Trade deadline survivors who could still be moved this winter

10. Justin Verlander, Tigers: By opening day next spring, Verlander will be 35 years old and in line to make $28 million in 2018 with another $28 million guaranteed in 2019. Due to that financial commitment alone, the prospect of finding another home could be mission impossible for a Tigers organization that is desperately trying to rebuild and cut cost.

They are also a team that needs to create wiggle room on its payroll and could use even the minor prospect return that Verlander could bring. If they are willing to hold on to some salary, Verlander could easily find a market from particular teams, even as he is clearly in the twilight of his career.

Possibilities: Brewers, Cubs, Orioles, Rockies

9. Manny Machado, Orioles: Now if this was a listing based purely on the merits of the player alone, Machado would be at the top of it. But while his days could be numbered in Baltimore, as he is headed toward free agency in the winter of 2019, it seems unlikely that the Orioles will forgo taking another run at it before re-evaluating a more realistic departure next July.

With that said, unlikely does not equal impossible. If the right team — such as the Cardinals, White Sox or Dodgers — brings together an irresistible enough package of prospects, he could be on the move even earlier.

Possibilities: Cardinals, White Sox, Dodgers

8. Brad Hand, Padres:Under club control through 2019, there is little reason for the Padres to rush to the finish line to ship out Hand, especially after netting a solid return for Brandon Maurer and Trevor Cahill from Kansas City. However, the talented lefty will still be in high demand by all sorts of clubs looking boost their bullpen potential.

Possibilities: Red Sox, Nationals, Mets, Astros

7. Trevor Rosenthal, Cardinals: After being demoted from the ninth inning for better than a year, Rosenthal has regained some control over the final frame in St. Louis. He has lowered his FIP to a near career-best 1.94 and is striking out a personal high of just over 14 per nine innings. Another impending free agent after next summer, the winter could be the perfect time for the Cardinals to deal their heat-throwing righty, especially considering the various needs around their everyday roster.

Possibilities: Nationals, Rangers, Marlins

6. Brian Dozier, Twins: While he has not equaled the same absurd display of power he put on last summer, Dozier remains on pace for his third consecutive season of 25 home runs, 30 doubles and 80 RBI. Middle-of-the-lineup production from a middle infielder in the middle of his prime is worth a high return. With Dozier headed toward a lucrative run on the open market after next season, the time is now for the Twins trade their most trade-ready asset.

Possibilities: Dodgers, Brewers, Mets

5. Gerrit Cole, Pirates: With his agent Scott Boras already seeing a big payday looming in the future for the Pittsburgh ace, it is fair to assume that Cole could be made very availabe by a team that could be looking to retool around some of its top talents this winter (more on that later).

While Cole has had only one truly exceptional season in his career, when he was an All-Star en route to a 19-win campaign in 2015, he has a ton of upside in age (entering his age-27 season) and he has the talent. Cole has the potential to be a very good No. 3 or strong No. 2 starter and will not reach free agency until 2020. Due to those controllable years, Cole will not come cheap, but he could be worth the haul for the right team on the cusp of a true World Series run.

Possibilities: Dodgers, Astros, Orioles, Indians

4. Josh Donaldson, Blue Jays: There are a number of teams in need of a middle-of-the-order bat, but very few ended up changing ZIP codes as the trade deadline came and went. However, the most obtainable such bat could be that of Donaldson, who is entering the final year of his contract and could fetch a nice return for the Blue Jays, a team that took several steps backward this season.

Granted, the Toronto brass has indicated it intends to compete again next year, but it is a textbook smoke screen to starve of suitors in-season before having much more comprehensive discussions throughout the winter. Despite suffering through an injury-riddled down year during which he has hit only .243 with 11 home runs, Donaldson’s standing remains very strong and still could be a difference maker next spring after full rest through an offseason.

Possibilities: Cardinals, Giants, Mets

3. Zach Britton, Orioles: On a deadline day when relief arms were hotly pursued and many switched uniforms, the top reliever rumored to be obtainable stood still. The interest in Britton, who is perfect in save situations since September 2015, was spread far and wide between teams in need of upgrades in closing out ballgames and others interested in adding a super setup man (cue the required Andrew Miller mention).

Interest in the Orioles’ closer will continue into the winter as a number of teams could look to add the talented lefty. With Baltimore desperately looking to upgrade its starting staff, the team could be very open to moving on from Britton to do so and simply slide setup man Brad Brach into the role full-time.

Possibilities: Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers, Nationals

2. Andrew McCutchen, Pirates: A year ago, the Pirates failed to find a way to move their franchise center fielder, partially due to uncertainty about his upside after a career-worst season and partially due to looking for a return that ensured a worthwhile boost to a club moving on from one of its most pivotal players ever.

Unable to strike a deal over the winter, player and club began an uneasy reunion this spring, one where McCutchen was moved to right field in the process. However, no player has enjoyed a bigger rejuvenation than McCutchen has this summer, improving his OPS by over 150 points, reclaiming center field duties and winning NL Player of the Month in June after hitting .411.

With his stock rallying toward its previous level, McCutchen once again prepares to enter the offseason as one of the most desirable outfielders in the game — and maybe the most obtainable as well. He is entering the final year of his contract in Pittsburgh and will be looking to sign a lucrative new deal that could be beyond the Pirates’ comfort zone. Dealing him away to more financially capable, prospect-rich franchise is once again in play, and it is unlikely that GM Neal Huntington will fail in the same way twice.

Possibilities: Dodgers, Mariners, Nationals, Giants

1. A Marlins Outfielder Alright, alright, perhaps this is a bit of a cop-out, but considering where the Marlins currently stand regarding their treasure chest of starting outfielders, it is very difficult to say which one (or ones) they move. Giancarlo Stanton is the apple of everybody’s eye around the game, and for good reason. The massive contract of baseball’s current home run leader is scary in regard to its life span (10 years) and escape cause (opt out after the 2020 season), but his franchise-changing potential is undeniable and worth the risk for many.

Meanwhile, Marcell Ozuna has now been an All-Star in consecutive seasons and continues to improve regularly. He comes along with a deal that will keep him under team control until 2020 and at a much more manageable rate via arbitration.

Finally, there is the presence of Christian Yelich, who is the youngest of the trio at 25, an elite defender in left field, a growing offensive presence and is signed through 2022.

With the Marlins up for sale, such headline moves are complicated by the fact it is unknown whether new management wants a cheaper payroll, which would make moving Stanton a priority (although he possesses a no-trade clause), or if keeping the talented trio together makes Miami a more enticing option for a new owner who wants to compete upon arrival.

While this limbo continues, there should be no shortage of teams who regularly inquire into what the likely substantial cost would be to lure any of their rights away from South Florida.