Predicting Where Top Players Involved in MLB Trade Rumors Will Finish '23 Season
It may seem like MLB rosters are settled now that spring training is underway, but we all know teams will look different once games start mattering most.
There are relevant players on current rosters with question marks over their futures, and contenders are going to be tempted to poach these players from teams otherwise burning daylight.
Think of rumored trade targets this past offseason who never moved, like the Pirates' Bryan Reynolds and the Brewers' Corbin Burnes, two players unhappy with their contract status with respective teams.
In this exercise, we touch on both of them and more while predicting where the top players involved in MLB trade rumors will finish the 2023 season.
Chris Sale to Philadelphia Phillies
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If the Red Sox are sellers at the deadline, it would only make sense to deal one of their best players who could yield assets.
Sale fits that profile, and the Phillies could use another starter, even with Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola at the top of their rotation. A Phillies rotation with those two and Sale would make them strong contenders for a repeat National League pennant.
Having Taijuan Walker and Ranger Suárez on the back end would make this one of the better rotations in baseball.
MLB Network's Jon Heyman reported on Christmas Day that the Red Sox are not looking to trade any of their starters but would be willing to listen to offers because of their depth at the position. Sale does have a full no-trade clause, but a deal to Philly would be an opportunity for him to consider.
The Phillies have already shown their willingness to be aggressive with the Trea Turner signing. They are in a competitive NL East division where it seems like almost everyone is going all-in.
Josh Donaldson to Texas Rangers
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The Rangers have a promising young third baseman in Josh Jung, but the organization's No. 1 overall prospect is still unproven. He finished with a .204 average over 26 games after homering in his first big league at-bat in September.
Texas had seven different players play third base for them last season, none of them playing more than 51 games. It's a position that's been in flux for the Rangers since Adrián Beltré retired after the 2018 season.
Finding a landing spot for Donaldson is challenging because the Yankees themselves have struggled to find a trade partner for the former AL MVP.
But if there is a sensible trade partner, it would be one that's shown a recent willingness to make bold moves with an obvious need at the position like the Rangers.
Chris Flexen to Baltimore Orioles
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This is a classic case of supply and demand. Seattle has the pitching depth and experience Baltimore is lacking.
Both squads took steps in the right direction last season, the Mariners breaking baseball's longest playoff drought and the Orioles having the best single-season turnaround.
Neither team is the favorite to win their division, but both could make the other better.
The Orioles have a dozen pitchers competing for the last three rotation spots behind Kyle Gibson and Cole Irvin. Adding Flexen to the mix with Dean Kremer, Kyle Bradish and Grayson Rodriguez (baseball's No. 7 overall prospect) would be an improvement.
Flexen posted a 3.73 ERA and 1.33 WHIP in 33 games (22 starts) and 137.2 innings pitched last season.
Anthony Santander is the Orioles' closest outfielder to free agency (after 2024 season), and they could afford to part ways with him if it upgrades their pitching.
Max Kepler to Seattle Mariners
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It's no secret the Mariners needed to address their corner outfield spots around superstar rookie center fielder Julio Rodriguez.
They did so in right field by trading for Teoscar Hernandez, and Jarred Kelenic, who projects to be Seattle's left fielder, has been impressive so far at spring training. The Mariners also recently signed utility outfielder Dylan Moore to an inexpensive three-year extension.
But Kepler has been a reliable 2.0-plus-WAR player throughout his career. Seattle is chasing the World Series champion Houston Astros in their own division, so it should be aggressive.
Kepler is entering the final guaranteed year of his contract, and there's no telling how the AL Central looks by the trade deadline.
Minnesota is another potential landing spot for Flexen, since the Twins also could use the pitching.
Brandon Woodruff to Toronto Blue Jays
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This is a season for the Blue Jays to be more than just a young, talented and promising team. They did a nice job addressing their right-hander-heavy lineup by trading for Daulton Varsho and signing Brandon Belt and Kevin Kiermaier.
Toronto could still use another starter, though, and Brandon Woodruff would immediately figure into the top three of the Blue Jays' rotation with Alek Manoah and Kevin Gausman. If they get a bounce-back year from José Berríos and Chris Bassitt as well, you're talking about a legitimate threat to win the AL East and maybe threaten the Astros for the pennant.
The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reported in December that rival teams had been asking the Brewers about their top players like Woodruff. Rosenthal noted that a "the subtraction of one or more from that group is perhaps more likely at the trade deadline, and only if the team falters."
Given the strength of the St. Louis Cardinals and NL overall, it's entirely possible the Brewers realize around the deadline that it's time for a hard reset.
Bryan Reynolds to New York Yankees
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The main thing that's kept Reynolds away from the Bronx up to this point seems to be the price.
Now, keep an eye on extension talks between Reynolds and the Pirates. Reynolds requested a trade this past offseason after receiving an offer he deemed too low, but Pirates owner Bob Nutting recently expressed a desire to bridge the gap with Reynolds and make him part of Pittsburgh's long-term future, per Jason Mackey of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
However, what happens if they are unable to bridge the gap and a team like the Yankees comes calling with something that makes it worthwhile to Pittsburgh?
The Yankees are likely going with Aaron Hicks in left field, but his struggles in recent years have fans booing him at spring training.
Reynolds is the upgrade they are looking for at that position. It would also allow Hicks to fill the Yankees' fourth outfielder role if they can't trade him.
Corbin Burnes to Los Angeles Dodgers
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As previously mentioned, the Brewers aren't looking to trade their best players unless they're non-contenders leading up to the deadline, but Burnes has acknowledged a fractured relationship with the franchise that would lead one to believe the end is in sight.
If the lack of a long-term deal is not disappointing enough for Burnes, the fact that he went to arbitration with the Brewers for roughly $750,000 (and the team won) has to leave a stain.
The Dodgers, however, should be motivated to pounce.
They boast an impressive five-man rotation with Julio Urías, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Tony Gonsolin and Noah Syndergaard. But Kershaw, May, Gonsolin and Syndergaard all have a serious recent injury history that makes things tenuous for them as a group.
On top of this, Burnes would likely be the best pitcher among them at this point.
Shohei Ohtani to Los Angeles Dodgers
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The Dodgers sort of shock the world, but not really.
Ohtani-to-the-Dodgers predictions already exist, but it will still be a shock to the system to see him trade the other L.A. franchise's colors for the legendary Dodger blue and white.
Adding Burnes and Ohtani would completely change the World Series conversation at the deadline.
Ohtani has already communicated his desire to play for a contender and has been non-committal to his long-term future with the Angels.
At spring training, Ohtani said he does believe the Angels are committed to winning. The question is whether it finally pans out.
As backbreaking as it seems to trade a once-in-a-lifetime player like Ohtani, it's becoming more obvious he sees a brighter future elsewhere. One would also have to assume a trade package for Ohtani, commensurate with his rare ability, would be historic.
