The 2025 Major League Baseball season is just a few weeks old, and there are already some clear holes on the rosters of some of the league’s top contenders.
The reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Angels Dodgers have the worst bottom of the lineup in all of MLB, and a massive hole in center field.
The reigning World Series runners-up New York Yankees desperately need starting pitching help, while the Chicago Cubs need a Justin Steele replacement in the rotation.
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Although the trade deadline is still a couple months away, it’s never too early for teams to start thinking about making additions. Here are three trade ideas to solve some of the biggest issues for MLB contenders early this season.
1. Dodgers Acquire All-Star Center Fielder Luis Robert Jr.
According to USA Today’s Bob Nightengale, the Dodgers and Chicago White Sox have discussed (and now tabled) a trade that would send Robert Jr. to the Dodgers.
Those discussions should pick back up.
While Robert is not the All-Star and Gold Glove caliber player he was a few years ago, he’s still only 27 years old, and due just $15 million this year with a $20 million club option in both 2026 and 2027.
Robert is off to a slow start this year, hitting .163 with an OPS of .495. However, he has six stolen bases, and would be a massive defensive upgrade for L.A.
The Dodgers’ Nos. 7-9 hitters have a combined OPS of .439 since April 1, which ranks last in MLB.
A trade involving Triple-A outfielder James Outman and a top prospect should move the needle, and net L.A. a major upgrade for the bottom of the order.
2. Cubs Go All In, Acquire Right-Handed Ace Sandy Alcantara
Jasen Vinlove/Miami Marlins/Getty Images
The Cubs were dealt a huge blow this weekend when it was announced left-handed ace Justin Steele was undergoing season-ending elbow surgery.
The Cubs have been one of the best teams in the league early this year, and now need to replace Steele, who’s had a sub-3.20 ERA in each of the last three seasons.
Enter Alcantara.
Alcantara is close to a lock to be dealt before this year’s deadline as Miami continues to lean into a rebuild. The two-time All-Star and 2022 Cy Young award winner has a 4.70 ERA through three starts this season as he comes back from Tommy John surgery which held him out the entire 2024 season.
Alcantara is just 29 years old, and is on a very team friendly contract paying him just $17.3 million in 2025 and 2026 with a $21 million club option in 2027.
The Cubs will need to part with some top prospects, but Alcantara would solidify their chances of competing in a loaded National League.
3. Yankees Acquire All-Star Right-Handed Pitcher Tony Gonsolin
The Yankees enter Tuesday with a 5.17 combined starting pitcher ERA that ranks 29th in MLB. While Alcantara would be an obvious solution, he’s going to cost an absolute haul.
Instead, the Yankees should call the Dodgers — who have tons of depth in the starting pitching department — and take a flier on 2022 All-Star right-hander Tony Gonsolin.
Gonsolin hasn’t pitched this year after suffering a minor back injury in spring training, and missed all of 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery. However, in his last full season in 2022, he went 16-1 with a 2.14 ERA.
Gonsolin is expected to rejoin the Dodgers rotation sometime in the next few weeks. With Clayton Kershaw, Blake Snell, and Shohei Ohtani all returning in the next few months, Gonsolin is expendable, and could be the perfect buy-low solution to the Yankees’ struggles.
Gonsolin is due $5.4 million this year and is arbitration-eligible in 2026 before hitting free agency in 2027.
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