Baseball Trades
10 bold predictions for the MLB offseason
via The Score Staff
Another major-league season is in the books as teams gear up for the winter. With less than 24 hours to go until the start of free agency, here are 10 bold predictions for the 2016 offseason:
Cubs trade Schwarber for a star young pitcher
The Cubs don't want to trade Schwarber - especially not after his remarkable return in the World Series - but they may have to part ways with their young hitter in order to bring in another quality arm thanks to a logjam of outfielders.
Jason Heyward's contract is still on the books, so he's not movable, and even if Dexter Fowler doesn't come back, there should be enough already there to help cover the loss of Schwarber. Out of that logjam, it's Schwarber who will bring back the most right now and be the easiest to move. If they can entice one of the AL East teams into giving up a quality arm, for instance - Aaron Sanchez? Roberto Osuna? Chris Archer? - it could be enough to convince the Cubs to trade their star now.
When the Cubs dangle Schwarber, though, you can be sure that 29 other teams will be making phone calls, and the Cubs will get a very worthwhile and large return for his services. - SSG
Giants break $60 million for Chapman
The Giants had a legitimate chance against the Cubs in the NLDS, but they were undone by a lack of quality late-relief arms. After their bullpen collapsed for four runs in the ninth in Game 4, general manager Bobby Evans didn't pull any punches about looking for a closer in the offseason, and there's no better option than the same one who slammed the book shut on their postseason hopes than Aroldis Chapman.
With the Cubs looking to keep the key pieces of their squad together, it'll take a ludicrous bidding war, but the Giants will have their closer in 2017. - JS
Nationals, Desmond reunite
Ian Desmond, who famously rejected a seven-year, $107-million extension offer from Washington in 2014, was forced to settle for a one-year pillow contract with the Rangers last winter, having played himself out a multi-year deal (and his position) in 2015.
As it happens, though, his season in Texas went swimmingly - installed in center field, Desmond managed 3.3 WAR with 22 homers and 21 steals - while the Nationals watched Danny Espinosa eke out a .684 OPS as their primary shortstop. Absence makes the heart grow fonder, right?
Watch the estranged 31-year-old return to D.C. in 2017 and take over either at shortstop or in center, with Trea Turner playing whichever position Desmond doesn't. - JB
Bautista signs with Texas, becomes teammates with Odor
Jose Bautista joining the Rangers would instantly become the storyline of the offseason for obvious reasons (see bat flip of the 2015 ALDS and the Rougned Odor punch heard 'round the world). The Rangers' outfield for 2016 is set, but the team has a void at DH, and who better to fill the vacancy than Bautista, whose flair for the dramatic is well-known. One of the best athletes in Toronto Blue Jays history leaving to join a hated adversary will be tough to swallow for fans, but with his time in Toronto likely done, Bautista's arrival in Texas will immediately turn him from villain to hero. - LC
Pirates start rebuild by trading McCutchen
With the powerhouse Cubs residing in the same division, Pirates GM Neal Huntington recognizes his team's window to contend has closed and packages away his most tradeable asset in McCutchen in an attempt to accelerate the rebuild.
While still among one of the game's best outfielders, McCutchen did show signs of slowing down last season, and the Pirates would be wise to trade him sooner than later in order to maximize a return. With two years, $28.75-million remaining on his deal, the Pirates would have no shortage of suitors for the 29-year-old. - BW
Encarnacion bolts for the Big Apple
After the most productive season of his career, and despite a constant sales pitch from the retiring David Ortiz, Edwin Encarnacion will leave behind the Blue Jays in favor of the division-rival New York Yankees, burning the Boston Red Sox in the process. The 33-year-old Dominican will bring his 42 home runs and 127 RBIs to a Yankees offense that finished in the bottom half of the league in both categories. - BM
Orioles land Cespedes
The Yoenis Cespedes sweepstakes are on, and general managers are ready to fork out the cash. While it would be expected for the Giants, Red Sox, or Nationals to dish out the big bucks, it'll be the Orioles who come out of nowhere to make the biggest splash. Cespedes is the biggest bat on the market, and a batting order comprised of Chris Davis, Manny Machado, Adam Jones, and Cespedes would make for one of baseball's most daunting gauntlets. - GH
Angels go all-in
Without a single Top 100 prospect, the Angels are finally realizing it makes no sense at all to stand idly by with the best baseball player in the world playing center field. Their trade for Cameron Maybin was only a sign of things to come. Tired of being the ugly sister in Los Angeles, the Angels will sign either Jeremy Hellickson or Ivan Nova, before also landing an A-list second baseman like Neil Walker immediately after. - JS
Eric Thames returns to crush it in MLB
Over the last three seasons in Korea, outfielder Eric Thames put up superhuman numbers, belting 127 home runs to go along with 379 RBIs, which included a .381/.497/.790 slash line in 2015. Someone in need of an outfielder (Orioles, Blue Jays) could sign the 29-year-old to at least a minor-league deal, and he'll end up paying big dividends for whoever gives him a shot at success once again in MLB. - BM
White Sox trade Sale
Despite the crazy premium contenders were paying for pitching at the 2016 trade deadline, the White Sox, unwilling to concede, opted to hang onto Chris Sale. The 27-year-old left-hander owns a career 3.00 ERA (135 ERA+) and will make just $28 million over the next three years.
After finishing below .500 for a fourth straight season, though, and with no pitcher even close to as valuable as Sale available in free agency, general manager Rick Hahn will bite the bullet and start the rebuild, in earnest, by shipping Sale to Boston or Los Angeles or Washington for a clown car full of prospects. - JB
Predictions were written by Jonah Birenbaum, Lucas Casaletto, George Halim, Bryan Mcwilliam, Simon Sharkey-Gotlieb, Jonathan Soveta, and Brandon Wile.