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Baseball fans everywhere are on the edge of their seats for spring training to begin, especially with just one football game left to pass the time.
Yet we’re already looking ahead at the big names who could be available by the trade deadline this year.
Free agency was fun, and the offseason trade market had its moments. But the trade deadline is its own level of entertainment given what’s at stake during the season and how much better we’ll know the teams by that point.
So, let’s take a look at the 10 MLB stars most likely to be on the trade block by this year’s deadline.
C.J. Cron, Colorado Rockies
Why He’ll Be Dealt: Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reported he Rockies have listened to offers for Cron, who will make $7.25 million in his final season before becoming an unrestricted free agent.
It makes sense to get something for Cron before he leaves in free agency, especially considering the expectations have to be low in Colorado right now.
On top of this, the Rockies have 24-year-old Michael Toglia, who they likely want to see more of at first base.
The Rockies should go all-in on the youth movement, even if they feel more comfortable with an established power bat in the lineup like Cron’s.
Who He Can Help: The Tampa Bay Rays need a first baseman after trading Ji-Man Choi, and the Rays’ lack of thump in the lineup has always separated them from other contenders.
It is worth noting the drastic difference in Cron’s home/road splits. He slashed .303/.354.601 with 22 home runs and 75 RBI at Coors Field last year, as opposed to .214/.279/.340 with seven homers and 27 RBI on the road.
His numbers at Tropicana Field are somewhere in between (.248/.333/.451 slash line with 13 home runs in 309 plate appearances).
Corbin Burnes, Milwaukee Brewers
Why He’ll Be Dealt: Burnes’ name has been floated as a legitimate trade candidate for months by some of baseball’s top insiders.
As arguably baseball’s best pitcher since moving into Milwaukee’s rotation midway through the 2020 season, any team serious about winning should check on Burnes’ status with the Brewers.
The two sides are headed for arbitration to determine a salary this year for Burnes, who’s previously expressed disappointment with the lack of extension talks.
Who He Can Help: The Los Angeles Dodgers. Again, any contender would be smart to pursue a deal for Burnes, who won the NL Cy Young Award in 2021 after leading the NL in strikeouts and ERA.
Adding Burnes by the deadline would be like the free-agent move the Dodgers failed to make this offseason.
The addition of Noah Syndergaard and a healthy Dustin May to start the season will help the Dodgers stabilize a rotation that was among the NL’s best last year.
But trading for Burnes is their best way to match up with the New York Mets signing Justin Verlander and losing Trea Turner to the Philadelphia Phillies. Other NL teams have gotten better while the Dodgers have seemed content mostly staying the same.