<
>

Ten players who need to be traded

With more than two months left until spring training starts, many free agents remain on the board and plenty of interesting trade possibilities are still out there. Here are 10 guys who could end up on a new team before spring training:

1. Todd Frazier, 3B, Cincinnati Reds

The Reds have reluctantly admitted that they need a rebuild, but it's the right move. Cincinnati will not compete with the NL Central powers for at least a few more years, so it should be looking to move all aging assets. At this point, Aroldis Chapman will be difficult to trade and nobody wants Jay Bruce, so Frazier is the one guy the Reds have who can bring something of value, but reports say that they have been asking for first-born children in return. They need to be realistic: While he hit 35 home runs in 2015 thanks to a big first half, Frazier also posted a .309 OBP. Still, he has two years until free agency, so he's more than a one-year rental.

Contract status: $7.5 million in 2016, arbitration in 2017

Possible fits: Indians, Cardinals (as a first baseman), Padres, White Sox, Marlins (Update: Frazier was traded to the White Sox in a three-team trade involving the Dodgers)

2. Brandon Phillips, 2B, Cincinnati Reds

Yes, trading two fan favorites would be a difficult sell to the fans, but Phillips is coming off his best season since 2012 and has some value again, especially if the Reds pick up part of the $27 million remaining on his contract. The club also has a replacement ready to play second base in Eugenio Suarez. Phillips has 10-and-5 rights, so can veto any deal.

Contract status: two years, $27 million

Possible fits: Diamondbacks, Nationals, White Sox, Royals

3. Freddie Freeman, 1B, Atlanta Braves

Freeman is signed through 2021, so he can still fit into the team's long-term plans. But the Braves aren't going to be good in 2016 and are unlikely to be good in 2017 either, so you're realistically looking at 2018 at the earliest before they're competitive -- and that's assuming the young pitching they've acquired develops and they make some reinforcements on the free-agent market. By then, Freeman will be making $21 million. The main reason to trade him, however: He's not a superstar, even if Braves fans believe he is. His best season -- 2013, when he hit .319 -- appears to be a BABIP-driven fluke (.371 BABIP); otherwise, he's never even hit .290. Don't me get wrong: Freeman is a good player and his contract is fair, but unless he starts hitting .300 on a regular basis or increases his power output, he's not a huge star. Also: A lot of contending teams could use an upgrade at first base.

Contract status: 6 years, $118.5 million

Possible fits: Cardinals, Astros, Blue Jays, Red Sox, Angels, Indians

4. Nick Markakis, RF, Atlanta Braves

Signing Markakis last year didn't make sense and it doesn't make sense now to keep him through the remaining three years on his contract. His power vanished last season, when he had just three home runs. But he did post a .370 OBP, and there's value in that. His range in right field is limited and his arm probably isn't what it once was, but he won't kill you on defense.

Contract status: 3 years, $33 million

Possible fits: Royals, White Sox, Orioles, Tigers, Giants

5. Jorge Soler, RF, Chicago Cubs

Jason Heyward can certainly handle center field but shouldn’t the Cubs keep him in right field, where he'll save them 20 to 30 runs a year with his defense? Yes, Soler is a tantalizing talent -- as witnessed in the postseason, when he hit .474 with six extra-base hits (and six walks!) in 25 plate appearances -- but he has also been injury-prone, is a below-average defender and struggled against off-speed pitches in 2015. The Cubs would be a much better defensive team with Heyward in right and a true center fielder, which is why Soler to the Braves for Ender Inciarte makes sense. The Cubs would get the glove-first outfielder and the Braves could bank on Soler's power potential.

Contract status: Under team control through 2020

Possible fits: Braves

6. Jake McGee, LHP, Tampa Bay Rays

Rumors are already out there about McGee (and fellow reliever Brad Boxberger), but trading McGee makes the most sense: He has two years left until free agency, he's one of the best lefty relievers in the game, he's a power arm and teams are paying hefty prices for relievers. McGee did miss time at the start of 2015 after offseason elbow surgery and in September with a torn meniscus in his knee.

Contract status: Two years of team control, will make an estimated $4.5 million in arbitration for 2016

Possible fits: Dodgers, Astros, Twins, and just about every other contending team

7. Marcell Ozuna, CF, Miami Marlins

The Marlins have obviously soured on Ozuna, thus all the offseason rumors that he's on the block. Fine. Trade him, move Christian Yelich to center field and acquire some needed depth. Ozuna is cheap, he hit 23 home runs in 2014, he can play center field (although he is probably best suited to a corner) and maybe he would flourish outside Miami. Teams will have to pay to get him, but there's a lot of upside here for a guy who was worth 4.5 WAR in 2014. Plus, given his age (24), rebuilding teams would also be interested. If the Marlins fancy themselves sleeper contenders in 2016, they could flip Ozuna to the Reds in a deal for Frazier and shift Martin Prado to left field.

Contract status: Under team control through 2020

Possible fits: A's, Mets, Phillies, Indians, Orioles, Padres, Reds

8. Derek Norris, C/1B, San Diego Padres

The Padres now have two young catchers in Austin Hedges and Christian Bethancourt and they may want to play both over Norris, who isn't considered a strong defensive backstop. Trouble is, he may not have enough bat to play first base, after hitting .250/.305/.404 in 2015. But he'd be an interesting fit for a team willing to use him at both catcher and first base -- like Seattle, which needs a platoon guy for Adam Lind at first base and could use another catcher as well.

Contract status: Three years of team control, will make estimated $3.4 million in 2016

Possible fits: Mariners, Nationals, Indians

9. Tyson Ross, RHP, San Diego Padres

It's still unclear what the Padres are doing this offseason. Right now, they're caught in no-man's land, unlikely to be a playoff team but not bad enough to tank and get a top-five pick. If they decide to regroup and look past 2016, trading Ross is a good idea since he's two seasons from free agency. Many believe he's also a high injury risk given his delivery. With a 3.07 ERA/3.13 FIP over the past three seasons and an ability to limit home runs -- he has given up just 30 in 516 innings since 2013 -- he'd bring a nice return of young talent.

Contract status: Two years of team control, will make estimated $10 million in 2016

Possible fits: Cubs, Dodgers, Yankees, Astros, Cardinals

10. Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies

I wrote about him yesterday. He's interesting to contending teams who may not want to pay $100-plus million for Justin Upton or Yoenis Cespedes or something close to that for Alex Gordon.

Contract status: 2 years, $37 million

Possible fits: Cardinals, Nationals, Giants, Tigers, Angels