MLB: 3 Players That Will Be Traded Next Season
By Jason Reed
Sonny Gray
Sonny Gray will undoubtedly be dealt next season, and as bad as it seems for A’s fans it is the right thing to do. Arguably, Gray could be dealt this off-season. However, coming off of a lackluster year, Gray’s trade value is at an all-time low. Expect Gray to go back to his great ways in 2017, rebuild his stock, and see the A’s ship him off. The A’s certainly could use Gray for their future, he is young and shows great ability. However, the potential return that Oakland can get for Gray may be too overwhelming to turn down.
A team that instantly jumps off the bat to me is the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers are always seeking an extra arm during the season, and as we saw with the Rich Hill deal they are not afraid to spend. Acquiring Gray would give the Dodgers the outright #2 spot for the best rotation in baseball, closely behind the Red Sox for first. To get Gray, the Dodgers would likely have to pay an arm and a leg. Jose De Leon would undoubtedly have to be included in this trade. He is a young promising arm who may be ready for the starting rotation, he just needs time to develop. Seeing an MLB caliber outfielder such as Andrew Toles alongside promising catcher Austin Barnes may be enough for Oakland.
If not Los Angeles, other teams are available. The Cubs may be a logical destination, they could attempt a straight switch between Gray and Addison Russell. Javier Baez would move to short, Ben Zobrist to second, opening up a left field spot for Kyle Schwarber. That is a deal that may seem startling initially, but would actually benefit the Cubs quite a good amount. With two genuises working at it in Theo Esptein and Billy Beane, this deal could be reached.