The Oakland Athletics have a history of trading away key players when they are approaching free agency and their price tag is about to skyrocket. Will Josh Reddick end up on that list in 2016?

Reddick is off to a strong start with four homers and an .814 OPS, perfect timing for an outfielder who is scheduled to hit the open market next winter. Reddick tells Jon Paul Morosi of MLB.com he's not aware of any substantive talks on a new deal between the A's and his agents, Seth and Sam Levinson.

The A’s have told 29-year-old Reddick that they would like to retain him, but his name will undoubtedly be floated in trade rumors this summer if Oakland is not in realistic playoff contention.

While it is still too early to talk deals, Morosi suggests the Chicago Cubs could be in the market for a corner outfielder following the season-ending injury to Kyle Schwarber. Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein drafted Reddick during his tenure as general manager of the Red Sox.