Luis Arraez and 4 other MLB stars who need trades to be free of terrible teams

Once again, it’s a case of a great big-league player on an awful team, and when it’s the Colorado Rockies that player plays for, often people are skeptical about the ability of that player to stay productive away from Coors Field. And although that may indeed be a concern for Ryan McMahon, the eight-year Rockie deserves a shot to play for a team with a prayer of competing for a postseason spot.

McMahon is off to a torrid start to 2024, with a 149 OPS+ and 1.4 bWAR, putting him among the most valuable third basemen in all of MLB. It’s a position that typically boasts a lot of star power, but many of the usual suspects aren’t performing this season, plus there’s one playoff-hopeful team in particular with an obvious hole at the hot corner that McMahon could fill in a heartbeat.

We’re sending Ryan McMahon to the Toronto Blue Jays, where he’d take over for the combination of Isaiah Kiner-Falefa and Ernie Clement. It never made any sense that the Jays never attempted to re-sign Brandon Belt and now, their lineup is brutally thin on left-handed sluggers. Bringing in a solid third base defender in McMahon who could smash some balls out of Rogers Centre would instantly make Toronto more of a threat in the loaded AL East.

Bryan Reynolds, Pirates OF

Bryan Reynolds was one of the hottest trade candidates being thrown around in the offseason before 2023, right up until the Pirates gave him an eight-year extension. But long-term commitments be darned because the Pirates are back to bottoming out again after a hot start to 2024. And even though Reynolds’ contract was the largest in Pirates history ($106 million total value), it’s still exceptionally team-friendly.

As a switch-hitter with great plate discipline, Reynolds fits in a lot of MLB lineups. Since his diminishing defensive metrics limit him somewhat to left field duties, Reynolds is a good fit in Toronto as well, but we just sent Ryan McMahon there. But there’s a young team that doesn’t draw enough walks out there that has itself surprisingly in playoff contention early this season and that team is the Kansas City Royals.

The Royals have MJ Melendez in left most days right now, but he profiles as a good enough thrower that he could move to right with ease. That would allow K.C. to put Hunter Renfroe in more of a platoon role and not have to depend on Adam Frazier to wear an outfielder’s glove ever again. And Reynolds would lengthen the Royals’ lineup tremendously, allowing the middle of the order in Bobby Witt Jr. and Salvador Perez to do more damage.

Tyler Anderson, Angels SP

For our last pick, let’s go with a bit of a wild card. Since Trout is out indefinitely and can’t be included in the exercise, it feels fitting to trade one of his Angels teammates. Reid Detmers and Taylor Ward are strong candidates as well but Tyler Anderson has shockingly been the most valuable player on the entire team this season and with the way his last two years have gone, it’s best he leaves the Halos as soon as possible.

In 2022, Anderson was a legitimate MLB All-Star with the Los Angeles Dodgers, putting up a 2.57 ERA in 178.2 innings. Then he went across the freeway to the Angels and had a 5.43 ERA in 141.1 innings, going from one of the best teams at developing pitchers to one of the worst. So as exciting as his 2.23 ERA in his first six starts is, Anderson should be begging to get away from the Angels before it’s too late, especially because his elevated FIP suggests regression is due.

So for Anderson’s sake, let’s send him back to a team known for getting the best out of the talent they have in their starting rotation—the Cleveland Guardians.​ With Shane Bieber done for the season, the Guards are still short on innings and clearly, they’re going to be competitive in the AL playoff hunt all summer long. Cleveland could get the best version of Anderson while Anderson gets to play baseball that matters again. All sides win big.