Three trades that need to be made

This offseason has seen some interesting trades.

However, there can never be enough trades for most baseball fans. Websites and journalists make their living solely about reporting about and speculating on trade rumors and other transactional news.

So, with the opening of spring training a little less than a month away, let’s propose three trades would get baseball fans’ juices flowing. A caveat here is that these are not actual trade rumors and there might little chance the deals ever get consumed.

Still, they are fun to ponder.

MARINERS AND BRAVES

The Seattle Mariners need a big bat after finishing 21st in the major leagues in runs scored last season as well as 22nd in OPS and 29th in batting average. The Braves need pitching after losing left-hander Max Fried to the New York Yankees as a free agent.

So, here’s a potential trade: The Braves send third baseman Austin Riley to the Mariners for right-hander Luis Castillo, closer Andred Munoz, utility player Dylan Moore and Double-A middle infield prospect Michael Arroyo.

Riley would be tough for the Braves to give up and he has eight years and $176 million remaining on his 10-year, $212-million contract. However, Atlanta would get first-rate help for its rotation and bullpen.

There are three years and $72.45 remaining left on Castillo’s contract. Munoz, who would become the Beaves’ top set-up man to closer Raisel Iglesias, will make just $2,675,800 this year and his contract contains club options for 2026, 2027 and 2028 worth a total of $24 million with no buyouts.

Moore would give the Braves someone to play third base until they found an upgrade. Arroyo is ranked as the Mariners’ fourth-best prospect and No. 95 in the game by Baseball America.

ORIOLES AND TWINS

The Baltimore Orioles need a frontline starting pitcher following the departure of ace Corbin Burnes to the Arizona Diamondbacks as a free agent. The Minnesota Twins need an upgrade at first base over Juan Miranda.

Here’s a deal that would help both teams: The Orioles ship Triple-A corner infield prospect Coby Mayo, right-hander Albert Suarez and righty reliever Bryan Baker to the Twins for right-hander Pablo Lopez.

The highly regarded Mayo would give the Twins some much-needed pop at first base and is under team contractual control for six more seasons. Mayo is ranked as the eighth-best prospect in the game by Baseball America and tops in the Orioles’ farm system.

Suarez and Baker would provide quality pitching depth.

Lopez isn’t an ace-caliber pitcher like Burnes. but is very good and under contract for $65.25 million over the next three seasons. He would look good at the front of the rotation.

CUBS AND PADRES

The Padres need a shortstop now that Ha-Seong Kim is a free agent, and they would prefer not to shift second baseman Xander Bogaerts back to his old position. The Cubs need a high-leverage reliever.

So, how about if Cubs trade middle infielder Nico Hoerner to the Padres for infielder Luis Arraez, right-handed reliever Jeremiah Estrada and two Class A prospects – left-hander Kash Mayfield and shortstop Cobb Hightower.

Hoerner has been the Cubs’ primary second baseman most recently buy has experience at shortstop and more range than Bogaerts.

The three-time batting champion Arraez could fill the hole for the Cubs vacated by Hoerner at second base. It would allow the Padres to shed his $14-million salary in order free money for the two years and $23.5 million left on Hoerner’s contract.

Estrada would right a wrong by president of baseball operations Jed Hoyer, who lost Estrada on waivers after the 2023 season. Baseball America ranks Mayfield as the Padres’ third-best prospect and Hightower at No. 8.