Offseason MLB Trade Candidates
As we approach the 2022-23 MLB offseason, a look at a notable player from each team that could be on the trade block, including the future financial outlook for each.
Christian Walker (1B, ARI)
2 years of arbitration, 2025 free agent
This isn’t a “must happen” situation by any means, but the D-Backs do have a really strong crop of position players ready to rise up from the lower levels. If the name of the game is bringing in big league pitching to complement them, then selling high on a player like Walker has plenty of value.
Manuel Pina (C, ATL)
1 year, $4.5M + $4M 2024 club option
Pina’s availability and production was limited behind the likes of Travis d'Arnaud & William Contreras. With d’Arnaud now under control through 2024, and and Contreras through 2027, at least attempting to find a suitor for Pina this winter makes sense.
Anthony Santander (OF, 28)
3 years of arbitration, 2026 free agent
This one doesn’t seem likely, but even if the Orioles start to smell like a big market team with a few splash moves this offseason, they’ll still need to consider their bottom line at all times. Santander projects to a $7.4M salary in his 3rd of 4 arbitration years, and if the plan is to keep Mullins & Austin Hays on a more long-term basis, then flipping Santander on a high note and replacing him with a less expensive prospect is probably the right business move.
Rafael Devers (3B, BOS)
1 year, $17M (projected), 2024 free agent
Devers should be the prototypical position player to pay and utilize as your cornerstone piece, but the Red Sox have so many question marks and roster holes to address this winter, that it simply may be the wrong business decision. Devers & SS Xander Bogaerts are due for $25M+ per year extensions, but it’s unclear if Boston is in a position to spend that kind of cash right now. If he hits the trade block, Devers will draw blockbuster offers from most of the league.
Nick Madrigal (2B, CHC)
4 years of arbitration, 2027 free agent
The 25 year old saw limited action for the Cubs in 2021, after showing signs of starting capabilities in his rookie campaign with the Reds. He’ll be a contact hitter for life, and a strong defensive infielder as well. Perhaps that’s an upgrade for certain organizations around the league. Nico Hoerner figures to move over to 2B next season.
Lucas Giolito (SP, CWS)
1 year projected $11M, 2024 free agent
After a 4.90 ERA, 1.4 WHIP, 0.12 WAR campaign, this would be a sell low - no question. But Giolito is scheduled for free agency after 2023, and the White Sox just had one of the more underperforming seasons in all of MLB. A shakeup or two across this lineup is inevitable, and there’s always a team looking to add an arm.
Nick Senzel (3B, CIN)
3 years of arbitration, 2026 free agent
It just hasn’t clicked. Senzel posted his worst campaign to date, finishing 2022 with a -1.25 WAR in Cincy. The one bright spot here is that there appear to be plenty of teams in need of a 3B next season, with a free agent/trade market that remains thin, to say the least. Will an organization try to convince themselves they can be a “fixer”?
Amed Rosario (SS, CLE)
1 year, $9M (projected), 2024 free agent
Over the past two seasons, Rosario has averaged 25 doubles, 7 triples, 11 homers, 64 RBIs & 15 stolen bases for the Guardians. He’s a versatile fielder, and will enter his final year of arbitration at 27 years old. With youngster Andres Gimenez able to slide over to his more normal SS position, flipping Rosario for more depth would be a very Cleveland-like move.
Randal Grichuk (OF, COL)
1 year, $5M, 2024 free agent
Grichuk was brought over from Toronto with hopes of adding power to the outfield, but he didn’t deliver as such. Colorado will assuredly be active in the free agent market for home runs, and with the Blue Jays paying nearly 50% of his $9.3M final salary, Grichuk should be on the trade block.
Jose Cisnero (RP, DET)
1 year, $2.2M (projected), 2024 free agent
The 33-year old is headed for his final year of arbitration, and while teams will be calling about Gregory Soto (3 years of arbitration), the Tigers are much more likely to think smaller this offseason. Detroit holds a lot of young pieces that underperformed in 2022, so giving this thing another year to percolate seems the right path.
Jose Urquidy (SP, HOU)
3 years of arbitration, 2026 free agent
The Astros are flush with talented starting pitching, and assuming Justin Verlander remains in the mix next season, can flip at least one arm for more bullpen/lineup depth. Urquidy seems the most likely candidate both for value and for what Houston can internally replace him with (Javier, Whitley). The 28-year-old is headed for his first arbitration offseason, set to earn around $3.6M.
Salvador Perez (C, KC)
3 years, $62M + a $13.5M 2026 club option
Perez missed 65 games this season, but has routinely been healthy and reliable. He’s heading toward age 33, and the contract is hefty, but this is a player 1 year removed from 48 homers, 121 RBIs and an over 5 WAR. With youngster MJ Melendez ready for a larger role, moving Perez to a contending franchise should make sense for both parties.
Shohei Ohtani (SP/DH, LAA)
1 year, $30M, 2024 free agent
We’re finally hearing frustration from the superhuman regarding the lack of winning during his 5 year tenure with the Angels. Will the two sides let 2023 play out, then let free agency handle the rest, or will Ohtani be the latest superstar heading into the final year of arbitration to be moved (Lindor, Betts, Turner). This is an extremely fluid situation.
Ryan Pepiot (SP, LAD)
Rookie Status
Pepiot currently ranks as the Dodgers’ 6th overall prospect, 2nd among pitchers (Bobby Miller). With Kershaw’s career in flux, Buehler’s 2023 largely gone due to surgery, and Tyler Anderson & Andrew Heaney headed to free agency, why are we projecting a top arm to be moved? Because this is the Dodgers. Because Shohei Ohtani is available. Because Rafael Devers may be available. Because this is the Dodgers.
Pablo Lopez (SP, MIA)
2 years of arbitration, 2025 free agent
Lopez was highly coveted at this past August deadline, but the Marlins were looking to be blown away with an offer (rightfully so). Lopez has now posted back-to-back-to-back seasons that prove he’s worthy of top rotation action & money. If the Marlins aren’t willing to be that team, striking on a deal this winter (with two years of control remaining) could prove to bring back a franchise-altering haul. Lopez projects to an 8 year, $200M extension in our system currently.
Rowdy Tellez (1B, MIL)
2 years, of arbitration, 2025 free agent
Acquired from Toronto before the 2021 deadline, Tellez has rounded into exactly what he was projected to be, a 30+ HR, high 700 OPS slugger with limited production elsewhere. The Brewers should sell high after his big power 2022, especially if it means they can work to rebuild their bullpen. Finding 30 HRs on the open market has become increasingly easier to do.
Giovanny Urshela (3B, MIN)
1 year, $9M (projected), 2024 free agent
Acquired from the Yankees in the deal that sent Josh Donaldson to the Bronx, Ursehla posted a strong overall 2022 campaign, and is worthy of sticking around another year. But if the Twins want to hand the keys over to Jose Miranda, while also shedding a little payroll in order to ramp up for their next big shortstop move, Urshela holds value.
James McCann (C, NYM)
2 years, $24M, 2025 free agent
This might be a bit of wishful thinking here, but there’s no question the Mets would like to get out from under this contract as quickly as possible - especially with top prospect Francisco Alvarez now purchased, & Tomas Nido (2 more years of control) in the running for a Gold Glove. New York will be looking to retain or replace 3/4s of a rotation, half a bullpen, and a centerfielder this offseason, so paying down McCann’s deal to get back a hole plugger might be worth their time.
Aaron Hicks (OF, NYY)
3 years, $30.5M, 2026 free agent
Hicks is a long way removed from the 27 HR, 79 RBI season he posted in 2018, but he still carried a 2.1 WAR through the 2022 campaign. His future salaries ($10.5M, $9.5M, $9.5M, $1M buyout) aren’t devastating, but the Yankees will be looking to free up this roster spot. They can pay down most of this contract to buy a better return out of the deal.
Sean Murphy (C, OAK)
3 years of arbitration, 2026 free agent
Murphy’s name has been attached to trades for months now, and with seemingly every other veteran player having been moved off the roster in one way or another - Murphy is somewhat of a last man standing. A projected $3.3M arbitration salary for 2023 isn’t daunting (even for the A’s), but with two of their top prospects (Shea Langeliers , & Tyler Soderstrom)
Rhys Hoskins (1B, PHI)
1 year, $12M (projected), 2024 free agent
I know, this one seems crazy after the postseason run Hoskins’ has had at the plate - but that’s kind of the point here. The Phillies held the 2nd most errors at 1B, and the 3rd worst fielding percentage at the position in 2022. It was a nice bounceback year for Hoskins at the plate, but the Phillies aren’t going to be short on power for the next few seasons. Upgrading this position (and selling Hoskins while he’s a commodity) should be one of the offseason priorities.
Kevin Newman (SS, PIT)
2 years of arbitration, 2025 free agent
Bryan Reynolds will garner much of the interest this offseason, but with 3 years of control left, it seems unlikely that anyone will meet the demands that Pittsburgh will be seeking. Newman is a versatile talent at a position that many contending teams have question marks surrounding this winter. Oh, and Oneil Cruz has officially arrived.
Blake Snell (SP, SD)
1 year, $16.6M, 2024 free agent
The expiring contract at least makes Snell’s status interesting, but it’s hard to believe that a team that ran out of starting pitching down the stretch would give up on its #2 arm in a contention window. I’m sure they’d love to shed payroll somewhere, but with 6 notable free agents, and a Juan Soto extension looming, San Diego is in spend mode - not save.
Jake Junis (P, SF)
1 year, $3.3M (projected), 2024 free agent
Junis filled out the backend of the Giants rotation in 2022, but was more of a swingman during his tenure with the Royals. This type of versatility is valuable - either to keep, or to trade. Junis could very well be packaged with a few others to secure bullpen depth, or upgrade another position (1B, 2B) in need.
Jesse Winker (DH, SEA)
1 year $8.25M, 2024 free agent
Winker was a viable middle of the lineup bat for the Reds in 2021, but things fell off a cliff this past year in Seattle. The Mariners are in contention, so paying down this contract to open up the roster spot and bring back some sort of depth asset should be a priority.
Paul DeJong (SS, STL)
1 year, $9M + 2 club options ($2M buyout)
There’s probably zero market for DeJong in his current existence, but the Cardinals are one of the teams expected to make major offers for a few of the top available shortstops (Correa, Swanson, Turner), and everyone knows it. It’s going to be a lopsided move, but a move St. Louis should make regardless.
Ji-Man Choi (1B, TB)
1 year, $4.5M (projected), 2024 free agent
Choi’s power numbers fell off of a truck this past season. He’s probably as much a non-tender candidate as he is a trade one, but it seems inevitable that Choi is set for new scenery next season.
Nick Solak (OF, TEX)
4 years of control, 2027 free agent
Solak barely has a spot on the MLB roster right now - let alone after whatever the Rangers are planning for Version 2.0 of their massive offseason rebuild. It’s unusual for teams to move players with 4 years of control left, but Solak has shown glimpses of ability at the MLB level, and only carries 1 more minor league option into 2023. Also, the Rangers need to utilize every avenue possible to acquire pitching.
Alejandro Kirk (C, TOR)
4 years of control, 2027 free agent
It was a solid first full season at the MLB level for Kirk (14 HRs, 63 RBIs, .787 OPS), but the Blue Jays have a comedy of riches at this position right now. If they feel a Gabriel Moreno/Danny Jansen combo can carry them for the next few seasons (and then some in Moreno’s case), stealing value for Kirk in a deal this winter is the right play.
Victor Robles (OF, WAS)
2 years of arbitration, 2025 free agent
Robles finally started to hit major league pitching toward the end of the 2022 season, but it shouldn’t be enough for anyone to get too excited about. His centerfield defense & 15 stolen bases however might be uber attractive to teams looking for upgrades in these areas. He won’t break the bank this year (around $3M projected in arbitration), and the 2 years of control should be attractive enough to garner an offer.
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