Ahead of the Major League Baseball's offseason, Audacy Sports has compiled a list of 10 noteworthy trade candidates.
Didi Gregorius: SS, Philadelphia Phillies
Didi Gregorius had a disappointing second season with the Phillies.(Quinn Harris/USA Today)Remaining Money Owed: $14.5 million in 2022
After shining in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, the Phillies re-signed Gregorius to a two-year/$28 million deal, which they would certainly like a mulligan on. While Marcus Semien -- another free-agent option at shortstop last winter -- had an MVP-caliber season in Toronto, Gregorius was one of the league's least effective players. Across 368 at-bats, Gregorius slashed just .209/.270/.370. He had -11 defensive runs saved at shortstop, perhaps making clear that a position change is required for the 31-year-old. Though there's no evidence supporting his claim, Gregorius blamed the COVID-19 vaccine on him developing pseudogout in his right elbow. His throwing elbow is the same one that he had Tommy John surgery on in October of 2018. At his season-end press conference, Phillies president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski said that Gregorius has been told he's not guaranteed to be the team's opening day shortstop in 2022, and you increasingly feel like a trade -- one where the Phillies would almost certainly have to eat some money -- may be the best resolution for all parties.
Luke Voit: 1B, New York Yankees
Is Luke Voit's time in New York over?(Adam Hunger/Getty Images)Remaining Money Owed: Projected to make $5.4 million in first year of arbitration eligibility
After leading the league with 22 home runs in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season, Voit hit .239 with 11 home runs and 35 RBIs in 68 games this past season. After a hot-stretch in August, Voit said that he "deserved to play just as much as he does," in regards to the recently-acquired Anthony Rizzo. Whether they re-sign Rizzo or acquire another veteran option, Voit may be hard-pressed to get as many at-bats as he believes he deserves in the Bronx. Certainly, there would be interest in Voit, who will turn 31 in February, if the Yankees shop him this winter.
Willson Contreras: C, Chicago Cubs
Willson Contreras' future with the Cubs is uncertain.(Norm Hall/Getty Images)Remaining Money Owed: Projected to make $8.7 million in third and final year of arbitration eligibility
After trading Javier Báez, Kris Bryant and Anthony Rizzo ahead of this past summer's trade deadline, Contrereas is the only position player left that helped the team to win the World Series in 2016. Sahadev Sharma of The Athletic wrote in October that the Cubs "will almost certainly shop him" this winter if they can't agree on a long-term deal. For the morale of the fanbase, it would certainly be a good look if a major-market team re-signs one of its stars. At the same time, the Cubs are seemingly a few years away from contending, so it's fair to wonder if making a major commitment to a catcher makes sense at this juncture for president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer.
Adam Frazier: 2B, San Diego Padres
Could the Padres flip Adam Frazier this offseason?(Denis Poroy/Getty Images)Remaining Money Owed: Projected to make $7.2 million in third and final year of arbitration eligibility
Frazier was an All-Star for the first time in 2021, slashing .324/.388/.448 with an .836 OPS in 98 games with the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, the soon-to-be 30-year-old experienced a noticeable regression after being traded to the Padres, as he slashed .267/.327/.335 with a .662 OPS in 57 games. Certainly, there's value in having a player that's an excellent defender at second base and also has experience playing all three outfield positions. But as the Padres look to re-tool a roster that went 26-43 after the All-Star Break, he's probably going to cost too much for their liking.
Whit Merrifield: 2B/OF, Kansas City Royals
Whit Merrifield could be a trade candidate this offseason.(Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)Remaining Money Owed: $3.5 million through 2023 season
It feels like we've been talking about a trade of Merrifield for the better part of the last half decade, but this winter could be when one finally comes. In recent seasons, it's become clear how valuable super-utility stars like Ben Zobrist, Kiké Hernandez and Chris Taylor are to contending teams. While Merrifield is a natural second baseman, he can play all three outfield positions as well. Jayson Stark of The Athletic reported in July that the Royals were "more open than in the past" to the idea of trading the two-time All-Star. It may take parting with a decent prospect to acquire Merrifield, but the 32-year-old is due just $2.75 million in 2022 and his contract includes an affordable $6.5 million option that will increase to $10.5 million if he doesn't spend 110 days on the injured list in 2022. The option has a buyout worth $750,000.
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Byron Buxton: CF, Minnesota Twins
Byron Buxton is a trade candidate this offseason.(David Berding/Getty Images)Remaining Money Owed: Projected to make $7.3 million in third and final year of arbitration eligibility
Buxton hasn't played more than 100 games in a season since 2017, but he's the type of player that could win an MVP if he's able to play a full season. If you adjust the numbers that Buxton produced in just 61 games this past season out to a full 162-game season, he would have hit .306 with 50 home runs and a 1.005 OPS. Mind you, this is a player that's an elite fielder at a position without many needle movers, having previously won the Platinum Glove Award. Buxton, per Dan Hayes and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic, declined a seven-year/$80 million offer with incentives over the summer. If there's a team more willing to bet on Buxton's uncertain health, perhaps the soon-to-be 28-year-old could be traded before his contract year.
Cody Bellinger: 1B/OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
Cody Bellinger is a former NL MVP.(Harry How/Getty Images)Remaining Money Owed: Projected to make $16.5 million in third year of arbitration eligibility
Bellinger hit .353 during an excellent postseason for the Dodgers, but that doesn't change the fact that he's hit .195 with a .642 OPS since the start of the 2020 season. Of course, Bellinger had a historic 2019 season en route to winning the National League MVP. At his best, he's an elite middle-of-the-order hitter that can play Gold Glove-caliber defense at first base or any of the three outfield positions. But it's hard to think of another situation where you would commit more than $16 million to a player who has had back-to-back disastrous regular seasons. How the Dodgers proceed with Bellinger this offseason will be an especially interesting storyline to watch.
Matt Olson: 1B, Oakland Athletics
Matt Olson could be of interest to multiple contenders this offseason.(Mark Blinch/Getty Images)Remaining Money Owed: Projected to make $12 million in second year of arbitration eligibility
By allowing Bob Melvin to leave to manage the San Diego Padres, the A's made it clear that they are, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today said, "slashing payroll." Olson rebounded from a disappointing 2020 season to hit 39 home runs and post a 5.0 fWAR in 2021. Trading Olson would allow the A's to slash payroll -- which certainly shouldn't be the goal of any team, much less a consistent contender -- and likely add a few impact prospects.
Josh Bell: 1B, Washington Nationals
Josh Bell could be traded for a second straight offseason.(Rich Schultz/Getty Images)Remaining Money Owed: Projected to make $10 million in third and final season of arbitration eligibility
Once an All-Star with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Bell posted an .887 OPS after the All-Star Break in 2021, finishing the season with 27 home runs and 88 RBIs. The Nationals may be best served to hold onto Bell, at least until the trade deadline, so Juan Soto has some level of support in an increasingly barren lineup. But if the DH becomes universal in 2022, it would hardly be surprising if the Nationals get calls from contending teams interested in using Bell as their DH and/or first baseman.
Nick Ahmed: SS, Arizona Diamondbacks
Nick Ahmed could be a trade candidate this offseason.(Christian Petersen/Getty Images)Remaining Money Owed: $17.75 million through 2023 season
Since the start of the 2019 season, Ahmed has posted 24 defensive runs saved, the fifth-most among all shortstops. The problem is that over the last two seasons, Ahmed has hit just .235 with a .654 OPS. The 31-year-old is also making quite a bit of money playing for a team that's not typically a top-tier spender. To move Ahmed, the Diamondbacks would like need to find a team hoping to swap a bad contract and get a great defender -- Phillies Nation's Destiny Lugardo has suggested that a deal involving Ahmed and Didi Gregorius could make some sense.
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