MLB trade rumors: A little pop for the middle of your order
Player: Jose Abreu
Current team: Chicago White Sox
Teams in the mix: Houston Astros, Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox
2017 statistics: .304./.354/.552. 95 runs. 33 home runs. 102 RBI.
Chances of being traded: 50/50
Current front-runner: Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are in need of a power bat, where they no doubt felt the absence of retired MLB star David Ortiz. Abreu’s ideal spot would be playing 81 games in Fenway Park, with that short porch in right field.
Somehow, Abreu has only played in one All-Star game, while hitting over .300 and averaging 108 RBI and 33 home runs per season. Whoever can land the 2014 Rookie of the Year will no doubt turn into automatic contenders. Abreu’s arbitration estimate is nearly $18 million for 2018.
MLB trade rumors: The fish are fried
We’ve already gone into detail on both Christian Yelich and J.T. Realmuto — with the New York Mets emerging as frontrunners — but these would be a sweet package deal for teams in the mix of MLB trade rumors. Yelich is in the midst of an eight-year contract which expires in 2022 — with an average of about $13 million per season.
Realmuto made just over $500,000 in 2017 and is arbitration eligible in 2018. He is a top five National League catcher and improving his stock each season.