With some recent hot stove buzz around the idea of the Yankees exploring a Giancarlo Stanton trade to free up cash to sign Harper and/or Machado, I put together a few packages with teams that he might consider waiving his no-trade clause. These are all bigger cities (except for Atlanta) because Stanton only appears willing to waive his no-trade to go to a big city...
1. Chicago Cubs - SS Addison Russell and RHP Alex Lange. Cubs also get $30M cash considerations that NYY acquired from Miami.
Rationale: Russell fills the void left from the Didi injury and could be shifted to a new position when Didi comes back. 3 more years of Arb control if Didi leaves via free agency after 2019. Lange is a high velocity college arm that is still plenty of years away from needing 40 man Rule-5 protection.
2. Atlanta Braves - 3B Johan Camago and RHP Touki Toussaint. Braves also get $40M cash considerations (Miami's $30M plus NYY $10M).
Rationale: Camago doesn't have a position on the INF after the Braves signed Donaldson. Camago can play his natural position, allowing Torres to play SS while Didi is hurt and the Yanks can move Andujar across the diamond to 1B. Switch hitter gives balance to the lineup when facing a RHP. 3.7 WAR in 2018. Toussaint is an upside arm that the Braves are absolutely loaded with in their system. I like Toussaint best for Yankee Stadium because of his breaking stuff to compliment velocity and that's important for Yankee Stadium. Not sure if Stanton would waive his no-trade to go to Atlanta though.
3. Los Angeles Dodgers - OF Yasiel Puig and LHP Julio Urias. Dodgers get $30M cash considerations acquired from Miami.
Rationale: A bit riskier trade for the Yanks. Puig's final Arb year is this year, plus he has a lightning personality that is always a concern for any acquiring club. The Yanks would essentially replace Stanton's 2019 power with a much cheaper Puig, who they could also flip to another club for pitching if they sign Harper or Machado. Urias is coming off shoulder surgery but pitched pretty well in his 2018 cup of coffee return. High prospect pedigree but the injury concern is real. Worth a shot though.
4. Los Angeles Angels - SS Andrelton Simmons and RHP Ty Buttrey. Angels get $30M cash considerations acquired from Miami.
Rationale: Why do the Angels do this? They desperately need to find a superstar to pair up with Trout if they are going to convince him to stay long-term. The Angels also have Zack Cozart under contract for 2 more years that could slide in at SS to replace Simmons. Simmons is obviously the premier defensive SS in the game and would allow Torres to stay at 2B. When Didi returns, the Yanks would all of a sudden have premier INF defense. Signed for 2 more years if Didi leaves via free agency. Buttrey is an electric bullpen arm who they got from Boston for Ian Kinsler. Will help offset losses of Robertson and/or Britton.
5. New York Mets - RHP Noah Syndergaard. Mets get $60M cash considerations ($30M from Miami; $30M from NYY).
Rationale: these two teams will never make a trade of this magnitude but, if they did, this one makes some sense. Both teams are trading from areas of strength to address a weakness. NYM get a much needed bat for their lineup at a discounted price (see: cash considerations) and the NYY get a much needed front end SP. Thor has 3 more years of Arb control left to offset the $30M cash going to Queens. That gives the Yanks 2 years of arb with Paxton, Severino, and Thor, making a cheaper (and shorter) contract for JA Happ a more realistic and cost effective option.
6. Philadelphia Phillies - 1B Carlos Santana, RHP Zack Eflin, and RHP Sixto Sanchez. Phils get $30M cash considerations acquired from Miami.
Rationale: stay with me here - Phils open up 1B to move Rhys Hoskins back into the INF and immediately upgrade their OF defense swapping Stanton's glove for Hoskins'. Santana's contract is far from a value: 2 yrs ~ $41M (with $500K buyout in 2021 which would surely be exercised). But trading Santana gives the Phils even more financial flexibility to still be big spenders in the next 1-3 winters on players with a greater impact than Santana. Eflin is a 5th SP who is likely to be expendable after the Phils spend some free agent cash this winter. The real prize here is Sanchez. By taking back Santana's money and writing that $30M check for Stanton's contract, the real value here for the NYY is adding a SP prospect with a higher ceiling than the recently traded Justus Sheffield.
Just fun to kick around some ideas. I don't think any of these will realistically happen, but some of them make a little bit of sense.