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5 players teams would be crazy to trade

Jared Wickerham / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The offseason has already seen proactive clubs net free agents such as Josh Reddick, Brett Cecil, Jason Castro, and Kendrys Morales on multi-year deals, awarding players with a nice chunk of change to spend in the process. However, several teams around baseball are exploring another avenue in an attempt to acquire the best players possible.

The trade market has created speculation of its own as players such as Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale and Detroit Tigers second baseman Ian Kinsler - among others - prepare to sit down for U.S. Thanksgiving wondering if they'll end the holiday with a different organization.

While some clubs are open to trading just about anyone, there are definitely players who shouldn't go anywhere when factoring in performance, ability, club control, and very reasonable contract lengths.

Here are five players whose teams would be crazy to trade.

Chris Archer, P, Rays

2016 salary: $2.9 million
Earliest free agent: 2020

After a down year which featured a major-league-leading 19 losses, Tampa Bay ace Chris Archer has had his name pop up more than once in trade talks during the offseason, with the Atlanta Braves reportedly showing interest. Trading him now wouldn't be the best move for the Rays. Even by offering a trade partner an extra year of control and a $4.9-million salary for 2017, selling the 28-year-old while his value is presumably at its lowest wouldn't earn them a sufficient return of prospects. Plus, owning an ace who can toss 200-plus innings and strike out 200-plus on an annual basis is hard to come by.

Nolan Arenado, 3B, Rockies

2016 salary: $5 million
Earliest free agent: 2020

No player in the National League has hit more home runs, or driven in more runs than Arenado over the past two seasons. He's also won four consecutive Gold Gloves, is only 25, and is a leader on a budding Colorado Rockies team, whose front office believes is talented enough to make the postseason in 2017. If the Rockies, who are always looking for pitching, were to ever consider a trade for arms, they may want to look at shipping outfielder Carlos Gonzalez - who is eligible for free agency in 2018 - elsewhere while they continue to build around Arenado, who is under team control until 2020.

Salvador Perez, C, Royals

2016 salary: $2 million
Earliest free agent: 2022

Salvador Perez, arguably the best catcher in the American League, is the definition of a warrior behind the plate. Despite starting behind the dish 534 times over the past three seasons - the most in the bigs and 27 more than Yadier Molina - Perez is consistently seen on social media wearing a smile on his face, while coming across as an incredibly humble character in interviews. He not only plays a ton, but has contributed 20-plus home runs over the past two seasons to go along with his .272 lifetime average. With "Big Sal" under team control until 2022 at an annual average salary of $10.5 million, trading the heart and soul of the Royals would be a nutty move by K.C.

Kris Bryant, 3B, Cubs

2016 salary: $652,000
Earliest free agent: 2022

Watch out Mike Trout, because you may have competition for the title of best player in baseball from Chicago Cubs third baseman - and jack of all defensive trades - Kris Bryant. During his two seasons in the show, Bryant owns a .900 OPS, is second behind Trout in WAR (8.4), and has won the NL Rookie of the Year and MVP awards in the process. The 24-year-old is part of a deadly Cubs nucleus of position players under team control for a long time, but he may, in fact, be the cornerstone of the franchise for years to come. Don't expect them to trade Bryant unless a) his career completely unwinds or b) Theo Epstein and Co. suddenly need straitjackets.

Mookie Betts, OF, Red Sox

2016 salary: $566,000
Earliest free agent: 2021

The ability is one thing, but Mookie Betts is the kind of poster child franchises salivate over building around. With David Ortiz's career coming to an end, Boston Red Sox fans may have their new franchise player. In just his second full season of big-league ball, Betts finished behind only Trout for the AL MVP, after recording a ridiculous 359 total bases and a plus-32 in defensive runs saved while patrolling the tough-to-navigate right-field corner of Fenway Park. He's also just 24 years old and the Red Sox have him under control until 2021. This guy shouldn't be going anywhere, Dave Dombrowski, unless you want a riot on your hands.

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