Swap season: 12 MLB players who could get traded this winter

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — It’s the time of the year when every MLB team is trying to fix its roster — trying to either build a contender for next season or extract value from its roster to help along a rebuild. Free agency means that teams will be spending millions upon million to fill their needs, but that’s not the only way for a team to improve its fortunes.

[Elsewhere: Follow the MLB winter meetings with our live tracker and don’t miss anything]

With the winter meetings starting this week and some of the top free-agent starting and relief pitchers already off the board, we could be in for a very active week of trades. To that end, we’ve assembled a dozen players who could very well be switching teams soon. Being on this list doesn’t mean they’ll be shipped away before the winter meetings end (or even at all), but they’re players who are being talked about, sized up and considered as the Hot Stove season bubbles on. 

The Stew’s Chris Cwik and Mike Oz look at a dozen trade candidates:

Aroldis Chapman, RP, Cincinnati Reds
The Reds aren’t going to contend next season, so there’s no reason for them to keep Chapman around. The 27-year-old is arguably the best closer in the game, and is only under team control for one more season. His lack of team control past 2016 could lower his price slightly, but the Reds should have plenty of clubs pounding down the door to pick up a closer of this caliber. In 319 career innings, Chapman has a 2.16 ERA and a ridiculous 42.9 percent strikeout rate. Due to his contract situation, Chapman is basically a hired gun. He’ll come in to help a contender, put up exception numbers and leave the following offseason. He makes a ton of sense of a contending club who is just a piece away from winning the World Series. In fact, the Dodgers were said to be working toward a deal Sunday, and the Astros, Nats and Cubs all would be a good fit if the Dodgers deal doesn’t happen. (Chris Cwik)

[Elsewhere: Jeff Passan’s ranks and tracks every MLB free agent]

James Shields, SP, San Diego Padres
With the top two starting pitchers off the market, the trade market may now open up for teams who aren’t exactly in love with Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake and the other top free agents. The Padres would, judging by the chatter we’ve heard recently, love to move Shields. He was one of the big free-agent acquisitions last season and didn’t exactly thrill in his first year in San Diego. He posted a 13-9 record with a 3.91 ERA, his highest since 2010. To his credit, he threw 202 innings, his ninth straight season breaking the magic 200 mark. But trading for Shields likely means taking on a lot of money, as the Padres are looking to unload a contract that will pay him $21 million over the next three seasons with a $16 million option for 2019. (Mike Oz)

Andrew Cashner, SP, Padres
San Diego could also very well move Cashner, who has been full of potential the last few years, but low on actually realizing that potential. He was 6-16 in 2015 with a 4.34 ERA. He did strike out 165 batters in 184 innings, though, and that, along the hope of turning him around, could make Cashner an alluring addition. Cashner is a free agent in 2017 and is projected to make $7 million in arbitration next season, so he’s significantly more cost-effective than Shields but would also require a bigger return. (Oz)

Andrew Miller, RP, New York Yankees
The Yankees just signed Miller last season, but he’s reportedly on the block. That’s probably because the Yankees have Dellin Betances waiting in the wings, and realize the reliever market could yield a nice return. The 30-year-old Miller is an elite option. He’s coming off a season in which he posted a 2.16 ERA, with 100 strikeouts, over 61 2/3 innings. Miller is owed $27 million over the next three years, and that could bring his price down. The upside is that the team acquiring Miller knows they are getting cost certainty, and elite production, moving forward. Long-term contracts for relievers can be risky, but Miller’s performance has been so dominant that it’s easy to see another club taking that chance. (Cwik)

Shelby Miller, SP, Atlanta Braves
The Braves, prolific traders at this point, have been dangling Miller out for the past few weeks. Depending on the day, they’re either actively shopping him, holding on to him or waiting to see what the trade market might bring. What does that really mean? Sounds like Miller could be had if the price is right. He’s young, talented and under team control until 2019. His 6-17 record in 2015 masks his actual ability. His 3.02 ERA is a better indication. He’s 25 and still getting better. All that considered, a team would have pay nicely to get him. But for a starting-pitching hungry team, it may not be out of the question. (Oz)

[Elsewhere: MLB’s gross revenue increases for 13th straight year, nears $9.5 billion]

Yasiel Puig, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
The Dodgers have a Puig problem, there’s no denying it at this point. He was an injured disappointment in 2015, which made the warts in their relationship more obvious. He’s talented but has baggage — whether we’re talking about his clubhouse presence or his off-the-field track record. When he was hitting around .300, those things are easier to look past. He hit .255 in 79 games last year, though again, he was battling injuries. Since the Dodgers have a logjam in the outfield, it would be easier to justify parting ways with Puig. His raw talent will make him an alluring addition, if the Dodgers actually do decide to move him. Their offseason is a question mark at this point, so they’ve got to be considering everything, especially what they can get for Puig. (Oz)

Jorge Soler, OF, Chicago Cubs
Though his first full season in the majors was somewhat of a disappointment, nearly every team would want to hold onto the 23-year-old Soler. But this is the Cubs we’re talking about here. The team has an embarrassment of riches in the lineup, and someone needs to go in order for them to find enough playing time for everyone. Soler is a season removed from being a consensus top-10 prospect on every list. He hit just .262/.324/.399 last season, but there’s plenty of room for growth. On top of that, he’s under team control through 2020. His combination of youth and promise should make him a desirable target for plenty of clubs. (Cwik)

Brett Gardner, OF, New York Yankees
Gardner has been rumored to be on the block for a couple weeks now, especially once the Yankees acquired Aaron Hicks, but the team has yet to pull the trigger. The 32-year-old should draw some interest, even though he comes with a few flaws. Gardner didn’t hit for as much power last season, but still walked at a good clip. He’s owed $37.5 million through 2018, but has an option for 2019 if he’s still producing. That’s no guarantee. Gardner is already 32, and players don’t tend to get better once they reach that point. Still, he can be a solid piece for another contending team provided they are willing to deal with his age and price tag. (Cwik)

Marcell Ozuna, OF, Miami Marlins
At this point, it doesn’t seem like a question of if the Marlins trade Ozuna, but when and to whom. He’s a 25-year-old who disappointed in 2015, hitting .259 with 10 homers 44 RBIs. In 2014, he hit 23 home runs and drove in 85 runs. Most importantly, though, he seems to have fallen out of favor with Marlins owner Jeffrey Loria. That gets the tradewinds blowing harder than any other fact. Ozuna isn’t a free agent until 2020 and isn’t even arbitration eligible until 2017, two factors that will appeal to teams looking for outfield help. (Oz)

A.J. Pollock, OF, Arizona Diamondbacks
Pollock had a legit breakout season in 2015. In his third full season in the big leagues, he hit .315 with an .865 OPS, 20 homers and 76 RBIs. He also played Gold Glove defense and earned some down-ballot MVP votes. Why would the D-backs trade him? Well, recent chatter indicates they might not, but that hasn’t stopped other GMs from calling. It was reported the Braves tried to land him for Miller. Mostly, the D-backs have shown us they’re willing to be bold by signing Zack Greinke. While that doesn’t mean they’d trade Pollock, we also have to look at them as a team that could surprise us. (Oz)

Ken Giles, RP, Philadelphia Phillies
The Phillies are in the middle of a rebuild, so it makes sense that they would consider dealing Giles. A team that is going to win 70 games next season probably doesn’t need an elite closer, thus making Giles expendable. Among all the relievers reportedly on the market, Giles is the youngest at age-25 and is under team control through 2020. He might not be as good as Chapman or Miller, but those factors could make him more desirable to certain teams. It’s not like Giles is a big downgrade from those guys either. He owns a 1.56 ERA over 115 2/3 career innings. (Cwik)

If the Red Sox are willing to eat some of his deal, a team might take the risk that Hanley returns to form after an injury-riddled season. He did hit .293/.341/.659 during the season’s first month. Then he ran shoulder-first into the left field wall and things started to go downhill. There’s also a chance that playing a more familiar position might take some pressure off him at the plate. It’s a risk, but Hanley has normally been an exceptional hitter when healthy.

More MLB coverage from Yahoo Sports:

– – – – – – –

Mike Oz is the editor of Big League Stew on Yahoo Sports. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter! Follow @MikeOz