The Major League Baseball Winter Meetings have arrived. More often than not, MLB’s The off-season tends to reach its fever pitch right around this four-day stretch: it’s only natural, given that the meetings bring the league’s top business down to a single hotel with little to do but avoid those who they are looking for work
The next few days, then, promise to be filled with trades, free agent signings, rumors and, perhaps most importantly, a roster reveal. Here at CBS Sports we’re not above participating in this kind of thing this time of year. As such, we’ve decided to play matchmaker with 10 players we think have a better-than-average chance of being traded in the coming weeks.
Below, you’ll find those 10 players, as well as the team we’ve identified as a good fit and our explanation of why it’s a sensible pairing. Note that we’ve tried to mix up the players: you’ll find several SEO stars, along with a collection of role players that aren’t talked about that often. Please people, don’t be the one to get mad at fake trades.
Now, to the gas station.
The match: New York Yankees
The reason: The Yankees need an offensive boost after ranking 25th last season in runs scored. Soto, younger than Eternal Rookie Estevan Florial, is arguably one of the best hitters in the game. (For his Padres career, considered by some to be a disappointment, he’s hit .265/.405/.488.) Soto isn’t perfect for the Yankees’ roster; he’s a below-average left fielder who should move to the DH spot for the next few years, an accommodation the Yankees can’t offer given the presence of Giancarlo Stanton, but it’s hard to worry about that given their offensive capabilities. The Padres, meanwhile, have been unable to extend Soto and are expected to cut payroll this winter. Soto’s lack of team control makes him the most obvious candidate to go, even if his return could be muted by his impending free agency and projected $33 million salary. The Yankees could still send young pitching in return.
The match: Los Angeles Dodgers
The reason: The White Sox have indicated they are open to trading almost anyone on their roster except star outfielder Luis Robert. Cease had an off season in 2023, but he’s only one year away from finishing second in Cy Young Award voting for a reason. He has two well-above-average pitches on his fastball and slider, and there appears to be room for improvement. The Dodgers are one of the best teams in pro sports at maximizing production. Andrew Friedman and Brandon Gomes need rotation help, and they certainly have the prospect to give the White Sox a promising return without damaging their own long-term plans.
The match: Arizona Diamondbacks
The reason: This may be a pie-in-the-sky match, as there is no public indication that the Diamondbacks have shown any interest in getting Burnes. On paper, it makes a lot of sense. Burnes, who has received the Cy Young Award four years in a row, would bolster a D-backs rotation that includes Zac Gallen, Merrill Kelly and young Brandon Pfaadt. The Brewers may prefer to keep Burnes at least until the deadline to try to repeat as National League Central champions. It’s a fair search. The Diamondbacks have the potential talent to change minds, though, and can feel emboldened after making a surprise run to the NL pennant.
The match: Cincinnati Reds
The reason: Does anyone think the Rays will pay a single player (a pitcher at that) $25 million in a single season? We think not. The post-Joey Votto Reds have the financial flexibility to do something big this winter. They also have the competitive incentive, having finished outside the playoff field. Adding Glasnow, always brilliant when healthy, to the top of the rotation would improve Cincinnati’s chances of making the playoffs after a 162-game season for the first time since 2013. The Reds, by the way, have the guy of intriguing young talent. , specifically in the infield and on the mound, which should appeal to Tampa Bay’s desires.
The match: Chicago Cubs
The reason: The truth is, we have some reservations about Bieber. He showed diminished stuff last season and pitched just twice after July 9 due to right elbow inflammation. Someone will be lining up to sign him in his breakout year in the hopes that he can give them an above-average season. The Cubs, who have rising youngsters Cade Horton and Ben Brown, are in position to play if the price is right. Given the circumstances mentioned above, we suspect the Guardians won’t get the kind of return for Bieber they could have had they traded him a year ago.
The match: Toronto Blue Jays
The reason: The Twins have an abundance of outfielders and a desire to shed payroll this winter. That makes Polanco, limited to 184 games the past two seasons, a high-probability trade candidate. He’s been an above-average hitter in five of the last six seasons and is potentially under contract through the 2025 campaign for less than $25 million. The Blue Jays are set to lose both third baseman Matt Chapman and second baseman Whit Merrifield in free agency. In theory, they have several internal options they can turn to: Davis Schneider, Addison Barger, Cavan Biggio and Santiago Espinal included; in practice, Polanco’s track record and cost certainty make it difficult to convey.
7. Max Kepler, OF, Minnesota Twins
The match: Miami Marlins
The reason: To stay with the Twins one more time, Kepler is entering the final season of his contract. He’s served as a walking trade rumor for most of the past few years, and now seems like a good time for the Twins to make a move given that he’s coming off the second-best offensive season of his career. In addition to being a 20-plus home run threat in a given year, Kepler remains a well-above-average defender in right field. It remains to be seen what new Marlins manager Peter Bendix wants to do this offseason, but we can imagine him trading a young arm for Kepler in hopes of making the postseason in back-to-back years for the first time in franchise history. franchise
8. Harold Ramirez, OF, Tampa Bay Rays
The match: Seattle Mariners
The reason: This started as a joke by CBS Sports writer Mike Axisa: It used to be that the offseason didn’t officially start until the Rays and Mariners made a trade, but we’ve become convinced there would be a potential matchup . Ramirez doesn’t fill the rumor mill as often as teammates Manuel Margot or Isaac Paredes, but he’s expected to make more than $4 million in 2023 and is coming off a nice two-year hitting streak even though it depends a lot on ground ball individuals. The Mariners have parted ways with a pair of pitch-prone hitters in Teoscar Hernandez and Eugenio Suarez, and if that’s by design, we suspect they’d have a lot of interest in someone as contact-prone as Ramirez. Even the Rays, who have gotten a lot of mileage out of that kind of profile, have to admit it’s probably the peak of his value.
The match: Guardians of Cleveland
The reason: We believe the Red Sox will trade Verdugo, the projected arbitration award is $9.2 million. Finding an option for him was more difficult than it seems. Verdugo is a safe bet to hit at a league-average clip and seemingly a surer bet to pace the league in Managerial Headaches Created. The Guardians have had an almost constant need for help on the field over the past few years. We’re not so sure the Guardians want to test the mettle of rookie skipper Stephen Vogt, but, faute de mieux, we have to admit it would otherwise make sense in a trade, with Cleveland sending a young player from their collection.
The match: Texas Rangers
The reason: You can’t do a column like this without mentioning the reigning World Series champions. Long a top prospect, Harvey has endured countless injuries en route to becoming a quality reliever. The Nationals need to know they are playing with house money right now. Harvey would fill a senior role in a Rangers bullpen that has lost Aroldis Chapman, Chris Stratton and Will Smith to free agency.
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