The MLB postseason will run through November 2 at the latest, which means that the 2024-25 offseason will start sometime in the next two weeks.

It's a good time, then, to get up to speed with likely trade candidates from around the league.

We've identified one player from each team who's a good bet to move this winter. Some have already been reported as trade chips. As for others, well, let's just say that neither "speculation" nor "educated guess" misses the mark on how they ended up on the list.

The players you'll encounter here are mostly established major leaguers, but there are also a few prospects sprinkled among them. In both cases, the arguments for and against trading them have been considered, along with potential suitors.

We'll be taking this one team at a time, starting with the one that no longer identifies itself with a particular city.

Note: All 2025 arbitration projections are courtesy of MLB Trade Rumors.

The Athletics: LF Miguel Andujar

The Case for Moving Him

Both Brent Rooker and JJ Bleday got enveloped in trade buzz during the summer, but the A's stuck to their guns about not wanting to move either of them.

Though they also held onto Miguel Andujar, he looks like the best candidate of the three to move this winter. Whereas Rooker (DH) and Bleday (CF) are locked into starting jobs, Andujar is slated to be more of a platoon hitter next year.

That his 2024 season was bookended by meniscus and core muscle surgeries is less than ideal for his trade value, but the 29-year-old could appeal to clubs in need of a bat-to-ball hitter, as he hit .285 and struck out only 42 times in 75 games.

The Case for Keeping Him

Though Andujar doesn't necessarily look like a starter right now, that could change if the A's non-tender Seth Brown. That would be a fair play, as his projected $3.8 million salary is a bit much for a guy with a .676 OPS over the last two seasons.

Potential Fits: Kansas City Royals, Atlanta, Cincinnati Reds

Arizona Diamondbacks: LHP Jordan Montgomery

The Case for Moving Him

Diamondbacks owner Ken Kendrick didn't mince words in looking back on the decision to sign Jordan Montgomery in the first place:

The D-backs' $25 million investment in Montgomery yielded a 6.23 ERA this season, so one can hardly blame Kendrick for his saltiness. But if the lefty exercises (as he likely will) his $22.5 million option for 2025, the Snakes will have a dilemma on their hands.

Rather than keeping the 31-year-old, the best thing for everyone would be a trade that would give him a fresh start elsewhere. The D-backs would presumably have to eat some of his 2025 salary to facilitate a deal, but likely not the entire sum.

The Case for Keeping Him

Despite Kendrick's comments, there is abundant upside in Arizona simply holding on to Montgomery. He didn't exactly enter 2024 in a position to hit the ground running. He will in 2025, which could mean a return to the ace-caliber pitcher he was in 2023.

Potential Fits: Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Angels, New York Mets

Atlanta: RF/DH Jorge Soler

The Case for Moving Him

Atlanta has already decided to pick up Marcell Ozuna's $16 million option for 2025, which is both the right call and an entryway to a tricky situation.

Ozuna and Jorge Soler, who will also earn $16 million next season, can't both be the club's DH. The latter can technically play right field, but his defensive metrics present a strong argument for why he never should.

Soler, 32, had a hit-or-miss sort of year, but he ended strong with an .849 OPS after coming from the San Francisco Giants in July. When coupled with the 36 homers he blasted in 2023, he should be marketable as a potent power bat.

The Case for Keeping Him

Soler would not have been needed in Atlanta if Ronald Acuña Jr. hadn't torn his ACL, but that happened and it's not year clear whether the 2023 NL MVP will be recovered in time for Opening Day. As such, he is worth holding onto as an insurance policy.

Potential Fits: Kansas City Royals, Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox

Baltimore Orioles: 1B Ryan Mountcastle

The Case for Moving Him

The Orioles had all the trappings of a trade-deadline buyer in July, so it was a surprise when they were reported to be willing to listen on Cedric Mullins and Ryan Mountcastle.

It's conceivable that Baltimore's ears will be open on both again this winter. Arbitration is starting to make them a little pricey, with Mullins projected for $8.7 million and Mountcastle for $6.6 million. Meanwhile, the O's have a surplus of bats and a shortage of arms.

What makes Mountcastle seem especially expendable is how poorly his right-handed swing fits at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. Teams with more welcoming home parks could see that and covet the 27-year-old as a relatively affordable power source.

The Case for Keeping Him

Who's on first for the Orioles if Mountcastle gets traded? Potentially top prospect Coby Mayo, but his professional experience is mostly at third base. And while Ryan O'Hearn will still be there in 2025, his left-on-left splits basically nix the thought of everyday playing time.

Potential Fits: Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers

Boston Red Sox: RF Wilyer Abreu

The Case for Moving Him

Between Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran, Triston Casas, Wilyer Abreu, Masataka Yoshida and David Hamilton, the Red Sox have an unhealthy number of left-handed hitters.

Predicting that one of them will get traded this winter is a layup, but harder to determine is which one should go. For example, trading Casas would allow for a potential move to first for Devers. There's otherwise a solid argument for selling high on Duran.

On the other hand, Abreu is only 25 and his club control runs through 2029. He's a valuable asset just on those terms, which is to say nothing of how he had a solid .781 OPS and outstanding defensive metrics as a rookie this season.

The Case for Keeping Him

Top prospect Roman Anthony could be the next man up if the Red Sox trade Abreu, but that would require assuming he's ready for The Show after just 35 games at the Triple-A level. It would also mean replacing a left-handed hitter with...a left-handed hitter.

Potential Fits: Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, Cleveland Guardians

Chicago Cubs: OF Kevin Alcántara

The Case for Moving Him

When looking ahead to 2025, it's hard to see daylight for Kevin Alcántara to find playing time in the Cubs outfield.

Ian Happ and Seiya Suzuki will be there to man the corners, and it sure looks like center field belongs to Pete Crow-Armstrong. He might already be the best defensive center fielder in MLB, and he finished this year strong offensively with an .816 OPS in 51 games.

There's little harm in the Cubs putting the 6'6", 188-pound Alcántara out there and seeing what they can get. If a team did offer an established power bat for the 22-year-old, the Cubs could understandably see it as an opportunity worth taking.

The Case for Keeping Him

The alternative here, of course, is to make Suzuki's season-ending DH duties permanent and thus open right field up for Alcántara. It's not the worst idea, as Suzuki is limited defensively and Alcántara has ample upside on both sides of the ball.

Potential Fits: Cleveland Guardians, Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Dodgers

Chicago White Sox: LHP Garrett Crochet

The Case for Moving Him

In case anyone needs a quick recap of a complex story, Garrett Crochet seemed as good as gone at the trade deadline right up until he tried to leverage the situation to his advantage.

That involved threatening to sit out the postseason if he didn't get a contract extension from his new team. An empty threat? Almost certainly. But it effectively killed his market all the same.

The White Sox are nonetheless sure to try to trade Crochet again this winter. He's a hugely valuable asset, as he's an All-Star who's only 25 and under club control through 2026. And after a 121-loss season, the White Sox need prospects a lot more than they need an ace pitcher.

The Case for Keeping Him

There really isn't one. To think the White Sox might contend before Crochet's time runs out would require a delusional degree of optimism. And unlike Luis Robert Jr., they wouldn't be selling low on Crochet if they move him this winter.

Potential Fits: Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Mets, Baltimore Orioles

Cincinnati Reds: 2B Jonathan India

The Case for Moving Him

Jonathan India was a hot trade chip even last winter, when he was coming off back-to-back down seasons after winning the NL Rookie of the Year in 2021.

It's therefore only natural that the 27-year-old's value was said to be increasing as the trade chatter was ramping back up during the summer. The Reds kept him and got a .750 OPS out of the decision, but it's still easy to imagine them changing course this winter.

There will likely be a market for India, and the Reds can see him as part of a surplus. Even if they move him, they'll still have Elly De La Cruz, Jeimer Candelario, Ty France, Spencer Steer, Noelvi Marte, Matt McLain and Christian Encarnacion-Strand in their infield mix.

The Case for Keeping Him

India may be one of many infielders in Cincinnati, but he stands alone for the leadership role he plays these days. It's tough for a team to lose guys like that, least of all when said team is looking to make a move up the standings after a 77-85 season.

Potential Fits: New York Yankees, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels

Cleveland Guardians: 1B Josh Naylor

The Case for Moving Him

If the Guardians are at least willing to listen on Naylor this winter, it wouldn't be for the first time. He was briefly the subject of trade rumors last winter as well.

The 27-year-old went on to hit 31 home runs and rack up 108 runs batted in this season, so keeping him was clearly the right call. But it may not be a call the Guardians make again, as his projected $12 million salary for 2025 is a bit steep by their standards.

Cleveland figures to be especially tempted if a team is willing to part with a starting pitcher to land Naylor. And with Kyle Manzardo ready to take over at first base, it's not as if he's irreplaceable.

The Case for Keeping Him

The Guardians aren't in an ideal position to subtract anyone from their lineup, let alone a slugger with 30-homer power. Their offense ultimately barely kept up at the end of the regular season and has mostly struggled in the playoffs.

Potential Fits: Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, New York Yankees

Colorado Rockies: RHP Cal Quantrill

The Case for Moving Him

The Rockies should be open to offers for Ryan McMahon and Brendan Rodgers this winter, but both figure to be kept under the club's protective loyalty blanket.

Cal Quantrill, on the other hand, stands to get squeezed out of Colorado's rotation if Germán Márquez and Antonio Senzatela are fully healthy next spring. He's also projected to make $9 million, which is a pretty price for a spot starter/long reliever.

Ordinarily, a Rockies pitcher with a 4.98 ERA wouldn't have much in the way of trade value. But it was only two years ago that the 29-year-old Quantrill pitched like a top-of-the-rotation starter in Cleveland, and getting back there could be as simple as scrapping his sinker.

The Case for Keeping Him

If the Rockies can't trade Quantrill first, it's possible they'll choose to non-tender him so they don't have to pay him $9 million. But if they keep him, it'll be because they rightfully concluded they can't spare any pitching.

Potential Fits: Kansas City Royals, Toronto Blue Jays, Texas Rangers

Detroit Tigers: 1B Spencer Torkelson

The Case for Moving Him

Would the Tigers really trade Spencer Torkelson just four years after taking him with the No. 1 pick in the draft?

It ought to be unthinkable, but then you remember that the guy who drafted Torkelson got fired in 2022. That was also a rough year for the 25-year-old himself, and he's largely continued failing to carve out a place for himself in the club's future.

Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris comes off as seeming unsure of what to do with Torkelson. Yet even if trading him isn't his first instinct, you have to wonder if a market could develop for him. Disappointing returns notwithstanding, he's still young and not even eligible for arbitration until 2026.

The Case for Keeping Him

The real question here is what Torkelson is even worth at this point. Probably not much, as right-handed-hitting, right-handed-throwing first basemen with negative WAR for their careers aren't what you'd call valuable commodities.

Potential Fits: Arizona Diamondbacks, Pittsburgh Pirates, Boston Red Sox

Houston Astros: LHP Framber Valdez

The Case for Moving Him

Astros general manager Dana Brown isn't explicitly saying he'll need to trim salaries this winter, but it sure sounds like he'll have to do just that:

To this end, Framber Valdez stands to make $17.8 million via arbitration next year. It's far from a bad rate for a pitcher of his stature, but the Astros could do a lot (i.e., re-sign Alex Bregman or add bullpen pieces) if they set that money free.

There's also the reality that Houston is relatively well off with starting pitching. Even if you subtract Valdez, they still have Hunter Brown, Spencer Arrighetti and Ronel Blanco and Luis Garcia and Lance McCullers Jr. returning from injuries.

The Case for Keeping Him

The 30-year-old Valdez is a two-time All-Star with a 3.08 ERA in 112 starts dating back to 2021. It's hard to part with pitchers like that, and especially on purpose just for the sake of saving money.

Potential Fits: Atlanta, Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets

Kansas City Royals: RHP Brady Singer

The Case for Moving Him

The Royals know they need to deepen their offense around Bobby Witt Jr. The only question is how they'll do it.

If they're really feeling ambitious, they could take the free-agency route to Alex Bregman or Anthony Santander. Yet it's easier to imagine the Royals opting for the trade market, which is where Brady Singer could come in.

The 28-year-old has been a solid mid-rotation type in two of the last three seasons, but really nothing more. He thus could have more value to the Royals on the trade market, where his durable arm and club control through 2026 could attract suitors with bats to offer.

The Case for Keeping Him

Singer is an interesting trade chip, but is he so valuable as to be worthy of the kind of impact bat the Royals need? One doubts it, in which case the best place for him in 2025 will be back in Kansas City as part of an elite run prevention machine.

Potential Fits: Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Cincinnati Reds

Los Angeles Angels: LF Taylor Ward

The Case for Moving Him

Even after a 99-loss season, Angels owner Arte Moreno wants to contend in 2025. So much so that he's willing to raise payroll.

Yet you can rest assured teams will be calling about the veterans the Angels have left, and arguably the most valuable of those is Taylor Ward. He's been a consistently above-average hitter for four years now, and he's fresh off leading L.A. with 25 homers.

The 30-year-old is controlled through 2026, with his salary set to rise to $9.2 million in 2025. It's a fair amount, yet it's also $9.2 million more than Moreno could commit to a free agent if a team makes a fair offer for Ward.

The Case for Keeping Him

If the Angels do indeed mean to contend in 2025, they can ill afford to lose any bats from an offense that ranked 13th in the AL in scoring this season. And as such, they would be better off simply trying to add rather than looking to subtract and then add.

Potential Fits: Atlanta, Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins

Los Angeles Dodgers: C Diego Cartaya

The Case for Moving Him

The Dodgers have had a consistent habit of trading prospects for stars under president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman, so expect more of the same this winter.

Yet even if both are ostensibly blocked by Will Smith, catching prospects Dalton Rushing and Diego Cartaya may not be equally expendable. Notably, the former was reportedly not part of negotiations with the White Sox concerning Garrett Crochet in July.

Whereas Rushing is still a well-regarded prospect who can also play left field, Cartaya's stock has fallen and he's a catcher all the way. He's not worth a star on his own, but he's probably the best bet to end up in a package for one if the Dodgers make a trade.

The Case for Keeping Him

The Dodgers would be selling low on Cartaya if they were to trade him now, as he's off top-100 lists entirely after climbing as high as No. 14 for MLB.com in 2023. As he's still only 23 years old, it could be worth the team's while to be a little more patient.

Potential Fits: Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, Tampa Bay Rays

Miami Marlins: LHP Jesús Luzardo

The Case for Moving Him

There was some speculation during the summer that the Marlins could make a winter trade candidate out of 2022 NL Cy Young Award winner Sandy Alcantara, but it got shut down:

It's hardly a given that the Marlins will look to trade Jesús Luzardo instead. He had oodles of value after a strong 2023 season, but less so now after a brutal 2024 campaign that resulted in him getting shut down early with a bad back.

The 27-year-old might nonetheless be a trade candidate during the spring if he shows he's healthy in Grapefruit League play. Impact trades aren't common around that time of year, but it was notably in mid-March that the Dylan Cease deal went down.

The Case for Keeping Him

Trading Luzardo during the spring would get the Marlins out of paying his projected $6 million salary for next year, but it's not like that's a lot of money. A better play may be to let his value-rebuilding tour continue into the season and hopefully move him at the deadline.

Potential Fits: San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles

Milwaukee Brewers: RHP Devin Williams

The Case for Moving Him

The Brewers traded Josh Hader and Corbin Burnes shortly before free agency was beginning to beckon for the pair, so why wouldn't they do the same for Devin Williams?

General manager Matt Arnold has already spoken about needing to be "open-minded" in this regard, and Williams' trade value may be too great not to cash in. As a two-time All-Star with a career 1.83 ERA, he's arguably the best reliever in baseball.

As nice as it would be to have the 30-year-old back in the bullpen in 2025, it could be even nicer to have whatever players he might bring back. To this end, the Brewers could aim to swap him for starting pitching or a bat.

The Case for Keeping Him

Unlike Hader and Burnes, the Brewers already know what Williams is going to cost them in his final season before free agency. They hold a $10.5 million club option on him, which isn't a bad deal at all from the team's perspective.

Potential Fits: Texas Rangers, Philadelphia Phillies, Arizona Diamondbacks

Minnesota Twins: C Christian Vázquez

The Case for Moving Him

Even if they won't necessarily be cutting payroll again this winter, indications are that the Twins won't be raising payroll either.

This could mean that for every piece they add, a piece will have to be subtracted. And if so, it's hard to think of a more expendable salary than the $10 million Christian Vázquez is due to make next year.

His OPS for the last two seasons is a mere .587, and the emergence of Ryan Jeffers means the Twins no longer even need him as an everyday presence behind the dish. Even if it's only in a bad-contract swap, they don't stand to lose much by trading Vázquez.

The Case for Keeping Him

Though the loss of the 34-year-old's bat wouldn't be lamented, Twins pitchers could miss pitching to Vázquez. He's a significantly better framer than Jeffers, and he's generally known for calling a good game as well.

Potential Fits: San Diego Padres, Houston Astros, Texas Rangers

New York Mets: 3B Brett Baty

The Case for Moving Him

Brett Baty looked like the Mets' third baseman of the future once upon a time, but it seems fair to say Mark Vientos beat him to the punch.

It's therefore understandable that teams were calling about Baty during the summer, and you can bet the phone will be ringing again this winter. He is, after all, still just 24 and only a year removed from ranking 21st on MLB.com's prospect rankings.

It would certainly be in the Mets' interests to shop Baty for starting pitching. Because with Sean Manaea, Luis Severino and José Quintana set to hit free agency, three big holes are about to open up in the rotation.

The Case for Keeping Him

As good as Vientos is offensively, there are questions about his ability to stick at third base defensively. The Mets may want to keep Baty around in case certain forces (i.e., Pete Alonso leaving in free agency) require Vientos to move elsewhere on the diamond.

Potential Fits: Seattle Mariners, Pittsburgh Pirates, Detroit Tigers

New York Yankees: OF Spencer Jones

The Case for Moving Him

The Yankees reportedly had chances to involve Spencer Jones in trades for Corbin Burnes and Dylan Cease, but didn't take either one.

That's an "oof" right there, but the Yankees seem to have learned their lesson. As Andy Martino of SNY said in August, "there's been a slight" shift on the team's attitude toward trading the 23-year-old:

Jones didn't raise his stock by whiffing in 37 percent of his plate appearances for Double-A Somerset this season. All the same, 6'6", 235-pound outfielders with obvious power are always good for a few looks when they're on the trading block.

The Case for Keeping Him

Jones played his way out of top-100 territory this season, so the Yankees would be selling low on him if they move him this winter. And with Juan Soto and Alex Verdugo set for free agency, they're not in an ideal position to subtract outfielders anyway.

Potential Fits: Chicago White Sox, Miami Marlins, St. Louis Cardinals

Philadelphia Phillies: 3B Alec Bohm

The Case for Moving Him

The Phillies made the World Series in 2022, but back-to-back years of diminishing returns have raised the question of whether changes need to be made.

Multiple players stand out as potential trade candidates to this end, but none quite like Alec Bohm. He endured a brutal end to his 2024 season after an All-Star first half, and questions about his composure just keep finding new ways to resurface.

The Phillies would dodge a projected $8.1 million salary for 2025 if they were to trade the 28-year-old. It's not a ton of money, but it could nonetheless go toward upgrades for the bullpen or the outfield.

The Case for Keeping Him

The tricky part is that Bohm is the best right-handed hitter the Phillies have after Trea Turner. Even if he'll likely never be more than a 20-homer hitter, he's been good for roughly a .280 average in each of the last three seasons.

Potential Fits: Detroit Tigers, Houston Astros, Seattle Mariners

Pittsburgh Pirates: RHP Braxton Ashcraft

The Case for Moving Him

The Pirates should be ready to make a play for contention after a 76-86 season, and there isn't any question that they need bats to make it happen.

You can rule the Bucs out of making an impact in free agency, though, which means it's trade market or bust if they want to add a hitter (or hitters) with any kind of heft. To this end, their best hope involves leveraging their surplus of young arms.

The injury-prone, yet talented Braxton Ashcraft is in that sweet spot of not being Paul Skenes, Jared Jones or Bubba Chandler, but still placing within MLB.com's top 100. He's thus an ideal centerpiece for the kind of trade the Bucs should be looking to make.

The Case for Keeping Him

As nice as trading Ashcraft for a hitter sounds, does it really sound nicer than him being in the same rotation as Skenes, Jones, Chandler and Mitch Keller? With a group like that, the Pirates could look to be the Seattle Mariners of the National League.

Potential Fits: Boston Red Sox, Baltimore Orioles, Cleveland Guardians

San Diego Padres: RHP Jason Adam

The Case for Moving Him

The Padres loaded up at the trade deadline, which was good for their contention prospects but bad for their farm system. B/R's Joel Reuter ranked it at No. 28 at the end of the season.

If the team wants to add some pennies back to the jar, so to speak, it can look to leverage its surplus of talented relievers on the trade market. And with Jason Adam, they could look to make a deal that would add prospects and save money.

The 33-year-old is projected to earn $5.3 million in 2025. It's a steal in context of his 2.12 ERA over the last three seasons, but the Padres would be better off if they were able to put that money toward a new deal with noted Shohei Ohtani vanquisher Tanner Scott.

The Case for Keeping Him

The Padres, arguably, had the best bullpen in baseball after they loaded up at the trade deadline. Breaking it up isn't necessarily the best idea under any set of circumstances, but perhaps especially not for the mere sake of adding a prospect or two.

Potential Fits: Houston Astros, Philadelphia Phillies, Boston Red Sox

San Francisco Giants: RF Mike Yastrzemski

The Case for Moving Him

With Buster Posey now at the wheel in the front office, the Giants would seem to be headed toward transitional offseason.

If so, it would be a good idea to move on from Mike Yastrzemski. Though he's spent the last six years as a reliably above average (i.e., a .779 OPS) for the Giants, he's also 34 years old and standing in the way of young guys who deserve an opportunity.

Further, he is projected to earn $9.5 million in 2025. Though far from an outrageous sum, it's not quite a steal for a platoon outfielder who doesn't offer much on defense or on the basepaths.

The Case for Keeping Him

After ranking 10th in the National League in scoring, the Giants should be looking to add bats, not subtract them. And even if young guys such as Luis Matos and Grant McCray offer more upside in the abstract, Yastrzemski's sheer reliability isn't something to take for granted.

Potential Fits: Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners

Seattle Mariners: RHP Logan Gilbert

The Case for Moving Him

If the Mariners must trade from their starting pitching surplus to add a much-needed bat, who should be the one to go? Ask five different people, and you might get five different answers.

Yet the logic of trading Logan Gilbert would be straightforward: The Mariners would be selling high and avoiding an arguably even more uncomfortable parting of ways down the road.

According to Adam Jude of The Seattle Times, "there has been little discussion about a long-term deal" between Gilbert and the Mariners. He isn't due for free agency until after 2027, yet his trade value can perhaps only go lower while his contract demands can only go higher.

The Case for Keeping Him

Gilbert, 27, is coming off his first All-Star season in which he led the majors with 208.2 innings and a 0.887 WHIP. If the Mariners want to have it both ways, they'll keep him and simply sign the hitter they're looking for.

Potential Fits: Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers

St. Louis Cardinals: RHP Sonny Gray

The Case for Moving Him

No speculation is required here, as Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported in September that the Cardinals are planning to shop Sonny Gray this winter.

This is only a year after he signed a three-year, $75 million deal with the Cardinals, but that was under a different leadership structure and before the 34-year-old embarked on an up-and-down season that included some time on the injured list.

The only question is what the Cardinals would want to accomplish with a trade of Gray. They might simply want to dump his contract. But if they also want talent back, chances are they'll have to eat some of it.

The Case for Keeping Him

Though the Cardinals are clearly in a transitionary phase, they also finished second in the NL Central at 83-79. There isn't a huge leap from where they are now to October, so why would they make it bigger by trading their best pitcher?

Potential Fits: San Francisco Giants, Atlanta, Los Angeles Dodgers

Tampa Bay Rays: 1B Yandy Díaz

The Case for Moving Him

It seemed like a certainty that Yandy Díaz would join the line of outgoing Rays players at the deadline, but he ultimately stayed put.

As the Rays aren't in an ideal position to subtract hitters after ranking second-last in the AL in scoring, it's possible that the 33-year-old will still be around come 2025. But they always have to be mindful of their payroll, for which his $10 million salary is a conundrum.

That salary would be a steal if Díaz hit .330 with 22 homers like he did in 2023. But that year is also a clear outlier, and the 177-point drop in his OPS from 2023 to 2024 raises the question of whether they should move him now before he ages further out of his prime.

The Case for Keeping Him

Per Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, the trades the Rays made over the summer amounted to $45 million in savings for 2025. As such, maybe they don't need to veer into deliberate cheapness by trading Díaz

Potential Fits: Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, Detroit Tigers

Texas Rangers: 1B Nathaniel Lowe

The Case for Moving Him

With gaping holes in both their rotation and their bullpen, the Rangers will need to be in the market for a whole bunch of pitching this winter.

It would help to have as much money as possible for these pursuits, and it so happens that the Rangers could free up as much as $10.7 million by trading Nathaniel Lowe.

That is his projected salary for 2025, and whether he's worth that much is debatable. Though the 29-year-old has a Silver Slugger and a Gold Glove to his name, his bat has fallen below first base standards as he's produced a modest .769 OPS over the last two seasons.

The Case for Keeping Him

The Rangers know from 2023 that even a relatively offensively challenged first baseman like Lowe can be part of a championship-winning club. And unless they were to sign Pete Alonso or Christian Walker, they'd be hard-pressed to upgrade on Lowe anyway.

Potential Fits: Detroit Tigers, Arizona Diamondbacks, San Francisco Giants

Toronto Blue Jays: SS Bo Bichette

The Case for Moving Him

This is another case where no speculation is necessary, and that is again thanks to reporting from Bob Nightengale of USA Today.

He wrote in August that the Blue Jays are "expected to entertain trade offers" for Bo Bichette, who "has no plans" to stay as a free agent after the 2025 season. Indeed, he may have signaled as much by only selling out his arbitration years with his current contract.

The timing could be better for the Blue Jays, as the 26-year-old had a lost 2024 season in which he managed just a .598 OPS in 81 games. But as a two-time All-Star who figures to be motivated in 2025, he's an intriguing trade alternative to Willy Adames in free agency.

The Case for Keeping Him

Alternatively, what if the Blue Jays went for it one last time in 2025? As disappointing as this year was, they'll have postseason upside next season if Bichette gets back to helping Vladimir Guerrero Jr. carry the lineup.

Potential Fits: Atlanta, San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers

Washington Nationals: RHP Kyle Finnegan

The Case for Moving Him

It wouldn't be surprising if the Nationals acted more like buyers this winter, but they could do that and still be justified in trading Kyle Finnegan.

Though he ultimately didn't go anywhere, the 33-year-old righty was trade bait at the deadline. He's now heading into his final season of arbitration-eligibility before he can file for free agency at the end of 2025.

Finnegan is otherwise projected to earn $8.6 million next year. If the Nationals did offload him, that money could only help them if they really wanted to make a splash with, say, Alex Bregman or even a reunion with Juan Soto.

The Case for Keeping Him

If the Nationals are going to contend in 2025, doesn't it behoove them to make sure their bullpen has a capable closer? Finnegan has been exactly that for two seasons now, saving 66 games and posting a solid 3.72 ERA.

Potential Fits: New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Toronto Blue Jays

Stats courtesy of Baseball Reference, FanGraphs and Baseball Savant.