The Most Likely Player from Each MLB Team to Be Traded This Offseason

The MLB trade market is the perfect place for general managers to shop when they're looking for those difficult-to-find items.

At the top of that list are shortstops, aces and power hitters. This offseason, Elvis Andrus, Johnny Cueto and Yoenis Cespedes are some of the big names who fall into those categories. Of course, those aren't the only types of players that will hit the trade block.

Some teams will be looking to sell high on breakout stars from the 2014 seasons. Others will be attempting to part ways with underachievers who aren't living up to the terms of their deals. Plus, there are some trade candidates who just need a change of scenery. 

Chris Carter, 1B/DH, Houston Astros

It's a good thing that the Houston Astros didn't ship out Chris Carter at the trade deadline, as the team was reportedly interested in doing, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. 

The designated hitter and sometimes first baseman went off to close out the 2014 season. In August and September, Carter clubbed 16 home runs to end the year with 37. The 27-year-old's trade value will never be higher than it is right now. 

Howie Kendrick, 2B, Los Angeles Angels

The top bullet point on the Los Angeles Angels' offseason to-do list is to find starting pitching. Dealing Howie Kendrick could help the American League West club accomplish that goal in a couple of different ways. 

General manager Jerry Dipoto could swap the second baseman for an arm or two to strengthen the starting staff. There's also the consideration that by trading Kendrick, the team would avoid paying the $9.5 million salary that the right-handed hitter is owed in 2015. The Angels could then turn around and reinvest those savings in a free-agent starter. 

Jeff Samardzija, SP, Oakland Athletics

After the Oakland Athletics' epic face-plant in the second half of the season, any player could be moved this winter. 

One big name to watch out for is Jeff Samardzija, who becomes a free agent at the end of the 2015 season.

Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe explained the logic behind a winter deal: "Oakland GM Billy Beane could hold on to him until midseason and then deal him, or deal him this offseason. The feeling is he’ll listen to offers on Samardzija this offseason."

As Cafardo adds, the Boston Red Sox are one team that could be "interested" in landing the right-hander. With a talented farm system, Boston has the pieces to make just such a move. 

Taijuan Walker, SP, Seattle Mariners

The Seattle Mariners just missed out on a wild-card spot in 2014. What's remarkable is that the M's almost made the playoffs in spite of the club's dismal offense, which ranked last in the AL in OPS. 

That's where Taijuan Walker enters the equation.

John McGrath of The News Tribune argues that Seattle should deal from a position of strength and trade away the promising right-hander in exchange for an impact bat. That's exactly the kind of risky move that could either utterly backfire or result in a monster reward. 

Elvis Andrus, SS, Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers have all sorts of options in the middle of the infield. Here's the list of players who figure to be in the mix in 2015:

• Elvis Andrus
• Rougned Odor
• Jurickson Profar
• Luis Sardinas

It would require some highly creative financial maneuvering, but the ideal outcome for the Rangers would be to get rid of Andrus. The shortstop is just beginning an eight-year, $120 million contract extension. While that's an absurd number of years and dollars, the Rangers' chances of moving Andrus are helped by the fact that quality shortstops are nearly impossible to find. 

Back in August, Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News identified that the New York Yankees, New York Mets and Los Angeles Dodgers as potential landing spots for the 26-year-old. 

Alexei Ramirez, SS, Chicago White Sox

After earning an All-Star nod over the summer, Alexei Ramirez raised his trade value entering the offseason. The 33-year-old, who played excellent defense and totaled 15 home runs in 2014, is set to make $10 million next season. Ramirez also has a team option for $10 million in 2016 with a $1 million buyout. 

Another Chicago White Sox player whose name could be mentioned in trade talks this winter is Chris Sale. Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe lists the left-hander as one of the aces who could be brought up in conversations. The White Sox would have to be absolutely overwhelmed to even consider parting with the 25-year-old.  

Zach McAllister, SP, Cleveland Indians

It's possible that Zach McAllister's career with the Cleveland Indians has reached its end. As Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer notes, the right-hander is out of options, which means he'd have to make the roster out of spring training next season. 

McAllister was excellent in September, posting a 2.84 ERA in eight outings. The 26-year-old shuttled between the bullpen and the rotation in 2014, but he could be a viable option for a club looking to bolster its starting staff next season.  

Eugenio Suarez, SS, Detroit Tigers

According to Chris Iott of MLive.com, the Detroit Tigers could jettison one of the team's second basemen or shortstops this winter. 

"If the Tigers make a move this offseason, it could involve a middle infielder," Iott writes.

With Jose Iglesias set to return at shortstop, Iott lists Eugenio Suarez as one player the Tigers could consider dealing. The 23-year-old wouldn't bring back much of a return, but veteran second baseman Ian Kinsler certainly would.

As Iott notes, there's a small chance that Detroit would move Kinsler after a single season. However, Iott describes the four-time All-Star as a "good candidate" if the team decides to make a "cost-cutting move."

Christian Colon, 2B, Kansas City Royals

The Kansas City Royals don't have a lot of obvious trade candidates. 

With Alcides Escobar and Omar Infante locked in at shortstop and second baseman, respectively, Christian Colon could be expendable this winter. The 2010 first-round pick, who can play all over the infield, would be a strong fit as a utility player in the Nationals League. 

Aaron Hicks, CF, Minnesota Twins

Duane Burleson/Getty Images

With super-prospect Miguel Sano the heir apparent at third base, the Minnesota Twins could clear the way by shipping out Trevor Plouffe this offseason. 

A lower-profile, but more likely move would be to trade away Aaron Hicks. The switch-hitter disappointed in 2014, checking in with a .215 average. The Twins already have Danny Santana to cover center field, and Byron Buxton could arrive at Target Field before the end of the summer. 

Chris Davis, 1B, Baltimore Orioles

Chris Davis could be expendable in Baltimore, according to ESPN's Jim Bowden (subscription required), who writes, "The Orioles are prepared to listen to offers on Chris Davis after Steve Pearce's breakout year and in light of the fact that Davis is a free agent at season's end."

The 2014 season definitely didn't go according to plan for Davis, as he hit just .196 for the Baltimore Orioles. He also missed out on the playoffs after earning a 25-game ban for testing positive for amphetamines.

Even with those red flags, Davis, who has connected on 79 home runs in the past two seasons, has a ton of pop. Considering how rare power is in the big leagues, the O's could try and swap the first baseman for a front-line starter. 

Yoenis Cespedes, OF, Boston Red Sox

It appears as though Yoenis Cespedes' time in Boston will be extremely brief. 

In addition to the fact that the outfielder will be a free agent at the end of the 2015 season, Bill Madden of the New York Daily News explains why the Boston Red Sox are shopping the Cuban: "Two other reasons the Red Sox are open to dealing Cespedes are his open disenchantment with Boston and his refusal to pay any heed to their coaches."

Madden also cites a "Red Sox insider" who notes that Cespedes just isn't a good fit at Fenway Park: “He marches to his own drum and the coaches all hate him.” 

That the 29-year-old remains under team control for only one more season will dent his trade value, but there should still be plenty of interest in the powerful hitter with an electric right arm. The Red Sox could offer Cespedes to a club stocked with arms in an effort to bolster Boston's rotation. 

According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, Mookie Betts is another player who could be switching teams this offseason. Cafardo labels the promising Betts as the "most mentioned name" chip in trade talks. 

Francisco Cervelli, C, New York Yankees

The New York Yankees have lots of options when it comes to who will be backing up Brian McCann in 2015. Francisco Cervelli is the incumbent, but John Ryan Murphy and Austin Romine could also handle the job. 

Any of those three backstops could be on the move this winter, but Cervelli has the highest value. In 2014, the 28-year-old hit .301 in 49 games.

Chad Jennings of LoHud.com writes that if there's another team that views Cervelli as a possible starter, shipping him out is the "obvious way to go." Considering that the catching market is devoid of talent aside from Russell Martin, there could be a club willing to take a chance on Cervelli. 

Ben Zobrist, 2B, Tampa Bay Rays

With Andrew Friedman and Joe Maddon already out the door, it's been a bad couple of weeks in Tampa Bay. 

According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, Ben Zobrist could be the next big name to leave town. The versatile switch-hitter has a team option with the Tampa Bay Rays for $7.5 million in 2015.

If the club wants to cut costs this winter, dealing Zobrist would make perfect sense. The 33-year-old, who is capable of playing all over the diamond, would be an excellent fit in the NL. Cafardo suggests that Friedman, now with the Los Angeles Dodgers, could look to bring in Zobrist. 

Adam Lind, 1B/DH, Toronto Blue Jays

Adam Lind is a popular player on the trade block, according to Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun. Elliott cites a baseball executive who says that three to four teams have checked in on the availability of the left-handed hitter. 

With just six home runs in 2014, the 31-year-old doesn't offer the type of power that is usually associated with a first baseman/designated hitter. However, Lind does have the ability to hit for a high average, as he swung at a clip of .321 in 96 games. He also crushes right-handed pitching, posting a .354 average in 2014. 

Didi Gregorius, SS, Arizona Diamondbacks

There's no room in the Arizona Diamondbacks infield for Didi Gregorius.

Nick Piecoro of the AZCentral Sports argues that the club should deal Gregorius or even Nick Ahmed to upgrade the underwhelming starting rotation. In 2014, the staff had the second-worst ERA in baseball.

Last season, Gregorius didn't offer much production at the player, hitting .226. However, the 24-year-old has a remarkable range at shortstop, as you can see in the video above. 

Carlos Gonzalez, LF, Colorado Rockies

After a train wreck of a season, the Colorado Rockies have plenty of work to do before Opening Day 2015.

As the front office looks to revamp the roster, trading Carlos Gonzalez is a serious option to consider. Even though the left fielder is rebounding from season-ending knee surgery, there should still be considerable interest in the two-time All-Star and Gold Glove winner. 

In addition to bringing in some prospects, the Rockies could also save the $53 million that Gonzalez will make over the next three seasons. 

Andre Ethier, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

Harry How/Getty Images

As Dylan Hernandez of the Los Angeles Times explains, one of the top priorities for Andrew Friedman, the new president of baseball operations of the Los Angeles Dodgers, will be to get rid of "highly paid players in decline."

Andre Ethier certainly fits into that category. The outfielder posted just a .691 OPS in 2014 and is still owed $56 million. In order to get out from under that unfavorable contract, the Dodgers might have to trade Ethier along with a valuable prospect. 

Brandon Belt, 1B, San Francisco Giants

There's an excellent chance that the San Francisco Giants won't make any substantial trades this offseason. GM Brian Sabean has built a club that routinely enjoyed October success, which means no major tinkering is required.

One Giant who would have considerable value if the club wanted to make a move is Brandon Belt. The first baseman is arbitration-eligible and on his way to earning a raise. According to Cot's Baseball Contracts, the Giants already have $127 million on the books in 2015. 

Ian Kennedy, SP, San Diego Padres

Ian Kennedy is the ideal trade piece for the San Diego Padres. The veteran right-hander boosted his value with a strong campaign in 2014 and is set to become a free agent at the end of next season.

The NL West club should look to deal Kennedy in exchange for a bat that could help upgrade an offense that ranked last in runs in 2014. 

Edwin Jackson, SP, Chicago Cubs

Brian Kersey/Getty Images

It won't be easy for the Chicago Cubs to get rid of Edwin Jackson. The starter is still owed $22 million over the next two seasons, and he posted a 6-15 record while sporting a 6.33 ERA in 2014.

One option for the Cubs would be to eat a considerable portion of the money left on Jackson's deal. Another possibility would be to swap Jackson for another big leaguer playing on an albatross contract. Either way, a change of scenery is the best course of action for the 31-year-old and the club. 

Johnny Cueto, SP, Cincinnati Reds

The Cincinnati Reds have a monster trade chip in Johnny Cueto. With the right-hander set to become a free agent at the end of the 2015 season, the Reds might just have to cash that chip in.

After punching out 242 batters to lead baseball and reeling off 20 wins, Cueto's value is at an all-time high. The Reds could deal him in order to acquire the impact bat that the club was lacking in 2014. 

Marco Estrada, RP/SP, Milwaukee Brewers

After losing his spot in the rotation in the middle of the season, Marco Estrada is a prime candidate to get shipped out in the next couple of months. 

The 31-year-old is entering his third year of arbitration eligibility and is set to earn a raise from the $3.3 million salary that he earned in 2014. That's too high of a price tag for a right-hander who figures to be the Milwaukee Brewers' long reliever in 2015. Instead, the Brewers could try and send Estrada to a club that views him as a No. 5 starter and land a low-level prospect in exchange. 

Pedro Alvarez, 3B/1B, Pittsburgh Pirates

It's difficult to see exactly where Pedro Alvarez fits into the Pittsburgh Pirates' plans in 2015. Josh Harrison has taken over at third base, and the club has Ike Davis to cover first.

That crowd at the corners could lead to a winter trade for the former first-round pick, who is due to earn a raise via arbitration from the $4.25 million salary he made in 2014. 

While his numbers were underwhelming last season, Alvarez is just a year removed from connecting on 36 home runs. That power potential could lead another team to gamble on the 27-year-old. 

Randy Choate, RP, St. Louis Cardinals

Andrew Nelles/Associated Press

Randy Choate has likely thrown his last pitch as a member of the St. Louis Cardinals. 

Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reports that the club will explore trading the 39-year-old in the offseason. The lefty specialist, who is set to make $3 million in 2015, is simply too "one-dimensional" for the club, as GM John Mozeliak explained via Goold.

Admittedly, Choate is highly effective at that one dimension. In 2014, the 39-year-old limited left-handed batters to a .093 average. 

Evan Gattis, C, Atlanta Braves

After tumbling out of the playoff chase in the second half of the season, the Atlanta Braves have a lot of big decisions to make this winter. One of them is just what to do with Evan Gattis.

The 28-year-old clubbed 22 home runs in 2014, but the team also has top prospect Christian Bethancourt ready to take over behind the plate.

While Bethancourt doesn't offer the same kind of offensive production as Gattis, the 23-year-old is a considerably better defender at a position where defense is of the utmost importance. As David O'Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution argues, the Braves could also land a "relative king's ransom" by trading Gattis. 

Steve Cishek, RP, Miami Marlins

Steve Cishek is due for a raise. 

According to Clark Spencer of the Miami Herald, the closer could see his salary jump from $3.4 million to $6 million via the arbitration process this winter. Such a pay increase could just price Cishek out of the picture in the Miami Marlins bullpen.

For his part, Cishek told Spencer in September that he's hoping to stay put. 

"

Obviously I’d like to stay here because I think what we’re doing here is phenomenal. I like the direction it’s going. I’ve been given every opportunity here and thankful for it, so hopefully I can continue that next year.

"

If the Marlins do part with Cishek in a cost-cutting move, the team will likely have to settle for a downgrade at the closer position, as it will be nearly impossible to find a proven replacement for $6 million. 

Bartolo Colon, SP, New York Mets

Given the plethora of talented starters the New York Mets have at Citi Field and in the minor leagues, Bartolo Colon looks like the top option to be dealt this winter. 

The 41-year-old is set to make $11 million in 2015, which means he won't have significant value on the market. However, at the same time, a one-year, $11 million deal is a more-than-reasonable price tag for a reliable starting pitcher who racked up more than 200 innings of work in 2014. Plus, if the Mets are able to deal away Colon, the team could put the savings toward signing a free-agent bat. 

Cole Hamels, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

With the Philadelphia Phillies in major need of a rebuild, trading Cole Hamels would make a ton of sense. However, there are complications to a potential deal. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, one rival executive said that the Phillies are only willing to trade Hamels "for a very steep price." The lefty also has a 20-team no trade clause. 

Plus, there's the financial angle to consider. Hamels is still owed $96 million over the next four seasons. As Heyman points out, that's a significantly smaller commitment than the deals that free-agent aces Max Scherzer and Jon Lester are expected to command. 

Denard Span, CF, Washington Nationals

There's a lot to like about Denard Span. The table-setter, who has a $9 million team option for 2015, reaches base at a high rate and is also able to steal once he gets on. That skill set, which isn't particularly common around baseball, makes Span a valuable chip on the trade market.

With Michael Taylor ready to claim his spot atop the Washington Nationals lineup, Span could be expendable in the nation's capital. 

Note: All stats and videos courtesy of MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.