Fresh MLB Trade Packages for Top Rumored Targets

There is still plenty of time to kill before spring training gets going later this month when the Los Angeles Dodgers kick things off on Feb. 9. While we eagerly await the start of baseball season, let's get the creative juices flowing.

The top free agents and trade targets are pretty clear. Until these players find new homes, speculation is fair game.

Here, we offer fresh trade packages for MLB's top rumored targets. These proposals are not necessarily perfect, but are meant to give a sense of what it would take to get traction on a few deals with some different teams involved.

There is also some devil's advocate in the "Who Says No?" portion of each proposal.

The Proposal: Arizona Diamondbacks get RHP Edward Cabrera; Miami Marlins get OF Jake McCarthy and OF Wilderd Patino

Even after the Eduardo Rodríguez signing, the Diamondbacks could still benefit from adding to the back end of their rotation.

Cabrera is one of the Marlins' surplus starters who they could use to get more offense. While the 25-year-old is talented and intriguing, he is a bit of a risk. He's spent parts of three seasons in the big leagues and has shown serious command issues with a 15.2 walk percentage.

On the other hand, Cabrera is hard to hit, boasting an impressive .199 expected opposing batting average. His changeup clocks in close to 93 mph, and he has undeniable swing-and-miss stuff that includes a four-seamer, curveball, sinker and slider.

He is also under club control for the next five years, which in theory gives the Arizona pitching staff plenty of time to work on the command issues.

Who Says No?

It's not worth it for Arizona to give up players any better than McCarthy and Patino for a back-end starter who can be as shaky as Cabrera, though he would improve the rotation.

But that pairing might not bring sufficient offense to impress the Marlins enough to part with Cabrera, who they have no urgency to trade considering he won't hit free agency until 2029.

McCarthy hit .283 with a 117 OPS+ in 2022 but regressed last season. The Marlins would need to be optimistic about him returning to form to accept this deal.

The Proposal: Toronto Blue Jays get Jake Cronenworth; San Diego Padres get Cavan Biggio

Both of these players could benefit from a change of scenery. So one utility player for another, straight up. Except in this instance, the Blue Jays acquire Cronenworth to primarily play second base. Two of Toronto's biggest needs this offseason are a left-handed bat and second baseman. Cronenworth can be both.

He did not work well at first base for the Padres last year, but he's a two-time All-Star at second base who could regain his form playing his natural position.

On the other side, Biggio no longer appears to be a long-term fit for Toronto. This much was signaled in August 2022 when the Blue Jays traded for Whit Merrifield.

Who Says No?

Definitely not Toronto. The only hang-up with this deal would be if San Diego is so underwhelmed by Biggio that it would require something else. The Padres would be betting on Biggio's upside that he showed in his first two big league seasons. They would also be off the hook for the remaining six years, $73M left on his seven-year deal.

The Proposal: Philadelphia Phillies get RHP Emmanuel Clase; Cleveland Guardians get OF Justin Crawford, 3B Aidan Miller and OF Johan Rojas

Philly should be in the Clase sweepstakes for obvious reasons. Things did not go great at the back end of games with the since-departed Craig Kimbrel, and there is no clear replacement in sight.

That is where Clase, considered one of the game's elite closers, comes into play. While he had a bit of a down season in 2023, he was a top reliever in the two years prior.

From 2021-22, only Edwin Diaz had a higher fWAR or better FIP among relievers. The Phillies should look to recapture that with Clase, who turns 26 in March and is under club control through at least 2026.

This trade proposal is similar to the one presented last week by B/R colleague Zachary D. Rymer, but it adds Rojas as a sweetener.

Who Says No?

Including Rojas might be asking for too much from Philly, considering he projects to be the everyday center fielder. But could the Phillies make it work with some combination of Brandon Marsh and Cristian Pache in center?

The reality is the Phillies have more options without significant drop-off in center field than they do at the closer spot.

The Proposal: San Francisco Giants get SS Willy Adames; Milwaukee Brewers get 3B Casey Schmitt and 1B/3B JD Davis

The Giants have been in the market for a shortstop for a couple of years, and the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser speculated Adames could be a fit (h/t MLB Trade Rumors).

He doesn't hit for average or get on base at an ideal clip, but he provides power the Giants are sorely lacking. Trading Davis and Schmitt for an elite defensive shortstop with power should be a no-brainer for San Francisco.

As for Milwaukee, it gets something for Adames, who can hit free agency after this season. The Brewers also address needs at both first and third base, which should be among their offseason priorities.

Who Says No?

If this return doesn't quite move the needle for the Brewers, they could wait until the trade deadline approaches to see which teams are desperate to give more for Adames. There should be suitors.

But given the Brewers want to remain competitive in a winnable NL Central this season, it would benefit them to get back an experienced player who fills a need like the 30-year-old Davis.

The Proposal: Miami Marlins get LF Randy Arozarena; Tampa Bay Rays get LHP Trevor Rogers, LHP Thomas White and 1B Jacob Berry

In mid-December, teams were asking about the Rays All-Star, and the team was listening to offers. This is a perfect match because Arozarena provides what the Marlins desperately need, while the Marlins have a surplus of what the Rays are famous for developing.

Don't score enough runs? Arozarena can help the Marlins do just that. Last season, he was among the MLB leaders with a 126 wRC+. Meanwhile, the Marlins finished last in the NL in scoring, despite Jorge Soler belting 36 homers in the middle of their order.

With Soler gone, the Marlins need to fill that void on top of improving. Arozarena can't close every gap there, but he'd certainly be a good start.

In return, the Rays get a pair of southpaws in Rogers and White. They also add a young first-round talent to the infield in Berry, who is trying to recover from a rough minor league season in 2023.

Who Says No?

This would be quite the haul for the Rays and a lot to give up for the Marlins. White and Berry are Miami's No. 2 and No. 4 prospects, respectively.

They would be doing so for an All-Star with another three years of club control. But it would be understandable to hesitate punting on so much talent in addition to parting with a starter in Rogers, who was an All-Star three years ago and has dealt with injuries the past two seasons.

The Proposal: Seattle Mariners get RHP Dylan Cease; Chicago White Sox get Bryce Miller, SS Colt Emerson, 2B Sam Haggerty, OF George Feliz

What seems to be holding up a Cease trade for several months now is Chicago's steep asking price for its ace, who will be just two seasons removed from a runner-up AL Cy Young campaign.

The White Sox are right to be protective of Cease. Since 2021, only six pitchers have posted a better FIP, and seven have a better fWAR. He is one of the game's best over the last few years.

Seattle is in search of an ace after the failed two-year Robbie Ray experiment. According to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the Mariners "have quietly entered trade talks" with the White Sox for Cease, with Chicago "seeking a package centered around young starters." Nightingale specifically named Miller and Bryan Woo, which gives us a starting point for a trade.

In Miller, the White Sox get the pitching return they seek. In Emerson, Seattle's first-round pick in 2022 who turns 19 this July, the White Sox potentially get a long-term answer for their middle infield problem.

Signing Paul DeJong to a one-year deal and trading for Nicky Lopez can cover up those issues for now, but they need to be developing more viable solutions after Tim Anderson's decline and having neglected second base for years.

Who Says No?

Not the Mariners. They want to add Cease to an already lethal rotation. He would join Luis Castillo, Logan Gilbert and George Kirby to form one of the more impressive rotations in baseball.

It would be the White Sox who would prevent this from happening if the compensation is not to their satisfaction. Nightengale mentioned that the White Sox are expected to open the season with Cease if they can't complete a trade with Seattle, but they could revisit a deal toward the July 30 trade deadline.

The Proposal: Boston Red Sox get RHP Corbin Burnes; Milwaukee Brewers get OF Miguel Bleis, OF Wilyer Abreu and SS Marvin Alcantara

It is not a matter of "if," but "when" and "where" the Milwaukee Brewers trade their ace. Burnes, a 29-year-old former Cy Young winner, is entering the final year under team control before hitting free agency next offseason.

For the Brewers, it would be wise to maximize the return for Burnes, whether it be prior to Opening Day or ahead of the trade deadline. Meanwhile, the Red Sox are still in the market for an ace of their own.

They have attempted to address the pitching needs by essentially swapping Chris Sale, who was traded to Atlanta, for Lucas Giolito, who they signed in free agency. Giolito at the top of Boston's rotation doesn't exactly change its trajectory or increase its overall potential. Trading for Burnes would, even if it's unlikely, as reported in December by the Boston Globe's Alex Speier.

With Bleis and Abreu, the Brewers get an outfielder for the future and one who can play now.

Bleis is just 19 years old and recovering from season-ending shoulder surgery. He is ranked as Boston's fifth-best prospect. Abreu made his major league debut last season and showed at minimum to be serviceable, though not spectacular.

Alcantara is somewhat of a throw-in, considering Boston's surplus of young shortstops in the system.

Who Says No?

While reports indicate the Red Sox are unlikely to pursue Burnes, there is also the question of whether this would be enough for the Brewers to part with him.

The centerpiece of this trade package is Bleis, a promising 19-year-old outfielder coming off shoulder surgery, so it's fair to wonder whether that's enticing enough to deal away a star of Burnes' caliber.

Prospect rankings via MLB.com.