MLB Power Rankings: 10 best trade candidates this offseason

2. MLB Power Rankings: Guardians trade candidate Shane Bieber

Another member of the Guardians roster we could see traded this offseason is Shane Bieber. One of baseball’s best pitchers over the last few seasons and the 2020 American League Cy Young winner, Bieber finished this past year with a 13-8 record and 2.88 ERA. Equally as enticing, he reached 200 innings for Cleveland.

Bieber’s increased salary puts him in a spot where the Guardians may look to trade him in for a younger model or two or three. The club hasn’t shown any signs of having the willingness to spend big. Somehow, it worked well for them in 2022 as they made it one win away from reaching the ALCS.

We can look at Bieber as a trade and extend candidate for any team looking to replace a star pitcher. If Jacob deGrom leaves the Mets, look for them to make a deal for Bieber. The same is true with the Houston Astros and Justin Verlander. No prospect-rich team in need of an ace should be left out.

1. MLB Power Rankings: Angels trade candidate Shohei Ohtani

There is no trade candidate this offseason more powerful than Shohei Ohtani. The writing is already on the wall. Ohtani’s free agency comes after the 2023 season. The Los Angeles Angels will either need to trade him or extend him.

Ohtani rumors should highlight much of the offseason talk. It begins with this week’s MLB Power Rankings where he is the best trade candidate on the block this winter.

Any team that was in the mix for Juan Soto should pivot toward a deal for Ohtani. The St. Louis Cardinals are a good destination. So is any other organization willing to pay its players with a strong enough cache of prospects to deal away. You don’t trade for Ohtani this offseason without immediately extending him for about $400 million.