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MLB Free Agents After 2017 Who Could Be Trade Targets

By Benjamin Chase

Oct 12, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) celebrates with third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning in game four of the ALDS at Minute Maid Park. Royals won 9-6. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 12, 2015; Houston, TX, USA; Kansas City Royals first baseman Eric Hosmer (35) celebrates with third baseman Mike Moustakas (8) after hitting a two-run home run against the Houston Astros during the ninth inning in game four of the ALDS at Minute Maid Park. Royals won 9-6. Mandatory Credit: Thomas B. Shea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Sep 30, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (25) touches the beard of relief pitcher Sam Dyson (47) after the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Texas won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 30, 2016; Arlington, TX, USA; Texas Rangers catcher Jonathan Lucroy (25) touches the beard of relief pitcher Sam Dyson (47) after the game against the Tampa Bay Rays at Globe Life Park in Arlington. Texas won 3-1. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports /

Typically the MLB free agents for an upcoming offseason are hot trade options during the season for the team about to lose them. Who could be driving the trade market this summer?

In the new collective bargaining agreement between MLB and the players’ union, the draft pick compensation became likely lessened for most players who will become free agents, meaning teams with a potential free agent would have significant reason to trade during their final year with the team to maximize return value if the team is not competing in that season.

While this by no means will be an extensive list at every upcoming free agent in the 2017-2018 season, this will be a look at the guys who are currently eligible for free agency after the 2017 season and could be very intriguing pieces in the trade market this summer.

We’ll start with probably the most barren position…

Catcher

The obvious jewel of the free agent class in 2017-2018 at this position (and arguably overall) is Texas Rangers catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Having just acquired Lucroy (along with reliever Jeremy Jeffress) for a significant prospect package last summer, it’s hard to imagine he’d be easy to pry away, however, if the Rangers have an “everything went wrong” sort of season where they’re completely out of contention in June/July, Lucroy could be a very attractive piece to the right team.

Beyond Lucroy, there really are not many players who would qualify as “attractive” in the trade market. The one worth discussing is Miguel Montero of the Cubs.

With the Cubs having found their catcher of the future in Willson Contreras and Victor Caratini working his way up the system to very likely make the major league team in 2017, Montero could be expendable for the Cubs at midseason, and they may be willing to move him for the right deal.

There are a couple of guys with options that could be interesting, including Welington Castillo, who may decline to exercise his $7M player option if he believes he can fetch more in the market, Tyler Flowers, whose $4M club option looks quite affordable when compared to his 2016 production, and Yadier Molina, whose $15M club option is almost certainly going to be exercised.

Outside of that, there are primarily backup catchers, but we did see those players get moved in the 2016 trade season, so guys like Chris Iannetta, Kurt Suzuki, Alex Avila, Nick Hundley, or others could end up being moved, but likely not for much in value.

Next, let’s examine the corner infielders…

Next: Corner Infielders

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