MLB: Five Star Players Who Should Be Traded This Offseason
It’s hard to part with a superstar, but they can net big returns for rebuilding teams. Here are five star players whose clubs should consider trading them this MLB offseason.
The MLB offseason is approaching quickly and teams that will be left at home this October are beginning to focus on the trade and free agent markets.
Trading has become much more prominent in baseball in recent seasons due to the huge increase in cost in the free agent market. Average players receiving $100 million dollar contracts has become the norm. With that in mind, MLB teams have begun to get creative relying on bringing in talent through trades both to restock their farms and to add complimentary pieces to competing teams.
With a very thin free agent market this offseason, trades may be even more prominent for MLB teams hoping to take the next step as well as those who may make the tough decision to move on and begin to rebuild their respective franchises.
While lots of MLB teams seem to be on the edge of a possible rebuild this season, there are just as many that will be looking to add an extra bat or an extra arm to help put them over the top. There are teams that could brighten their futures by making the painful decision to trade their star players. Here are five teams that should make the tough decision to move their stars this offseason.
It is safe to say that the Diamondbacks’ offseason acquisitions have been less than effective. The D-Backs were surprise spenders in last year’s offseason, acquiring Shelby Miller and signing Zack Greinke to bolster their rotation and gear up for what was thought to be a team ready to make a run at winning the division or at the least staying in the Wild Card race.
Instead the Diamondbacks have taken a step back from the team they were without the large increase in team budget. It is time for the D-Backs to try a different strategy and rebuild their roster. Not to say that they will, but they should at least consider moving on from a number of players and restocking their farm system.
Zack Greinke is an aging pitcher who more than likely has his best seasons behind him. He has struggled this season and could soon ruin what value he still does have. He has been an ace for many years and one that many teams would be willing to pay for. The Diamondbacks should trade Greinke while they still can. One possible suitor could be the Atlanta Braves, a team that is desperate for pitching and just might be willing to take on Greinke’s insane salary. Regardless, the D-Backs need to make moving Greinke a priority this offseason.
- The Tampa Bay Rays
The Tampa Bay Rays as a team seem to be stuck in neutral. They cannot take the next step to compete against a tough division slate or take a step back and rebuild their roster from the ground up. It is time for them to do the latter and begin to rebuild their franchise.
Since Joe Maddon left the team has taken a noticeable step back and has struggled to look anything even remotely close to a competing team. The Rays’ farm system has some talent but not enough to help bring them back to relevance. The team is going to need to get creative to bring themselves back and that means trading their star players.
Namely, Chris Archer and Evan Longoria should be moved. They are the Rays’ best players and the unquestioned faces of the franchise. This doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t be traded, however.
Evan Longoria is a good offensive player who more than likely has his best seasons behind him, so it is time for the Rays to move on. Plenty of suitors would be willing to take on Longoria. His ability at the plate would get a good price and help begin to build up the Rays farm once again.
Chris Archer is the most popular trade chip that the Rays have. Pitching is a luxury that many teams will be in need of this offseason. The Rays could look to receive a deal comparable to what the Braves received for Shelby Miller last offseason (Dansby Swanson and Ender Inciarte). They could effectively brighten their future with one trade. While it could be painful for Rays fans to watch their best players leave, it would be a much needed rebuild, especially considering how little difference Archer and Longoria are really making at this point.
How much would a 27-year-old ace get in a year with virtually no quality pitching on the free agent market? The White Sox should at the very least explore this possibility and look into just how much teams would be willing to part with in exchange for Chris Sale.
The Chicago White Sox had a noteworthy year in the fact that they were surrounded by controversy. First they dealt with Adam LaRoche retiring because the team informed him that his son was no longer wanted around the clubhouse. While it is an issue that can be argued from either side, the bottom line is that it surrounded the team with a lot of questions and conflict.
Fast forward to shortly before the trade deadline and Chris Sale added to this by cutting up his teammates’ throwback jerseys. The outburst was due to Sale not feeling that management valued his input and the importance it had on a possible win. The rift between Sale and management had been evident since the LaRoche incident and this furthered rumors that Sale would soon be headed out the door.
Despite all of this, Sale has remained adamant that he would love to stay with Chicago. Chicago, on the other hand, may need to consider moving Sale. A team that was full of distractions and disappointments may consider restocking its roster by making one difficult decision. It is time for the White Sox to trade Chris Sale.
The only other option here for the White Sox could be firing the front office and opting to trade other players and rebuilding the roster around the young ace. Whichever avenue they decide to take, the White Sox are in need of some major changes.
The Rockies were so close this season to staying in contention. In the end, the Trevor Story injury was just too much for their roster to overcome and they dropped out of the race.
The Rockies have been the underdog team that has been on the verge of contending for the last few seasons. They seem to come up just short in the end, collapsing in the second half and failing to continue and carry their pitching.
Carlos Gonzalez could be the answer to the Rockies solving this problem. The star outfielder is having a productive season and is headed into the final year of his contract. Plenty of teams would be more than happy to add him to the fold.
The Rockies could take advantage of this situation by dealing Gonzalez in exchange for a pitcher who could help put them over the top. Who is to say they could not turn around the next season and bring Gonzalez back as a free agent? Adding a pitcher or another key piece to help finally put them over the top in exchange for Gonzalez is a move that they should explore this winter.
Who could replace Carlos Gonzalez? Mark Trumbo could be a possible good fit, and putting the current home run leader in Coors Field could more than make up for the absence of Gonzalez.
Suggesting trading the best player in baseball over the last four seasons may seem crazy but it could help the Angels long-term. Mike Trout is having amazing seasons and yet the Angels continue to fail to make a big difference due to the team around him.
His best seasons are being wasted on a team that seems stuck in neutral. They haven’t added any big upgrades and continue to let their pitching staff go downhill. It is time for the Angels to explore how much exactly a team would be willing to give up for one of the best players in baseball?
While that may sound crazy to Angels fans, it is a fair question when you consider what Trout has exactly done for the franchise. Sure he has given the fans someone to root for and watch in the down years. What if he could be turned into two or three above average players who would turn the Angels into a contender?
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The Angels may lose a star player, but if they could improve their overall team and their future in return it may be a possibility worth exploring. The price of free agents this year will be up yet again and MLB teams may begin to start considering trading and acquiring players on the trade market. It may be the best option this offseason considering the lack of talent in this year’s free agent pool.