MLB Rumors: Top Trade Rumors Ahead of 2024 Winter Meetings
The 2024 MLB offseason is heating up.
And not only on the free-agent front, where Blake Snell just scored a five-year, $182 million deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The trade market is moving, too. The Kansas City Royals and Cincinnati Reds got things rolling over the weekend with the Royals sending right-hander Brady Singer to the Reds for second baseman Jonathan India and Joey Weimer.
If the rumor-mill rumblings are true, though, much bigger names could be on the move at some point—perhaps very soon with the Winter Meetings coming up. Let's break down the latest baseball buzz.
No Takers for Cody Bellinger?
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Cody Bellinger is a former MVP who has yet to celebrate his 30th birthday. It might feel safe to assume, then, that teams would be blowing up the Chicago Cubs for the chance to get their paws on him.
That's not happening. Because while Bellinger may have that award-winning campaign on his resume, that came back in 2019. Over the five seasons since, his production has been all over the place, and he's had more than a few bouts with the injury bug. Tack on that he's owed $27.5 million for 2025 and could be owed $25 million in 2026 (or $5 million if he's bought out), and you've found the reasons why phones aren't ringing in Chicago.
"Who's going to touch that contract?" one general manager asked USA Today'sBob Nightengale. "The risk is just too great for the production."
The Cubs are shopping Bellinger "to anyone and everyone," per Nightengale, but to this point, "no team has expressed strong interest." Unless that changes, this could be a quiet offseason for the Cubs.
Phillies Talking Garrett Crochet Trade?
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The Philadelphia Phillies have been postseason participants three years in a row and just posted the NL's second-highest win total (95). What they haven't done, though, is complete their goal of winning their first World Series since 2008.
Philadelphia is keeping plenty busy with exploring avenues of getting over the proverbial hunt. One of those options is brokering a big trade for Chicago White Sox starter Garrett Crochet, who just posted a 3.58 ERA while punching out 209 hitters in just 146 innings of work.
The Phillies and White Sox have had "extensive trade talks" about Crochet, per Nightengale, with third baseman Alec Bohm and outfield prospect Justin Crawford being discussed. Nightengale continued that if Philadelphia moves Bohm, it is expected "to make a strong play" for Alex Bregman in free agency.
Bohm booked his first ever All-Star trip this past season, but he struggled in the second half and was virtually silent in the playoffs. That late-season swoon reportedly has the White Sox "concerned," per Nightengale.
White Sox Setting High Bar for Luis Robert Trade?
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With the White Sox obviously in need of an overhaul after this past season's 121-loss debacle, Crochet isn't their only trade candidate.
Per Nightengale, they'd also "love to unload" outfielder Luis Robert.
His talent is tremendous, and if he could ever stay healthy he might be a superstar. His per-162-game averages include 31 home runs, 24 stolen bases and 177 combined runs and RBI, per Baseball-Reference.
The problem, of course, is that Robert is rarely healthy. He has topped 100 games just once in his five-year career. Despite the seemingly endless injury concerns, it doesn't sound like the Sox are factoring that into their asking price.
"The guy is certainly intriguing, but they've got a really high price tag on him," a general manager told Nightengale. "You've got to hope he finally stays healthy and can be the player everyone envisioned all along. But the White Sox are acting like he's some big star center fielder and are asking for your top prospects."
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