MLB Trade Rumors: Who Is The Best Pitcher Available For The 2023 Season?

As teams start reshaping their rosters for the 2023 MLB season, a few marquee names are bound to find themselves in trade rumors. Before the official start of free agency, one such player is already viewed as a likely trade candidate.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Pablo Lopez is the biggest name that has been made available in trade talks, according to the New York Post's Jon Heyman. Lopez was nearly moved at the 2022 trade deadline, and there's a good chance that he'll be wearing a new uniform next season.

The Marlins are reportedly interested in moving Lopez in a trade that would improve their bats. Miami's 586 runs scored during the 2022 season were the fewest in the National League. Lopez was part of a Marlins rotation that posted a 3.70 ERA, which was good for fourth in the NL.

Lopez was second on the team with 180.0 innings pitched. The right-hander posted a 3.75 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP to go along with 174 strikeouts. Lopez had a 3.07 ERA in 2021 and 3.61 ERA in the shortened 2020 campaign.

The New York Yankees nearly traded for Lopez in July. Second baseman Gleyber Torres would've gone to Miami had the deal been executed.

The two teams could revisit trade talks this offseason. The Yankees might view Torres as expendable because of their wealth of young middle infield talent.

Shortstops Oswald Peraza and Anthony Volpe are two of New York's top-three prospects and could soon be starters in the majors. Utility man Oswaldo Cabrera was called up to the Bronx during the season and became one of the Yankees' most reliable players.

Lopez will turn 27 years old shortly before Opening Day. He has two more years of arbitration before he can become a free agent.

As the offseason moves along and free agents gets signed, better players are likely to become available. The Los Angeles Angels have announced that Shohei Ohtani won't be traded in the final year of his contract.