MLB Power Rankings: 10 best trade candidates this offseason
By Tim Boyle
8. MLB Power Rankings: Guardians trade candidate Amed Rosario
Who needs Francisco Lindor when you have Amed Rosario? He has been a very productive member of the Cleveland Guardians over the last two seasons since being acquired from the New York Mets. Although far from one of the elite shortstops around the game, he’s young and has seemingly been a perfect fit for them.
Unfortunately, Rosario is getting closer to free agency and another year of arbitration eligibility will push his contract higher than the Guardians would like to see. Andres Gimenez is the obvious replacement at shortstop. This makes Rosario a piece they can deal to get younger in another area.
Rosario would be a good fit for a team looking to upgrade up the middle but is unwilling to target one of the big free agents. He might even end up more suitable for second base. A trade to the San Francisco Giants can ensure they at least one of their middle infield positions—until they sign Trea Turner and guarantee both are better.
7. MLB Power Rankings: Athletics trade candidate Sean Murphy
The only reason why Oakland Athletics catcher Sean Murphy isn’t higher on this list is that he’s still with the team. It would have made a ton of sense for them to deal him in last winter’s fire sale. He somehow survived it. Finding enough matches in a trade for a catcher can be tough. Just ask the Chicago Cubs when they were shopping Willson Contreras at the deadline.
Murphy’s value increased quite a bit with his 2022 performance. He hit much better and should no longer be thought of as a plus defender with a weak yet sometimes powerful bat. He slashed .250/.332/.426 for the A’s while adding 18 home runs and driving in 66.
This year will be Murphy’s first as an arbitration-eligible player. This means that the A’s will have to make him a millionaire or trade him first. The Cardinals might not make as much sense depending on how they feel about prospect Ivan Herrera. The nearby Giants, might. So will the Boston Red Sox and the Cubs if Contreras is gone for good.