A week into June and teams are separating themselves from contention to rebuilding for next season and beyond. That separation is already starting. Jon Heyman of the New York Post reported Thursday that there’s as many as ten players who could be in the trade rumor mill. Heyman pointed out that a “major sellers’ market is predicted with all but a few bottom-dwellers having a case for contention”. Five teams will be sellers including the Miami Marlins, Chicago White Sox, Colorado Rockies, Los Angeles Angels and Oakland Athletics. A few teams like the New York Mets, Toronto Blue Jays, Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros are more on the buy-sell border.
Heyman did explain that the mix of sellers and buy-sellers results in a short list of stars being tradeable. He believes that Luis Robert Jr. and three other players have more than a 50 percent chance of being traded.
Examining 3 Player’s Chances of Being Dealt
Tyler Anderson, Los Angeles Angels
Only three teams are more than ten games out of Wild Card contention in either league. The Los Angeles Angels are one of those three. Starting pitcher Tyler Anderson will be one of the most sought-after players as he’s under contract control through next season. Anderson’s 3.3 WAR leaders all pitchers and sports a 2.47 ERA through 11 starts. Anderson has had quite the turnaround since signing a three-year, $39 million deal after his career year with the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2022. Others who could be dealt include Taylor Ward and Carlos Estevez, but general manager Perry Minasian is asking for giant returns. The Angels desperately need to rebuild what is the worst-in-baseball farm system.
Jesús Luzardo, Miami Marlins
Jesús Luzardo has two more years of team control through the end of the 2026 season. The New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Dodgers were all reported to have checked in on the left-hander. The 26-year-old made 32 starts last year with a 3.58 ERA and 208 strikeouts. Teams will line up for him- and for the remainder of the Marlins’ starters. One of them is likely on the move, whether it’s Luzardo, one of their other left-handers in Braxton Garrett, Trevor Rogers and Ryan Weathers, or right-hander Edward Cabrera, something is brewing in Miami. General manager Peter Bendix has been aggressive already, dealing Luis Arraez to the San Diego Padres in early May.
Kenley Jansen, Boston Red Sox
Kenley Jansen is a borderline Hall of Famer who surely wants to be on a contender. Jansen, 36, will be a free agent after the season. Over parts of two seasons in Boston, he has 38 saves in 43 opportunities, registering a 4-7 record with a 3.52 ERA and 73 strikeouts in 68 appearances. In Boston, Jansen hasn’t been the elite closer he since was earlier in his career. However, trade rumors continue to persist dating back to the offseason and Jansen has tried to block out the rumors. If the Red Sox fall further behind in the American League East and are behind in the Wild Card standings, Jansen will likely be pitching somewhere else. Could a reunion with the Dodgers make sense for both sides?
.@VeniceMase asks @alannarizzo if the Dodgers should bring back Kenley Jansen via trade.
Would you want to see Kenley back in Dodger Blue? pic.twitter.com/4EgcQKxhIT
— ESPN Los Angeles (@ESPNLosAngeles) May 31, 2024
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