Last month I ranked the top 43 impending free agents in MLB, and since then three have signed contract extensions, taking themselves off the market. Right-handed pitcher Charlie Morton and catcher Travis d’Arnaud re-signed with the Braves, and future Hall of Fame backstop Yadier Molina agreed to a one-year contract that secures a 19th season with the Cardinals.
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Now it’s time to look at the biggest names who could get traded this offseason. Teams’ pro scouts and analytics departments are hard at work this month evaluating and analyzing players they could acquire. Some of these names might surprise you. Inclusion on this list doesn’t mean these players will be traded, of course, but these names are generating the most buzz throughout the industry.
Here are the 10 players who have been mentioned the most in my conversations with executives from all 30 teams.
1. José Ramírez, 3B, Cleveland Indians
Age: 28
Bats: Both Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2023
Ramírez, one of the game’s best all-around third basemen, is in his prime. A career .353 on-base percentage player, Ramírez has belted more than 30 home runs again this season, while stealing 23 bases in 26 attempts. His 5.4 WAR, according to Baseball-Reference, shows his impact. He’s signed to a club-friendly contract that includes team options for 2022 ($12 million) and 2023 ($14 million). It’s unlikely the Indians will be able to sign Ramírez long term after those two seasons, and while they could extend him, trading him this offseason would bring the best possible return. On the other hand, keeping him for another season would likely result in an undervalued return, like what Cleveland received for Francisco Lindor when it traded him to the Mets after waiting until the final year of his contract. Watch the Giants, Blue Jays and Nationals as possible trade partners.
2. Matt Olson, 1B, Oakland Athletics
Age: 27
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2023
If Oakland fails to make the postseason this year, A’s fans should prepare for the front office to begin trading their best players, and it could start with Olson. A two-time Gold Glove winner and a first-time All-Star this season, Olson is having a career-best year, slashing .272/.370/.545 with 32 doubles, 34 home runs, 98 RBIs and a 152 OPS+. And better years arguably lie ahead for Olson, who’s arbitration-eligible in 2022 and ’23, but the A’s likely can’t afford him beyond those seasons. Therefore, it’s time to shop him so they can once again retool. The Yankees, Padres and Giants present the best trade partner fits. The Yankees make the most sense because their first baseman, Anthony Rizzo, is an impending free agent, and they covet left-handed hitters because of the short right-field porch at Yankee Stadium. New York has the necessary blend of prospects and major-league talent to offer in a trade for Olson, and could dangle players such as Gleyber Torres and/or Luke Voit.
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3. Ketel Marte, CF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Age: 27
Bats: Both Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2024
The Diamondbacks made it clear to teams at the trade deadline that they had no interest in dealing Marte, their best overall player. However, after the season, once the Diamondbacks digest just how bad they are, many clubs believe they will rethink that position and offer him up for quality prospects to help brighten their long-term future, even if it dims 2022 even more. Marte is signed to an affordable contract that will pay him an average annual salary of $10 million over the next three seasons (with team options in 2023 and 2024 expected to be picked up), and it only increases his trade value. Marte is young enough that rebuilding teams will have as much interest as contending teams, especially those that think they can win in ’23 or ’24, such as the Tigers, Royals, Rangers, Marlins, Orioles, Pirates and Cubs. Marte’s ability to play second base and center field and his combination of power, speed and athleticism will send trade interest through the roof. The Diamondbacks should be able to make a deal that really improves the franchise long term.
4. Matt Chapman, 3B, Oakland Athletics
Age: 28
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2023
Chapman is the best defensive third baseman in the American League and there are metrics that suggest he’s the best in the sport, but I can’t go there because of my appreciation for Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado. Like his teammate Olson, Chapman will be a free agent after the 2023 season. He comes with 25-30 home run power and standout run-prevention qualities that boost a pitching staff. He’s arbitration-eligible for the next two years, and he will get paid. Teams that could be interested in trading for Chapman include the Nationals, Giants, Blue Jays and Tigers.
5. Whit Merrifield, 2B, Kansas City Royals
Age: 32
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2023
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The Royals have been reluctant to trade Merrifield over the last couple of years because he’s such an integral part of their rebuilding plan due to his leadership, mentoring and work ethic, not to mention his on-field production. He’s developed into one of the game’s best defensive second basemen and leadoff hitters. He’s second in the majors with 40 stolen bases and is leading the league in at-bats for the third straight year. He’s durable, a gamer and signed to an affordable contract that includes a team option for 2023, which means his trade value will be highest this offseason.
6. Willson Contreras, C, Chicago Cubs
Age: 29
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2022
Contreras will be a free agent after the 2022 season and if the Cubs can’t extend him early in the upcoming offseason, then they should trade him, just like they did with Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Báez. Contreras continues to improve defensively and has posted a 3.6 WAR this season because of it even though his OPS+ is just 97. I still rate Contreras as a top five catcher, and with so many teams in need of a frontline backstop, the Cubs should net a nice prospect return for him.
7. Joey Gallo, LF, New York Yankees
Age: 27
Bats: Left Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2022
The Yankees were excited to acquire Gallo at the deadline in a six-player blockbuster trade with the Rangers, but the results have been mixed — to say the least. Gallo has played great defense in left field and belted seven home runs (giving him 32 on the season) in his 40 games with the Yankees, but he’s also hit .134 with 67 strikeouts in 167 plate appearances. The Yankees hope he turns it around the rest of the way and earns a spot as their everyday left fielder for the 2022 season. But if he doesn’t, many execs think they could decide to move on from him and explore the trade market again. Gallo’s 40 home run power and his ability to play all of the corners (1B, 3B, LF, RF) with plus defense will create a strong demand for his services.
8. Gleyber Torres, SS, New York Yankees
Age: 24
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2024
The Yankees believe Torres will eventually rediscover his form from 2019, when he slashed .278/.337/.535 with 38 home runs and 90 RBIs. But he’s regressed dramatically the past two years, and this season is hitting .252 with seven home runs in 438 plate appearances. He’s also played subpar defense at shortstop, so most evaluators think he has to move back to second base in 2022. If the Yankees decide to play DJ LeMahieu mainly at second base next year, then a Torres trade is inevitable. The Yankees are expected to engage in the free-agent shortstop market, where players such as Corey Seager, Trevor Story and Marcus Semien will be available. New York could include Torres in a trade package to try to land a slugger like Matt Olson or an athlete such as Ketel Marte.
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9. Josh Donaldson, 3B, Minnesota Twins
Age: 35
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2024
The Twins are in the midst of a retooling, and there’s a real possibility they trade Donaldson this offseason. Donaldson still has it at 35; he’s hit 21 doubles and 22 home runs this season in 465 plate appearances. Although he’s an injury and age-related decline risk, Donaldson will have trade value, especially after free-agent third basemen like Kris Bryant and Eduardo Escobar land jobs this offseason. Contending teams with a need at third base might come calling, although the Twins must be willing to pay down the $50 million in guaranteed money left on his contract, which includes a 2024 club option with an $8 million buyout.
10. Byron Buxton, CF, Minnesota Twins
Age: 27
Bats: Right Throws: Right
Team control: Through 2022
Buxton wants to remain with the Twins so much that he even has the Twins logo tattooed on his body. The feeling is mutual, according to a source who said Minnesota offered Buxton a contract extension worth more than $70 million this summer that also included loads of incentives and award bonuses. That’s a staggering offer if one considers that in seven seasons with the Twins, Buxton has played more than 92 games only once, in 2017. He has never had 500 at-bats nor hit 20 home runs in a major-league season, and his career on-base percentage is .293.
Buxton’s intrigue stems from his athleticism and potential, if healthy, to be a 30 homer, 30 stolen base, Gold Glove center fielder. If he hits, I’ve always thought Buxton could be similar to Eric Davis, who played for the Reds when I was general manager. But at what point does a player’s potential have to turn into production? At what point does a team give up on an injury-prone player? The Twins must answer those difficult questions, and the fact that he’s only 27 years old further complicates matters; they could “give up” on Buxton and watch him make All-Star teams in a different uniform. The Twins listened to trade offers for Buxton at the deadline, and if they can’t extend him, they’ll likely deal him. Buxton is high risk but also possibly high reward, whether he re-signs with the Twins or they trade him.
(Photo of José Ramírez: Nic Antaya / Getty Images)