All 30 MLB Teams' Best Trade Asset for the 2015-16 Offseason
The early stages of the MLB offseason are generally filled with speculation as to where the top free agents might sign and rumors as to which players are expected to be available on the trade market.
This offseason has been no exception, and as we close in on the winter meetings and some legitimate action on both fronts, the influx of rumors should only increase.
With that in mind, what follows is a look at each team's best trade asset for the offseason.
While players did not necessarily need to have been named in concrete trade rumors to be included on the following list—and some of these are very much speculative—they did need to have a realistic chance of being traded.
In other words, you won't see Mike Trout or Clayton Kershaw on the following list.
Arizona Diamondbacks: SP Aaron Blair
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The Arizona Diamondbacks have assembled an impressive core of position-player talent at the big league level, with Paul Goldschmidt, A.J. Pollock, David Peralta, Ender Inciarte and Welington Castillo all ranking as plus contributors at their respective positions.
While they have a number of options to fill out the starting rotation, they are still lacking a bona fide ace to front the staff.
Patrick Corbin should be better another year removed from Tommy John surgery, and Archie Bradley still has tremendous upside, but if this team wants to take that next step, a front-line arm seems like a necessity.
They have the pieces to put together an attractive trade package, and either Aaron Blair or Braden Shipley would likely be the centerpiece of any blockbuster deal.
Blair, 23, is closer to being big league-ready and is coming off a terrific season where he went 13-5 with a 2.92 ERA and 1.166 WHIP over 160.1 innings of work between Double-A and Triple-A.
Atlanta Braves: SP Julio Teheran
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Earlier this offseason, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that a source noted the Atlanta Braves were "shopping everyone owed money" shortly after the team traded shortstop Andrelton Simmons.
While that led to some speculation that first baseman Freddie Freeman might be on the block, general manager John Coppolella adamantly denied that he was available while taking to Bob Nightengale of USA Today.
However, one player who could potentially fetch a huge return as a trade chip is right-hander Julio Teheran.
The 24-year-old is owed a very reasonable $28.6 million over the next four years with a $12 million option and $1 million buyout in 2020.
Teheran was one of the best pitchers in the NL in 2014, going 14-13 with a 2.89 ERA and 1.081 WHIP while earning a spot on the All-Star team.
However, his ERA spiked to 4.04 this past season as his command took a step back with his walk rate climbing from 2.1 BB/9 to 3.3.
The Braves likely won't sell low on him at this point, but if someone is willing to offer up talent equivalent to his 2014 performance, he'd be an incredibly valuable trade chip.
Baltimore Orioles: RP Zach Britton
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The Baltimore Orioles have not done much of significance on the trade market in recent years, and this offseason will likely be no different.
However, one player they could shop is closer Zach Britton.
Moving a standout reliever like Britton may seem like an odd move for a contender, especially considering the team is also likely to lose setup man Darren O'Day to the highest bidder in free agency.
However, with the starting rotation in need of improvement and the team still making a push to re-sign slugger Chris Davis, they may have to get creative.
Britton is projected to earn $6.9 million in arbitration, and the team may decide that money is better served going toward a different area of need.
At the same time, moving the 27-year-old—who has converted 73-of-81 save chances over the past two years with a 1.77 ERA and 8.9 K/9—would add some quality prospect talent to one of the thinnest farm systems in all of baseball.
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Boston Red Sox: 3B Rafael Devers
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The Boston Red Sox already traded a pair of top-100 prospects this offseason in the deal that landed them closer Craig Kimbrel, as center fielder Manuel Margot and shortstop Javier Guerra were among the four shipped to San Diego.
However, they still have one of the deepest minor league systems in the league, and the pieces to pull off another blockbuster deal should one too good to pass up present itself.
Yoan Moncada, Andrew Benintendi and Anderson Espinoza have been deemed untouchable, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, but notably absent from that list is third baseman Rafael Devers.
The 19-year-old spent the entire 2015 season playing for Single-A Greenville, hitting .288/.329/.443 with 38 doubles, 11 home runs and 70 RBI as one of the younger players in full-season ball.
He currently ranks as the No. 13 prospect in all of baseball, according to MLB.com, and while it would almost certainly take landing a bona fide ace for the Red Sox to consider moving him, he's clearly their most valuable trade chip.
Chicago Cubs: RF Jorge Soler
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Much of the talk for the Chicago Cubs at the trade deadline and early this offseason centered around potentially trading either Starlin Castro or Javier Baez from their abundance of middle infield talent.
While that remains a possibility, the team's most valuable trade chip among players they would at least consider moving appears to be right fielder Jorge Soler.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports wrote the following back on Nov. 15:
"The Cubs do not intend to move third baseman Kris Bryant, shortstop Addison Russell or left fielder Kyle Schwarber, but will at least explore the trade interest they are getting in right fielder Jorge Soler and infielder Javier Baez, sources say."
Would the Cubs be willing to flip Soler for someone like Carlos Carrasco (Cleveland) or Julio Teheran (Atlanta)?
It's something at least worth exploring, though giving up the tremendous upside and team-friendly contract of Soler would be tough to pull the trigger on.
The 23-year-old battled injuries during the regular season but showed legitimate superstar potential during the postseason.
He set a record by reaching base safely in his first nine plate appearances and hit a combined .474/.600/1.105 with three doubles and three home runs in 25 plate appearances.
The Cubs signed him to a nine-year, $30 million deal after he defected from Cuba, and he has five years and $21.33 million remaining, so he comes with plenty of cost-effective team control.
Chicago White Sox: SP Chris Sale
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The Chicago White Sox have given no indication that they intend to make ace Chris Sale available via trade this offseason, but it's not impossible to think he could be flipped at some point in the near future.
It would take a king's ransom to acquire the 26-year-old, considering his standing as one of the game's most dominant starters and his incredibly team-friendly deal.
He's gone 53-37 with a 2.95 ERA, 1.068 WHIP and 10.3 K/9 in four seasons as a starter, and including a pair of options years, he's owed $47.15 million over the next four years.
The White Sox made an aggressive run at putting a contender on the field last offseason with a number of free-agent signings and a big trade to acquire Jeff Samardzija, but things did not go according to plan.
They have a decent core in place, but with one of the thinner farm systems in baseball and the return of young talent, what Sale could potentially bring would be franchise-altering.
Again, the White Sox have given no indication to this point that they will be shopping Sale, but it's not out of the realm of possibility, so he's an easy choice as their most valuable trade chip.
Cincinnati Reds: 3B Todd Frazier
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Most around baseball assume the Cincinnati Reds will trade both Aroldis Chapman and Jay Bruce before the offseason ends, but the availability of third baseman Todd Frazier is more of a question mark.
"An exec of a team that's talked to the Reds says he's convinced Todd Frazier 'is legitimately out there' to be traded for—for a big return," tweeted Jayson Stark of ESPN earlier this month.
Chapman is one of the game's most dominant arms, but with free agency looming next offseason, he'll only fetch so much in return as a rental player. Bruce still has good power and a strong track record, but he's coming off consecutive down seasons, so the Reds would be selling low on him.
However, there's a very real chance Frazier would net that "big return" that Stark was talking about, due in part to an incredibly weak free-agent market at third base.
The 29-year-old Frazier is under team control through 2017 and coming off a season where he posted an .806 OPS with 43 doubles, 35 home runs and 89 RBI for a 4.0 WAR.
A rough second half (.220/.274/.390, 10 HR) can't be completely overlooked, but Frazier has established himself as one of the best all-around third basemen in the game in recent years, and he's easily the top trade chip the Reds currently hold.
Cleveland Indians: SP Carlos Carrasco
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After posting a 5.29 ERA over 238.1 innings of work his first four seasons in the majors, Carlos Carrasco rather abruptly became a dominant starter in 2014.
His 2014 campaign started out with more struggles, as he posted a 6.95 ERA over his first four starts and wound up demoted to the bullpen.
However, he returned to the rotation on Aug. 10 a different pitcher, going 5-3 with a 1.30 ERA and 78 strikeouts in 69.0 innings of work over 10 starts.
He followed that up by going 14-12 with a 3.63 ERA, 1.073 WHIP and 216 strikeouts in 183.2 innings in his first full year as a starter this past season, and he's been a hot name on the trade market since the July deadline as a result.
The Indians signed the 29-year-old to a four-year, $22 million extension just after the start of the 2015 season, and it includes a pair of option years for $9 million and $9.5 million.
With low mileage on his arm for a pitcher his age, a very team-friendly contract and perhaps even some upside going forward, he's incredibly valuable.
The Indians would prefer to trade someone like Trevor Bauer in their pursuit of an improved offense, but Carrasco is by far their most valuable arm.
Colorado Rockies: RF Carlos Gonzalez
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After the Colorado Rockies finally pulled the trigger on trading star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki ahead of the July non-waiver trade deadline this past season, it's right fielder Carlos Gonzalez who will now be headlining the team's trade rumors.
His remaining contract and injury issues have kept CarGo from being an attractive trade chip the past few seasons, but those no longer appear to be roadblocks at this point.
The 30-year-old stayed healthy to play in a career-high 153 games this past season, and the result was a .271/.325/.540 line with 25 doubles, 40 home runs and 97 RBI.
He's owed $37 million over the next two years, well below his market value if he were a free agent.
The only clear sticking point in getting a deal done this winter is the abundance of high-end outfield options on the free-agent market this offseason. That could make him more likely to be on the move in July, but regardless, he's the team's top trade asset.
Detroit Tigers: SS JaCoby Jones
10 of 30The Detroit Tigers have already been active on the trade market, acquiring closer Francisco Rodriguez and center fielder Cameron Maybin.
However, they have managed to get both of those players for lower-level talent, as their farm system remains one of the worst in baseball and very thin on elite talent.
That makes nailing down the team's best trade asset somewhat tricky.
One player they could at least entertain flipping as the centerpiece of a trade is shortstop prospect Jacoby Jones, as 25-year-old Jose Iglesias looks to be entrenched at the position in the majors.
Jones, 23, was acquired from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for closer Joakim Soria at the trade deadline this past year.
He wound up hitting .257/.322/.415 with 25 doubles, 16 home runs, 80 RBI and 25 stolen bases between High-A and Double-A after posting an .851 OPS with 21 doubles and 23 home runs the previous season.
It hasn't been all good for Jones, though, as he was slapped with a 50-game suspension for a second positive test for a "drug of abuse" at the beginning of November. The final 11 games of the Arizona Fall League schedule counted toward the suspension.
That being said, shortstop talent is always in demand. Jones could be knocking on the door of reaching the majors by the end of the 2016 season, so even with the suspension there may still be significant interest if he were made available.
Houston Astros: 1B Chris Carter
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The Houston Astros have an abundance of first baseman/designated hitter types with Evan Gattis, Chris Carter, Jon Singleton and prospect A.J. Reed all in the mix for playing time at those spots in 2016.
With that in mind, there's certainly a chance someone from that group could be traded this offseason. According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, it's Carter, 28, who could find himself on the block.
"While Carter had a good second half, the Astros, according to one major league source, could dangle him as trade bait," wrote Cafardo back in October.
"Carter's unpredictable performance, coupled with high strikeouts, could have the Astros seeking a steadier performer at the position. He's right-handed power, which is sought-after."
After posting a .799 OPS and launching 37 home runs in 2014, Carter saw his production dip as he had a .734 OPS and 24 home runs this past season.
He did finish strong, hitting .333/.400/.822 with six home runs and 12 RBI in September.
Kansas City Royals: SS Raul A. Mondesi
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The Kansas City Royals have managed to win in a small market thanks to their core of homegrown talent and the necessary payroll flexibility that comes with not being tied down by a handful of major salary commitments.
However, they showed a willingness to deal from the farm last year when they acquired Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist for the stretch run.
The team's top prospect right now is shortstop Raul Mondesi, who memorably made his big league debut during the World Series.
The Royals were listed as one of five potential speculative landing places for Miami Marlins ace Jose Fernandez, by David Schoenfield of ESPN.com, and Mondesi's name quickly came up when discussing the potential return.
The 20-year-old has some of the best tools of any shortstop prospect in the game, and the team has pushed him aggressively, as he spent all of the 2015 season in Double-A.
There he hit .243/.279/.372 with 22 extra-base hits and 19 stolen bases in 304 at-bats.
It would take landing someone like Fernandez for the Royals to consider flipping Mondesi, but in terms of value, he's by far their best asset.
Los Angeles Angels: SP Hector Santiago
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The Los Angeles Angels have an abundance of starting pitching for next season and a clear need to upgrade the offense, so moving a starter would make a lot of sense.
Here's a look at the potential starting pitching options for next year:
- Garrett Richards: 32 GS, 15-12, 3.65 ERA, 1.240 WHIP
- Hector Santiago: 32 GS, 9-9, 3.59 ERA, 1.256 WHIP
- Jered Weaver: 26 GS, 7-12, 4.64 ERA, 1.233 WHIP
- Matt Shoemaker: 24 GS, 7-10, 4.46 ERA, 1.256 WHIP
- C.J. Wilson: 21 GS, 8-8, 3.89 ERA, 1.242 WHIP
- Andrew Heaney: 18 GS, 6-4, 3.49 ERA, 1.202 WHIP
- Nick Tropeano: 7 GS, 3-2, 3.82 ERA, 1.327 WHIP
- Tyler Skaggs: Did not pitch, recovery from Tommy John surgery
The team is going to have a hard time finding a taker for Weaver ($20.2 million, full no-trade clause) or Wilson ($20.5 million) based on their salaries, while Heaney, Shoemaker, Skaggs and Tropeano are all pre-arbitration and likely viewed as long-term pieces.
That leaves Richards and Santiago, the team's two best pitchers in 2015, as the most likely pitchers to find themselves on the block.
The team was actually talking extension with Richards back in January, according to Alden Gonzalez of MLB.com, and he's the closest thing they have to an ace right now.
Santiago, 27, on the other hand, is coming off a career year and is now projected to earn $5.1 million in arbitration. With two years of team control left and a somewhat thin market for left-handed starters, his trade value may never be higher.
Los Angeles Dodgers: RF Yasiel Puig
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Would the Los Angeles Dodgers really consider selling low on Yasiel Puig?
Bob Nightengale of USA Today was the first to report back in July that the Los Angeles Dodgers were willing to listen to offers for the 24-year-old outfielder.
While nothing really came of that news at the time, rumors have continued to swirl this offseason.
Buster Olney of ESPN wrote the following on Nov. 21:
"So there continues to be a lot of indication that Dodger players and staffers are pretty sick of Puig, and sources within the organization say that the team's leadership above [president of baseball operations Andrew] Friedman is much more open to the idea of moving Puig than they would’ve been, say, 18 months ago.
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In that same article, Olney mentions a rumor going around that Clayton Kershaw requested the Dodgers trade Puig. However, that story comes via former MLB player Andy Van Slyke, who is the father of Dodgers backup outfielder Scott Van Slyke, so it's probably worth taking with a grain of salt.
Puig took the league by storm as a rookie in 2013 and then followed that up with a 5.3 WAR season in 2014, but between injuries and overall ineffectiveness, he was essentially a non-factor this past season.
All told, he hit .255/.322/.436 with 11 home runs and 38 RBI in 79 games of action for a 1.1 WAR, but he still carries such tremendous potential that he earns a spot here on this list.
Miami Marlins: SP Jose Fernandez
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On the surface, the thought of trading 23-year-old Jose Fernandez seems completely crazy, even for the Miami Marlins.
A potential Fernandez trade has been one of the hottest rumors of the offseason, though, and the idea he could be traded appears to have something to do with his attitude.
"Two Marlins sources say that Jose Fernandez's attitude is becoming a problem, with teammates annoyed that Fernandez 'has become more entitled and cocky' due to perceived favoritism from owner Jeffrey Loria," wrote Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors, based on a Barry Jackson report for the Miami Herald.
There is also the matter of the ongoing issues between the Marlins' front office and Fernandez's agent, Scott Boras, which have made a potential extension with the ace a touchy subject as well.
Center fielder Marcell Ozuna still looks like the most likely Marlins player to be traded, and he has a good deal of value in his own right, but Fernandez is by far the team's most valuable asset, as he'd fetch a ridiculous return.
Milwaukee Brewers: C Jonathan Lucroy
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Jonathan Lucroy was one of the breakout stars of the 2014 season, as he hit .301/.373/.465 with 53 doubles, 13 home runs and 69 RBI for a 6.7 WAR and a fourth-place finish in NL MVP voting.
He did not come anywhere near duplicating those numbers this past season, though.
The 29-year-old dealt with some injury issues and played just 103 games, hitting .264/.326/.391 with 20 doubles, seven home runs and 43 RBI.
The catching market has moved quickly this offseason, as Matt Wieters surprisingly accepted his qualifying offer, and A.J. Pierzynski, Chris Iannetta, Geovany Soto and Alex Avila have all signed in free agency.
That leaves Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Dioner Navarro as the top remaining options, and that should make Lucroy a hot commodity if the Milwaukee Brewers decide to aggressively shop him.
He's owed $4 million this coming season with a $5.25 million option for 2017, so his contract in itself makes him an attractive trade chip.
Minnesota Twins: 3B Trevor Plouffe
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Assuming the Minnesota Twins come to terms with Korean slugger Byung-Ho Park, there's a good chance incumbent third baseman Trevor Plouffe is traded this offseason.
Park is not an immediate replacement for Plouffe, as he'd split his time between first base and designated hitter with Joe Mauer.
However, that would have the ripple effect of pushing Miguel Sano back to third base after he spent most of his time as a rookie serving as the team's DH.
That all leaves Plouffe as the likely odd man out, despite a stellar 2015 season that saw him post a .742 OPS with 35 doubles, 22 home runs and 86 RBI for a 2.5 WAR.
The thin free-agent market at third base should mean a good return for the 29-year-old, and the Twins could potentially add an impact reliever as the bullpen looks to be their most pressing need.
New York Mets: SS Gavin Cecchini
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The No. 12 pick in the 2012 draft, Gavin Cecchini put up mediocre numbers during his first three seasons in the New York Mets system and entered the 2015 season as the team's No. 10 prospect, according to Baseball America.
However, things finally seemed to click in a full season at the Double-A level in 2015, as the 21-year-old hit .317/.377/.442 with 26 doubles, seven home runs and 51 RBI and showed an advanced approach at the plate with a 42/55 BB/K ratio in 439 at-bats.
Despite that big step forward, Mike Puma of the New York Post reported that the team viewed him as a potential trade chip while they were looking for offensive upgrades at the trade deadline.
With Wilmer Flores currently manning the position at the big league level and Amed Rosario checking in as the team's top prospect ahead of Cecchini on the organizational ladder, it makes sense.
Building a trade package around Cecchini and some of the remaining pitching prospect talent in the system could be enough for the Mets to make a run at an impact bat on the trade market.
New York Yankees: RP Andrew Miller
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The New York Yankees took a chance signing Andrew Miller to a four-year, $36 million deal last offseason and installing him as the team's closer, as he had no previous ninth inning experience despite spectacular numbers as a setup man.
The move worked to perfection, though, as he converted 36 of 38 save chances with a 2.04 ERA, 0.859 WHIP and 14.6 K/9 to win AL Reliever of the Year honors.
Despite that standout performance, the 30-year-old has seen his name pop up in trade rumors this offseason, as it seems like every team is willing to move their closer for the right price this winter.
"The left-hander's name has been mentioned on the hot stove rumor mill for a few weeks, and while two major league executives told the Daily News that Yankees general manager Brian Cashman appears willing to move his closer this winter, it seems far from certain that Miller will be wearing another uniform in 2016," wrote Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News.
The one-two punch of Miller and Dellin Betances is arguably the best in all of baseball, and with so much value placed on having a quality bullpen these days, it's hard to imagine the Yankees breaking that up.
There's no harm in listening to offers on Miller, especially with his value so incredibly high after his 2015 performance, but it would take a slam dunk deal for the Yankees to pull the trigger.
Oakland Athletics: 2B Brett Lawrie
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The easy choice here would be Sonny Gray, but the Oakland Athletics front office has said more than once this offseason that it has zero intentions of trading its young ace.
The same goes for right fielder Josh Reddick, despite the fact that he's entering the final year of his contract.
However, following the team's recent trade to acquire Jed Lowrie, it appears that either Brett Lawrie or Danny Valencia will be on the move before the offseason is over.
Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle wrote the following after the Lowrie deal:
"Lowrie's return all but ensures the A's next will move either second baseman Brett Lawrie or third baseman Danny Valencia. Both are drawing interest from American League teams, according to big-league sources, but Lawrie, obtained in the Josh Donaldson deal with Toronto last winter, is considered the better bet to be traded: He can play second and third well, he has an enormous amount of natural ability and he turns 26 in January.
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Lawrie, 25, was one of the key pieces acquired in the trade that sent Josh Donaldson to the Toronto Blue Jays last winter, and he hit .260/.299/.407 with 29 doubles, 16 home runs and 60 RBI for a 1.9 WAR.
While he has yet to live up to his potential, there may very well be a team willing to pay a significant price to see if 2016 is the year the incredibly talented Lawrie puts it all together.
Philadelphia Phillies: RP Ken Giles
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On the surface, Ken Giles would seem like exactly the kind of player the Philadelphia Phillies would want to hold onto here in the early stages of the rebuilding process.
Giles won't be arbitration-eligible for the first time until after the 2017 season, and he's under team control through 2020. That's exactly what makes him such an attractive trade chip, though.
With guys like Aroldis Chapman and Mark Melancon both in their final years of arbitration and Andrew Miller on the expensive side for a reliever, Giles is a significantly cheaper option for a team looking to bolster its pen.
Jayson Stark of ESPN tweeted that despite the Phillies downplaying the likelihood of a Giles trade, "teams that have spoken with them expect him to be dealt this winter or in July."
The 25-year-old has posted a 1.56 ERA, 1.037 WHIP and 151 strikeouts in 115.2 innings of work over 113 career appearances, and he made a smooth transition into the closer's role last season after Jonathan Papelbon was traded.
Pittsburgh Pirates: 2B Neil Walker
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Despite their recent run of success, the Pittsburgh Pirates remain a payroll-conscious team.
It makes sense then that the team is listening to offers for second baseman Neil Walker, who is projected to earn $10.7 million in his final year of arbitration.
It's hard to gauge exactly how much the team would be able to get in exchange for Walker, but at this point he appears to be a more valuable trade chip than Pedro Alvarez or Mark Melancon, who find themselves on the block for the same reason.
Walker, 30, has been a staple at second base for the Pirates the past six seasons, hitting .273/.338/.433 and averaging 16 home runs and 70 RBI per season during that span.
That's elite-level production at the position, but the free-agent market is also relatively deep at second base this winter with Daniel Murphy, Howie Kendrick and Ben Zobrist all representing plus options.
The Pirates also have a solid in-house option to replace Walker in Alen Hanson, who hit .263/.313/.387 with 35 extra-base hits and 35 stolen bases for Triple-A Indianapolis this past season.
San Diego Padres: SP Tyson Ross
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The San Diego Padres have already pulled the trigger on trading relievers Joaquin Benoit and Craig Kimbrel, and they may not be done dealing as they look to rework the roster after a disappointing 2015 campaign.
Starter Tyson Ross saw his name pop up in trade talks at the deadline, as did a number of players on the underperforming roster, and those rumors have continued into the offseason after he wound up staying put.
Over the past two seasons, Ross has quietly emerged as one of the best starters in the NL, going 23-26 with a 3.03 ERA, 1.259 WHIP and 407 strikeouts in 391.2 innings of work.
The 28-year-old has two seasons of team control remaining, and with Sonny Gray and Chris Sale seemingly unavailable, he may be the top arm on the trade market.
The Padres desperately need to restock the farm system after gutting it last offseason, and dealing Ross would certainly help out in that department, as he'd no doubt fetch at least two high-end prospects.
San Francisco Giants: SS Christian Arroyo
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If the San Francisco Giants opt to go the trade route in their efforts to improve the starting rotation, shortstop prospect Christian Arroyo could be the centerpiece of any deal.
The No. 25 pick in the 2013 draft, Arroyo has hit .303/.348/.448 in parts of three minor league seasons, and he may just be scratching the surface of his offensive potential.
The 20-year-old hit .304/.344/.459 this past year with 28 doubles, nine home runs and 42 RBI in a full season at High-A San Jose.
Many feel he'll eventually slide over to third base, but there's at least a chance he sticks at shortstop long term. Either way, it looks like he has the offensive game to fit at either position.
With Brandon Crawford and Matt Duffy entrenched on the left side of the infield in San Francisco, Arroyo has no clear path to the majors, so using him as a trade chip to improve the pitching staff makes a lot of sense.
Seattle Mariners: SP Taijuan Walker
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Taijuan Walker has been a highly sought-after arm on the trade market the past several seasons, but the Seattle Mariners have balked at the idea of trading him time and again.
Could that finally change this winter?
Walker missed most of 2014 with shoulder issues, but went 11-8 with a 4.56 ERA and 1.196 WHIP over 29 starts this past season in what was his first full slate of big league action.
After pitching to a 7.33 ERA over his first nine starts, he went 10-3 with a 3.62 ERA the rest of the way, so there's reason to believe he could be headed for a breakout performance this coming year.
However, there are other areas of need for the Seattle Mariners to address, most notably adding another bat at either first base or a corner outfield spot.
It would take a significant return for Walker to be moved, but we have yet to hear the 23-year-old called untouchable this offseason as he has been in winters past.
St. Louis Cardinals: CF Peter Bourjos
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There really is no clear-cut trade candidate with significant value for the St. Louis Cardinals this winter, which is why backup outfielder Peter Bourjos earns the spot here.
The Cardinals won't deal significant pieces from their farm system, that's just not the way they operate, as player development has been the lifeblood of their recent run of sustained success.
However, there is a logjam of sorts in the outfield, especially if Jason Heyward winds up re-signing.
The team's aging offensive core makes Stephen Piscotty and Randal Grichuk important parts of the present and future, and Matt Holliday won't be going anywhere either, so that leaves Peter Bourjos and Jon Jay as the likely odd men out.
General manager John Mozeliak had the following to say when asked about Bourjos' future with the team back in October, per Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch:
"As far as Peter goes, I don't think it ever worked to the point where we were hopeful of. That doesn't mean we're at the point to give up either. We'll reassess and look at what our opportunities look like over the next six weeks or so."
The 28-year-old is still a good defender with plus speed, but he has hit just .218/.292/.342 in 459 at-bats over the past two seasons.
However, he was a .271/.327/.438 hitter back in 2011, when he tallied 49 extra-base hits and 22 stolen bases for a 5.1 WAR in his first full season in the majors.
Standout defense and the potential to regain his 2011 form could be reason enough for someone to offer up a quality prospect in exchange for what is essentially a spare part in St. Louis this winter.
Tampa Bay Rays: RP Brad Boxberger
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While fellow reliever Jake McGee may be the most likely player to be dealt by the Tampa Bay Rays this winter, it's Brad Boxberger who ranks as the team's most valuable trade asset.
With a projected salary of $4.7 million this coming season, according to MLB Trade Rumors, reliever Jake McGee is in line to be the fourth-highest-paid player on the Tampa Bay roster.
Meanwhile, Boxberger is still a year away from reaching arbitration, meaning he has four years of team control remaining.
The 27-year-old stepped into the closer's role at the beginning of last season when McGee opened the year on the disabled list, and he wound up leading the AL with 41 saves to go along with a 3.71 ERA, 1.365 WHIP and 10.6 K/9.
There has been an abundance of available relief pitching on the trade market this winter, but for teams not looking to break the bank on someone like Aroldis Chapman or Mark Melancon, the top options appear to be Boxberger and Ken Giles of the Phillies.
While trading a cheap, controllable player would seem counterproductive for the cost-conscious Rays, there are more pressing needs than the bullpen for a team that desperately needs to improve offensively.
Texas Rangers: RP Shawn Tolleson
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The most overlooked part of the Texas Rangers' late-season charge last year was the bullpen, where the unheralded trio of Sam Dyson, Keone Kela and Shawn Tolleson was nothing short of dominant.
Tolleson was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers prior to the 2014 season, and he wound up being one of the team's top setup men that year with a 2.76 ERA, 1.172 WHIP and 8.7 K/9.
Thrust into the closer's role this past season, he converted 35 of 37 save chances with a 2.99 ERA, 1.147 WHIP and 9.5 K/9 to finish 10th in AL Cy Young voting.
His name has not come up much in trade talks this offseason, but Jon Heyman of CBS Sports did make mention of the Rangers fielding some interest in the 27-year-old in an article written earlier this month.
Tolleson is due a sizable raise from $519,700 this past season to a projected $2.6 million in his first year of arbitration, but that's still a steal relative to his market value.
It stands to reason that Kela or Dyson could step into the ninth inning job if someone came along with an offer too good for the Rangers to pass up, but don't expect them to actively shop Tolleson.
Toronto Blue Jays: CF Kevin Pillar
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Jon Morosi of Fox Sports tweeted the following on Nov. 18:
"#BlueJays, #Dodgers, #Yankees among the teams to have at least preliminary trade talks with #Indians, sources say. For each of 3 teams mentioned, #Indians would obtain everyday OF and part with a starting pitcher. Many scenarios in play for CLE."
That rumor is incredibly vague on the surface, but it's not too terribly difficult to narrow down on the Blue Jays end of things.
Jose Bautista isn't going anywhere, so presumably it would be either Ben Revere or Kevin Pillar on the table as the "everyday OF" referenced in the tweet, with either Carlos Carrasco or Danny Salazar heading to Toronto.
The Indians need a power bat, so chances are they're not interested in Revere, which just leaves Pillar.
He's not exactly a slugger, but the 26-year-old did have 31 doubles, 12 home runs and 56 RBI in 586 at-bats this past season while playing a phenomenal defensive center field.
While he's a young, controllable player and a fan favorite, it's not crazy to think the Blue Jays would be selling high on Pillar if they traded him now after a 5.2 WAR season.
Dalton Pompey has yet to prove himself, but he's a viable in-house replacement in center field, and there is still a clear need for a second front-line starter to slot alongside Marcus Stroman.
Washington Nationals: RP Drew Storen
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The Washington Nationals created a mess for themselves when they traded for Jonathan Papelbon at the deadline last season, despite already having a standout closer in 28-year-old Drew Storen.
Things then got even messier when Papelbon clashed with Bryce Harper, choking him in the dugout after the two exchanged words.
As a result, both relievers find themselves on the trade market this winter, and the Nationals find themselves in need of a complete bullpen overhaul.
"The Nats are expected to try to trade Drew Storen and Jonathan Papelbon (good luck with that second one)," wrote Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. "Storen absolutely has to go after the team showed what they thought of him as a closer by bringing in Papelbon to replace him. They really need a bullpen makeover."
Storen is projected to earn $8.8 million in his final year of arbitration, but that's still cheaper than the $11 million salary of Papelbon.
That combined with the clubhouse distraction Papelbon has proven to be time and again in his career makes Storen the more valuable trade chip.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted.
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