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A frenzy of activity at the annual MLB winter meetings and in the days and weeks since has left the free-agent market close to picked clean.
Jurickson Profar, Michael Conforto, Trey Mancini and Jean Segura are among the top position players still looking for new homes, while Nathan Eovaldi, Corey Kluber and Michael Wacha are among the top pitchers still on the market.
For expected contenders that have been relatively quiet in free agency or that still have major holes to plug on their rosters, the focus will now shift to the trade market, and there are some intriguing names that are potentially available.
Ahead we’ve built seven blockbuster trade proposals for teams that still have significant needs, and these will be the players and teams to monitor in the coming weeks as we head into 2023.
Liam Hendriks to the San Francisco Giants
To SF: RHP Liam Hendriks
To CWS: IF Tommy La Stella, OF Vaun Brown, RHP Mason Black
The San Francisco Giants have made a few splashy moves in free agency, but they have yet to do anything of substance to upgrade a bullpen that ranked 20th in the majors with a 4.08 ERA.
Camilo Doval, John Brebbia and Tyler Rogers were a solid trio, but the rest of the relief corps is up in the air. Adding another proven late-inning option would go a long way in solidifying what was a weakness in 2022.
This trade package would rid the Chicago White Sox of the $29.3 million still owed to Hendriks while also plugging the hole at second base with Tommy La Stella. His $11.5 million salary in 2023 also helps to balance the scales financially.
The big return pieces for the White Sox is outfielder Vaun Brown, who hit .346/.437/.623 with 24 doubles, 23 home runs, 75 RBI and 44 steals in 103 games while reaching Double-A in 2022. Right-hander Mason Black rounds out the package after posting a 3.21 ERA with 136 strikeouts in 112 innings between Single-A and High-A last season.
The Giants shore up their bullpen, while the White Sox land a second baseman and add two top-10 caliber prospects to their farm system.
Alek Thomas to the Tampa Bay Rays
To TB: OF Alek Thomas
To ARI: IF/OF Vidal Bruján, LHP Mason Montgomery
The Arizona Diamondbacks have been known to be shopping their surplus of outfielders all offseason, and the Tampa Bay Rays are a potential fit for an upgrade in center field. Trade-deadline pickup Jose Siri fits best in a fourth outfielder role where his offensive game is not overexposed.
Alek Thomas was a bit overmatched at the plate in his first big league action, but he still managed 1.4 WAR in 113 games thanks to his stellar defense (6 DRS, 5.0 UZR/150). The No. 32 prospect in baseball at the start of the 2022 season, Thomas hit .313/.389/.499 in 1,403 plate appearances over four minor league seasons, so there is still a wealth of untapped upside offensively.
In return, the D-backs get a versatile former top prospect in Vidal Bruján who could benefit greatly from a change of scenery and a pitching prospect on the rise in Mason Montgomery.
Bruján has top-of-the-scale speed and an advanced hit tool, but he has yet to receive an extended look in the majors and has struggled in limited action while shuttling back and forth to Triple-A.