usatoday
Major League Baseball's offseason has been thrown into disarray by the looming lockout, set to begin December 1. Front offices are under pressure to conduct significant business before the expected shutdown, all while facing uncertainty about the economic system that will be in place when operations resume. The possibility of a salary cap—even with a year to phase it in—would drastically alter the game's financial landscape.
Free agency carries its own risks, but trades offer a different avenue. Even swaps that aren't cash-neutral shouldn't hinder a team's long-term flexibility. With most clubs aiming for contention without dominance—24 of 30 teams finished with at least 75 wins—acquiring a player who fits better elsewhere is a sensible strategy. As the general managers meetings approach next week and the lockout looms, here are eight American League players who could be on the move.
Isaac Paredes, 3B, Astros
Paredes, a two-time All-Star who has hit between 20 and 31 home runs in each of the past five seasons, may be on his fifth team in seven years by 2027. The 28-year-old (as of February) offers power but is considered a below-average defender. With Carlos Correa expected back healthy, Houston has an infield logjam. Paredes is coming off perhaps his best all-around season, clubbing 25 homers and posting a career-high .360 on-base percentage while cutting his strikeout rate to a career-low 13.4%. The Astros exercised his $13.55 million club option for 2027, likely a bargain compared to what he'd earn in his final arbitration year. He is eligible for free agency after this season.
Bryce Miller, RHP, Mariners
Seattle's rotation is overflowing with talent. Despite trading Luis Castillo last year, the Mariners saw Emerson Hancock emerge with a 3.57 ERA in 25 starts, and rookie Kade Anderson debuted late and should be ready for a full season. Miller, 28, was limited to 21 starts due to an oblique injury; he started strong but faded in the second half, finishing with a 4.17 ERA and 4.41 FIP. While starting pitching is always in demand, Seattle is perpetually starved for offense. Miller is entering the second of four arbitration years, projected by MLB Trade Rumors to earn just $3.9 million in 2027, with two more seasons of club control. He's two years removed from a 180-inning campaign with a 2.94 ERA, making him a solid trade chip for a club with needs.
Griffin Jax, RHP, Rays
Jax is a quality pitcher entering his final season before free agency on a team known for maximizing assets before they depart. It would sting for Tampa Bay to move Jax after carefully developing him from a reliever into a starter who made 23 starts, threw 112 innings, and started the lone World Series game the Rays won. The club is also losing All-Star Nick Martinez to free agency, and new ownership might prefer to keep the good vibes from a solid AL pennant run. However, the Rays have likely already identified their next Martinez and their next Jax, and the original could fetch a decent return while aiding one of many pitching-needy clubs.
Jo Adell, OF/DH, Guardians
This would be a tough pill for Cleveland fans. Adell thrived after years in playoff-less Anaheim, playing a key role on the AL Central champion and league runner-up squad. He's currently slated for a full season of at-bats at DH and in the outfield, but the Guardians remain flexible. Adell's at-bats could go to rookie Petey Halpin, with the DH spot rotating among several players. Franchise stalwart Steven Kwan, also a free agent after this year, has been on the trade block before and could be again, but he's coming off a 5.3-WAR season and is more integral to the team's core. Most of the roster will stay intact.
Zach Neto, SS, Angels
The Angels often fly under the radar while talented players accumulate service time. Neto, with nearly four years of service, is entering the first of three seasons before free agency. The Angels' mini-teardown netted shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala, who has impressed since arriving from Toronto in the Jose Soriano deal. Neto smashed 27 homers and posted a 5.2-WAR season last year. He might be better suited for second or third base, but his bat would make a good team great. Would the in-limbo Angels pull the trigger? Perhaps after the lockout, once Stan Kroenke takes control and a GM is in place. But Neto would be in demand sooner.
Coby Mayo, 3B, Orioles
Infield injuries finally gave Mayo, a 24-year-old, 6-foot-5 power hitter, a chance to work through swing-and-miss issues. The results were tantalizing: 24 home runs in 412 at-bats, including 16 off lefties with a 1.105 OPS. Baltimore may again face an infield crunch with Jordan Westburg returning from Tommy John surgery and Pete Alonso locked in at first base for four more seasons. Trading five years of control of a potentially dominant power hitter is risky, but Mayo's ceiling might be a platoon DH role. The club needs outfield power and pitching help, making this an intriguing challenge trade.
Luis García Jr., INF, Yankees
García answered the call when the Yankees needed bats at the trade deadline with Aaron Judge sidelined. His OPS dipped from .873 with Washington to .736 in 43 games with New York, but he still posted a career-high 30 homers at age 26. The Yankees have the entire winter—and the lockout—to reconstruct their roster. By rule, they'll lose contact with Judge on December 1 as he recovers from a calf strain that kept him out of the playoffs. If all goes well, Judge returns to right field, Giancarlo Stanton is healthy, Ben Rice moves back to first base, and Paul Goldschmidt is re-signed as a right-handed complement. That would make García redundant, and his two-month cameo didn't exactly set the Bronx ablaze. He could be flipped to a team needing a first- or second baseman. With one year before free agency, the return wouldn't be huge, but he could help patch holes for a club losing relievers David Bednar and Paul Blackburn, infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr., and center fielder Trent Grisham to free agency.
Jarren Duran, OF, Red Sox
Duran has been a walking trade rumor for a couple of years, but this could be the winter he's moved. The 30-year-old is projected to earn $11.1 million through arbitration and is one of 17 arbitration-eligible Red Sox. Not all will be tendered contracts, but it's still a significant financial commitment. Duran's offense has declined sharply since he led the majors in doubles (48) and triples (14) and won All-Star Game MVP in 2024. He posted an .834 OPS that year, but it has since fallen to .774 and .627, with his 76 adjusted OPS last season well below league average. Yet Duran remains one of the game's best baserunners and ranks well in outs above average. He has two years before free agency, and an acquiring team could simply non-tender him if his bat doesn't rebound in 2027. Not a blockbuster, but an intriguing name to watch.
Originally reported by usatoday.