There are big names in the free-agent class of 2019 like Gerrit Cole, Anthony Rendon, and Stephen Strasburg. What has everyone talking, even more, this offseason is the trade market. This off-season, there have been a lot of rumors of three big trade candidates potentially getting moved from their current team. These three players have had great success with their teams but it may be time to move one. It’s hard to move on from star players but whatever it takes to get your team set up for the future. This off-season is already getting started with great rumors and the hot stove is just heating up. Here are the three big MLB trade candidates this offseason.
Big MLB Trade Candidates This Offseason
Kris Bryant
Just a few years removed from winning their first championship since 1908, the Chicago Cubs have been trending down. They have been going backward since the championship. They let manager Joe Maddon walk and hired former Cubs catcher David Ross. As they look to figure things out, their star third baseman might be the one who brings the most back. They are hamstrung with contracts as well and moving Kris Bryant would certainly help. He would be a great addition to any team. He won a World Series and the three-time all-star won the rookie of the year in 2015 along with the MVP award in 2016. In 147 games this past season, he recorded a batting average of .282 and drove in 77 with 31 home runs. In a down year, his numbers are still very good. Bryant at the hot corner is very attractive to teams.
Francisco Lindor
Francisco Lindor is known as one of the best if not the best shortstop in the game. It seems crazy for the Cleveland Indians to trade someone like Lindor but signing him to a long-term deal might not be realistic for them at the moment. One team is already reportedly going in on Lindor and that team is the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers have the prospects that the Indians would want. He is only 25 years of age and his best years are still to come. He is under team control until 2021 so that would get teams even more interested and that would also bring in more prospects for the Indians.
He’s made the all-star team four out of his five years in the league. Last season, he batted .284 with 74 RBI’s and 32 home runs in 143 games. He had an identical year to Bryant and that’s very good production from a shortstop. He is a very good defender as well. An all-around star like Lindor will have a lot of suitors this off-season if the Indians are willing.
Mookie Betts
The biggest trade candidate of them all is Mookie Betts. One of the best overall players in the game is set for a massive contract after this season. The Boston Red Sox would love to keep a great talent like Betts but the only problem is that they don’t have the money. They are trying to stay under the luxury tax and signing him wouldn’t help at all. They can try and trade other players like Jackie Bradley Jr. or Xander Bogaerts but they won’t come close to the amount of money Betts will get. It would be foolish for them to choose anyone else over Betts but they got to do what they got to do.
The Red Sox will have to bring in a massive haul for him to make it a good deal or close to it. He’s made it to the all-star game the past four years and won four gold gloves with an MVP on his resume. Betts batted .295 with 80 RBI’s and 29 home runs. He is a very impressive player but the Red Sox will take however long they need to so they can find what they are looking for.
Final Thoughts
The offseason will be very interesting with both sides of the market getting hot. These three superstars are the biggest trade candidates this off-season in the MLB. At least one of the three is thought to be moved according to reports. Maybe all three get moved or maybe none get moves but whatever the decision will be for each player, it better be the right one and they better be getting what these players are worth. The hot stove has heated up and it’s already set up to be a really good offseason.
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