usatoday
The question of whether to trade a cornerstone player or keep him for a playoff push is one that confronts almost every Major League Baseball team with aspirations of contention. For clubs in smaller markets or with limited financial resources, the dilemma is even more acute.
Sometimes efforts to sign the player to a long-term extension have failed. Other times, the organization believes it has a ready replacement climbing the minor-league ladder. Or perhaps the player simply doesn't share the front office's vision for the future. Any of these factors can prompt a team to deal an All-Star talent in the middle or latter stages of his six to seven years of club control.
This winter, a handful of such players will be the subject of trade speculation—or at least plenty of phone calls and text messages. Below is a look at seven National League players who could conceivably be traded in the coming months.
Elly De La Cruz, SS, Reds
This is the headliner. De La Cruz is halfway through his six years of service time before free agency, and in the first half of the Elly Era, he has already earned two All-Star selections, the adoration of thousands of young fans, and in 2026, a 30-30 season that included career highs in WAR (5.6) and OPS (.880). He will turn 25 in January.
Yes, he is a rare talent in a 6-6, 200-pound frame, but in his four seasons in Cincinnati, the Reds have won between 75 and 83 games, seemingly fulfilling ownership's vision of mediocrity. The 83-win season earned them a last-minute wild-card berth, which lasted about as long as it takes to get from downtown Los Angeles to Dodger Stadium.
Is there a plan to build around this franchise player? Or to rebuild by flipping him to a prospect-rich true contender? The answer would certainly add fuel to the impending lockout. As a Scott Boras client, the narrative suggests De La Cruz has been inclined to ignore contract extension overtures, ostensibly leaving the Reds powerless like so many lower-revenue clubs, fated to never win a World Series.
But there's one problem with that theory: The Brewers developed a Boras-client shortstop, signed him to an extension of at least eight years, and last month won a World Series with Cooper Pratt. So it can happen. Still, the clock is ticking on De La Cruz's time in Cincinnati, as well as the team's ability to construct a functional roster around him.
CJ Abrams, SS/2B, Nationals
Another winter, another round of Abrams speculation. The big question is whether president of baseball operations Paul Toboni will simply listen to offers for Abrams or initiate phone calls himself. In a 1,500-word letter to fans, Toboni reflected on the pleasantly surprising 77-win season, the emotional and tangible difficulty of trading good players at the deadline, and the paths ahead.
"Our progress in 2026 does not dictate what 2027 will bring," Toboni wrote. "We cannot assume that the same trajectory will continue. We must find new ways to improve, remain open-minded enough to challenge our own assumptions and hold ourselves accountable to the standards we are establishing. That is what my staff and I remain focused on."
That can certainly be interpreted several ways, though as usual, it sounds like the two-time All-Star infielder could be had for a good price. It doesn't hurt that Washington has a budding franchise shortstop and former No. 1 overall pick in Eli Willits bound for Double-A at 19, along with former first-rounder Seaver King at Triple-A and the speedy, defensively adept Nasim Nuñez at the big-league level.
Trading Abrams coming off an All-Star season—and a seemingly permanent switch to second base, though he toggled between middle infield spots—might be more palatable now than ever. Yet Toboni's regime might have to endure a gap year or two, as giving up a 33-homer, 34-steal player brings significant pain before the next wave is ready.
Brandon Marsh, OF, Phillies
It was a dizzying drop-off from one half to the next for Marsh, who tumbled from All-Star to a 90 adjusted OPS and became a symbol of the Phillies' offensive struggles. His .304 OBP is an easy target for a club looking to improve on its paucity of walks—ranking 10th in the NL and 17th in the majors.
Marsh, entering his final year before free agency, can be of use to a contending team, if only for his speed and baserunning, his serviceable defense, and the notion that a change of scenery might recapture some of his first-half magic. Marsh had a .319/.352/.530 line through July 1—and a .177/.241/.241 mark thereafter.
DL Hall, LHP, Brewers
No one is looking for trouble in paradise. There's a case to be made that the World Series champion Brewers run it back 24 to 26 strong, pending what happens with first baseman Jake Bauers, who was extended the qualifying offer. And Hall was terrific for the Brewers, posting a 1.91 ERA across 61 regular-season innings and adding six scoreless outings covering eight innings in their postseason run.
This is still Milwaukee, though, where the next chapter of sustained postseason existence must be written by players spun off from the current one. And Hall—who has battled injuries since he was a first-round pick in 2017—might be at the peak of his value as he enters his first season of salary arbitration. He'd be a fun and higher-leverage weapon for another contender, as he stacks up fourth in Milwaukee's bullpen barrage, taking a number behind Trevor Megill, Abner Uribe, and Aaron Ashby.
Fellow lefty Angel Zerpa figures to be back from Tommy John surgery before Summerfest officially kicks off winning time in Milwaukee. So a deal would make sense. It'd just be a bummer to break up the band before they absolutely must.
Ivan Herrera, C, Cardinals
A 26-year-old with a .353 OBP, a 111 adjusted OPS, and 20-homer power sounds pretty appealing. Throw in the fact that he can catch a little, and the intrigue increases. And top that with the fact that the catchers' room—as they might say in the NFL—is getting kind of crowded in St. Louis, and you can imagine the wheels spinning in the Cardinals front office.
Herrera is mostly a DH in their eyes now—he caught just 11 games in the final two months of the season—as Leo Bernal took over more of those duties. Pedro Pages is also around, and Rainiel Rodriguez, a consensus top-10 overall prospect, will be there soon. Herrera would be a great fit for a club that could use his right-handed bat at DH, badly needs his OBP acumen, and can toss him a couple of catching assignments every week or so. (Might want to review the Brandon Marsh item for a decent fit.)
Tommy Edman, 2B/CF, Dodgers
Let's start with the reasons why the Dodgers wouldn't trade Edman. They love their multi-positional Swiss Army Knives, and they're fresh out of Chris Taylors and Kiké Hernándezes. Edman provides security at several positions, including center field should Andy Pages get hurt again. And while the remainder of his contract is reasonable—roughly $39 million over the next three seasons, including a $3 million 2030 buyout—it's not exactly nothing for a guy who will turn 32 in May.
Ah, age. That's the thing: The Dodgers need to get younger. Perhaps it was the totality of three long playoff runs that rendered them a step slow and so punchless against Milwaukee in the NLCS, but everyone adds another year come 2027. And Edman was far removed from his playoff heroics of 2024 and '25, going 1 for 14 with one walk in eight games, five of them starts.
Meanwhile, Alex Freeland is lurking on the bench. The ultra-speedy and athletic Hyeseong Kim couldn't crack all the playoff rosters. And the on-base and power savant, Josue DePaula, is primed for close to full-time duty, gobbling up more plate appearances in the aggregate. This wouldn't be a blockbuster. The Dodgers would mostly be moving the money and the body, and might even pay down some of Edman's future salary. But Edman could still be of use for a contender that needs a steady and versatile veteran hand—while allowing the Dodgers a chance to peek at the future.
Ketel Marte, 2B, Diamondbacks
"Honey, can you grab the holiday decorations? No, they're under the stairs—right next to the bucket of Ketel Marte trade rumors." It's a winter tradition unlike any other. Marte has 10/5 rights and must approve any trade, but after a second consecutive year where Marte dipped on the D-backs, how bad would it be if they brought him back again? Certainly, they don't want to sell their best offensive player for 80 cents on the dollar.
And perhaps his value will drag not just because of his penchant for going AWOL but also because his OBP dipped to .316, lowest since 2016. His adjusted OPS tumbled from 147 to 107. Yet this is still a switch-hitting weapon who's averaged 28 homers a year since 2023 and still makes just $12 million in 2027. His price jumps to $20 million annually from 2028-30, but that's still plenty reasonable. So, fire up the cocoa and gather round. Perhaps Marte will finally come tumbling down another team's chimney.
Originally reported by usatoday.