MLB Trade Rumors: Giancarlo Stanton, Dodgers, Cubs In 2017 Offseason News

Some of the best players in baseball could be dealt during the 2017 MLB offseason. With teams gearing up for a title run in 2018, trade rumors are beginning to heat up less than two weeks after the Houston Astros won the World Series.

Giancarlo Stanton, Chris Archer and Zach Britton are three top names that could be traded at the right price, according to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals are reportedly among the teams interested in making a splash this fall or winter.

No trade would shake up the MLB landscape like one involving Stanton. The Miami Marlins outfielder is the favorite to win the NL MVP award, having led the majors with 59 home runs and 132 RBI. The organization is trying to shed payroll under new ownership, and one way to do that would be by getting rid of the most lucrative contract in American sports history.

Stanton has a base salary of $25 million in 2018. He’ll make $26 million for each of the next two seasons, followed by two straight years of $29 million in salary. Stanton is set to make $32 million a year from 2023-2025.

Despite the hefty price tag, seven teams have reportedly asked Miami about Stanton’s availability. According to Heyman, the Cardinals and San Francisco Giants are considered to be the favorites to land the MLB home run leader.

MLB’s other Florida-based team, the Tampa Bay Rays, could also be swayed to trade one of their best players. Tampa Bay is at least “listening” to offers for Archer, among others.

Archer won’t win any awards for this past season, but it was just two years ago when he finished fifth in voting for the AL Cy Young award. The 29-year-old is signed to an incredibly team-friendly deal, and he can’t choose to become a free agent until after the 2021 season, during which he’ll make $8.25 million.

Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton finished fourth in the AL Cy Young voting in 2016 with one of the best individual seasons a closer has ever put together. He wasn’t as effective in 2017 when he battled an injury, and the Orioles could trade Britton to avoid paying the reliever close to $13 million in his final year of arbitration.

Britton’s name has been in trade rumors before. He was almost dealt to the Astros at July’s deadline, and the Dodgers almost dealt for him before their run to the World Series. Heyman reports that both L.A. and the Cubs could make a play for Britton this offseason.

Chicago is in need of a closer now that Wade Davis has become a free agent. Los Angeles still has Kenley Jansen in that position, but adding Britton would make the Dodgers’ bullpen even more formidable. After dominating the regular season and the National League playoffs, the Dodgers lost the World Series in part because their bullpen blew leads in Game 2 and Game 5.

Chris Sale, Wade Davis and Adam Eaton were all traded last offseason.