Willy Adames signs elsewhere, and owner Mark Attanasio’s recent comments didn’t exactly read like someone planning a major payroll spike.
5. Yandy Diaz, 1B, Rays | Guaranteed $10MM through 2025 (contract contains $12MM club option for 2026, with no buyout)
The Rays are among the most cost-conscious teams in the sport. They have a deceptive level of payroll flexibility this offseason after trading several veterans at the deadline, but Diaz’s $10MM salary will still be a notable contract for them. The 33-year-old had a down season at the plate relative to his high standards, but much of his struggle was confined to April. From May 1 onward, Diaz hit .297/.355/.447 in 490 plate appearances.
Diaz doesn’t hit for a ton of power, however, and the Rays have a heavily right-handed lineup they’d likely prefer to balance out. Teams like the Mariners, Astros, Yankees and Pirates could be on the hunt for first basemen this winter. Flipping Diaz and allotting his playing time to Jonathan Aranda, Curtis Mead and/or Christopher Morel could create flexibility to add in another area while also netting some young talent. The affordable no-buyout option for the 2026 campaign only adds to the allure for other clubs.
6. Jesus Luzardo, LHP, Marlins | Arb-eligible through 2026 ($6MM projected salary in 2025)
Luzardo likely would’ve been moved at the trade deadline had he not been injured. Health troubles have been a persistent theme for the talented former top prospect, and that could hamper his trade market this winter. Luzardo spent time on the IL with elbow tightness early in 2024 but returned and looked healthy — at least until he suffered a stress reaction in his lower back that proved to be a season-ending injury. He’s also missed considerable time with a forearm strain in 2022, a broken hand in 2021, and Tommy John surgery as a prospect.
Perhaps the Marlins will want Luzardo to demonstrate his health in 2025 before shopping him, but they’d run the risk of a notable injury completely tanking his value. He’s coming off a lackluster 5.00 ERA in a dozen 2024 starts but from 2022-23 turned in 279 innings of 3.48 ERA ball with very strong strikeout and walk rates. Luzardo is still only 27 and won’t be 28 until next September. He has two years of affordable club control remaining. Trading him after missing three months with a back injury certainly isn’t selling at peak value, but the Marlins can still command a good return for the left-hander. It’s worth noting that the Fish could discuss a wide range of arms this offseason, including Braxton Garrett and Ryan Weathers, but they both have four more years of team control and dealt with injuries.
7. Pete Fairbanks, RHP, Rays | Guaranteed $4.667MM through 2025 ($3.667MM in 2025, $7MM club option for 2026 with $1MM buyout)
Like Diaz, Fairbanks is a solid veteran contributor playing on a three-year extension he signed two offseasons ago. His $3.667MM salary this coming season is hardly prohibitive, even by Tampa Bay’s standards. But Fairbanks has had injury problems, and the Rays are down to two years of control over the right-hander. With any significant injury in 2025, his 2026 club option might not look so appealing. Right now, he’s a flamethrowing closer who averaged 97.5 mph on his heater in 2024 (and 99 mph at peak). At his best, Fairbanks has punched out more than a third of his opponents and done so with better command than most triple-digit firemen. There is obvious injury concern for any team that acquires him, but the upside is tantalizing. Fairbanks has a 2.89 ERA and 32.2% strikeout rate dating back to 2020.
8. Josh Naylor, 1B, Guardians | Arb-eligible through 2025 ($12MM projected salary in 2025)
Cleveland has a habit of trading its best players before they reach free agency, as evidenced by swaps sending out Francisco Lindor, Carlos Carrasco, Corey Kluber and others over the years. There have been exceptions — Michael Brantley comes to mind, and Shane Bieber likely wouldn’t have been traded this season had he remained healthy — but that’s typically been their modus operandi. If a top talent isn’t amenable to an extension, trade him late in arbitration, recoup some young talent, keep the payroll down, and keep the farm stocked. It’s a recipe that’s worked for them.
With Kyle Manzardo and Jhonkensy Noel reaching MLB readiness and Naylor projected to earn $12MM in his final season of club control, a trade wouldn’t be a shock. Naylor is far from a bad contract, but his projected arb price only carries a few million dollars of surplus value. He probably won’t bring back a top prospect, but he can fetch a couple names to add to the middle of a perennially strong Cleveland farm. The Yankees, Astros, Mariners, D-backs and Giants could all be looking for first base help.
9. Aaron Civale, RHP, Brewers | Arb-eligible through 2025 ($8MM projected salary in 2025)
Trading Civale would be peak Brewers: acquire a player who fills an in-season need and will contain modest surplus value in the offseason, then cash in on that surplus value over the winter. In the past couple seasons alone, they’ve acquired Mark Canha, Esteury Ruiz and Abraham Toro, only to trade each within a calendar year of said acquisition. Milwaukee is a freewheeling club that’s unafraid to act boldly on the trade market.
Civale’s $8MM projected salary is hardly a burden, particularly once he pitched to a 3.53 ERA in 14 starts with the Brewers after being traded by the Rays in early July. However, that solid ERA came with pedestrian strikeout and walk rates. The Brewers also have a knack for finding quality arms at lower rates than this (see: Tobias Myers, Colin Rea). They’ll still be in the market for pitching help even if they move Civale, but trading him would be a very Brewers-esque means of leveraging the final season of a player’s club control to add young talent and free up financial resources to redirect to other areas of the roster.
10. Nolan Arenado, 3B, Cardinals | Guaranteed $74MM through 2027 ($32MM in 2025, $27MM in 2026, $15MM in 2027; Rockies paying $5MM of 2025 salary)
Arenado’s past two seasons have been more good than great. He’s produced slightly better-than-average offensive numbers (.269/.320/.426) after playing at an MVP-caliber level in 2022. He remains a clear plus defender at the hot corner, but not quite to the extent he was earlier in his career when he was arguably the best defensive player in all of baseball. With Arenado’s 34th birthday looming in April, it’s fair to question whether there’s a true rebound in his bat.
Even if there isn’t, this version of Arenado is still quite useful, particularly given the thin free agent market at third base. The Rockies are paying $5MM of what’s left on his deal, so an acquiring team would be committing $69MM over a three-year term. For a strong defensive third baseman with 15- to 25-homer pop and terrific bat-to-ball skills (14.5% strikeout rate in 2024), it’s not an egregious price to pay. And if Arenado’s bat does tick back upward, it has a chance to be a bargain. Arenado has a full no-trade clause and declined to exercise an opt-out in his contract after the 2021 season when he likely could’ve earned more than he had remaining on his contract. He said at the time he was committed to winning in St. Louis, but now that the team is gearing up for a youth movement, it’s possible he could rethink that stance. The Cardinals, looking to trim payroll and create opportunity for younger players, seem likely to at least approach him about the possibility.
11. Sonny Gray, RHP, Cardinals | Guaranteed $65MM through 2026 ($25MM in 2025, $35MM in 2026, $30MM club option for 2027 with $5MM buyout)
Like Arenado, Gray has a full no-trade clause. That, coupled with his backloaded contract, makes him a tricky player to move. Gray was selective in his decision to sign with the Cardinals and implied from the outset in free agency that location mattered and that money was not his only priority. That said, Gray is also similar to Arenado in the sense that he’s a mid-30s veteran who committed to the Cardinals when the club was in win-now mode. Playing out the final two (or three) seasons of his current deal on what figures to be a non-contending team may not hold the same appeal.
With two years and $65MM still owed to him, Gray is hardly a bargain. That’s probably more than he’d get in free agency on the heels of an age-34 campaign that saw him post a 3.84 ERA in 166 1/3 frames, though his 30.3% strikeout rate and 5.8% walk rate were far more intriguing. Contenders with deep pockets and/or clean payroll outlooks could show interest. The Reds have already been loosely linked to Gray, and the Dodgers, Orioles, Giants, Rangers and Tigers stand as speculative fits.
12. Willson Contreras, C, Cardinals | Guaranteed $59.5MM through 2027 ($18MM in 2025, $18MM in 2026, $18.5MM in 2027, $17.5MM club option for 2028 with $5MM buyout)
More Cardinals! And … more no-trade clauses! Contreras has full veto power on any trades through the 2026 season and is taking home a notable salary in each of the three remaining years on his contract. He’s also absolutely raked in his first 209 games as a Cardinal, slashing .263/.367/.468 with 35 homers in 853 plate appearances (133 wRC+). Contreras is walking more than ever, still hitting for power and remains a mixed bag when it comes to defense. He’s blocking well, per Statcast, and has a solid 24% caught-stealing rate with St. Louis. His framing remains below average.
The three years and $59.5MM remaining on Contreras’ contract don’t feel outlandish. He might even have a case to top that mark if he were a free agent at the moment. The offseason crop of catchers is thin. The Padres, Blue Jays, Rays and Guardians will all be looking for catching help this winter. MLBTR’s Tim Dierkes recently speculated on a particularly fun match … back to the Cubs, who are also seeking a new catcher and a means to upgrade their lineup.
13. Jorge Soler, DH, Braves | Guaranteed $26MM through 2026 ($13MM in 2025, $13MM in 2026)
Note: Soler was traded to the Angels shortly after this post was published.
The Braves’ acquisition of Soler at the trade deadline was a callback to the team’s 2021 pickup of Soler that helped fuel a World Series win. It was also a reminder of the team’s perhaps unparalleled willingness to take on major salary in trades (as they’ve previously done with Soler, Mark Melancon, Raisel Iglesias, Jarred Kelenic and others). Soler was a clear band-aid for an injury-ravaged lineup but creates an obvious square peg on a roster that also includes Marcell Ozuna. Soler is in many ways Ozuna Lite — a right-handed slugger with prolific power but glaring defensive limitations that relegate him to DH duty. Rostering both players next year would mean committing to playing one of them in the outfield on a regular basis — an untenable situation to which no team would like to acquiesce.
Ozuna would be the easier of the two to trade, as his $16MM club option is less cumbersome. But Ozuna is also coming off a season in which he was Atlanta’s best hitter. Soler hit well in his return to Truist Park, slashing .243/.356/.493 with nine round-trippers in 182 plate appearances. His contract is reasonable, and a team looking for some righty pop that’s willing to commit to a full-time DH could do far worse than plugging Soler and his thunderous power into that role.
14. Ryan Pressly, RHP, Astros | Guaranteed $14MM through 2025
The offseason hasn’t even begun in earnest, and Houston general manager Dana Brown has already suggested he “may need to get creative” with the payroll to make necessary additions. That doesn’t bode well for ’Stros fans hoping to see lavish spending. Thanks in part to owner Jim Crane’s ill-fated signings of Jose Abreu and Rafael Montero (both made while operating without a GM) and also to a large arbitration class, the Astros project for a $218MM payroll next season before making a single move (hat tip to the indispensable RosterResource).
Of Houston’s veterans on guaranteed contracts, Pressly could be the most movable. He’s coming off a nice season with a 3.49 ERA, 23.8% strikeout rate and 7.4% walk rate. It’s not his best work, but the soon-to-be 36-year-old has been a high quality leverage reliever since 2018. There’d be demand from other teams, but Pressly would need to be willing to leave Houston. As a player with 10-and-5 rights (10 years of service, the last five for his current team), the veteran reliever has full no-trade protection. If he’s amenable to a trade, moving him could allow Houston to free up resources to pursue needs at the infield corners.
15. Christian Vazquez, C, Twins | Guaranteed $10MM in 2025
The Twins cut roughly $30MM in payroll last offseason and aren’t going back to their 2023 payroll levels anytime soon — certainly not while the club is up for a potential sale. Executive chair Joe Pohlad indicated that the payroll isn’t likely to dip further from its 2024 levels, but as explored in our Twins Offseason Outlook, Minnesota is likely already a bit north of its 2024 payroll before making a single offseason move.
When Vazquez was signed, he was expected to start over Ryan Jeffers after the former top prospect had seen his stock dwindle. Jeffers has since broken out as a clear starting catcher and taken the lion’s share of playing time. Vazquez remains a plus-plus defender behind the plate. His $10MM salary is excessive, but he’s a better hitter than Austin Hedges, who landed $4MM based on his glove alone last season. If the Twins take on a smaller salary in return or eat a few million dollars, they can find a taker for Vazquez and free up some cash.
16. Chris Paddack, RHP, Twins | Guaranteed $7.5MM in 2025
Paddack’s first year back from his second Tommy John surgery was a mixed bag. He showed off his typical brand of plus command and had a handful of dominant outings but also mixed in far too many meltdowns, finishing out the year with a 4.99 ERA in 17 starts (88 1/3 innings). A forearm strain in July ended his season. It was always risky to bank on Paddack taking a meaningful rotation role when he’d pitched all of 27 innings in the two preceding seasons, but it’d be more reasonable to anticipate a full workload next year now that he’s built back up a bit.
The Twins, however, have payroll issues and could welcome the opportunity to move Paddack’s salary. At $7.5MM, he could even be slightly underpriced relative to what a team would give him in free agency. Minnesota could move him and still have a rotation mix including Pablo Lopez, Joe Ryan, Bailey Ober, Simeon Woods Richardson, David Festa and Zebby Matthews, with more prospects on the horizon.
17. Luis Arraez, 2B, Padres | Arb-eligible through 2025 ($14.6MM projected salary in 2025)
The Padres are already staring down a payroll north of $200MM and a luxury-tax ledger that’s right up against the threshold in 2025 before making a single offseason addition. Their outgoing free agents include Ha-Seong Kim, Jurickson Profar, Tanner Scott, Kyle Higashioka, David Peralta, Donovan Solano and Martin Perez. They’ll be without Joe Musgrove for all of 2025 as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. Their needs are plentiful.
Arraez is quite arguably a luxury for this team. San Diego can roll with Manny Machado at third, Xander Bogaerts at shortstop and Jake Cronenworth at second. Arraez currently stands as the starter at first base, but they could trade him and that projected salary to address another need and find a more affordable first baseman in free agency (e.g. Carlos Santana) or via the trade market. (There are several options on this list.) It’s confounding to many fans to see the game’s best contact hitter hot potato’ed around the league, but Arraez has bottom-of-the-scale power, well below-average speed and poor defensive grades. He’s a useful player, but more limited than most would expect from a three-time batting champion.
18. Mike Yastrzemski, OF, Giants | Arb-eligible through 2025 ($9.5MM projected salary in 2025)
Yastrzemski has seemingly been a trade candidate for years, but the Giants have hung onto him for almost his entire slate of six pre-free-agent seasons. Acquiring Yastrzemski was one of the first and most successful moves of Farhan Zaidi’s tenure as president of baseball operations in San Francisco. But Zaidi is no longer there, with Buster Posey taking over the role, and Yastrzemski is now just a year from free agency. He’s not the hitter he was early in his Giants run, but Yaz posted a serviceable .231/.302/.437 line with 18 homers. Defensive Runs Saved pegged him as a plus right fielder. Statcast graded him a bit below average.
The Giants will be looking for ways to improve the lineup and inject more offense and more star power into the roster. With Yastrzemski and LaMonte Wade Jr. both one year from free agency, either one of them could be moved as Posey pursues that goal.
19. David Bednar, RHP, Pirates | Arb-eligible through 2026 ($6.6MM projected salary in 2025)
Bednar’s shockingly poor season puts the cost-conscious Pirates in a tough spot. The 30-year-old righty is a Pittsburgh native and was a hometown hero for the Bucs from 2021-23 when he tossed a combined 179 2/3 innings of 2.25 ERA ball, fanned more than 31% of his opponents and saved 61 games. This season, Bednar turned in a ghastly 5.77 ERA as his strikeout rate plummeted to 22.1% and his walk rate spiked to a career-worst 10.7%. There’s no evidence of an arm injury (though he did miss time with an oblique strain). In fact, Bednar’s velocity actually ticked up by about half a mile per hour, sitting at a career-best 97.2 mph.
Next year’s projected $6.6MM is heavier for the Pirates than it would be for most clubs. That said, the Bucs shelled out $8MM for fifth starter Martin Perez and $10.5MM for Aroldis Chapman in free agency last year. It’s not as though they can’t afford it. But if Bednar’s struggles continue, he’ll lose any semblance of trade value and eventually be rendered a DFA or non-tender candidate. Moving him now would open some payroll space but would be selling low on a hometown pitcher who was an All-Star as recently as 2023.
20. Brendan Donovan, INF/OF, Cardinals | Arb-eligible through 2027 ($3.6MM projected salary in 2025)
Yes, more Cardinals. Donovan isn’t as pressing a case any of Arenado, Gray, Contreras, Fedde or Helsley because he has three seasons of club control remaining, is more affordable and can more or less play anywhere on the diamond. That said, all of those factors will also make him appealing to other clubs. We know the Cardinals aren’t going to focus on contending for at least one of Donovan’s three remaining seasons, and if the goal is to beef up the farm system, listening to offers on one of the sport’s premier jacks of all trades makes good sense.
A more aggressive approach in 2024 led to Donovan displaying career-best power numbers (14 homers, .140 ISO), a career-low walk rate (7.2%) and perhaps most surprisingly, a career-best strikeout rate (12.4%). He’s a good hitter who can handle all four infield spots and both outfield corners. Moving Donovan could make room for a number of young players, including Thomas Saggese and Nolan Gorman. Unless, well…
21. Nolan Gorman, 2B, Cardinals | Arb-eligible through 2028 (still pre-arbitration in 2025)
Gorman doesn’t fall in line with the types of Cardinals elsewhere on this list. He’s very controllable, has not yet reached arbitration, and could well be a building block for the next competitive Cardinals club. That said, the former top prospect hasn’t established himself in parts of three big league seasons now, and his lack of consistency clearly has been a point of consternation for the front office. Just ask president of baseball operations John Mozeliak, who said this just prior to demoting Gorman to Triple-A over the summer (link via MLB.com’s John Denton):
“Obviously, it’s a game of production up here and at some point, you’ve got to consistently produce, or we have to find someone who can. I mean, that’s what it ultimately comes down to, and these are hard messages to hear. It can be frustrating, but this is what ends up defining you.”
That’s hardly a ringing endorsement. Gorman won’t turn 25 until May. He has huge power and has slashed .263/.316/.505 in parts of three Triple-A seasons. He’s also quite strikeout prone, particularly in the majors so far (34.1%), and the Cards have other options at second base (Saggese) and third base (Jordan Walker) if they end up moving Arenado. He’s far from a slam-dunk trade candidate, but a change of scenery also shouldn’t come as a major shock.
22. Wilyer Abreu, OF, Red Sox | Arb-eligible through 2029 (still pre-arbitration in 2025)
Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has already voiced a desire to balance a lefty-heavy lineup that include Abreu, Jarren Duran, Triston Casas, Rafael Devers and Masataka Yoshida, with lefty-swinging outfielder Roman Anthony on the cusp of MLB and currently ranking as the sport’s top prospect at Baseball America. There’s been ample speculation among the Sox beat and fan base alike about the possibility of moving Duran, Abreu or Casas. We’re of the mind that trading Duran on the heels of a season that’d garner MVP consideration in most years — when he has four more seasons of club control remaining — would be too large a leap.
Abreu is a fine player but stands as the more logical trade candidate. He’s a plus defensive right fielder but comes with notable platoon concerns. The 25-year-old batted .266/.334/.491 against righties, but the Sox only felt comfortable giving him 67 plate appearances against lefties and he responded with a bleak .180/.254/.279 output. Abreu hit lefties better in the minors, but he’s long posted noticeably better numbers against righties.
Any of Abreu, Duran or Casas would have trade value, but Duran’s value is more well-rounded. Moving four years of control over Duran in hopes that Anthony might reach the same type of ceiling Duran just realized in the majors would be odd. Casas comes with lesser platoon considerations and thus larger overall upside at the plate. Abreu’s value is tied more heavily to his glovework, which isn’t necessarily a bad thing but does give him more floor than it does ceiling. With a strong enough pitcher being offered up in return, the Red Sox would likely keep an open mind to just about anything. The Sox could and likely will try to move Yoshida as well, but his contract is significantly underwater and he’s now coming off shoulder surgery.
23. Leody Taveras, OF, Rangers | Arb-eligible through 2027 ($4.3MM projected salary in 2025)
The Rangers’ offense disappeared in 2024, with nearly every regular taking a step back at the plate. Texas is going to be looking for ways to turn things around, and they’ve now given Taveras more than 1700 plate appearances in the majors to show he can provide at least average offense. He hasn’t done so in any season but 2023, and it’s now fair to question whether that season was an outlier.
Taveras hit just .229/.289/.352 in 2024 but delivered a heartier .266/.312/.421 line in 2023. The Rangers will have to determine which of those is the real Taveras … if the plan is to stick with him. Texas also has Wyatt Langford, Evan Carter and Adolis Garcia as outfield options, with utilitymen Josh H. Smith and Ezequiel Duran also in the fold and prospect Dustin Harris providing another option. Taveras is a switch-hitter and plus runner who can go get it in center field (although DRS was surprisingly bearish on his glovework in ’24). Another club with a center field need would surely look to buy low if the Rangers want to reallocate his playing time to younger options and his projected salary to their glaring pitching needs.
24. Nathaniel Lowe, 1B, Rangers | Arb-eligible through 2026 ($10.7MM projected salary in 2025)
Unlike many of his teammates, Lowe did not take a step back at the plate from 2023 to 2024. His batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, walk rate and strikeout rate from ’24 are all near mirror images of his ’23 campaign. Both years pale in comparison to his brilliant 2022 season, however, and Lowe’s price tag is mounting at a time when the Rangers have a crowded payroll, a need for starting pitching, and multiple prospects who could plausibly slide in at first base (e.g. Justin Foscue, Dustin Harris). Texas reportedly had some discussions about Lowe prior to the deadline, so it’s something they’ve pondered recently.
25. Chas McCormick, OF, Astros | Arb-eligible through 2026 ($3.3MM projected salary in 2025)
A quality role player who tormented lefties and held his own against righties in Houston from 2021-23, McCormick’s production cratered in a career-worst season that now renders him a change-of-scenery candidate. His $3.3MM projected salary is plenty affordable, but the 29-year-old is coming off a disastrous .211/.271/.306 showing in an injury-marred season. The Astros have Yordan Alvarez, Jake Meyers and Kyle Tucker, plus utilityman Mauricio Dubon as an option. Top prospect Jacob Melton isn’t far from being big league ready and should debut in 2025. Moving McCormick wouldn’t create the same level of financial breathing room that a trade of Pressly would, but the Astros could feel the money is better spent elsewhere than on a fourth outfielder seeking a rebound season.
26. Brett Baty, 3B, Mets | Arb-eligible through 2029 (still pre-arbitration in 2025)
“Brett Baty or Mark Vientos?” was a question in Queens until it wasn’t. Vientos emphatically won the everyday third base job in 2024, posting a .266/.322/.516 batting line and crushing 27 homers in just 111 games (plus five more in just 13 playoff games during a sensational postseason run for the young slugger). The future of both Baty and Vientos is tied somewhat to that of free agent Pete Alonso. If the Polar Bear signs elsewhere, it’s feasible that Vientos could slide to first base, leaving third base open for a competition between two defensively superior former top prospects: Baty and Ronny Mauricio. If Alonso returns, however, the Mets will run it back with their present corner infield duo.
Baty has dabbled at second base and left field in the minors, but he’s had big league looks in three straight seasons now and hasn’t landed a long-term spot. He has little left to prove in Triple-A, where he’s a .273/.368/.531 hitter in three seasons. A change of scenery could be in order, and plenty of clubs would welcome the chance to acquire an affordable, potential long-term option at third base.
27. Eugenio Suarez, 3B, D-backs | $15MM club option for 2025 ($2MM buyout)
Suarez might feel like an odd candidate for this list, given his outrageous second half. He was one of baseball’s most prolific offensive performers in the season’s final three months, carrying a Herculean .312/.357/.617 batting line from July 1 through season’s end. Along the way, Suarez ripped 24 homers in just 325 plate appearances. He can still play a solid third base. His option is not at all unreasonable.
However, it’s worth looking at where things stood with Suarez prior to that second-half surge. The slugger had been acquired from the Mariners in what amounted to a salary dump. He had a hot week or two to open the season and then faceplanted over the next two months. His slump reached a low enough point in June that the D-backs would no longer commit to him in an everyday role. The plan was to play rookie Blaze Alexander at third base with increasing frequency. Suarez got hot at the right time, potentially saving not only his place in the starting lineup but perhaps on the roster. On June 23, he was sitting on a .192/.276/.308 batting line. Jordan Lawlar, the No. 6 pick in the 2021 draft, is nearly MLB-ready and has torched Triple-A pitching. Trading Suarez could open a spot for Lawlar and net some additional young talent.
28. Lane Thomas, OF, Guardians | Arb-eligible through 2025 ($8.3MM projected salary in 2025)
Thomas’ situation bears some similarity to that of the already-listed Naylor, but he has a lower projected salary and greater defensive utility, making him likelier to stay put (and thus landing him further down this list). That said, he has just one year of club control remaining and turned in a Jekyll-and-Hyde performance with Cleveland. Thomas hit .148/.239/.198 with a wildly uncharacteristic 38% strikeout rate in his first month as a Guardian. He caught fire for the next two weeks, hitting .367 and slugging .735 over a span of 50 plate appearances but did so without drawing a walk and while still whiffing at a 34% clip. He then tallied just six more hits in his final 45 plate appearances.
It all worked out to a pretty bleak .209/.267/.390 slash with the Guards, and a huge 34.8% strikeout rate that towered over his 21.1% mark with the Nats. That said, Thomas posted better numbers in the postseason and of course delivered the pivotal grand slam off likely Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal that effectively punched Cleveland’s ticket to the ALCS.
29. Cedric Mullins, OF, Orioles | Arb-eligible through 2025 ($8.7MM projected salary in 2025)
The Orioles were reportedly open to offers on Mullins leading up to the trade deadline. He has a year of team control remaining that will come at an affordable price in a thin market for center fielders. Mullins has never replicated his gargantuan 2021 season, but he’s a plus runner with 15- to 20-homer pop and a good glove in the outfield. The O’s needn’t feel as though they must move Mullins, but he probably won’t be a qualifying offer candidate next winter and the team is rife with young outfield options. Colton Cowser can take over in center field, and Heston Kjerstad looks ready for a full time corner audition. The O’s also saw prospects Dylan Beavers and Jud Fabian reach Triple-A last year, and there’s been speculation about Coby Mayo winding up in an outfield corner as well. A trade of Mullins could free up some cash while simultaneously bringing in rotation or bullpen help the team will target this winter.
30. Ryan Mountcastle, 1B, Orioles | Arb-eligible through 2026 ($6.6MM projected salary in 2025)
Speaking of players the O’s were open to moving in July, Mountcastle makes this list as a righty-swinging first baseman with two seasons of club control remaining. As with Mullins, he’s hardly an unproductive player — just an increasingly expensive one with dwindling club control in an organization that’s teeming with position players. Mountcastle hit .271/.308/.425 with 13 homers in 507 plate appearances this past season — good but not great production (108 wRC+). His power numbers have dipped since the O’s changed the dimensions in left field at Camden Yards, but Mountcastle did bash a combined 55 homers in 2021-22. He’s also become a strong defensive first baseman. It’s not a star-caliber profile, but as mentioned earlier, the Astros, Mariners and Pirates are among the teams that could use first base help this winter.
31. Brent Rooker, OF/DH, Athletics | Arb-eligible through 2027 ($5.1MM projected salary in 2025)
Rooker has gone from waiver fodder to one of the game’s premier sluggers in a span of two seasons. He brings legitimate 40-homer upside to any lineup and boasts virtually no platoon split, demolishing left-handers and right-handers alike. Rooker is a bit strikeout-prone but offsets that with his propensity for thunderous contact. His exit velocity, hard-hit rate and barrel rate are elite, and while he doesn’t walk quite as much as the prototypical slugger, his 9.6% rate in 2024 was better than average. He’s a slightly better-than-average runner and even chipped in 11 stolen bases in 2024.
Rooker is a legitimate middle-of-the-order behemoth who’d fetch a king’s ransom on the trade market, even if he’s been deployed primarily as a DH by the A’s. The Athletics resisted moving him at the deadline and may want to have one premium player to market in their lineup as they begin their temporary relocation to Sacramento, but teams are going to do their best to pry him loose this winter.
32. Cody Bellinger, OF/1B, Cubs | Guaranteed $52.5MM through 2026 ($27.5MM in 2025, $25MM player option for 2026 with $5MM buyout)
There’s been a fair bit of debate as to whether Cody Bellinger will trigger the opt-out in his contract. Doing so would mean leaving $50MM on the table, which seems like a reach, given that he has an opt-out next year as well and would bank a $27.5MM salary and at least a $5MM buyout on his 2026 player option if he forgoes his current opt-out opportunity. Bellinger isn’t going to command a $32.5MM salary this offseason, and even a larger multi-year deal might only guarantee him $20-30MM more than he has on his current deal.
The Cubs, however, should be rooting for a Bellinger opt-out. They’re looking to upgrade their offense but have a series of expensive veterans with no-trade protection installed up and down the lineup. Seiya Suzuki, Ian Happ and Dansby Swanson all have full no-trade rights. Nico Hoerner’s recent surgery makes him highly unlikely to move. Michael Busch posted a better OBP and slugging percentage than Bellinger. Pete Crow-Armstrong is a superior defender in center field.
That said, if Bellinger does stick in Chicago, his contract isn’t any kind of albatross. In fact, in a thin market for center fielders and left-handed hitters alike, he could hold value on the market. The Cubs have comparable options (in terms of overall value) across the outfield and at first base, but that’s not true of every team. Trading Bellinger would free up a lineup spot to pursue an upgrade and some payroll to perhaps look to add to the pitching staff. Bellinger isn’t a bad player or on a bad contract, but he’s somewhat redundant on his current roster.
33. Jordan Montgomery, LHP, D-backs | Guaranteed $22.5MM in 2025
D-backs owner Ken Kendrick seemingly did everything he could to disparage Montgomery in hopes he’ll turn down his $22.5MM player option when publicly stating:
“If anyone wants to blame anyone for Jordan Montgomery being a Diamondback, you’re talking to the guy that should be blamed. Because I brought it to (the front office’s) attention. I pushed for it. They agreed to it. It wasn’t in our game plan. … And looking back, in hindsight, a horrible decision to have invested that money in a guy that performed as poorly as he did. It’s our biggest mistake this season from a talent standpoint. And I’m the perpetrator of that.”
Despite Kendrick’s comments, Montgomery seems likely to exercise his option, as he’s not going to command $22.5MM on the open market. A change-of-scenery trade for the 2023 postseason hero who slipped to a 6.23 ERA in 117 innings after signing late in spring training would certainly make sense — but it’d likely require the D-backs absorbing another team’s unwanted contract or eating a significant portion of the salary.
34. Luis Robert Jr., OF, White Sox | Guaranteed $17MM through 2025 ($15MM salary in 2025; $20MM club option for 2026 with $2MM buyout; $20MM club option for 2027 with $2MM buyout)
With a season that looked anything like his stellar 2023 campaign, Robert would be at the top of this list. Then again, if he’d played anything like he did in 2023, Robert would probably have been traded at the deadline. Instead, a hip flexor strain wiped out nearly half his season. And when healthy, Robert didn’t hit at all. He batted just .224/.278/.379 with a career-worst 33.2% strikeout rate.
The White Sox could still look to move Robert this winter, but it’s hard to imagine they’d sell this low on him when a healthy start to his 2025 season would send his value skyrocketing. At his best, Robert is an MVP-level performer. Holding onto him runs the risk of a scenario where he’s injured for most of the season again and the Sox decline his option, losing him for no return at all. But that risk might be preferable to selling him for pennies on the dollar and watching him rebound elsewhere for a team that acquired three years of Robert at a fraction of full market value. It’s not a great spot for the Sox. A trade is at least possible, but holding him seems like the better play.
35. Bo Bichette, SS, Blue Jays | Guaranteed $16.5MM in 2025
Bichette is on the list largely because teams are going to try to acquire him, but a trade here feels unlikelier than any name on the list (hence him landing in the final spot). The Jays have signaled that they want to retool and try to compete again in 2025. Bichette would logically be a big part of that, assuming he can rebound from an injury-shortened and uncharacteristically feeble year at the plate. Moving him now would also mean selling low on an All-Star player before his 27th birthday. It’s very easy to see a scenario where the Jays underperform early in 2025 and Bichette is a summer trade chip, but the team seems committed to taking at least one more chance with a core led by Bichette and Vladimir Guerrero Jr. next season. Bichette will pop up in plenty of rumors this winter, but a trade doesn’t feel likely.
Blackpink in the area
The fact that you list 7 Cardinals in the first 21 players on the list should probably tell you that the team has a lot of talent. I would be absolutely shocked if 4 out of those 7 names listed were traded and wouldn’t be surprised if none of them were. I could see Arenado asking to be traded but with his NTC he’s in control of where. The Yankees make sense. If Arenado isn’t dealt then I doubt anyone else of significance is.
As a Cardinal fan I hope they trade all the guys on the list except Gorman. Jojo Romero and Nootbaar I would trade them too. But do I think that actually happens? Of course not. And it’s a little ridiculous that this site thinks it will. I watched the press conference after the season the team really did not say they were rebuilding. They said payroll will likely go down that could easily mean not bringing back Goldschmidt, Lynn and Gibson. Dewitt repeatedly reminded reporters the team has a lot of talent. Because it does.
CommentsSectionCommenter
Sounds like you’re trying to convince yourself here….
And DeWitt isn’t going to spend significantly on the on-field product, because he’ll be too busy following the Ricketts model (because irony) in buying up more and more property all around the stadium, so that when the Best Fans In Baseball go to the ballpark to watch their underfunded team, at least they’ll be able to patronize any number of alternative DeWitt profit streams…..
Blackpink in the area
Did you say the Cardinals are going to copy what the Cubs are doing?????
Lol
Hey it’s not my reputation on the line here with this article. There is a very real chance not a single one of the Cardinals on this list gets dealt. And there are 7 on the list.
Joe Robbins
I think that when Donovan was put on the list, the article lost all credibility. The Cardinals are clearly not going to trade him..
Blackpink in the area
Gorman is worse than Donovan. Perhaps if the team was still going for it they would trade Gorman but not now.
NYCityRiddler
Wow, I just skimmed the article & I’m exhausted, I need to lay down for a bit. Ahahahaha!
Lindor's Bodyguard
BP is a legend on mlbtr. Do not challenge the top dog commenter on mlbtr.
mike127
When you really think about having seven in the top 21 may be a sign of talent, but it also may be a sign of transition or misdirection or unhealthy financial spots.
As you are fixated on the Cubs—just rewind three short years and a trade candidate list of Bryant, Baez, Rizzo, Contreras, Happ, Schwarber etc would have been (and was) sprinkled at the top.
Arenado, Contreras, Gray are only on the list for financial relief (as were Bryant, Baez, Rizzo with pending free agency).
Donovan and Gorman are change of scenery guys.
Helsley and Fedde are sell high guys. They are most likely dangling these guys because they have made the decision that there isn’t enough talent in the organization to be serious contenders and a reset is the best direction at this time.
rondon
Couldn’t agree more, Mike..
Kyle Pepperpants
Donovan is not at all a change of scenery guy. You clearly don’t watch this team.
Blackpink in the area
If the Cardinals aren’t serious contenders then what are the Cubs?
None of these guys have actually been traded. Wait and see what happens. I bet the world the Cardinals don’t trade half the guys on this list. Wait and see.
Lanidrac
I think you highly underestimate how much payroll the Cardinals need to cut. They’ve already cut quite a bit of of payroll with Goldschmidt, Lynn, Gibson, Kittredge, Middleton, and more all off the books, even with Gray’s raise and raises due to the arbitration class.
You only sell high on affordable talent if you are actually rebuilding, which the Cardinals have not confirmed they are actually doing. Even if they are rebuilding, Fedde is just too valuable to give up, especially as someone needed to stabilize the rotation if Gray actually is traded.
Donovan is ABSOLUTELY NOT a change of scenery guy, and it would be really stupid to give up on and sell low on Gorman at this point.
Can we please get a DH?
This is a list of likelihood in order. None of these players is 100% to be moved. Indeed, outside of the top 8, I’d probably have everyone else at below a 50% chance of being moved.
I do, however, think the Cardinals doing a full tear down would make sense. Right now they have a decent, but not great core that are all at various points of their career (players improving are canceled out by declining vets). If they can harmonize payroll and get some additional talent, they could quickly come over the hump. Otherwise, they could find themselves stuck in the 75-85 win muck without a path to being elite again.
Blackpink in the area
Sure the Cardinals could do a conplete tear down. But so could 10 other teams in the league. Why is all the focus on the Cardinals? Because of one statement made after the season???
Sour Bob
They did hire a rebuild specialist to run the team, say they would cut payroll, and then decline a stack of options on useful players yesterday, so…
Blackpink in the area
That doesn’t mean they are trading away the entire team……
Did you watch the press conference? They didn’t say they were doing a eebuild. Every time one of the hack reporters asked about it DeWitt said they have a lot of talent on the team.
Ra
Listing trade “candidates” does not imply that all of them will be traded. The author is not claiming all 35 players *will* be traded.
Blackpink in the area
When 20% of the list is from a team that had a winning record in 2024 something is off.
The author is claiming there is a good chance those 35 guys are traded. That’s the point of the freaking list. I am claiming that’s incorrect.
We will see who is right and who is wrong.
Lanidrac
They have a very good core, not just decent. With all the talent and prospects they have and a renewed focus on player development, taking a step back for just a year should be all they need to get back over that hump.
As for declining vets, only Arenado is really in that category, maybe a little with Gray. Contreras and Fedde are still in their primes, and the rest of the over-30 crowd has already left in free agency.
Can we please get a DH?
Their ‘very good core’ has been very mediocre the last few years and doesn’t have much control left. Their pitching staff outside of 35 year old Gray and last year of control Helsley lacks impact talent. Their offensive core is decent (I like Donovan, Winn and Nootbar, but Contreras and Arenado are in their declining phase and the rest of the lineup is full of question marks).
Their recent results are fair reflections of their talent level. Due to a lack of access to payroll and MLB ready impact prospects, their path to short term improvement is narrow (although a meh NL Central always means their is a chance to surprise). That is the rationale for selling to strengthen the farm and create payroll flexibility to enable retooling for 2026/2027 with a higher ceiling.
James123
having so many on that list does not even mean that they have 7 trades to move them all (you are right, most are not getting moved either way), but i could see a JoJo Romero and Healsey for a top 50 prospect coming together. A team basically gets an elite closer and set up man for next year in a single trade. The Os have a bunch of guys (Beavers and Fabian both being listed here) that are sort of surplus to them right now, and would work with rebuild timeline (ready either this year or next) and have enough upside to be interesting.
Arenado could also fit as a partner with either of them in a deal to a contender that needs a 3b- i am thinking the yankees (Jazz playing 3b was just weird, and he had a few fielding mishaps in the WS, but that is almost to be expected of a guy who really does not play 3b). They also seem to not like Gleyber, so Gorman may be a good fit for them too. Arenado will likely need a 2nd player wtih him that has the surplus value to have the bigger return (and fans will be irate if they see the yankees trade one of their top prospects for JoJo, but will be fine if they landed JoJo and Arenado- even if the value of their return is almost all JoJo)
Blackpink in the area
Hey I think it’s possible some players from that list get dealt. But to act like there is some big fires ale coming just isn’t accurate.
I doubt Helsley is traded. I would be OK with it I just doubt it happens. Beavers has talent but Cards need a right handed hitter. Fabian I like but he’s not enough maybe for Romero.
brodafett
If they don’t trade him then they are idiots and are just going to half way do it like they always do. They trade for Goldy and Nado then refuse to spend in free agency to actually try and win. Leaving them with a 0-3 postseason record for their time in St Louis. Bloom would have to be a cub operative for them to not move him. He’s a free agent after next season, coming off leading the majors in saves and has an almost laughable salary for a good reliever let alone an elite closer. Elite closers are an absolute waste on a non-contending team. There is zero reason to worry about having a great closer if you’re not planning on contending. The fact that he’s a pending free agent alone makes him being traded the easiest decision that they need to make this offseason lol he can’t block it like many of the others so they need to move him for the best return and preferably as soon into the offseason as possible. The reason for that is because pitchers, and especially closers are notoriously volatile, or at least their arms. Ball players also tend to do reckless stuff in the offseason to get hurt. If he blows his arm out before they move him they get nothing for him. The only positive might be that it forces him to sign a one year deal with us when he is healthy to prove it before free agency, but that’s not worth it. That also nixes keeping him and trading him at the deadline for the same reason. Just because Oakland is dumb enough to hold onto an elite closer despite not being close to contenders doesn’t mean anyone else should be that foolish. Plus, they aren’t the franchise we should be emulating. They’re special ed and will remain that way until they’re in Vegas and magically find money to spend. If they don’t try their best to trade basically all of these guys then this redirection is just going to be another flaky commitment that ends up keeping us from actually being World Series contenders again. It’s already been a decade since we were a legit contender. I’m ready for them to get this over with and get us set up for another 15 year run.
cwizzy6
Its blatantly obvious that the Cardinals current regime has no idea how to use all the tradable talent they have. These are not the Cards management of the last 20 years.
Blackpink in the area
Aa recently as 2022 they traded an injured Harrison Bader for Jordan Montgomery who was starting game 1 at home in the first round of the playoffs. The Goldschmidt and Arenado deals were both good. The last couple years haven’t been as good but some of it is just random luck.
desertdawg
Speaking of Arenado, if Cardinals wanted to trade contract for contract what about an AZ/STL trade.
Maybe an Arenado for Montgomery deal straight up. The D’Backs might asked for Cardinals to throw in some cash with the deal, only to get out from underneath the amount they still owe on Arenado’s contract.
Lanidrac
Why would they do that? Arenado is still a pretty good player and under contract until 2027 (with a relatively cheap ’27 salary).
Montgomery sucked last year and is far from a guarantee to rebound. If he doesn’t rebound, he’ll be a waste of money who gets DFAed Even if he does rebound, he;ll be a free agent again next offseason.
Lanidrac
You also missed how most of their deals they made over the last year have worked out. Otherwise, they couldn’t have managed the winning record they did in 2024 after their awful 2023.
Gray signing: Excellent
Gibson signing: Good
Lynn signing: Good
Fernandez pick in the Rule 5 draft: Excellent
Carpenter signing: Good
Kittredge trade: Win-Win
Fedde and Pham trade: Win (Cardinals) – Win (Dodgers) – Lose (White Sox)
Middleton and Crawford signings: Well, no GM is perfect.
DFAed in Gaffa
Fans take good transactions (the ones that work out) for granted and stew over the ones that don’t work out. The Cards made out like bandits with Jordan Montgomery, for example.
Blackpink in the area
Yes Gaffa correct. Sure Edman went on to platoon well for the Dodgers. But the team made a similar trade with Jordan Montgomery and Harrison Bader and they got their game 1 starter for the playoffs that year.
Lanidrac
I agree with you that most of those guys won’t be traded, but I don’t think they should be. The Cardinals are absolutely right that they have too much talent to need to fully rebuild. They can take a step back next year and still possibly compete on their lower budget if they get lucky, and still get back to competing seriously in 2026 or 2027 at the latest.
DFAed in Gaffa
I’ll bet Tommy Edman is crying himself to sleep every night over getting traded by the Cardinals.
Butter Biscuits
Byron buxton should be on the list
angelsbroncosfan
Buxton has as much trade value as Anthony Rendon has
Blackpink in the area
Buxton had a good season. And his contract factors in his injury issues unlike Rendons.
JoeBrady
The difference is that Buxton is an AS if he has a healthy season.
RunDMC
If. he. has. a. healthy. season.
Say it again for the people in the back.
James123
I would rather have Buxton over Rendon- since he at least looks like he wants to be playing baseball
rmullig2
I’d rather have neither.
Big whiffa
They only listed 35. He came in at #82. Lmao
ohyeadam
Buxton produced 3.7 WAR in 388 PA. For comparison, Altuve produced 3.9 WAR in 682 PA. He’s damn good and not overpaid
Big whiffa
He makes 20 mil and 388 appearances might be a career high. If he’s so good – why you want to see him traded ??
ohyeadam
He makes $15mil and I don’t want to trade him. Only Correa and Tucker produced more while playing less this year
Butter Biscuits
Any pitcher from the blue jays all highly payed
KamKid
That feels like it makes it less likely they’d be traded. Bassitt only has one year left. That’s likelier than Gausman and Berrios with multiple years of future commitment. The Jays don’t need to get out of money. They need young players who profile as more than part timers.
RWH 2
The overall uncertainty about 2025 TV revenue is going to overhang both the FA and trade markets. Teams losing TV revenue are going to be sellers and those with more stable or growing TV revenue will be the buyers, in the sense that those teams can increase payroll and take some contracts off the hands of the teams that have to reduce payroll.
Perhaps MLB can group the 30 teams into those with uncertain TV revenue and those that don’t.
Big whiffa
So what you are saying is the financial disparity in mlb will continue to sky rocket. I unfortunately cannot disagree
amk1920
Erick Fedde #3 lol thanks for Edman trade.
Blackpink in the area
What?
James123
The rankings are not the best trade candidates, but the best AND most likely to be moved. Fedde is a mid rotation guy on a cheap deal. his team is not going anywhere next year. So he is a mix of a likely guy getting moved and good enough for people to actually care.
That contract is likely in the 10m range for excess value next year, so that is about the value of a back of the top 100 prospect. I could see a team with a guy the view as a spare part getting moved for Fedde. The Os are the team i cite for this all the time. Going into next year they have Grayson and Elfin marked in pen, and then Bradish will miss at least half the season. Povich was good at times last year but should be fighting for a #5 slot. Same with several other guys. So Fedde makes sense for them to pursue. They also have guys like Fabian, Beavers, ect. who would need to leapfrog Cowser, Kjerstad and Mayo for any chance at playing time in the next few years. Beavers for Fedde is the type of deal that would get a lot of talk and would be interesting (i think the Os would need to throw a little more in with beavers)
bkbk
No taylor ward or Rengfio is hateful
King Floch
Arte said the plan is to compete next year.
*muffled laughing sounds*
Armaments216
Each year’s plan is always to compete next year.
Can we please get a DH?
That’s because Moreno is a fool who refuses to rebuild.
Steve Adams
We had Ward on the list for awhile. He was one of the last cuts. Anthony and I agree there’s a chance he’s moved to free up money for a starter, but the Halos stubbornly remain intent on contending and Ward is a solid player.
Most of that applies to Rengifo as well. On another team in the Halos’ spot, they’d be on here, but Moreno and Minasian have both spoken openly about wanting to contend next year.
I don’t see any path to that (and I’m not alone on the MLBTR staff), but the Angels operate how they operate.
kellin
@steve – the question I have is, did you have Canning on that list?
Anderson SHOULD be another trade candidate, but we know how that’ll go.
Also, I think Ward should be traded and Rengifo should be extended, but trading him will be acceptable, regardless.
Samuel
Steve Adams;
A lot of work went into it by you and others.
Don’t think anything like this has been done by any other site / publication.
Appreciate it.
scottaz
Poll question:
Eugenio Suarez, if traded, will the Dbacks be
A) selling high and get something significant for him, or
B) unloading his salary at just the right time before he tanks again?
Lindor's Bodyguard
There’s a team option that may negate this situation.
Big whiffa
More than what they paid and way less in return than Seattle gave up
n2thecards
As a Cards fan, I sincerely hope they retool instead of having a fire sale. Not hanging onto Fedde, Donovan or Romero as a few examples would indicate a complete rebuild. Should be an interesting offseason with at least a few surprising moves.
bangarangbooty
Fedee is an impending free agent, so it makes sense to trade him. Donovan, I agree, is a building block that should be held on to.
eatonculo
I’d hang on to Fedde until the trade deadline. Someone is going to have to pitch in St. Louis this season.
n2thecards
I agree with this. I could also see reason to move Matz now before he gets hurt again.
rondon
With his price and injury history, it’d have to be a salary dump. I can’t imagine them getting much back for him.
n2thecards
I mean, if he can provide 20 starts at an ERA under 4.5 for $11 million, that’s a good deal. May need to attach another prospect in A level to sweeten the deal.
Big whiffa
Majority of the list is just a fire sale. Gotta give up something to get something in return….
etex211
I think I spotted five closers in the top 20. I’m not making a point. i just found that interesting.
RobblyDobs
Helsley head and shoulders the best available. Cards should get a decent return; they should be looking for RH OF prospects as a priority
micro_maniac8
They should take the best offer available. Their needs are numerous. Burleson is almost as bad a fielder as Walker without any of the athletic upside (speed and arm). Siani should be a late inning pinch runner/defensive replacement. Nootbaar has missed a bunch of time the last three years.
RobblyDobs
Burleson will be at 1B and Donovan at 2B, which is why the OF is top priority.
Nootbar is the only genuine MLB OF on the roster, with Siani fine as a defense-first platoon CF (think his wRC+ is 85 or so against RHP, but he is terrible against LHP.)
Beyond that they have nothing unless you want to count Jordan Walker, who should be in AAA. They are at least 2 OFs short, so watch out for a short contract for Bader (cheap and ticks the fan favourite box) and a trade for a controllable RH OF.
Yanks match up well for what the Cards have. They should want Helsley and Arenado, and the clubs are regular trade partners. Will they let someone like Jasson Dominguez go the other way? We shall see.
micro_maniac8
Where to begin….? The Yankees would never offer Dominguez in that package and Arenado wouldn’t waive his NTC anyway. It is LAD or bust. The Cardinals have been tied to starting pitching for at least 2 years.
The idea that the Cardinals would take back MLB talent just doesn’t make any sense.
Luken Baker is the odds on favorite to break camp as the primary 1B. Saggese will get a look at 2B in Spring Training and will probably be the guy there.
If they trade Contreras, I’d look for Burleson to get the first shot at the primary DH. But a lot of the pieces mentioned are interchangeable.
n2thecards
I don’t think Baker will be starting at 1B. I could see him get ABs at DH, 1B backing up Burly and then PH. He could get 350-400 ABs and it gives him a window to prove he’s an MLB player. I’m curious about Walker after he has time to work with Jon Jay. I agree with several of these players being interchangeable, to an extent. Saggese looks like a very capable 2B and even a solid backup for Winn at SS. I don’t know if his arm is strong enough for 3B. I believe Arenado will stay for ’25 in an effort to prove he’s still got it.
King Floch
I’d trade Mountcastle before Mullins.
O’Hearn, Mayo, and Kjerstad (with Samuel Basallo also potenially on the horizon for late in the year) provide good coverage for 1B but there isn’t really an obvious plan B in CF if Ced is traded and Cowser gets hurt.
ClevelandSteelEngines
What can he be traded for? Orioles won’t get a ton for him but maybe a good reliever and a prospect?
King Floch
It’s tough to say. He’s an above average hitter but not really a slugger and he’s getting into his more expensive years (projected for $6-7 million in 2025 with 1 more year of arb after), BUT a bunch of win-now teams need 1Bs right now and some can’t/don’t want to spend on Alonso or Walker, so his pricetag is probably still pretty attractive. Plus there’s still a chance he has a power re-breakout in him if he gets away from OPACY’s LF Of Despair For RHBs.
All things considered, I’d probably be pretty happy with a pair of interesting pitching prospects in another team’s 10-20 prospect range for him.
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
I could see Seattle being a good landing spot for Mountcastle.
King Floch
Yeah. Houston, Pittsburgh, Arizona, and Cincy also make sense.
The Saber-toothed Superfife
It’s obvious, the Tigers should hire the Superfife!
Faceplanted? Suarez faceplanted? Hahahah…..
bhambrave
Soler for Sonny Gray, who says no?
Blackpink in the area
Why on earth would the Cardinals want Soler?
Gray plus cash for Waldrep or Shawver. That makes sense.
bhambrave
Nevermind. Soler has already been traded.
Bucsfan4ever
Nope the Braves do NOT need to trade their young pitchers
Blackpink in the area
It is insane how often i discuss potential trades with people and they talk about trading prospects as if they are gold.
The Braves traded Grissom last year. How did that work out?
NashvilleJeff
If you had paid attention before Grissom was traded, you’d know that most of the Braves fans who comment here were adamant that Grissom should have been dealt. Anyone who watched him play in the Braves system realized that he had no future as a ML quality SS. His bat profile didn’t fit the Braves approach either. Slap hitter, very little power. Surprising that AA got so much value for him after his disastrous 2023.
ClevelandSteelEngines
Helps when Cora needed Sale out and Breslow was stupid enough to facilitate the dump
bhambrave
100%, Jeff.
RunDMC
I’ll say no for STL. Soler doesn’t fit their window and Missouri doesn’t believe in Soler power or windmills.
RunDMC
AA already asking me to hold his beer. Goodness man, slow down.
kellin
I guess this was posted before the news that Soler was traded to the Angels for Canning..
RunDMC
Yep, that’s why AA wanted me to hold his beer.
SweetBabyRayKingsThickThighs
The Great Cardinals Firesale will be talked about for generations to come
Blackpink in the area
Yep just like that magical Brian Roberts to the Cubs trade years ago. That still lingers in Cubs lore to this day.
Bucket Number Six
Cards on fire!
Ignorant Son-of-a-b
Cards are going full throttle in the trade market this winter
Blackpink in the area
I hope so
CCCTL
Rooker:
Forst will demand top-grade talent for, wait too long, try to settle for table scraps and end up rostering him next year.
He’ll be traded early-to-mid-season for ‘Magic Beanes’ to patch holes in a bad roster. The return will cause GM’s and fans alike to scratch their heads and say “WTF who thought these guys were better than farm filler?”
Except the guy who ends up getting Rooker, whose production will then slowly and steadily decline. He’ll be useful for a year or so more.
Acoss1331
Considering ownership’s animosity towards Monty, he’s getting traded for sure. It’ll probably be a bad contract for bad contract deal, but considering the comments made by Diamondbacks owner, he’s persona non grata at this point…
Blackpink in the area
Montgomery made some dumb comments himself but yeah owner got a little snarky he’s supposed to know better. I agree he’s getting dealt for sure.
O'sSayCanYouSee
Monty for Mounty trade.
Baltimore’s LF wall makes it a win-win for both players.
Fever Pitch Guy
Acoss – I think it all depends on what will be valued more, a full season of Monty with uncertainty about how he will perform ….. or a midseason trade after he’s re-established his value.
Personally I believe he will have a very good season now that he will have a normal offseason and ST, but there is still some risk there.
CardsFan57
I don’t see why Gorman would be traded when he’s cheap and it would be a sell extremely low scenario.
Donovan is cheap enough to remain unless someone is willing to overpay in prospects. Maybe he could be included as a sweetener in a Gray or Arenado deal.
Fedde is also cheap for a solid starter. I don’t see him going anywhere at least until the trade deadline.
Blackpink in the area
Fedde maybe. I think it depends on the offers he’s a tough guy to put a value on.
Agree on the other 2. Gorman goes nowhere. Trading young guys so they can thrive elsewhere is the kind of thing the front office is going to try to avoid.
micro_maniac8
Gorman makes sense as a deadline move. Try to get him going at the plate to build some value. Selling on Donovan and Fedde now maximizes the number of teams interested. But adding Donovan to Arenado or Gray deal makes no sense because you are diminishing the value of Donovan to get rid of an asset. Pay down the salary and there will be interest.
south side hit men
Crochet is of course getting moved. But what kind of return will he net…from say Baltimore? Gotta start with Mayo and Basallo?
Blackpink in the area
Crochet for Mayo makes a lot of sense.
ClevelandSteelEngines
Montgomery seems like a terrible defender at SS long term, so to pair him with Mayo could lead to despair defensively. They are better off trading with another team that will give up a nice package.
I think they could get something more rounded from the Red Sox, if the Bosox are willing to pay the piper.
Blackpink in the area
Hey if the Red Sox want to deal Mayer sure. Mayo can always move to 1b if needed the White Sox need a long term 1b as well as a long term 3b. I would rather have Mayer than Mayo if I was the White Sox.
hyraxwithaflamethrower
I don’t think they get Basallo and Mayo. Either is realistic, but not both, but either should also probably be the headliner, not the entirety.
Samuel
hyraxwithaflamethrower;
I look for the O’s to pay for a premier starter in FA. Their top youngsters may well determine the future of the team.
Of course Basallo and Mayo could wash out. But right now they’re quality prospects with 6 years of control, while the O’s are all about being sustainable contenders for 8-10 years.
Crochet is an overpowering, dominant pitcher on a stingy contract for what he’s produced. But he has a history of injuries and only 2 years of control remaining.
He’s perfect for a large market win-now team. Not so much for one that is playing primarily young players in the majors with more about to come up from the minors.
Samuel
Don’t think so.
Ranger Danger19
Would love to have a reliever or two from St Louis. Not willing to part with Walcott or Rocker though.
Blackpink in the area
Here is a deal involving think makes sense. And yes it includes Walcott
Walcott
Duran
For
Contreras plus 15 million
Helsley
Romero
Ranger Danger19
15mil wouldn’t be nearly enough to take on Contreras. Rangers working with a tight budget to get under the tax line.
Blackpink in the area
I did the math when the article about this was shared on this site a week or 2 ago. It actually would be perfect for the Rangers. Without a deal like this I don’t see them getting the talent they need to contend but with it they are contenders.
Contreras is not overpaid. And he would be a terrific fit for the Rangers. I like Contreras a lot as a Cardinals fan but the team is loaded with catchers and wants to cut payroll.
Ranger Danger19
I’m not arguing your points. It’s just that ownership here has made it clear. Due to uncertainty around a tv deal they want to drop under the tax penalty line this year
Blackpink in the area
And like I said i did the math and they can do this deal sign a starter and a couple relievers and still be under the tax line in 2025.
Ranger Danger19
Make some phone calls and see what you can do.
stymeedone
Would really like a top player from your team, but not willing to trade one of my top prospects (unproven, but worth so much more!). Will you accept my fringe players? That would be wonderful!
n2thecards
You make some good points, 57.
Deleted Userrrr
Luis Arraez isn’t a luxury on the Padres.
Big whiffa
I agree. Has hard as it is to hit in San Diego, his value there is as high as anywhere.
I do think an arraez/cease for India + makes sense to both sides. Reds have several potential starters pads could grab and that’ll create the cap relief they potential want
Deleted Userrrr
They’re not trading Arraez or Cease.
DwayneMurphyFav
Rooker should be top 5 in this category. What team wouldn’t love a 30+ Homer guy that can hit for average against both lefties and righties???
RunDMC
I’d imagine he’s not higher only b/c he’s on a thrifty A’s team where he’s under control until 2028 and isn’t even arb eligible until next season, so they’d have to be bowled-over for him to be moved. He represents a lot of value that the Sacthletics need to counter anyone thinking they’re tanking. And how else are they going to max out that 14K capacity?
bhambrave
Exactly. He’s only on the list at all because he’s an A. The high ranking guys are guys who are wanted by other teams AND whose current teams want to trade them.
Big whiffa
This site is bias all things A’s. Site and commenters alike
J_P_
They do have talent but they aren’t close to actually competing. I would welcome a trade of any of the top 5 on this list. My only hesitation would be: Who is making the trade? Is it Mo or is it Mo with Bloom’s blessing? If it’s just Mo, might as well keep em. They won’t get anything worth the return. They should be able to get some top prospects out of Helsley and Fedde. Gray and Nado? Not sure. Contreras has been one of the top hitting catchers in baseball the last two years. And his defense is only slightly below average. They should be able to get something of worth there. If the Cardinals trade all 5 for the right pieces, in 2-3 years they could really compete IF some of their guys develop.
Bucsfan4ever
#13 on your list is gone. Good luck with the Angels Jorge, you are to need it with that terrible team
mlbnyyfan
Time to trade Stanton his value may not get higher and unload DJL. Reduce some salary for Soto
Samuel
LOL
In order to move Stanton the Yankees would have to eat a nice chunk of his salary……which is why he hasn’t been moved for the last 3-4 years.
rmullig2
Great idea, trade Stanton and not win another playoff game for the next three years.
Deleted Userrrr
Stanton isn’t getting traded because he’s top 5 among all players in negative trade value and has a full NTC which he has said on multiple occasions that he isn’t waiving.
UWPSUPERFAN77
Good list. Buy low and sell high! Good luck to all!
ClevelandSteelEngines
I like Yandy Diaz to Seattle. He helps Mariners and isn’t wildly priced for the next two seasons. Rays need 1B ABs to open up and could use more of what they like.
Samuel
Yandy would be perfect with the Reds.
Francona said he was looking for line-drive hitters to play in that park. Yandy does a lot of that. The obvious question is: Can the two of them get along? If so, the Red have enough excess young players that may satisfy the Rays ….if the Reds can take on Yandy’s salaries..
Years have passed. Yandy may be at a point where he can be a leader on a young team.
Rays in the Bay
No no. For the sake of both teams, this trade cannot happen (they just have very lackluster results from their annual trades)
cwizzy6
I understood the Brewers trading recent surplus trade value, but I hope they keep Civale.
Stop Giving Billionaires Money
MLBTR writers are big fans of Yastrzemski. Number 18 is impressive for him, I like a few of the lower ranked guys a little more though
greg1
As a Cards fan, I actually hope that as many of the guys listed in this rundown are moved as possible.
There is quite a bit of talent there, but the Cards can’t spend like the Dodgers, and their player development the last few years has been subpar at best. The above leads to a 75-85 win team who misses the playoffs, and has no real direction.
Tear it down, get back to what you did best for decades, and rebound for the 2027 season. I have seen two WS wins and lots of playoff action in the last 18 seasons, I’m perfectly happy waiting a couple more years to see that again.
bhambrave
It’d be great if that tear-down/build-up only took two years. In this environment, that’s no sure thing. Would you be happy waiting 4-5 years?
greg1
Fair, you’re more likely right at 4-5 years. I am still willing to wait that long, I would rather have a Royals or Astros rebuild than five years of mediocrity and being no further ahead.
Lanidrac
4-5 years?! What are you talking about?! The plan is to take step back for just next year and go for it again in 2026 or 2027 at the latest. That’s all they’ll need to do to get back ahead of where they were.
The Cardinals are absolutely NOT tanking like the Astros did, and most fans would never want their team to do so. Besides, getting all the high draft picks through tanking is no longer possible.
Lanidrac
They can take a step back and still be a decent team next year while gearing up for 2026.while improving player development.
Also, you seem to be forgetting that they made the playoffs for 4 years in a row from 2019-2022 while averaging around 90 wins (not counting 2020 for the wins total), and then they made quite a rebound from 901 losses in 2023 to a winning record and being in contention until mid-August in 2024 in just one year.
Besides, if your goal in 2027, then you’ll still want to keep Arenado, Contreras, Gorman, and especially Donovan.
Old York
Yankees aren’t trading anyone? Not even Judge?
The McNasty1
Mets need to trade Jeff McNeil.
Go with Acuna with a platoon of Iglesias,
KamKid
I feel like Willi Castro should be on this list somewhere. Twins are budget conscious right now and he’s in line for $6-$7m. Roster Resource has him as their DH because they have the diamond covered already. He’d fit any roster because he plays everywhere and is a switch hitter. I think there are also some intriguing traits like the surprising max exit velos that could be seen as upside. I think a lot of teams could use him and some would see enough surplus value to offer the Twins enough to make the trade.
crise
He makes a lot of sense for a team that has wide-spread injury problems and weak defenders all over the roster, places where he can pop in to make a difference on a regular basis. A team like… MIN!
KamKid
I guess, but aren’t they kind of in the same place as the Cardinals? They gave the division away because they had no budget to operate with at the trade deadline. If Brendan Donovan lands on this list, it feels like Castro is a similar player on a similarly budget conscious team.
Blackpink in the area
I agree. Heck Castro is a better trade candidate than Donovan because Castro is a soon to be free agent. I would be surprised if Donovan was dealt.
Rays in the Bay
I think you can squeeze the whole Ray’s roster in with Diaz. I see them selling on most of their talented expensive players (except rookies) on the roster.
The Saber-toothed Superfife
Face-planted…..
Lol
Hahahahah
UKPhil
I don’t think Marlins get much for Luzardo before the season starts. I think they need to stay calm and trade a hot hand or two in March.
Life is so much better if you can sell in a seller’s market
The Saber-toothed Superfife
The Tigers should move quickly. They need roster space.
They should pounce on all opportunities. Barely room for the injured players.
I said, way back then at the TD, they should.have.moved.more players to make room. Now.you see?
Make some trades, now!
Do NOT dally…..
Elig2244
Stop using MM for Million!
HalosHeavenJJ
Brett Beaty would be a godsend here. I’d love to snag him.
Donovan looks like a perfect Dodgers target. Versatility is their bag. And I really like it.
shnoop6
I’m surprised no Brandon Lowe… He seems to be in the exact tame boat as Yandy
Jdt8312
I don’t get some peoples infatuation with Crochet. If you look at his career, he hasn’t proven anything, He’s pitched 219 total innings in the majors over 5 years. 146 of those innings were just last year. Last year he was still limiting innings after having Tommy John surgery in April 2022.. I don’t get the attraction. I wouldn’t trade any prospect of value for him.
Samuel
Jdt8312
Understandable.
Watch him pitch. He’s simply overpowering. Sooo much speed and movement on his pitches. All with command.
When you watch the things he does – and doesn’t do – in the field, Luis Robert Jr.(Sox) is fools gold. Crochet however, is for real.
The question is Crochet’s health. Not a minor thing with the way pitchers throw today. Factor in 2 years on an inexpensive contract, and a team is going to pay with some very good prospects. His suiters are probably limited to large market teams. The Catch-22: If he stays healthy for 2 years he’ll want a multi hundred-million-dollar contract which most teams cannot afford; on the other hand, if he gets injured a team just traded away numerous cheap players with up to 6 years of control. Tough for most teams to recover from.
Jdt8312
I’ve seen him pitch. He’s got good stuff. It’s just that he doesn’t have enough major league innings to make me think he can stay healthy. 5 years in the majors, and only 219 innings total. And that crap he tried to pull about teams trading for him, and wanting an extension if he was going to pitch in the postseason. Why would anyone want to trade talent in that mess?
Big whiffa
Reds should go get Luis Robert. They been on him for the past decade and he’s never been cheaper
kylegocougs
All I want is to be able to switch to another app and have it not scroll me back to the top
Lanidrac
Someone like Sonny Gray is one thing (and even he’s not a lock), but why in the world do you think the Cardinals are going to trade even all of their cheap talent over the offseason?! They have never once said they are rebuilding, and even if they are, they are certainly not tanking! Guys like Fedde, Romero, and Donovan are the guys you KEEP while rebuilding for the team to remain respectable and not rush their prospects! (In actuality, they’ll probably still try to compete as well as they can next year within their lower budget.)
Speaking of Donovan, you’re also listing guys who will still be decent or better players while still under contract or team control until 2027 when the Cardinals will be seriously competing again if not in 2026.
As for Gorman, yeah he didn’t have a very good year last year, but they’d be selling low on him while he’s still young, cheap, and until team control for 4 more years. It wouldn’t male sense for any team, rebuilding or not, to give up on him at this point unless absolutely blown away by the trade offer.