There is no doubt that Mike Trout is one of the best players in all of baseball but based on his age and pending free agent status his trade value isn’t nearly as high as it was just a few years ago. Trout will almost definitely leave the Los Angeles Angels at the end of the season and while he could deliver a career season in a contract year the fact that he won’t be under his current team’s control for much longer means he will not be on the following list. Here is a look at five best trade assets in Major League Baseball right now.
3B: Kris Bryant, Chicago Cubs
Bryant is undoubtedly the top trade asset on our list as he combines talent, potential, youth and an ideal contract for a player of his caliber. Bryant posted an .858 OPS with 26 home runs and 99 RBI to win National League Rookie of the Year honors in 2015 and he followed it up by producing an even better 2016 season in which he delivered an .939 OPS with 39 home runs and 102 RBI along with 121 runs scored. Bryant did all of this at the plate while thriving defensively as well splitting time between third base and the outfield. The 25-year-old is the complete package and with one more pre-arbitration season and five total years of team control left there is no better trade asset in baseball right now.
SS: Corey Seager, Los Angeles Dodgers
Seager tops the list of shortstops in terms of valuable trade assets following his monster season with the Dodgers in 2016. Seager hit .308 with 40 doubles, 26 home runs, 72 RBI and 105 runs scored while posting a ridiculous 6.1 WAR and capturing Silver Slugger honors in addition to finishing third in NL MVP voting. Seager was also better defensively than expected as he had a 0 DRS and an 11.1 UZR/150. Combine his incredible abilities with the fact that he is still just 22-years-old and has two years remaining pre-arbitration and it’s clear he is one of the best trade assets in the game right now.
SS: Francisco Lindor, Cleveland Indians
Right behind Seager is another shortstop in Lindor, who delivered an .794 OPS with 30 doubles, 15 home runs, 78 RBI, 99 runs and 19 stolen bases in 2016 while playing at an elite level defensively. Lindor will never be a power hitter but his defensive ability makes up for any potential cap on his hitting ability as the 23-year-old took home his first gold glove in 2016 and added Platinum Glove honors as the top defensive player in the American League. Lindor’s postseason numbers solidified his position on this list as he hit .310 with two home runs in 62 plate appearances while helping Cleveland reach the World Series. He might be a notch below Bryant and Seager but he definitely deserves a spot on this list.
SS: Carlos Correa, Houston Astros
Correa hit .274 with 36 doubles, 20 home runs and 96 RBI in 2016 while posting a 5.9 WAR. While his numbers didn’t improve the way so many experts predicted following his incredible rookie season he still performed at an outstanding level while improving his walk rate from 9.3 to 11.4 percent with a more patient approach at the plate. Correa isn’t as dominant defensively as Lindor but he can absolutely mash and at 21-years-old he has already set the bar extremely high. Correa is still under control of the Astros for another five years including pre-arbitration for the next two so he is definitely an elite trade asset.
OF: Mookie Betts, Boston Red Sox
New York Mets starter Noah Syndergaard and Los Angeles Angels outfielder Mike Trout were both considered on this list but we gave the edge to Betts based on his age, contract status and potential. There is no doubt that Trout is the best all-around player in the game but Betts is a closer contender for that distinction at a younger age and with a longer term under his current team’s control. At 24-years-old, Betts posted a ridiculous 9.6 WAR last season while hitting 31 home runs with 42 doubles and 26 stolen bases to finish second in MVP voting. He is also an elite defender in right field that led all outfielders with 32 DRS to claim his first Golden Glove award. Betts has one less year of team control than the other four players on this list or he likely would have been at the top of it in terms of the best trade assets in baseball right now.
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