MLB Offseason Trade Candidates

Michael Ginnitti
Michael Ginnitti, Managing Editor & NFL/MLB ExpertOctober 31, 2024
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Chas McCormick (OF, Astros)

Projected 2025 Salary: $4.8M

After a mini-breakout in 2023, McCormick’s 2024 was a veritable disaster, compounded by a finger injury down the stretch. If he’s not moved (or non-tendered), McCormick’s time as an everyday player could be depleted in Houston. He’s arbitration-eligible through 2026.

Mason Miller (RP, Athletics)

Projected 2025 Salary: $800,000

The 26-year-old closer is still the pre-arbitration portion of his team control, with 5 more years remaining before free agency. It’ll take an A++ offer to get the Athletics to pick up the phone and move on from this kind of financial value.

Brent Rooker (OF/DH, Athletics)

Projected 2025 Salary: $3.5M

Rooker has 3 more years of team control remaining, so the Athletics don’t need to be in a rush to move him this winter. The 29-year-old has 46 doubles and 69 homers across his past two seasons, and would be a strong addition to the middle of a batting lineup. He’s a minus defender, and strikes out at a pretty aggressive rate, but if the A’s are willing to listen, there will be offers this offseason.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. (1B, Blue Jays)

Projected 2025 Salary: $28.8M

The 25-year-old rounded back into form in 2024 (30 HRs, 103 RBIs, 6.17 WAR), putting him in the driver’s seat for a bigtime payday over the course of the next 15 months. Is he part of Toronto’s long-term plans? Are the Blue Jays willing to keep the gas pedal down in 2025? If either of those answers are no, shopping Vlad Jr. ahead of his final season of team control is a must.

Bo Bichette (SS, Blue Jays)

2025 Salary: $16.5M

Bichette struggled mightily in 2025 (-0.26 WAR), posting career lows across the board. He’s fully guaranteed at $16.5M for the upcoming season before heading to the open market for the first time next winter. This would be a sell-low move for Toronto right now, who may be better off hoping he can return to form early on, before dangling the 26-year-old around the trade deadline.

Jorge Soler (OF/DH, Braves)

2025 Salary: $13M

Soler was (re)acquired at the deadline to fill the void left by Ronald Acuna Jr.’s long-term injury. He produced admirably, but is likely too expensive to keep as a depth piece going forward. His ability to produce with power should make him attractive enough to move this winter. Soler holds a $13M salary in each of 2025 & 2026.

Devin Williams (RP, Brewers)

2025 Salary: $10.5M Club Option (arbitration-eligible)

Williams became the topic of trade rumors immediately following his disastrous postseason run - but that doesn’t make this a likely move. The 30-year-old is a pending free agent after 2025, and despite the ugly finish - is in line to cost a fortune going forward. But Milwaukee has a clear path to win the NL Central again in 2025, and keeping their closer in the fold only helps that.

Jordan Montgomery (SP, Diamondbacks)

2025 Salary: $22.5M Player Option

It’s unclear just how ugly things got behind the scenes between the D-Backs and Montgomery, who was relegated to the bullpen for much of 2024. It’s a veritable lock that he picks up his $22.5M option for 2025, but will Arizona look to flip the nearly 32-year-old thereafter?

Josh Naylor (1B, Guardians)

Projected 2025 Salary: $14.2M

Naylor popped 31 homers in 2024, a career-high, but still finds himself amidst trade rumors as the offseason approaches. His final year of arbitration comes with a sizable salary increase, and the Guardians are always conscious about budgeting properly in any given season. Naylor was a coveted trade candidate in the winter of 2023, so it’s safe to assume that he’ll have plenty of suitors again this time around.

Jesús Luzardo (SP, Marlins)

Projected 2025 Salary: $8.6M

Luzardo battled injury and poor results all season, so Miami would be selling him at a low point. However, the 27-year-old is arbitration-eligible through 2026, giving interested teams a chance to settle him into their rotation a bit with financial value.

Jeff McNeil (2B, Mets)

2025 Salary: $15.75M

This might be a bit of wishful thinking here, as McNeil hasn’t hit anywhere near consistent enough to justify his 4 year, $50M contract. He’s owed $15.75M each of 2025 & 2026, and the Mets have youngsters Luisangel Acuna & Ronny Mauricio ready to fill a 2B/OF spot next spring. If NY is willing to pay down some of the owed salary, there may be a trade partner or two out there.

Nick Castellanos (OF, Phillies)

2025 Salary: $20M

A worthy outfielder and power producer, Castellanos has been a fan-favorite for the better part of 3 seasons in Philly. But it stands to reason that Dave Dombrowski and company will look to shake up this roster at least a little bit. And oh by the way, an aggressive run at OF Juan Soto could also mean the need to free up both a roster spot and some salary.

Adolis García (OF, Rangers)

2025 Salary: $9.25M

After three straight seasons of both production & improvement, Garcia took a step back in 2024 (along with many Rangers). The Rangers have a few offseason holes to fill, so shedding a little salary elsewhere could be part of the process. Garcia is locked in at $9.25M through 2025, but then becomes arbitration-eligible for the final time again in 2026 before free agency in 2027.

Zack Littell (SP, Rays)

Projected 2025 Salary: $6M

The Rays have a rare surplus of starting pitching (assuming everyone returns to full health this winter). With the rest of the roster in a bit of turmoil, flipping an arm for a bat or two makes good business sense. Littell is entering his third and final arbitration season, and stands to be one of the pricier players for Tampa Bay in 2025.

Triston Casas (1B, Red Sox)

Projected 2025 Salary: $800,000

Casas has 4 years of team control remaining, including an extremely valuable pre-arbitration salary in 2025. A rib injury greatly limited his 2024 production, but this is a player who can go on a run and carry a team offensively at times. Boston has a logjam of left-handed hitters, a few really strong prospects ready to graduate to the show, and could use a bat for an arm swap this winter. Still, this move would be considered surprising, all things considered.

Jonathan India (2B, Reds)

2025 Salary: $5.45M

India’s been amidst trade rumors for awhile now, and went public with his desire for this Cincinnati front office to start writing checks to properly build up this roster. There’s enough smoke here again to think India could be shopped, though he does hold a final season of arbitration in 2026 before hitting the open market.

Cal Quantrill (SP, Rockies)

Projected 2025 Salary: $9.8M

Quantrill is entering his final year of arbitration, and the Rockies have already made public their plan to cut payroll for the upcoming season. Despite the Coors Field backdrop, Quantrill was efficient in 2024 and would slot in nicely as a #4 for many contending teams in 2025.

Austin Gomber (SP, Rockies)

Projected 2025 Salary: $5.2M

Gomber is entering his final year of arbitration, and represents a cheaper - though not as productive - option to teammate Cal Quantrill on the trade block. With that said, 2024 was a career year for Gomber, so it’s a good time to shop the nearly 31-year-old.

Brendan Rodgers (2B, Rockies)

Projected 2025 Salary: $6.8M

The 28-year-old former #3 overall pick really hasn’t hit his expected peak, especially at the plate. 2025 represents his final year of team control, so Colorado may be looking to pull back a little value this winter before it’s too late.

Garrett Crochet (SP, White Sox)

Projected 2025 Salary: $2.9M

When healthy, and it’s a big if, Crochet has proven to be one of the more efficient pitchers in the game (though we’re talking about just 32 career starts here). Chicago values him as an “ace”, so a trade for the 25-year-old - who has two arbitration years remaining - would likely bring back a blockbuster-type return.

Luis Robert Jr. (OF, White Sox)

Remaining Contract: 1 yr, $15M + 2 $20M Club Options

Robert is by far Chicago’s most productive bat, and his $15M salary for 2025 is second only to Andrew Benintendi’s $17.1M next season. The immediate plans for this franchise remain unknown, but until Chicago makes it clear that they’re back in spending mode, we’ll consider a trade of Robert for prospects one of the better possibilities of the winter.


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