MLB: Three starting pitchers that could be traded this offseason
Every MLB offseason quality starting pitchers get traded, the only debate is who will be wearing a different jersey in 2021.
There comes a point where MLB teams need to move on from a starting pitcher, even a superstar or a fan favorite. If it for financial reasons to trim payroll, or if it is to rebuild and gain younger prospects. This already happened this offseason when the Texas Rangers shipped Lance Lynn to the Chicago White Sox.
It has been done many, many times. Sometimes, they work out for the team trading their star. When the Chicago White Sox traded Jose Quintana to the Cubs in midseason of 2017, they got Eloy Jimenez in return and was named an American League Silver Slugger. In 2018, the Tampa Bay Rays acquired Austin Meadows and Tyler Glasnow from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for their two-time All-Star ace Chris Archer. Both Meadows and Glasnow played huge parts in the Rays’ pennant run.
Other times, teams are taken advantage of and do not get a significant, or close to a fair deal in return. The Pittsburgh Pirates received Colin Moran, Joe Musgrove, and a few more prospects from the Houston Astros in exchange for All-Star Gerrit Cole. Cole went on to have two dominant seasons for the Astros and then signed the largest contract a pitcher had ever signed when he inked a nine-year, $326 million contract with the New York Yankees. The Pirates lost a stud and did not get close to a fair return.
Many pitchers are going to be traded this season. Here are three pitchers who could be traded before the start of the 2021 MLB season, or possibly midseason.
Blake Snell
Everybody might not like this, but Snell staying in Tampa Bay much longer is not very realistic. Tampa Bay is all about having young, inexpensive talent.
Snell, 28, is under contract through 2023, being owed a total of $40.8 million over the next three seasons. This could be a bargain if he pitches to his maximum potential, as he did when he won the 2018 AL Cy Young award.
There were financial hurdles last season and there will be more in 2021 as we are living in a pandemic and having MLB fans in attendance is going to be fairly unlikely, causing teams to lose money.
The Rays always want to have a smaller payroll compared to other teams and rely on their analytics and scouting departments to find inexpensive talent. Snell is a stud and did very well in the playoffs but might be on the move because the Rays could see him as being too expensive.
The San Diego Padres are looking to trade for anyone on the market, as they want to turn the corner and become legitimate contenders. They would be interested in Snell and they have plenty of talent in their farm system that would interest Tampa Bay. Another team who is looking to add starting pitching is the Philadelphia Phillies, as they lost Jake Arietta’s contract this offseason.
Sonny Gray
Sonny Gray trade rumors have been rumbling for almost five years at this point. He has already been traded twice, but ever since he landed and signed an extension with Cincinnati; he has seemed to return to his potential. He is under contract until at least 2022, having a club option for the 2023 MLB season.
Gray, 31, is only due $10 million over each of the next two seasons and would be due to make $12 million in 2023 if his option were to be picked up.
He has a career 3.54 ERA. However, since he joined the Reds in 2019, in 231.1 innings, he has a 3.07 ERA , 1.115 WHIP, and 277 strikeouts.
He is back to being a top of the rotation pitchers and would make an impact on any team. He would add great rotation depth and be able to eat a lot of innings. Gray would cost a little bit, but the Reds are also looking to shed payroll and add to their farm system.
Gray is another play that would interest San Diego, as well as Toronto. Any team looking for more starting pitchers should get on the phone with the Reds and try to acquire Gray.
Jon Gray
The Colorado Rockies are talking about trading away their superstar third baseman Nolan Arenado, which means that anyone is available via trade in Colorado.
Gray was the third pick of the 2013 MLB draft. He had an abysmal 2020, going 2-4 with a 6.69 ERA through eight starts. His trade value certainly has gone down, but starting pitching is at a high demand across the league.
In six seasons in Colorado, he has pitched in 123 games, going 45-37, posting a 4.59 ERA over 680.1 innings, striking out 692 batters.
Gray, 29, needs to get out of Colorado. He is being tortured in a hitter’s ballpark. A fresh start might expose his talent and get him pitching at a higher caliber.
The right-hander is only under team control through 2021. He is scheduled to make $6 million next season. Even for a pitcher who has had their downs as Gray, for that price; he is worth the shot.
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Gray would be a bottom of the rotation pitcher, who has high potential and could improve. No team trading for Jon Gray would expect him to be performing at a super high level but would love to see him excel as a fourth or fifth starter.