Spring training is underway but that doesn’t mean the trade and free-agent markets get put on hold. A handful of our top 50 free agents remain unsigned, and there are trades every spring. Dylan Cease got traded last March 13. Jon Berti, Manuel Margot, and Ben Rortvedt were also traded last spring, among others. Trades don’t stop until the trade deadline each summer.
With that in mind, here are five notable players with a chance to get traded this spring. They might not want to get too comfortable in their spring training condos, if you catch my drift.
1. Marcus Stroman, Yankees
Marcus Stroman NYY • SP ERA 4.31 WHIP 1.47 IP 154.2 BB 60 K 113 View Profile
Stroman took his spring physical Tuesday because it was mandatory and finally arrived at camp Friday after missing the team’s first two workouts. He has been on the trade block just about all offseason, and, at one point, the Yankees reportedly floated a Stroman for Arenado trade. Could the Yankees and Cardinals get desperate enough to revisit that? I would not close the door on it until Arenado or Stroman are playing elsewhere. Point is, Stroman is very available.
Marcus Stroman arrives at Yankees camp, defiant about bullpen possibility: ‘Been a starter my entire career’ Matt Snyder
The obstacle in the way of a Stroman trade is the free-agent market. Similar back-end veterans like Kyle Gibson, Andrew Heaney, and Jose Quintana remain unsigned. The Yankees have reportedly expressed a willingness to eat some of the $18 million they owe Stroman in 2025, though he gains an $18 million player option for 2026 with 140 innings pitched this year. That’s an issue. Stroman turns 34 in May and his game has declined enough that the possibility of owing him $18 million in 2026 will steer teams away. The Yankees may have to eat so much money to get a trade done that it’s not worth it.
Possible landing spots: There aren’t many. The best chance for a Stroman trade involves another team losing a starter or two to injury in spring training, and having to scramble to add innings. Even then, guys like Gibson and Quintana are available for just cash. To list a team, I’ll say the Angels.
Nolan Arenado STL • 3B • #28 BA 0.272 R 70 HR 16 RBI 71 SB 2 View Profile
On Thursday, Cardinals POBO John Mozeliak said Arenado is