Somebody save these stars from their teams.
The mood has been somber around Major League Baseball this week, as the news of yet another devastating injury to megastar Mike Trout has deprived the game of one of its most electrifying talents yet again. Trout is still tied for the MLB lead with ten home runs and was stealing bases like he was in his early 20s again, only to find himself on the injured list once again.
But the worst part of all this is that Trout has been fighting through all his various injuries to try and get back to playing for the Los Angeles Angels, a team with no hope of making a playoff appearance this year and no clear plan for the future. The injury kills any short-term hope of Trout being freed from those Angels via trade and robs us of seeing him playing meaningful baseball anytime soon.
So because we can’t see Trout rescued from the Angels right now, let’s do something productive instead. There are lots of other stars around MLB toiling away on dreadful baseball teams. Today, we identify those stars and their electric talents and make the case for why they deserve a trade, including where they would fit in best. These players may not even want to abandon the rebuilds they’re currently undertaking, but we’re not leaving them any choice in the matter.
Luis Arraez, Marlins 2B
After getting off to a sluggish start in 2024, the two-time defending batting champion is back to his usual tricks. Luis Arraez had a pair of hits in the Miami Marlins’ series finale win over the Colorado Rockies, raising his season batting average back up to .299.
In an era dominated by larger-than-life sluggers, it’s incredibly fun to have a bat control wizard like Arraez punching balls through the middle every day. But it’s not fun having him stuck on a team that’s 9-24 even after their first series sweep of the year. And it hurts even more to see his old team, the Minnesota Twins, winning every game they play and parading around a summer sausage after home runs while he withers away in front of some of the smallest crowds in MLB.
So although sending Arraez back to the Twins is tempting, we need a better fit from a lineup perspective. Fortunately, there’s a team constantly looking for production from its second basemen, a team that leads all of baseball in strikeouts right now and yet still finds itself in first place in the division. Yep, it’s time to ship Luis Arraez to the Seattle Mariners.
Luis Robert Jr., White Sox CF
Sure, Luis Robert Jr. is on the injured list right now, but he’ll be back eventually and we’ll have to endure the pain of watching a tremendous ballplayer play for the most hopeless, directionless franchise in baseball once again. There’s even a chance the White Sox actually do trade Robert this season, purely because their window for contention is so far in the future that it isn’t remotely possible he’ll be around when it happens.
A Silver Slugger in 2023 and the 12th-place finisher in AL MLB MVP voting, Robert could fit in a lot of lineups. But there’s a team out there desperate for both right-handed power and a center fielder and Robert is the best possible medicine. Luis Robert Jr., YOU are a St. Louis Cardinal.
It almost makes too much sense. The Cardinals are clearly trying to hold on for one last ride with the current core group of position players and so far, veterans like Paul Goldschmidt and Nolan Arenado have let them down. They’ve had a million outfielders the past few seasons, but none have been able to stay fully healthy or produce at an elite level offensively. And if it doesn’t work out this season, they can deal Robert next year before his free agency arrives. It’s the right time for all involved.
Ryan McMahon, Rockies 3B
And we have our first HR of the Mexico City Series! 🇲🇽
Ryan McMahon. 459 ft.
Something tells me this won’t be the last homer we see
— Shawn Spradling (@Shawn_Spradling) April 27, 2024
McMahon is off to a torrid start to 2024, with a 149 OPS+ and 1.4 bWAR, putting him among the most valuable third basemen in all of MLB. It’s a position that typically boasts a lot of star power, but many of the usual suspects aren’t performing this season, plus there’s one playoff-hopeful team in particular with an obvious hole at the hot corner that McMahon could fill in a heartbeat.
We’re sending Ryan McMahon to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he’d take over for the combination of Isaiah Kiner-Falefa and Ernie Clement. It never made any sense that the Jays never attempted to re-sign Brandon Belt and now, their lineup is brutally thin on left-handed sluggers. Bringing in a solid third base defender in McMahon who could smash some balls out of Rogers Centre would instantly make Toronto more of a threat in the loaded AL East.
Bryan Reynolds, Pirates OF
Bryan Reynolds was one of the hottest trade candidates being thrown around in the offseason before 2023, right up until the Pirates gave him an eight-year extension. But long-term commitments be darned because the Pirates are back to bottoming out again after a hot start to 2024. And even though Reynolds’ contract was the largest in Pirates history ($106 million total value), it’s still exceptionally team-friendly.
As a switch-hitter with great plate discipline, Reynolds fits in a lot of MLB lineups. Since his diminishing defensive metrics limit him somewhat to left field duties, Reynolds is a good fit in Toronto as well, but we just sent Ryan McMahon there. But there’s a young team that doesn’t draw enough walks out there that has itself surprisingly in playoff contention early this season and that team is the Kansas City Royals.
The Royals have MJ Melendez in left most days right now, but he profiles as a good enough thrower that he could move to right with ease. That would allow K.C. to put Hunter Renfroe in more of a platoon role and not have to depend on Adam Frazier to wear an outfielder’s glove ever again. And Reynolds would lengthen the Royals’ lineup tremendously, allowing the middle of the order in Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez to do more damage.
Tyler Anderson, Angels SP
Tyler Anderson is lagging. pic.twitter.com/vkckTiDZ8V
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) May 1, 2024
For our last pick, let’s go with a bit of a wild card. Since Trout is out indefinitely and can’t be included in the exercise, it feels fitting to trade one of his Angels teammates. Reid Detmers and Taylor Ward are strong candidates as well but Tyler Anderson has shockingly been the most valuable player on the entire team this season and with the way his last two years have gone, it’s best he leaves the Halos as soon as possible.
In 2022, Anderson was a legitimate MLB All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers, putting up a 2.57 ERA in 178.2 innings. Then he went across the freeway to the Angels and had a 5.43 ERA in 141.1 innings, going from one of the best teams at developing pitchers to one of the worst. So as exciting as his 2.23 ERA in his first six starts is, Anderson should be begging to get away from the Angels before it’s too late, especially because his elevated FIP suggests regression is due.
So for Anderson’s sake, let’s send him back to a team known for getting the best out of the talent they have in their starting rotation—the Cleveland Guardians. With Shane Bieber done for the season, the Guards are still short on innings and clearly, they’re going to be competitive in the AL playoff hunt all summer long. Cleveland could get the best version of Anderson while Anderson gets to play baseball that matters again. All sides win big.
