Top 10 MLB Players Most Likely to Be Traded in 2024

Major League Baseball's trade deadline—which falls on July 30 in 2024—isn't as juicy as it once was.

As cheap, controllable young players have become one of the most coveted commodities in the sport, most executives live in fear of making a trade like the Montreal Expos did in July of 2002.

In an effort to go all-in and make the postseason, Montreal acquired starting pitcher Bartolo Colon from Cleveland. Not only did the Expos not end up sniffing the playoffs at 83-79, but they gave up three future stars in the trade, sending pitcher Cliff Lee, outfielder Grady Sizemore and second baseman Brandon Phillips back to Cleveland as part of a five-player package.

In the more than two decades since one of the most infamous trades in MLB history, executives have become much more conservative in trade-deadline dealings. The addition of two extra wild-card spots per league has also limited the number of teams that are clear-cut sellers, and therefore, the amount of established stars available on the trade market.

For example, the St. Louis Cardinals had a disappointing 71-91 campaign a year ago. While they traded starter Jordan Montgomery to the Texas Rangers and reliever Jordan Hicks to the Toronto Blue Jays, the Cardinals did hold on to core pieces such as third baseman Nolan Arenado and first baseman Paul Goldschmidt.

It's fair to have some skepticism about just how much of an impact the offseason additions of Lance Lynn and Kyle Gibson will have in 2024, but the Cardinals did sign Sonny Gray and should have a good enough to be in the wild-card race, at a minimum, during trade season.

If the Cardinals are entirely out of playoff contention when July rolls around and president of baseball operations John Mozeliak is ready to hit the reset button, there would unquestionably be a ton of interested suitors in their two Cooperstown-bound position players. Goldschmidt, the 2022 NL MVP, can become a free agent after the 2024 season. Arenado, now 33, might be interested in joining a contender if the Cardinals decide to retool.

Still, the factors mentioned above make you skeptical the Cardinals will part with either this summer, especially Arenado.

With all that acknowledged, there still could be a slew of other stars who become candidates to be moved this summer.

Age in 2024: 28

2023 Stats: .260/.351/.398, 17 HRs, 60 RBI, 75 BB, .749 OPS, 4.4 WAR

Contractual Status: $7 million salary in 2024; free agent after season

One of the most underrated players in baseball, Ha-Seong Kim won his first Gold Glove Award a season ago while getting some down-ballot MVP votes. 2024 figures to be an even crazier season for the 28-year-old.

New Padres manager Mike Shildt announced that Kim will take over as the team's shortstop, with Xander Bogaerts—who is entering just the second season of an 11-year, $280 million deal—moving to second base.

All of this comes after USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported in mid-January that the Padres "continue to shop" Kim. It appears he's going to open the season with the Friars, but general manager A.J. Preller likely has a good idea of what Kim's trade market would look like this summer if San Diego does indeed sell.

The reality this offseason is that following the death of late owner Peter Seidler and with the Diamond Sports Group fiasco, the Padres have trimmed their payroll noticeably. Juan Soto and Trent Grisham were traded to the New York Yankees. Josh Hader, Michael Wacha and Seth Lugo departed in free agency. Reigning NL Cy Young Award winner Blake Snell hasn't signed anywhere yet, but it would be a surprise at this point if he ends up back in San Diego.

Specifically in terms of pitching, the Padres are unlikely to be able to keep pace with the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West and may even struggle to compete for a wild-card spot. With Kim in a contract year and the Padres not spending like they did a few years ago, the sure-handed infielder seems likely to be moved at some point during the 2024 season for outfield and/or pitching.

Age in 2024: 36

2023 Stats: 3-6, 44.2 IP, 29 SV, 3.63 ERA, 3.66 FIP, 52 K's, 1.1 WAR

Contractual Status: $16 million salary in 2024; free agent after season

It feels like the only way Kenley Jansen isn't traded this summer is if the Boston Red Sox decide to deal him before the start of the season. Trying to figure out how the Red Sox will operate has become increasingly difficult in recent years, but there's been enough smoke to believe new chief baseball officer Craig Breslow has at least gauged what's out there for the four-time All-Star.

Now 36, Jansen isn't the same pitcher who won the Trevor Hoffman Award as the best reliever in the National League in 2016 and 2017 with the Dodgers.

Still, Jansen has a wealth of big-game experience and will likely move into the top five all-time in saves this year, with the chance to pass Billy Wagner, John Franco and Francisco Rodríguez in 2024. And between the Red Sox and Atlanta Braves, Jansen has been pretty effective the last two years, posting a 3.48 ERA and recording 70 saves.

There's always the chance at Jansen's age that this is the year he just doesn't have it anymore. He was already described as day-to-day early in spring training as he deals with "general lat soreness." Even if Jansen is healthy by Opening Day, you worry about whether relievers with as much tread on the tires as he has will hold up into October.

But with how desperate teams are for relief pitchers, someone will take a shot on Jansen this summer, if not sooner. It will be interesting to see if contending teams view him as a closer or set-up man, but there will be suitors for his services.

Jansen admitted recently that trade rumors have been "frustrating." There's a very real chance they'll subside for the first couple of months of the season, but the Red Sox look like they could be headed for a last-place finish in the AL East for the third year in a row. Come July, Jansen's name will likely be back at the forefront of the trade market.

Age in 2024: 29

2023 Stats: .217/.318/.504, 46 HRs, 118 RBI, 65 BB, .821 OPS, 2.8 WAR

Contractual Status: $20.5 million salary in 2024; free agent after season

While Pete Alonso has spoken of an interest in being a "lifelong Met" the reality is he's likely to test free agency next offseason.

In fact, New York Mets president of baseball operations David Stearns said that with Alonso represented by agent Scott Boras, the slugging first baseman testing the open market after the 2024 season is "probably the most likely outcome." That doesn't mean he won't ultimately return to Queens, but the possibility of losing Alonso in free agency next winter may compel the Mets to trade Alonso for a lucrative return this summer.

A year ago, the Mets entered the season with World Series expectations, only to fall flat on their faces and finish 75-87. That made pivoting and trading away both Max Scherzer and Justin Verlander in July more understandable.

But while both Scherzer and Verlander are future Hall of Famers, they are both in the twilight of their respective careers, and weren't homegrown Mets. Alonso was a second-round pick by the Mets in 2016, who has three seasons with 40 or more home runs on his resume and seems interested in remaining with the team moving forward. Trading him will be a difficult sell to the fanbase, particularly if the Mets are still within striking distance of an NL Wild Card spot.

However, if there's a team willing to move a notable young piece or two for Alonso—the Chicago Cubs have long been rumored as a potential destination—it's not hard to envision the Mets pulling the trigger and then making the case they could try to re-sign him in free agency. Things rarely ever play out that way, but few people possess the financial wherewithal that Mets owner Steve Cohen does.

Age in 2024: 28

2023 Stats: .217/.310/.407, 24 HR, 80 RBI, 71 BB, .717 OPS, 3.4 WAR

Contractual Status: $12.25 million salary in 2024; free agent after season

2021 NL Cy Young Award winner Corbin Burnes would have been, by far, the most coveted player on the trade market this summer had the Milwaukee Brewers not dealt him to the Baltimore Orioles earlier this month.

But the fact that the Brewers acquired 25-year-old shortstop Joey Ortiz from the Orioles in return for Burnes suggests they believe he'll have somewhere to play in 2025, and probably even sooner.

So Willy Adames figures to be a hot name this summer if the Brewers aren't serious contenders. Even if they are in the playoff picture, don't rule out Adames being shopped. The Athletic's Keith Law says Ortiz is ready to be a starting MLB shortstop right now.

Adames will become a free agent after the 2024 season, and since the Brewers probably wouldn't extend a qualifying offer to him, they will be motivated to get some sort of return for him.

Adames has hit .242 in parts of three seasons with the Brewers since being acquired from the Tampa Bay Rays but is one of the better sources of power at the position, as evidenced by his 80 home runs and 251 RBI over the last three campaigns.

Additionally, only Dansby Swanson topped the 16 outs above average that Adames posted at shortstop in 2023, so any team trading for him would be getting a top-tier defender at a premium position.

It feels like a matter of when, not if Adames is no longer a Brewer. But his combination of power and elite defense should make him a hot commodity this summer, and someone likely to receive a multi-year deal next winter.

Age in 2024: 29

2023 Stats: 6-6, 128 IP, 3.80 ERA, 3.87 FIP, 107 K's, 2.1 WAR

Contractual Status: $13.125 million salary in 2024; free agent after season

It's difficult to know what to make of Shane Bieber, which is probably why the low-budget Cleveland Guardians have held on to him so far as he gets ready for his contract year.

Bieber won the AL Cy Young Award in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and was excellent across 200 innings in 2022. However, injuries limited him in both the 2021 and 2023 seasons, and he has seen noticeable drops in both his fastball velocity and K/9 since claiming the top pitching honor in the junior circuit.

If recent history is any indicator, Bieber has performed better in even years than odd ones, so 2024 should be a strong one for the two-time All-Star. Should the Guardians be in contention this summer, don't rule out the possibility that they hold on to Bieber and issue him a qualifying offer after the season.

That scenario might be even more likely if Bieber struggles with injuries again in 2024 and Cleveland gets the sense accepting the qualifying offer is a real possibility.

But a healthy Bieber—even if he's not the same pitcher he was in 2019 and 2020—is probably too valuable for Cleveland to lose for nothing more than draft compensation next winter.

Cleveland subtracted last summer even while it was still in contention during what proved to be manager Terry Francona's final season at the helm. Why are we to believe that the Guardians wouldn't do the same thing again in 2024 with Bieber?

Closer Emmanuel Clase is another name on the Guardians that's likely going to be a popular trade target, but he is signed to a very team-friendly deal that includes club options that could tie him to Cleveland through the 2028 season.

If Bieber is traded, perhaps Cleveland will be more inclined to keep Clase for the time being, as the club tries not to further alienate what will likely be an upset fanbase.

Age in 2024: 31

2023 Stats: .247/.325/.419, 22 HRs, 74 RBI, 63 BB, .744 OPS, 0.4 WAR

Contractual Status: $16.5 million salary in 2024; free agent after season

Usually when a player changes teams as frequently as Josh Bell has throughout his career, it's a red flag. With Bell, it appears to be a matter of never quite being in the right place at the right time.

Perhaps a desire for stability was why he opted into his $16.5 million salary this season, rather than opting out and searching for more total money over a multi-year deal.

Bell did underwhelm in the first half of 2023 with the Guardians, hitting .233 with 11 home runs and a .701 OPS in 97 games. But after a midseason trade to the Marlins, Bell looked much more like himself, hitting .270 with 11 home runs and an .818 OPS in 53 games with the Fish.

Though Bell showed some loyalty to the Marlins by not opting out of his deal this past offseason, it's unlikely that will be reciprocated if Miami feels it can flip him for a nice return in the summer.

The Marlins will open the season looking to build off last seasons wild card berth, but they lost Jorge Soler in free agency and will be without 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcántara for the entirety of the season as he recovers from Tommy John surgery. When you add in that general manager Kim Ng—who acquired Bell—departed this offseason, Bell feels likely to be on the move again this summer.

After spending the first five seasons of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bell has played for the Washington Nationals, San Diego Padres, Guardians and Marlins over the last three years. He's likely learned to rent not buy, and it's possible the switch-hitting first baseman will again change addresses this summer.

Age in 2024: 28

2023 Stats: 7-9, 177 IP, 4.58 ERA, 3.72 FIP, 214 K's, 3.7 WAR

Contractual Status: $8 million salary in 2024; free agent after 2025 season

Like a few names on this list, Dylan Cease has been mentioned as a trade candidate all offseason. But new general manager Chris Getz recently said the expectation is that the 28-year-old will take the ball for the White Sox when they host the Detroit Tigers on Opening Day.

That doesn't mean, though, that Cease won't be moved at some point this season. He can't become a free agent until after the 2025 season, so any team interested in him this summer would be getting him for two pennant runs, increasing the return Getz and the White Sox would get for dealing him.

Barring surprise contention, trading Cease this July would allow Getz to begin to remake the team in his image.

Cease's trade candidacy would be more appealing if he pitches like he did in 2022—when he finished second in AL Cy Young Award voting—as opposed to 2023.

Granted, his 3.72 FIP suggests the 4.58 ERA Cease posted a year ago may not have been an entirely fair representation of his season. But if Cease resembles the pitcher who posted a 2.20 ERA and 3.10 FIP over 184 innings in 2022, teams will be lining up to acquire his services.

If the White Sox prove willing to part with Cease, it will be interesting to see just how far Getz is willing to go in tearing down what seemed like one of the more promising rosters in the sport just a few years ago. Cease is hardly the only player on the South Side who would be of interest to teams hoping to make a World Series run.

Age in 2024: 29

2023 Stats: 3-3, 67.1 IP, 39 SV, 2.00 ERA, 2.53 FIP, 80 K's, 2.3 WAR

Contractual Status: $4.51 million salary in 2024; free agent after 2026 season

A slew of teams that seemingly made sense as suitors for Josh Hader this offseason—the Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies and New York Yankees, among others—ultimately watched him sign what seems like a reasonable five-year, $95 million deal with the Houston Astros.

Don't be surprised if those three teams decide they need to add a star closer as they attempt to make a World Series run by the trade deadline. Either Jansen or Clase could also be candidates, but it's possible that David Bednar is the top reliever who will be moved before the trade deadline.

With a healthy Oneil Cruz, the return of Andrew McCutchen and the additions of Aroldis Chapman, Yasmani Grandal and Rowdy Tellez, the Pirates are hoping to contend in 2024. We'll see how realistic that proves to be, and the flip side of signing veterans like Chapman to one-year pacts is they will be very tradable if Pittsburgh falls out of the postseason race.

Bednar can't become a free agent until after the 2026 season, so the Pirates wouldn't have the same type of motivation to move him as veterans on a one-year deal. But a closer is a luxury on a non-playoff team, one that's more likely to depreciate in value than a position player or starting pitcher.

An All-Star in each of the last two seasons, Bednar has a 2.25 ERA and 2.56 FIP since joining the Pirates in 2021. If the Pirates don't have a path back to the postseason for the first time since 2015, general manager Ben Cherington may have a hard time turning down offers for Bednar.

Age in 2024: 31

2022 Stats (missed entirety of 2023 season): .246/.332/.462, 30 HRs, 79 RBI, 72 BB, .794 OPS, 2.3 WAR

Contractual Status: $12 million salary in 2024; player opt-out available after season

Rhys Hoskins spent six years with the Phillies, becoming a player in Philadelphia who fans were sorry to see go, even if moving Bryce Harper to first base on a full-time basis made sense.

His time with the Brewers might not be quite as memorable.

While Hoskins signed a two-year, $34 million deal with the Brewers this offseason that includes an $18 million mutual option for a third season, he and his agent—Scott Boras—likely see this as a one-year arrangement.

Hoskins missed the entirety of the 2023 season after tearing the ACL in his left knee late in spring training, or else he likely would have been looking at a three- or four-year deal in free agency. If he's able to return to being the 30-home run, 85-RBI guy in 2024, there's a good chance he'll opt out of his contract next winter and return to the free-agent market.

On a young team with a first-year skipper in Pat Murphy, Hoskins' veteran presence will be extremely valuable. But in trading Burnes to the Orioles before his contract year, Milwaukee has already shown a willingness to value the team's long-term future over a possible playoff appearance in 2024.

And if Arnold and the Brewers are willing to hear offers for the aforementioned Adames this summer, why wouldn't they consider flipping Hoskins? There's a very real chance that the slugging first baseman, like Adames, will be a free agent next offseason.

Hoskins has postseason experience and is one of the most respected leaders in the sport. Whether it's because the Mets hold on to Alonso or their asking price proves to be too high, Hoskins will be a popular target of contenders looking to add thump to the middle of their lineup.

Age in 2024: 27

2023 Stats: .272/.317/.441, 18 HRs, 64 RBI, 30 BB, .758 OPS, 0.4 WAR

Contractual Status: $13 million salary in 2024; club options available for 2025 and 2026 seasons

As previously noted, while Cease may be the most appealing trade candidate on the White Sox, there are plenty of other players Getz is likely to receive calls on this summer.

Center fielder Luis Robert is signed through the 2025 season, with affordable $20 million club options for 2026 and 2027, so Chicago probably won't be inclined to move its most valuable position player.

However, while Eloy Jiménez has a similarly team-friendly contract, prying him away from the White Sox might be more realistic than getting Robert.

Availability has been the 27-year-old's biggest issue in his five-year career. Since winning a Silver Slugger Award in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Jiménez has played in just 259 of a possible 486 games over the last three campaigns.

If healthy, Jiménez would make sense for a variety of teams looking for a right-handed bat with pop to DH and potentially play corner outfield a few times a week. He's got an .811 OPS in five MLB seasons, and like quite a few players with the White Sox, he would probably benefit from leaving what's become a stale situation in Chicago and being injected into a postseason race.

Advanced statistics via FanGraphs and Baseball Savant, unless otherwise noted. Salary info via Spotrac.