MLB Rumors: Top 3 Big Name Hitters Who Could Be Traded This Summer

The trade deadline is still over two months away, but some teams just shouldn't wait that long. Be they buyers or sellers. For an expected contender, fixing your roster problems sooner rather than later allows you that time to get back in the race. And for a seller with expiring contracts, the more games the new team gets out of the free agent-to-be raises his value. 

Let's have an early look at three big name hitters who could shape the trade market, now or later. 

Xander Bogaerts, Red Sox

There's been no secret made of the fact that Bogaerts will be opting out of his contract to become a free agent. It's also not exactly classified information to know that the Red Sox made an underwhelming extension offer that Bogaerts flatly turned down. Recent reports suggest that he might consider an in-season extension offer—if the price is more in his ballpark—but it doesn't seem like the BoSox are anxious to go that high. 

With a ready-made shortstop fallback in-house in Trevor Story, and the Sox looking like they won't be contenders this season, a Bogaerts trade, according to MLB Insider Jon Heyman, is a possibility. In fact, The Athletic's Jim Bowden writes, "They’ve lowballed Bogaerts to such an extent it makes me believe they are preparing for Trevor Story to take over as the starting shortstop in 2023."

Nelson Cruz, Nationals

Baseball observers were surprised when the ageless DH signed with the Nationals, a team that clearly wasn't on the path to contending status in 2022. 

And with the 2nd-worst record in baseball at 13-26, and a 41-year-old slugger who's delivered a mixed-bag of results thus far (20 RBIs, but only a .182 average), the Nats could look to see what they can get for Cruz, who's only signed for this year. 

Josh Bell, Nationals

Sticking with the Nats, Bell is also on a one-year contract like Cruz. However, unlike his elder teammate, he is off to a rollicking start to the year, batting .316 with an .861 OPS. At 29, he won't be around when the Nationals are ready to compete again, and there are a lot of teams that could use a left-handed masher like Bell (particularly one in the American League East.)

There will be many more big names on the trade market emerging as we get closer to the Aug. 2nd deadline, so keep it here to find out all the latest rumors. 

Photo Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports