On-base options: Trade candidates

The Royals have made getting a leadoff hitter who can get on base a top priority this off-season, after the team got a line of .228/.270/.334 from the top spot. Last week I looked at free agents who could fill that void, but with a weak market, a trade might be a more effective route. The Royals are reportedly open to trading their pitching depth to make such a move. Here is who they could target in a deal.

Jonathan India, Reds

2024: .248/.357/.392 637 PA 15 HR 13 SB 2.8 fWAR

The Reds also have a glut of infielders with Matt McLain to return next year, and India could fetch a decent haul for them. He posted the best walk rate and lowest strikeout rate of his career this year, and he has one of the best walk rates among second basemen (10.5 percent) over the last four years. He hit 21 home runs his rookie season, but has been unable to reach those kind of power numbers since. He’s a solid defender at second, and will earn $5 million next year, before being eligible for arbitration for the last time in 2026.

Connor Joe, Pirates

2024: .228/.320/.368 416 PA 9 HR 2 SB 0.5 fWAR

Joe is awful in left, but passable in right and first base, so he may not be a good fit for the Royals. Ideally, he would platoon with MJ Melendez somehow - Joe hit .235/.335/.379 against lefties this year and .265/.368/.452 against them in 2023. Joe isn’t a free agent until after 2027, but with his down year and limited defensive utility, the asking price should be pretty low for him.

Lars Nootbaar, Cardinals

2024: .244/.342/.417 405 PA 12 HR 7 SB 1.7 fWAR

I don’t think the odds are high the Cardinals will trade Nootbaar, but they are undergoing some sort of rebuild and if they decide to tear it all down, the 27-year outfielder could net them a solid haul. He has the sixth-best walk rate among all hitters over the past three seasons and he just posted the lowest strikeout rate of his career (19.5 percent). His power is a bit underwhelming for a corner outfielder, but he’s a solid defender and can run a bit on the bases. The left-handed hitter wouldn’t be eligible for free agency until after 2027, making it more likely the Cardinals hang onto him unless they are blown away by an offer.

Luis Rengifo, Angels

2024: .300/.347/.417 304 PA 6 HR 24 SB 1.4 fWAR

The Royals reportedly targeted Rengifo this summer before he got hurt. The 27-year-old switch-hitter checks a lot of boxes for the Royals - he’s versatile enough to play second and third, and even the outfield if needed, has good speed, and doesn’t strike out much at all. His walk rate cratered from 9.2 percent in 2023 to 5.3 percent this year, while he benefitted from a high BABIP, so his performance is a bit difficult to project next year, plus he had wrist surgery. Rengifo would be a one-year rental, as he is eligible for free agency next off-season, so the asking price for him shouldn’t be too high.

Spencer Steer, Reds

2024: .225/.319/.402 656 PA 20 HR 25 SB 1.3 fWAR

Steer could be the odd man out in Cincinnati, although they could find room for him due to his positional versatility. He can play the corner infield and outfield positions, and some second base, although he’s not a particularly good defender. His offensive numbers fell because his BABIP went from .318 to .260, so I would expect some bounceback. His walk rates stayed cosnistent at 11 percent this year and he had a good power/speed combo. Steer is just 26 and is under club control through 2028, so the asking price should be pretty high for him.

Mike Tauchman, Cubs

2024: .248/.357/.366 350 PA 7 HR 6 SB 1.1 fWAR

The Cubs have Cody Bellinger returning and Pete Crow-Armstrong coming up, which likely moves Tauchman to a reserve role. He might be best suited as a fourth-outfielder role, but if the Cubs want to sell high on him, they could look to deal him. He was a bit of a journeyman til he landed in Wrigley and put up strong walk rates, including 13.4 percent this year. He didn’t have much of a platoon split this year, and he is a passable defender at the corners who can fill in on occasion in center. He’s already 33 years old, but he has two years of club control left.

LaMonte Wade, Giants

2024: .260/.380/.381 401 PA 8 HR 2 SB 1.3 fWAR

The Giants would seem inclined to keep Wade, but with a change in their front office, they could look to clean house and get what they can for him. Wade doesn’t have much power for a corner position, but he has the 11th-best on-base percentage in baseball over the past two seasons. He has spent most of his time at first base, playing sparingly in the corner outfield positions, so it’s not clear he’d be a good fit for the Royals. The left-handed hitter would be a free agent after the 2025 season, and he’ll turn 31 in January.

Taylor Ward, Angels

2024: .246/.323/.426 663 PA 25 HR 6 SB 2.7 fWAR

Ward was another trade target for the Royals last July, although the Angels were said to be asking a very high price for him. Ward has been a solid right-handed bat in the outfield with solid walk rates and 20-25 home run power, although just 16 of his 25 home runs would be out at Kauffman Stadium. He hits lefties very well and is a solid defender in the corners. Ward has two years of control left and will make around $9 million through arbitration next year, but he will be 31 next month, an age when many hitters begin to decline precipitously.

Bounceback candidates

Will Benson, Reds

2024: .187/.274/.3676 388 PA 14 HR 16 SB -0.6 fWAR

Benson seems to be the odd man out in the Reds outfield after a disappointing season where he hit below the Mendoza Line and struck out a TON. But he hit .275/.365/.498 in 2023, and he maintained his walk rate this year.

Nolan Jones, Rockies

2024: .227/.321/.320 297 PA 3 HR 5 SB -0.8 fWAR

Jones finished fourth in Rookie of the Year voting in 2023, but saw his OPS drop an astounding 290 points this year as his power cratered. He strikes out a lot, and his defense fell off a lot after being pretty good in 2023, but he missed a month with a back injury, which could explain his poor season.

Dylan Moore, Mariners

2024: .201/.320/.367 441 PA 10 HR 32 SB 2.4 fWAR

Moore will hit around the Mendoza Line, but he has a 10.8 percent career walk rate (12 percent this year), he can run and play terrific defense all over the field. He’s good enough that the Mariners are probably inclined to keep him on his $3.6 million salary.

Jack Suwinski, Pirates

2024: .182/.264/.324 277 PA 9 HR 9 SB -1.1 fWAR

Suwinski hit 26 home runs with a 14 percent walk rate in 2023, but he stunk this year, earning a brief demotion. He strikes out a ton, and while he can play some center, his overall defense has not been good. But he’s only 26, and he’s a lefty bat with some pop.