14 players who could be traded this MLB offseason
Here, theScore identifies 14 players who could be traded this offseason and ranks the likelihood of a deal happening - using a scale from 1 (unlikely) to 5 (extremely likely).
Corbin Burnes, Brewers
Age: 28
Position: SP
Contract: 2nd-year arb eligible (FA after 2024)
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Burnes would obviously bring a haul back to the Brewers. The 2021 NL Cy Young winner crossed the 200-inning threshold for the first time in 2022 and led the Senior Circuit in strikeouts. But would Milwaukee actually trade its ace? Burnes said in September that he's heard "nothing" from the Brewers about a possible extension, and the midseason Josh Hader trade proved they don't shy away from controversial deals. Hunter Renfroe was also already moved out this month in order to clear some payroll. If they're going to do it, this might be the time, but they're also not under any pressure to deal him. Sitting back and waiting for the right return remains the most likely scenario.
Dylan Carlson, Cardinals
Age: 24
Position: OF
Contract: 1st-year arb eligible after 2023
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Cardinals have a surplus of outfielders, and Carlson's the likeliest of the group to be dealt. While he went into a bit of a sophomore slump at the plate this year, there's still a lot to like. He's a switch-hitting outfielder one year removed from being a Rookie of the Year finalist and is capable of playing solid defense at all three outfield spots. He's also still one year away from arbitration. It would be surprising if there isn't a market for Carlson's services; the only question is whether a deal presents itself.
Bobby Dalbec, Red Sox
Age: 27
Position: 1B/3B
Contract: 1st-year arb eligible after 2023
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Things just haven't gone according to plan for Dalbec in Boston. After flashing his prodigious power at the end of the 2020 campaign, the infielder has struggled over the past two seasons, culminating with a disastrous 80 wRC+ in 117 games in 2022. With Triston Casas looking ready to take the mantle at first base, there doesn't appear to be a pathway to consistent playing time. Both he and the Red Sox might benefit from a change of scenery.
Yandy Diaz, Rays
Age: 31
Position: 1B/3B
Contract: 2nd-year arb eligible (FA after 2024)
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Rays have a history of trading good players as their salaries start to increase through arbitration. Diaz was the club's best offensive player in 2022, putting up personal bests in fWAR, OPS, and wRC+. Diaz is projected to earn $5.4 million in 2023, a figure that could very well be high enough for the Rays to decide to move him.
Mitch Garver, Rangers
Age: 31
Position: C
Contract: Signed through 2023
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
Garver struggled in his first season with the Rangers as injuries limited him to just 54 games. Jonah Heim's emergence behind the plate makes a trade more of a possibility. There are risks associated with acquiring Garver, but if he can stay healthy, he profiles as a top-half-of-the-league option behind the plate.
Danny Jansen, Blue Jays
Age: 27
Position: C
Contract: 2nd-year arb eligible (FA after 2024)
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Blue Jays are loaded at catcher and appear likely to deal from that surplus to shore up some areas of weakness. Jansen is coming off a career-best campaign despite being hampered by injuries for a second straight year. Jansen set new single-season marks in home runs, RBIs, slugging, and fWAR while grading as a strong defensive option behind the plate. With two years of club control remaining, Jansen won't fetch as much in a trade as Alejandro Kirk or Gabriel Moreno. However, there are still likely to be numerous suitors interested in improving at a position where offensive value is hard to come by.
Joe Jimenez, Tigers
Age: 27
Position: RP
Contract: 3rd-year arb eligible (FA after 2023)
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Why the Tigers decided to keep Jimenez at the 2022 trade deadline remains a mystery. The right-hander was in the middle of a terrific season and would have fetched a strong return from a bullpen-needy club. Detroit may have a hard time receiving as much now that Jimenez is set to hit free agency in a year. The one thing that might work in Detroit's favor is the increasingly high price tags attached to free-agent relievers. Jimenez is projected to earn just $2.6 million in 2023 so teams might be more willing to part with some prospects rather than hand out a lucrative deal on the free-agent market.
Pablo Lopez, Marlins
Age: 26
Position: SP
Contract: 2nd-year arb eligible (FA after 2024)
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Marlins are in desperate need of offense and have a surplus of young starters to deal from. While any Miami starter not named Sandy Alcantara is likely to be on the table, Lopez is both the likeliest to be traded and should bring back the best return. The 26-year-old is a solid mid-rotation arm who could present a cheaper alternative for some contenders that might not want to shop in free agency. Lopez was a hot commodity at this year's trade deadline, and that interest should pick up again heading into the winter meetings.
Sean Murphy, Athletics
Age: 28
Position: C
Contract: 1st-year arb eligible (FA after 2025)
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
On paper, Murphy is exactly the type of player the Athletics should look to build around. However, Oakland doesn't usually operate in a conventional sense and is likely to take a hard look at flipping Murphy this offseason as he enters arbitration eligibility. The talented backstop is projected to earn $3.5 million in 2023, and that number figures to increase as Murphy continues to produce on both sides of the ball. If the A's do aggressively shop Murphy, there figures to be a host of clubs wanting to acquire a catcher who finished with the second-highest fWAR at the position behind J.T. Realmuto in 2022.
Emilio Pagan, Twins
Age: 31
Position: RP
Contract: Signed through 2023
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️
In a somewhat surprising move, the Twins decided to tender Pagan a contract for next season despite a rocky performance in 2022. The 31-year-old hasn't posted a sub-4.00 ERA since 2019 but is still able to miss bats at a reasonable rate. The Twins probably wouldn't secure much of a return for Pagan, but teams are historically willing to surrender an asset for a bullpen arm who can rack up some strikeouts.
Bryan Reynolds, Pirates
Age: 27
Position: OF
Contract: Signed through 2023 ($6.75M), free agent after 2026
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️
It's easy to see why Reynolds is a hot commodity who constantly surfaces in trade rumors. He's perhaps the Pirates' most important player, providing consistent All-Star-level production out of center field, and is a constant threat to hit .300. The Pirates could land quite a haul if they decide to trade him. At the moment, Pittsburgh seems intent on keeping Reynolds, perhaps to try and take advantage of a weak NL Central. While it appears he won't be going anywhere for now, things can change quickly given the franchise's current state.
Gleyber Torres, Yankees
Age: 25
Position: 2B/SS
Contract: 3rd-year arb eligible (FA after 2024)
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Torres rebounded in 2022 after a pair of rough offensive seasons but has struggled to recapture the form he showcased when he hit 38 home runs during a breakout 2019 campaign. The Yankees have infield prospects Anthony Volpe and Oswald Peraza on the cusp of becoming everyday major-league players. With two years of club control remaining, Torres should be able to command a decent return. The Mariners have reportedly shown some interest, and the Yankees could find a fit with a club looking to acquire a power-hitting infielder for either a starting pitcher or controllable bullpen pieces.
Jesse Winker, Mariners
Age: 29
Position: OF
Contract: Signed through 2023 ($8.25M)
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
Winker had a disappointing first campaign in Seattle after he was acquired alongside Eugenio Suarez from the Cincinnati Reds. Winker posted career lows in a handful of statistical categories while battling knee and neck injuries. The Mariners have reportedly discussed trades involving Winker this offseason, and with the addition of slugging outfielder Teoscar Hernandez, it feels like a deal is increasingly likely before Opening Day.
Kolten Wong, Brewers
Age: 32
Position: 2B
Contract: Signed through 2023 ($10M)
Trade factor (1-5): ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
The Brewers picked up Wong's option early in the offseason, but that was very likely a precursor to a trade. Wong is coming off a strange year in which he put up a career-best 118 OPS+ at the plate while his glove - long his calling card as a player - declined. Still, given the weak crop of free-agent second basemen, there's obviously a market for Wong's services, to the point that rivals are expecting him to be dealt.