Nolan Arenado, Francisco Lindor Among Likely MLB Trade Candidates This Winter

This would have been the week for trade rumors to swirl.

Executives, managers, scouts and other personnel from all 30 Major League Baseball clubs were scheduled to begin the annual Winter Meetings on Sunday in Dallas.

However, like some many other things in life, the event has fallen victim to the COVID-19 pandemic. Instead, the meetings are being held virtually.

Thus, hundreds of baseball people, agents and media members will not be milling around a hotel lobby for four days and nights looking for any news they can find. It is that activity that churns the rumor mill.

Yet while there are no in-person meetings and the flurry of transactions that often comes with them, some big-name players will surely be traded between now and the beginning of spring training. Assuming there is a spring training, of course.

Here is a look at five such players:

NOLAN ARENADO, ROCKIES

Arenado signed an eight-year, $260-million contract extension prior to the 2019 season and it appeared the 29-year-old third baseman would be the Rockies’ anchor player well into this decade.

However, the Rockies went 71-91 in ’19 and 26-34 in the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Arenado is angry and feels general manager Jeff Bridich has not lived up to his end of the bargain by fielding a competitive team. Bridich says he has little payroll space because of Arenado’s contract.

While Arenado has won a Rawlings Gold Glove in each of his eight major league seasons and been selected to five All-Star Games, he will be difficult to trade.

Arenado has six years and $199 million remaining on his contract. He also has an opt-out clause following next season.

Yet the marriage has soured to the point that both sides probably need a divorce.

FRANCISCO LINDOR, INDIANS

Lindor is a realist.

When the 27-year-old shortstop was asked at the end of last season if the Indians had the money to sign him to a long-term contract extension, he said yes. He then quickly added that ownership was unlikely to spend that kind of money on a player.

Lindor is eligible for free agency at the end of next season. It is nearly impossible to imagine the Indians allowing him to play out the season in Cleveland then receiving only draft picks as compensation.

Lindor had the worst season of his six-year career in 2020, hitting .258 with eight homers while playing all 60 games. However, plenty of teams would be willing to trade for the four-time All-Star.

JOSH HADER, BREWERS

The Milwaukee Brewers left-hander is one of the game’s premier relief pitchers. He also cannot become a free agent for three more years.

Yet speculation persists throughout the industry that the Brewers will trade Hader this season. Having three years remaining of club control makes Hader attractive even to small- and mid-market franchises.

The Brewers would be selling high on Hader, who is seemingly entering his prime at 26. Though his 3.79 ERA last season was the worst of his four-year career, he led the National League with 13 saves and had 31 strikeouts in 19 innings.

For his career, Hader has a 2.54 ERA and 15.3 strikeouts per nine innings.

LANCE LYNN, RANGERS

The Texas Rangers shocked many in baseball by holding on to the right-hander at this year’s trade deadline. They were on their way to last-place finish in the American League West and conventional thinking had them cashing Lynn in for young players.

Durability and affordability are two of the 33-year-old Lynn’s best attributes.

His 84 innings pitched led the AL in 2020 after he worked 208 2/3 innings the previous season. His 2021 salary is a very affordable $9.3 million in the last season of a three-year, $30-million contract.

Perhaps a team will entice the Rangers to part with Lynn this winter.

BLAKE SNELL, RAYS

Trading the left-hander coming off a World Series appearance is just the type of bold move the Tampa Bay Rays make. And it is why they stay competitive despite sporting baseball’s lowest payroll.

Snell has three years and $40.8 million remaining on his five-year, $50-million deal. Taking on the 28-year-old’s contract would be palatable for most teams and would free up money for the Rays to spend on multiple players.

There is also concern that Snell might sour on the organization and manager Kevin Cash because of a controversial decision in the Fall Classic. The outspoken Snell was pulled in the sixth inning of the decisive Game 6 after allowing only one run and two hits and the Los Angeles Dodgers went on to the win the title.

The outspoken Snell was clearly upset by the decision and it might not be easily put aside when spring training opens.