MLB trade deadline: The 10 likeliest players to be moved in 2022

MLB trade deadline: Breaking down the 10 likeliest players to be moved

As the MLB trade deadline is officially just one week away, the rumor-mill is in full swing and many long-rumored trades are inching closer to the finish line.

There are some names that are likelier to be moved than others. For instance, the Red Sox have multiple trade chips on their roster, including star shortstop Xander Bogaerts and third baseman Rafael Devers. It was reported earlier today that the Sox are not going to actively try to move either of them and have had no discussions “internally or externally” about potential moves.

Then there are others like Trey Mancini, who I actually don’t see being moved. He’s a hero in the Baltimore area and with the Orioles (shockingly) still being in contention, why move one of the best hitters and leaders in the clubhouse?

And then there’s Juan Soto, one of the very best players in the game. With news breaking that he turned down a massive 15-year contract extension, his name has also been thrown around in the rumor-mill. He, like Mancini, is someone that I don’t see being traded. At least, not yet. This upcoming offseason is probably when Soto gets moved.

To be clear, this is not a “ranking the top 10” piece. This is just to break down the players who are likeliest to be moved over the next week.

Boston Red Sox OF/DH J.D. Martinez

J.D. Martinez, 34, continues to rake and just wrapped up his fifth All-Star Game appearance of his career. As he has aged, his power has improved and he remains one of the more problematic sluggers in the game to the opposition.

In 81 games this season, Martinez has nine home runs, 38 RBI, a .302 batting average and an OPS+ of 132. He provides little in the way of defensive value but has been worth 1.4 oWAR this season per Baseball-Reference.

A free agent at season’s end, Martinez would provide many teams around the league with a power bat and extensive playoff experience under his belt. With the Red Sox struggling to stay above .500 (they are 49-48 entering today and are just 0.5 games above the Orioles for last place in the division), the slugging corner outfielder is the top trade chip on the current roster.

Other possibilities from BOS: INF Bobby Dalbec – who would likely be moved in any deal the Red Sox make as buyers.

Potential fits: Brewers, Mets, Twins, Cardinals, Mariners

Arizona Diamondbacks OF David Peralta

David Peralta, another 34-year-old corner outfielder, is the old man on the Diamondbacks roster now as he is in his ninth season with the club. He, like Martinez, is on an expiring contract and remains sharp with the bat.

A former Silver Slugger and Gold Glove Award winner, Peralta still has some thump in his bat and has been solid on defense, albeit slightly below average according to the more advanced metrics. On the season, he has 84 games under his belt with 12 home runs, 39 RBI and a 116 OPS+. He has been striking out a bit more than he typically has in years past but as a pure rental left fielder, he is still a highly productive player.

With the Diamondbacks comfortably in last place in the NL West at 43-53, 21.5 games back of the division lead and 7.5 games back of an NL Wild Card spot, Peralta is the top trade chip on the current roster with multiple other names remaining as possibilities.

Other possibilities from ARI: 1B Christian Walker, LHP Madison Bumgarner, LHP Joe Mantiply

Potential fits: Yankees, White Sox, Padres, Giants, Rays

Chicago Cubs OF Ian Happ

27-year-old Ian Happ is one of the best remaining players on the Chicago Cubs worth much in a trade. He is in his sixth season in the big leagues and is coming off of the first All-Star Game selection of his career.

A switch-hitter that can play all three outfield spots and some infield in a pinch, Happ is highly valuable with both the bat and the glove. On the season, he has appeared in 94 games for the Cubs, hitting nine home runs, driving in 44 RBI and posting a .282 batting average with an OPS+ of 127.

Baseball-Reference has his oWAR at 2.3 and his dWAR at 0.2, both would serve as career-highs for him if the season ended today. With the Cubs struggling once again, another fire sale seems to be on the horizon with multiple names on the big league roster being floated in trade talks.

Other possibilities from CHC: INF Patrick Wisdom

Potential fits: Yankees, Padres, Braves, White Sox, Mets

Chicago Cubs RHP David Robertson

If you thought David Robertson‘s career was over after the Yankees let him go for the second time at the conclusion of the 2018 season, you are not alone. He made a handful of appearances for the Phillies in 2019 and the Rays in 2021 but seemed to be a shell of the player he once was, although he looked much sharper for the Rays than he did in Philly.

Now a member of the Cubs bullpen, Robertson has been enjoying an incredible season as the Cubs primary closer. In 35 games, he is 3-0 with a 1.83 ERA and 14 saves. He has allowed just three home runs in 39.1 innings and has struck out 50 batters along the way. His 0.7 HR/9 rate is lower than it has been in years and he currently boasts an 11.4 SO/9 rate.

The 37-year-old righty is yet another player that will be a free agent at year’s end and would be an immediate upgrade to the back end of virtually any contender’s bullpen.

Other possibilities from CHC: RHP Mychal Givens

Potential fits: Astros, Yankees, Mets, Twins, Dodgers

Kansas City Royals OF Andrew Benintendi

Putting all of the COVID vaccine drama aside, Andrew Benintendi has emerged as one of the most valuable outfielders in the American League and also one of the likeliest to be moved at this year’s trade deadline.

Benintendi, 28, is enjoying the best season of his seven-year career, making the first All-Star Game of his career and hitting .322 through 91 games played. His power numbers are down (just three home runs so far) but he is an on-base machine that draws a fair amount of walks and picks his stolen bases wisely.

Benintendi is also a sharp defender in left, even if Baseball-Reference doesn’t love his play in the outfield this year. He is coming off of a season in which he won his first Gold Glove Award and has made himself in to quite the complete player that a bunch of teams would love to have down the stretch.

Other possibilities from KC: RHP Zack Greinke, OF Michael A. Taylor, UTIL Hunter Dozier, UTIL Whit Merrifield

Potential fits: Yankees, Padres, Brewers, Marlins, Red Sox

Oakland Athletics C Sean Murphy

Sean Murphy has quietly emerged as one of the better catchers in the game both on offense and defense. After finishing fourth in the AL Rookie of the Year voting in 2020, he regressed at the plate a bit in 2021 but did manage to win his first Gold Glove.

This year through 89 games, Murphy has 11 home runs, 40 RBI and a 117 OPS+, a career-high mark for him if the season ended today. He comes with a ton of team control (not a free agent until 2026) and has drawn rave reviews both at the plate and behind the plate for the rebuilding Oakland A’s, who should trade him now and capitalize on his rising value.

The team control is especially of note here, as Murphy could be had by teams that aren’t currently in contention. He has multiple years left and could be a piece that rebuilding/retooling teams add to have around for their next playoff push. His potential suitors will have much more variety than other rentals named here.

Other possibilities from OAK: OF Ramón Laureano, OF Tony Kemp, INF Elvis Andrus, UTIL Chad Pinder

Potential fits: Angels, Twins, Rays, Guardians, Marlins

Washington Nationals 1B Josh Bell

29-year-old Josh Bell has continued to look great for the Nationals, who are gearing up for a busy trade deadline season. Bell, a switch-hitter with a sharp eye at the plate and light-tower-power, tops the list of Nats players likely to be moved.

In 97 games this year, Bell, a free agent at season’s end, has 13 home runs, 51 RBI, a .302 batting average and an OPS+ of 153. He doesn’t strike out much (55 times) but draws a ton of walks (47) and has actually improved his defense at first base this year (-0.2 dWAR compared to as low as -1.8 in 2018).

Bell would be an excellent fit on a number of contending teams looking to add some pop to their lineup. He is a solid defender at first, can play some DH and can even get a little bit of playing time in the outfield corners in a pinch.

Other possibilities from WSH: DH Nelson Cruz, OF Juan Soto, RHP Kyle Finnegan

Potential fits: Brewers, Mets, Astros, Red Sox, White Sox

Chicago Cubs C Willson Contreras

After somewhat surprisingly not being included in last year’s Cubs teardown, Willson Contreras is just about 99.9% being dealt in the next week before this season’s trade deadline. The longtime Cubs backstop is reportedly preparing himself to be moved and, to the surprise of nobody, has a long list of potential suitors at this year’s trade deadline.

At 30 years old and playing on an expiring contract, Contreras would be an immediate upgrade behind the plate for virtually any team with playoff aspirations this year. Coming off of his third-career All-Star Game appearance, Contreras has 14 home runs in 81 games for the Cubbies this year to go along with an OPS+ of 137.

On defense, Contreras has never been the sharpest defender but his numbers have regressed behind the plate in 2022. There has been some newly reported rumors that an acquiring team may look to move him off of catcher down the stretch, perhaps to first base or even left field, where he actually does have some experience in the past.

Potential fits: Astros, Giants, Mets, Padres, Rays