5 under-the-radar MLB trade candidates

The Royals could have gotten more if they moved Merrifield a year or two ago, but we've seen super-utility stars such as Kiké Hernández and Chris Taylor become integral parts in October runs in recent years, and Merrifield could be that type of guy this year. The two-time All-Star is having a relative down season in 2022, as he's slashing .245/.295/.350, but the bet here is that if inserted into a pennant race, his numbers would improve quite a bit. While he's a natural second baseman, the most valuable part about Merrifield as a trade candidate may be his ability to play center field. He's also slated to make just $6.75 million in 2023. The only drawback is that the 33-year-old is unvaccinated, which would eliminate the Toronto Blue Jays and potentially some other American League teams. However, Merrifield has left the door open to get vaccinated if he has the chance to compete for a World Series.

Bard has one of the strangest career arcs in MLB history, and at age 37, he looks like he could be an impact addition to someone's bullpen. In 36 games for the Rockies this season, the former first-round pick has a 1.96 ERA, 3.48 FIP, 1.009 WHIP and has converted on 20 of 22 save opportunities. As he battled the yips, Bard missed out on a chance to be part of the 2013 Boston Red Sox World Series run. Perhaps nearly a decade later, he'll find himself as a back-end reliever for a contending team in October.

Smith's tenure with the Mets has likely run its course, but he's someone worth taking a gamble on even if you aren't necessarily in contention this season because he can't become a free agent until after the 2024 season. Between 2019 and 2020, Smith slashed .299/.366/.571 with a .937 OPS. He's bottomed out since then, but he's still only 27 and can play first base, left field or DH. Robert Murray of FanSided reported last week that the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs both have had conversations with the Mets about Smith. One note: Smith is currently on the 10-day injured list (retroactive to July 17) with a right ankle sprain.

Clown nose aside, Robles is an intriguing change-of-scenery candidate. The former top prospect finished sixth in National League Rookie of the Year Award voting in 2019, homering 17 times, driving in 65 runs and posting a 3.6 fWAR. Since then, Robles hasn't hit at anywhere near the same clip. Still, he's an excellent defender (two defensive runs saved, three outs above average in 2022), and perhaps a different organization will be able to get more out of him offensively. At worst, Robles is an elite defender in center field that can hit ninth in your lineup -- there's some value in that type of player.

At 37, it's possible that the 4.96 ERA that Melancon has is indicative of him finally hitting a wall. Then again, his 3.62 FIP suggests he's been at least a bit better than his back-of-the-baseball-card statistics would lead you to believe. And the four-time All-Star led the National League with 39 saves just last season. Whether it's as a closer or set-up man, it would make sense for contenders to consider Melancon, who likely won't cost much to acquire.