“I’d trade Franklin Arias for Elly De La Cruz.”
That was one of the most common tweets I have seen in the last 48 hours. My feed was flooded with CJ Abrams trade rumors, Elly De La Cruz packages, and teams “desperate for Tarik Skubal, but they can’t spend the money.”
We have officially hit the offseason.
I initially was going to make this a Red Sox-focused piece and talk about players they should trade for. But then I flipped it on its head and just ranked the Top 10 trade candidates. So, a few of them will be Red Sox, but I know they won’t all be going over there.
Here are the ten players I’d call about this winter and where I think each opens the 2027 season.
1. Elly De La Cruz, SS, Cincinnati Reds
My prediction → Cincinnati Reds (stays) · If traded → Boston Red Sox
If Elly De La Cruz is actually available, I can not remember the last time a player of this caliber ACTUALLY got traded. I guess Juan Soto and Mookie Betts were recent, but neither of them was as flashy as Elly.
The Reds control him through 2029. So teams will need to offer a “Soto-like package” for him. Teams will want to extend him, but he is a Scott Boras agent, so keep dreaming.
I think he stays with the Reds, but if he gets traded, Boston makes the most sense. The ability to swap for Franklin Arias might be enticing enough to close the deal. Don’t forget, the Padres had to trade three Top 100 players for Soto. Boston doesn’t have that type of capitol in the farm.
2. CJ Abrams, SS/2B, Washington Nationals
My prediction → New York Yankees
Speaking of the Soto trade, here is one of the pieces from that deal.
Abrams hit more homers than Elly (33) and stole more bases (34). Sure, their career numbers are relatively comparable, but my goodness, THE DEFENSE.
CJ Abrams is a liability at SS, and whoever trades for him would need to move him to 2B. Well, there just so happens to be a team that lets a player who sucks (lollipops) walk. Enter the New York Yankees.
Not only does he fit a huge hole for them, but he will also thrive with the short porch.
3. Ketel Marte, 2B, Arizona Diamondbacks
My prediction → Seattle Mariners
Honestly, with all the bad press the last two years, Seattle seems like the only option for Marte. He can return back to where he started, which I expect he would approve even with his veto right.
4. Reid Detmers, LHP, Los Angeles Angels
My prediction → Baltimore Orioles
Baltimore, in many ways, is in desperation mode. Many thought they were building a dynasty. Now they seem to be on the brink of another rebuild. Two consecutive losing seasons, the Adley Rutschman trade, and no Gunnar Henderson extension all loom over the team.
It's unclear whether Trevor Rogers or Shane Baz leading the rotation was ever the goal, so Reid Detmers makes a lot of sense.
A year ago Detmers spent the whole season in the bullpen. This year he made 32 starts, threw 185 innings, and struck out 211.
The Orioles can build a package around left-hander Joseph Dzierwa and offer the Angels a second young arm, plus an MLB-ready talent. Probably not, but I think Baltimore is desperate and would be willing to run up the price.
5. Joe Ryan, RHP, Minnesota Twins
My prediction → Boston Red Sox
Minnesota declined Ryan’s $13 million mutual option on Monday and still has him for 2027. He goes to arbitration.
Ryan struck out 159 and walked 31 in 144⅔ innings. My offer is Duran and right-hander Juan Valera. Duran hit 20 homers and stole 21 bases, so Minnesota has upside if he rebounds from a .207 average. Valera had Tommy John surgery this spring. The Twins might want a healthier arm, but I’d start there and see what happens.
Boston needs to replace Sonny Gray, and this is their best shot.
6. Drew Rasmussen, RHP, Tampa Bay Rays
My prediction → Tampa Bay Rays (stays) · If traded → Los Angeles Dodgers
Rasmussen started Game 5 of the World Series. Three days later, the Rays picked up his $20 million option. He would make more than any pitcher in Rays history with that number. His 2.67 ERA in 172 innings gives the Rays an equally obvious reason to keep him, especially after a World Series run.
If he were to be traded, and let me be clear, I don’t think he will be, I think the Dodgers make the most sense. They love their little Tampa boys (Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow), and I do not think Skubal stays in LA.
7. Mason Miller, RHP, San Diego Padres
My prediction → San Diego Padres (stays) · If traded → Philadelphia Phillies
Miller struck out 129 in 70 innings. The last time he changed teams, San Diego gave up a package headlined by shortstop Leo De Vries. Now the Padres have a closer coming off a 1.67 ERA and 38 saves, with three seasons of control left. I’d expect them to want a prospect they like as much as the one they gave up.
Would Philadelphia send shortstop Aidan Miller and right-hander Gage Wood to have Mason Miller closing games through 2029? We shall see.
8. Jeremy Peña, SS, Houston Astros
My prediction → Atlanta Braves
Peña hit 22 homers in 483 plate appearances and can be a free agent after 2027. Peña had a frustrating season, as injuries kept popping up. Houston is trending towards a rebuild, and getting more capital for Peña now makes sense over waiting for the trade deadline.
Braves are very much in contention mode. One year of Peña fills the hole at short, and Atlanta could keep some of the prospects it would take to land Elly.
9. Rafael Devers, 1B/DH, San Francisco Giants
My prediction → San Francisco Giants (stays) · If traded → Seattle Mariners or New York Mets
Will anyone take Devers’ contract? Nope. Will the Giants eat some of it? Maybe!
It was reported earlier today that the Giants will be taking calls on Devers and Logan Webb. We have heard this song and dance before. It is really going to come down to how much the Giants want to eat.
Look, I would love for Devers to somehow make his way back to Boston. But I know it won’t happen, so I will bury that dream.
For me, the Mariners and Mets make the most sense. As I said above, I think Seattle will go for Ketel Marte. If they miss out on him, then their attention could turn towards Devers. The other major contender would be the New York Mets.
Devers has $211 million in salary attached to the 2027–33 seasons, some of it deferred. Steve Cohen can afford that even if the Giants only eat a little. They need to replace Pete Alonso's production; this would answer that.
10. Zach Neto, SS, Los Angeles Angels
My prediction → Los Angeles Angels (stays) · If traded → Los Angeles Dodgers
Feels like Zach Neto is criminally underrated. Three 5.0 bWAR seasons in a row? If he played for the Yankees, they would build a statue to him. Alas, he plays for the Angels. And although I believe we will be talking about him getting traded for the next few months, he will most likely stay with the Angels.
If, by some wild chance, he does get traded. My first guess would be the Los Angeles Dodgers. They could move Mookie Betts back to the outfield while keeping an elite defender at SS.