MLB Hot Stove: The best trade partners for rebuilding White Sox's top players
Chris Sale and Adam Eaton have been traded away. Other veterans should go as well
By
Mike Axisa
•
6 min read
At the Winter Meetings, the White Sox finally took the plunge and became sellers. General manager Rick Hahn was given the green light to move veterans for prospects, so he traded Chris Sale and Adam Eaton in separate deals that landed the White Sox their Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 9 and 10 prospects, according to MLB.com.
With Sale and Eaton gone, it only makes sense for Hahn and the White Sox to keep going and trade the rest of their veterans. Chicago does still have some quality veterans to peddle despite a 78-84 record in 2016. The cupboard isn't bare. Let's try to find the best trade partner for each of the White Sox's remaining veterans.
Best fit: Mariners
Other fits: Orioles, Indians, Yankees, Rangers, Astros
A sluggish start to the season dragged down Jose Abreu's overall numbers -- he hit .272/.326/.403 in the first half and .319/.384/.514 in the second half -- but he remains a top-tier power hitter who is under team control as an arbitration-eligible player through 2019. The Mariners have an opening at first base and have expressed a desire for another right-handed bat, making Abreu an obvious fit. An AL club is the logical landing spot since they'll be able to give Abreu the opportunity to DH on occasion.
Best fits: Blue Jays
Other fits: Orioles, Rangers, Giants, Phillies
There is one year at $15 million left on Melky Cabrera's contract, so while he's not cheap, he could play himself into a qualifying offer should he repeat his .296/.345/.455 effort from 2016. The Blue Jays have maybe the worst outfield in baseball (on paper) at the moment and Melky would be a clear upgrade in one of the corner spots. Plus he spent two years in Toronto and knows the lay of the land.
The Giants have an opening in left field, though I don't think a reunion would actually happen. Not after the whole failed performance-enhancing drug test/left off the postseason roster thing in 2012. The Phillies are an intriguing option. They've already brought in a pair of veterans with one year left on their contracts ( Howie Kendrick, Pat Neshek) and could do it again with Melky, giving themselves a better shot at respectability and also a potential midseason trade chip.
Best fit: Dodgers
Other fits: Nationals, Mets, Indians, Rangers, Astros, Mariners
Todd Frazier is only under control for one more season as an arbitration-eligible player, so he's a rental, not a long-term piece. The Dodgers are currently without a third baseman and seem to be hoping to re-sign Justin Turner, but if they don't do that, Frazier is an obvious Plan B. His right-handed power -- only Nelson Cruz (127), Edwin Encarnacion (115), Josh Donaldson (107) and Mike Trout (106) have hit more homers than Frazier (104) among righties since 2014 -- and ability to play the two corner infield spots mean plenty of contenders could find room for him on the roster.
Best fit: Orioles
Other fits: Rangers?
It was very surprising when the White Sox did not non-tender Avisail Garcia earlier this month. He's projected to make more than $3 million through arbitration, which is an awful lot to pay for a below-average hitter and well-below-average defender. Garcia has been close to replacement level his entire career. He will not be easy to move. The O's could use him at DH and, well, that's about it. Of all the players in this post, I would say Garcia is least likely to be traded because he has so little value and a hefty salary.
Best fit: Padres
Other fits: Yankees, Mariners, Angels
Miguel Gonzalez is a perfectly capable back-end starter. Sexy? No. Serviceable? Sure. You could do a lot worse for your No. 4 or 5 starter. As it stands, the Padres project to have one of the worst rotations in history and Gonzalez would help solidify things. He would also be a decent midseason trade piece after pumping his value in pitcher-friendly Petco Park. Gonzalez won't change the balance of power in a pennant race, but he will hold down a back of the rotation spot capably.
Best fit: Dodgers
Other fits: The other 28 teams
Nate Jones is one of the most unheralded great relievers in baseball. He had a 2.29 ERA with 80 strikeouts and 15 walks -- three of the 15 were intentional -- in 70 2/3 innings in 2016, his first full season back from Tommy John surgery. Also, his contract guarantees him $5.85 million from 2017-18 and includes three club options. If all the options are exercised, Jones will earn $21.65 million from 2017-21. Goodness.
Jones is so good and so affordable that he makes sense for pretty much any team. Even a rebuilding club could acquire him now with the idea of having him be part of their bullpen when they're ready to contend two or three years down the line. The Dodgers, who have bullpen depth but no truly dominant reliever, make the most sense. Even if they re-sign Kenley Jansen, Jones would make a wonderful setup man.
Brett Lawrie
2B
Best fit: Dodgers
Other fits: Reds?
There aren't may logical landing spots for Brett Lawrie, who underwhelmed this past season (.248/.310/.413) and actually agreed to a pay cut in 2017. He'll earn $3.5 million next year after making $4.125 million in 2016. That's close to the maximum pay cut allowed for an arbitration-eligible player in the collective bargaining agreement. The Dodgers have openings at second and third base, Lawrie's two best positions, so they're the best trade fit by default. The White Sox might be stuck with Lawrie.
Best fit: Astros
Other fits: The other 28 teams
Is Jose Quintana still the most underrated pitcher in baseball? He was an All-Star this past season, so I guess that disqualifies him from being underrated. Still, Quintana is seventh among all pitchers in WAR over the past four seasons. He's just ahead of Madison Bumgarner and Felix Hernandez. Yeah. Add in an incredibly team-friendly contract -- Quintana is owed $37.85 million from 2017-20, assuming the two club options in his contract are picked up -- and you have one very valuable asset.
The Astros have been connected to Quintana the most -- the White Sox reportedly asked Houston for Joe Musgrove and top prospects Francis Martes and Kyle Tucker during trade talks -- and that make sense. They have perhaps the biggest need for a top of the rotation starter among contenders, and they've already been very busy improving their offense. Quintana would be a huge upgrade over rotation candidates like Musgrove and Mike Fiers. A huge, huge upgrade.
Best fit: Nationals
Other fits: Dodgers, Yankees, Mets
Given the massive contracts being handed to relievers nowadays, the two years and $25 million left on David Robertson's deal don't seem so bad. He was an elite performer as recently as 2015. The Nationals need a closer after failing to re-sign Mark Melancon, and hey, they've already had a bunch of trade talks with the White Sox this winter. The groundwork has already been laid. Chicago is familiar with the Nats' farm system.
Best fit: Marlins?
Other fits: Rays?
Gosh, I'm not sure any team would be willing to take on James Shields at this point. He had a 6.77 ERA in 22 starts and 114 1/3 innings with the White Sox after coming over from the Padres, and there have been red flags in his performance for years. On the bright side, the Padres are eating $11 million of his $21 million salary in each of the next two years, so Shields is effectively on a two-year, $20 million contract. That's not too bad in this market.
The Marlins have already added Edinson Volquez and Jeff Locke this offseason, though they could still use another starter. Owner Jeffrey Loria has a thing for big names, especially big names available at a discount, and Shields certainly qualifies. As for the Rays, well, that's just a guess on my part. Maybe Tampa Bay would be interested in bringing Shields back as rotation filler should they trade two or three starters this offseason. Otherwise, I'm not sure where he could end up.
