Ranking the A's trade candidates

The Athletics have reportedly put several of their stars on the trading block in an effort to cut payroll this winter. Let's rank the top eight candidates and look at some potential fits as the club heads toward what could be an impending fire sale.

1. Frankie Montas

Age: 28
Position: SP
Contract: Arb 2 of 3
2022 projected salary: $5.2M
Potential fits: Blue Jays, Mariners, Red Sox, Yankees

It's difficult to fully figure out who Montas is. Is he the right-handed starter that posted a brutal 5.60 ERA and 4.74 FIP over 53 innings during last year's pandemic-shortened campaign while coming off a suspension for banned substances? Or, is he the pitcher who put up an impressive 3.37 ERA and 3.37 FIP over 187 frames while making 32 starts this season? Recency will likely prevail, and a starting pitcher entering his age-29 season with two years of team control remaining will be priced at a premium.

2. Matt Chapman

Age: 28
Position: 3B
Contract: Arb 2 of 3
2022 projected salary: $9.5M
Potential fits: Phillies, Blue Jays, Brewers, Astros, Mariners, Yankees, Mets, Reds, Marlins

The best defensive third baseman in the AL would be a welcome fit on just about any contender. He's coming off a down season at the plate on the heels of hip surgery last winter, but Chapman has shown himself to be an elite hitter in the past and is still under team control for two more seasons. There's no reason he can't reach that level again.

3. Matt Olson

Age: 27
Position: 1B
Contract: Arb 2 of 3
2022 projected salary: $12M
Potential fits: Yankees, Mariners, Red Sox, Padres, Brewers, Twins, Tigers

There is another defensive wizard on the block. Olson, a two-time Gold Glove winner at first base, is a durable player with two seasons of team control left. The lefty slugger improved dramatically at the plate this year and should continue to push for 40 homers and an OBP above .370 going forward, but first basemen don't normally fetch as much on the trade market.

4. Chris Bassitt

Age: 32
Position: SP
Contract: Arb 3 of 3
2022 projected salary: $8.5M
Potential fits: Blue Jays, Yankees, Mariners, Dodgers, Mets, Giants, Twins, Cardinals, Phillies

Bassitt was on track to receive Cy Young consideration before a line drive to the head shortened his season. He's a reliable mid-rotation starter on a decent salary who might not cost as much in capital as some of the other A's pitchers thanks to his age (he'll be 33 in February). Bassitt could be a more preferable option to some free-agent starters.

5. Sean Manaea

Age: 29
Position: SP
Contract: Arb 4 of 4
2022 projected salary: $10.2M
Potential fits: Blue Jays, Yankees, Mariners, Dodgers, Mets, Giants, Twins, Cardinals, Phillies

The left-hander has been a mainstay for the A's since debuting in 2016, routinely notching at least 150 innings per season, other than an injury-plagued 2019 and a pandemic-shortened 2020. Moreover, Manaea authored two complete-game shutouts last year in a season where it felt like those performances were going extinct. For teams looking for a mid-rotation rental lefty, Manaea would be a great fit.

6. Stephen Piscotty

Age: 30
Position: OF
Contract: $7.58M (2022), $15M team option in 2023
Potential fits: Padres, Mets, Rockies, Royals, Angels, Twins

It's been a rough road of late for Piscotty, who's battled injuries and declining production since 2019. But when he was last healthy in 2018, he was an important part of the A's lineup. Oakland may not get a ton for him unless they eat some of his salary, but Piscotty could be worth taking a flier on to see if he can recapture some of his old form.

7. Tony Kemp

Age: 30
Position: OF/2B
Contract: Arb 2 of 3
2022 projected salary: $2.2M
Potential fits: Tigers, White Sox, Royals, Nationals, Red Sox, Padres, Mets, Phillies

Kemp unlocked something seemingly out of nowhere last year. In by far the best season of his career, the utility man posted a 127 wRC+ and had more walks than strikeouts. He's got two more seasons of team control remaining, but Kemp's not especially good defensively and if he falters at the plate or returns to his 2019 form (76 wRC+ over 110 games between the Astros and Cubs), he will quickly see his playing time limited.

8. Chad Pinder

Age: 29
Position: OF/3B/2B
Contract: Arb 3 of 3
2022 projected salary: $2.8M
Potential fits: Tigers, White Sox, Royals, Nationals, Red Sox, Padres, Mets, Phillies, Braves, Giants

Pinder’s got a track record of hitting lefties well and can play multiple positions defensively. He could be a boon for many contenders in a more supplementary role.