The 10 MLB Players Linked to Trade Rumors Most Likely to Get Dealt

Now that Major League Baseball's free-agent market is up and running after Aaron Nola's signing, it may not be long before the trade market also gets hot.

Of all the players who have appeared in trade rumors of recent vintage, there are 10 who seem especially likely to get moved.

For some, it's because they're superfluous on their current teams and thus expendable. For others, it's because they're valuable trade chips on rebuilders. For others still, it's because their contracts have become or are about to become too great of a burden.

We'll check these guys off in order of how appealing they are as trade bait, with individual slides for six of them and two other slides that lump teammates together.

But first, let's start with some honorable mentions who have been mentioned as trade candidates, yet who probably won't be on the move.

1B Pete Alonso, New York Mets

There's still smoke about the Chicago Cubs wanting Alonso, but the Mets aren't actively trying to move their slugging first baseman. Nor should they be. Even if they can't extend him, there's always next summer's trade deadline if 2024 doesn't go better than 2023.

RHP Shane Bieber, Cleveland Guardians

Bieber seemed like an obvious trade candidate coming into the winter, but Jason Lloyd of The Athletic is "getting the impression" that the Guardians will be keeping the 2020 American League Cy Young Award winner. There's logic here, as trading Bieber now would mean selling low on him amid an offseason market that's saturated with starting pitching.

RF Nick Castellanos, Philadelphia Phillies

Initial reports that Castellanos could be available this winter were swiftly refuted by ESPN's Buster Olney. There's also the question of whether the Phillies could trade him even if they wanted to. Castellanos is making $20 million annually through 2026, which is a lot for a poor defender with a notoriously streaky bat.

DH Eloy Jiménez and CF Luis Robert Jr., Chicago White Sox

White Sox general manager Chris Getz says the team has "no untouchables," but one nonetheless has a hard time envisioning trades of Jiménez or Robert. The former's value is down after he struggled in 2023, while the latter is the best player Chicago has and on a team-friendly deal, to boot.

CF Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels

The prospect of a Trout trade seemed like a long shot even when the concept first emerged in September. It may be even more of a long shot now, even if a report that went viral over the weekend hinted to the contrary.

Age: 27

2023 Stats: 142 G, 602 PA, 13 HR, 5 SB, .264 AVG, .324 OBP, .421 SLG

Contract Status: Under club control through 2024

If anything, it's a surprise that the Red Sox haven't already traded Alex Verdugo.

They were willing to listen to offers for him ahead of this year's trade deadline, and they reportedly even discussed a swap with the New York Yankees that would have brought back right-hander Clarke Schmidt.

Cut to now, and the word from Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow is that Verdugo is still of interest to other teams:

There's only so much one can get excited about all this. Verdugo offers an essentially league-average bat with little in the way of power or speed. And while he was a finalist for a Gold Glove this year, defensive metrics are split on the actual quality of his fielding.

A Verdugo trade is nonetheless a possibility that must be taken seriously, if for no other reasons than the Red Sox have a surplus of left-handed hitters and that he doesn't always get along with manager Alex Cora. If Boston can get something for him, it should.

Age: 26

2023 Stats: 158 G, 672 PA, 25 HR, 13 SB, .273 AVG, .347 OBP, .453 SLG

Contract Status: Under club control through 2024

If the Red Sox do trade Verdugo to the Yankees, could it be not for Schmidt but for Gleyber Torres?

The concept, as floated by WEEI's Rob Bradford, is a fun one. Both are post-2024 free agents and the Red Sox (left-handed) and Yankees (right-handed) are opposites of each other in terms of their hitting surpluses.

It was therefore a bummer when ESPN's Jeff Passan referred to this as a "nonsense" idea that has a "minuscule" chance of happening. Yet he notably did so while keeping the door open on a Torres trade in general.

Even if such a trade didn't bring back a much-needed lefty hitter, it would at least clear money for the Yankees to pursue one by other means. Torres is projected to make $15.3 million in 2024, a consequential sum for a team that's always mindful of the luxury tax.

Besides, Torres resembles a change of scenery candidate. Though he's broken free of the power doldrum that defined his 2020 and 2021 seasons, he hasn't gotten back to being the guy who slammed 62 homers in his first 267 games. Perhaps he could with another team.

Kepler's Age: 30

Keplers 2023 Stats: 130 G, 491 PA, 24 HR, 1 SB, .260 AVG, .332 OBP, .484 SLG

Kepler's Contract Status: Signed through 2024

Polanco's Age: 30

Polanco's 2023 Stats: 80 G, 343 PA, 14 HR, 4 SB, .255 AVG, .335 OBP, .454 SLG

Polanco's Contract Status: Signed through 2024, with 2025 club option

The Twins opened 2023 with a club-record $153.7 million payroll, and it would prove to be worth it as they went on to win the AL Central and their first playoff series since 2002.

Yet the word from Dan Hayes of The Athletic is that the Twins intend to cut payroll anyway. They're likely to go into 2024 with a payroll somewhere in the $125 to $140 million range. Notably, the first figure is precisely what they're already projected to spend.

As such, the Twins may have to make cuts before they make any additions. According to Passan, that could mean trades of Max Kepler or Jorge Polanco.

They're set to make about the same amount of money in 2024, with Kepler's contract paying out $10 million and Polanco's paying out $10.5 million. These are certainly club-friendly terms. Both are generally above average hitters, with Kepler also offering above average defense.

It could nonetheless be Polanco who has more trade value. He has a more consistent track record, for one thing. For another, the free-agent market isn't as flush with infielders as it is with outfielders.

Age: 27

2023 Stats: 33 GS, 177.0 IP, 172 H (19 HR), 214 K, 79 BB, 4.58 ERA

Contract Status: Under club control through 2025

As opposed to Jiménez and Robert, it's quite easy to imagine the White Sox trading Dylan Cease.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today has been all over the beat, reporting earlier in November that the White Sox are willing to listen on Cease and on Sunday that they're in active trade talks with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

At least in the abstract, it is possible to debate whether the White Sox should trade Cease now rather than later. The 2023 season didn't exactly boost his stock, after all, as his ERA more than doubled from 2022 and his strikeout rate took a dip.

Still, said 2022 season—highlighted by a 2.20 ERA and more rWAR than Justin Verlander—underscores that Cease has Cy Young-caliber upside. Despite what happened in 2023, there's wisdom in shopping said upside while he still has two years until free agency.

Besides, the likelihood of the White Sox contending in the next two years is basically zilch. They just lost 101 games and their farm system is middling at best.

Age: 30

2023 Stats: 21 GS, 120.0 IP, 93 H (13 HR), 162 K, 37 BB, 3.53 ERA

Contract Status: Signed through 2024

The Rays aren't known for carrying high payrolls, but they're apparently willing to push that particular envelope for the sake of remaining competitive in 2024.

Even still, one assumes the Rays still have limits. They're projected to spend $126 million next season, which would blow away their Opening Day high of $83.9 million from 2022.

If the Rays are going to trade anyone in a cost-cutting maneuver, Tyler Glasnow is their best option. After making $5.4 million in 2023, his salary is set to skyrocket to $25 million.

The obligatory "yeah, but..." is that the Rays can't exactly spare pitching while Shane McClanahan, Jeffrey Springs, Drew Rasmussen and Shane Baz are recovering from elbow surgeries. Glasnow is their de facto ace, and he certainly pitches like one when he's healthy.

The Rays are nonetheless "widely expected" to move Glasnow this winter, according to Passan. Jon Morosi of MLB.com reported Friday that only "preliminary talks" have taken place so far, but he also hinted that things could speed up once the free agent market thins out.

Age: 26

2023 Stats: 119 G, 529 PA, 17 HR, 14 SB, .244 AVG, .338 OBP, .407 SLG

Contract Status: Under club control through 2026

Jonathan India was the National League Rookie of the Year just two years ago, so one feels weird about looking at him and seeing an expendable player.

Yet the Reds are just that loaded with young hitters, with Elly De La Cruz, Matt McLain and Spencer Steer having played notable parts in a historic season for the club's rookies.

Besides which, it's fair to say that India's stock has fallen. He had an .835 OPS and 21 home runs in 2021. He has a .727 OPS and 27 homers to show for two injury-marred campaigns since then.

However, India is too young for anyone to think he's aged out of his upside. Between that, his club control and the fact that good infielders are in short supply on the open market, the Reds would do well to shop him while the shopping's good.

It doesn't seem as if the Reds need to be nudged. India was a popular item during the GM Meetings, and Nightengale has since reported they're "expected" to trade him as part of an effort to clear money and space for pitching.

Burnes' Age: 29

Burnes' 2023 Stats: 32 GS, 193.2 IP, 141 H (22 HR), 200 K, 66 BB, 3.39 ERA

Burnes' Contract Status: Under club control through 2024

Adames' Age: 28

Adames' 2023 Stats: 149 G, 638 PA, 24 HR, 5 SB, .217 AVG, .310 OBP, .407 SLG

Adames' Contract Status: Under club control through 2024

Even though they just made the playoffs for the fifth time in six seasons, could the Brewers be about to tear it all down?

It's only becoming less unthinkable. Losing manager Craig Counsell to the rival Cubs was a big blow, and this past Friday saw the Brewers make a free agent out of Brandon Woodruff by non-tendering him.

Per a Nov. 9 report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic that Milwaukee is open to moving "virtually any player," trades could be next. If the idea would be to cut costs and get talent in return, then Corbin Burnes and Willy Adames are the most likely goners.

They're projected to earn $15.1 and $12.4 million, respectively, in their final seasons under club control in 2024. These are hardly unreasonable sums, as Burnes is a Cy Young Award-winning ace and Adames is a slick defender whose bat is inconsistent, yet powerful.

The notion that the Brewers should keep both and aim for another playoff berth has, but the reality seems to be that 2024 will be a retooling year for the franchise. Since Burnes and Adames have value now, there's no sense waiting until next summer to trade them if that's the case.

Age: 25

2023 Stats: 162 G, 35 HR, 12 SB, .275 AVG, .410 OBP, .519 SLG

Contract Status: Under club control through 2024

If we're going to talk about the possibility of the Padres trading Juan Soto, it's only fair to grant that a guy who would know threw cold water on the idea at the GM Meetings.

That would be none other than Soto's agent, Scott Boras:

Yet there was room for skepticism even at the time, and now there seems to be even more room after ESPN's Alden Gonzalez reported that several agents and MLB executives are "under the impression" that Soto will be attainable this offseason.

"I don't think they have much of a choice, honestly," said one rival GM.

It all comes down to dollars and cents. The Padres reportedly want to cut their payroll down to the $200 million range, which is close to where it stands right now even though they have gaping holes in their pitching staff. As he's projected to make $33 million in 2024, trading Soto would open up valuable resources with which to fill those.

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.