MLB Trade Rumors: 5 trade bait names to keep an eye on
By Josh Hill
![SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 25: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during a game against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, February 25, 2018 at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) SCOTTSDALE, AZ - FEBRUARY 25: Madison Bumgarner #40 of the San Francisco Giants pitches during a game against the Chicago Cubs on Sunday, February 25, 2018 at Scottsdale Stadium in Scottsdale, Arizona. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/d032282c291d9a21a1e0120c0e87c5ea0985dc3688dc0937870a28878107f858.jpg)
It once seemed like the Chicago White Sox would build its future around Jose Abreu. That’s still not a wholly untrue statement, although any future the Sox have will be one built with prospects they get in an Abreu trade. With the season lost — and probably the next one too — Chicago needs to move on from their first baseman while he’s a desirable asset.
A team like the Dodgers could plug Abreu in an effort to turn their miserable season around. He won’t be a guy the offense runs through, but adding his bat to an already established lineup — like the one in Los Angeles — could go a long way when the time comes in October. That’s when anyone trading for Abreu is going to hope he pays off because he’s not a guarantee to stay in 2019. He’ll have his third round of arbitration and will be officially eligible for unrestricted free agency in 2020. But anyone making a deal with him will have to pay close to his $13 million salary next season or work out a long-term deal.
Still, when he’s playing his best ball it’s hard to argue against Abreu being exciting. He’s never been to the postseason which is exposure we all deserve and could remind us of why we loved him so much during his Rookie Of The Year season back in 2014.