MLB Trade Rumors: Biggest MLB Names on the Trade Block
With MLB free agency set to begin, so too are the rumors and speculation of players who will be traded.
Last year, it was guys like R.A. Dickey, Jose Reyes, Justin Upton and James Shields who were traded to new teams. And this year is no different, as many big names have already been rumored to be moved. But will those deals happen?
Here's a look at some of the biggest names on the trading block this offseason.
Note: All stats obtained from ESPN unless otherwise noted.
Brandon Phillips
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It's not too often that a player who just batted .261 with 18 home runs and 103 RBI and just won his fourth Gold Glove is the subject of trade rumors.
But that's exactly where Brandon Phillips finds himself with the Cincinnati Reds.
It all started when a Reds announcer told the MLB Radio Network in early October that the Reds could look at trading their second baseman (h/t Matthew Cerrone of Mets Blog).
Then, Bob Nightengale of USA Today tweeted the Reds were shopping Phillips, with the intent to trade him.
David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweeted that if the Reds are looking to trade Phillips, then the Braves would be interested as long as the Reds took Dan Uggla in return.
Despite all of those rumors, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said the team isn't in discussions to move Phillips, according to MLB.com's Mark Sheldon:
"[Phillips] texted wanting to know if we were trading him. I told him that I have not spoken to anybody about that, Jocketty said on Tuesday. I'm not talking to any clubs about him.
However, Jocketty would not go so far as to guarantee that Phillips would be with the Reds at the start of Spring Training.
I'm not saying that, Jocketty said. We've got some things we've got to look at on how we're going to improve our club. I'm not going to say nobody is untouchable. Obviously, we want to keep as much of this club intact as we can.
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It should be noted that Phillips criticized Reds management for their handling of his contract, according to Justin Williams of Cincinnati Magazine:
"Quietly, the Reds front office offered him six years for $72.5 million. Phillips says that Reds General Manager Walt Jocketty and team owner Bob Castellini—chairman of Castellini Co., the billion-dollar national produce distributor—made clear it was all the team could offer. Phillips swallowed his pride and signed the deal...
For [Castellini] to sign somebody for $200 million, there must be a new vegetable or fruit coming out that we don’t know about. For him to do something like that and tell me they didn’t have any more money, that’s a lie. But what can I do? I just feel like it was a slap in my face.
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Those comments may be the reason Phillips' name has surfaced as possibly being traded.
Dan Uggla
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When the Atlanta Braves acquired Dan Uggla prior to the 2011 season, it was thought to be an outstanding move for the power-hitting second baseman. After all, he had hit .287 with 33 home runs and 105 RBI in 2010.
However, it's been anything but roses the last three years for Uggla in Atlanta, as he's batted .213 with 77 home runs and 215 RBI. In fact, 2013 saw him have the lowest average of any eligible player in baseball at .179.
With that in mind, it's no surprise the Braves are looking at moving the right-handed hitter. David O'Brien of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution tweeted the Braves would be interested in swapping Uggla for Brandon Phillips.
And according to MLB.com's Joe Frisario, the Marlins would be a good team for him to move to:
"From what I'm hearing, the Braves certainly will entertain shopping Uggla, who turns 34 in March.
If Atlanta can get another team to pick up $6 million of the $26 million Uggla is owed the next two seasons, they'd probably make a deal.
Perhaps to get another club to pick up more of the contract, Atlanta would throw in a prospect. So if the Marlins wanted to do some sort of package, they might be able to get Uggla and another player.
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For Braves fans, moving Uggla would be welcoming news as he continues to frustrate the fanbase with double the number of strikeouts (495) in the last three years compared to walks (233).
David Price
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David Price is perhaps the biggest name on the trade block, especially considering he has a Cy Young award to his name.
According to Roger Mooney of the Tampa Tribune, Price is preparing to be traded:
"As was the case with every highly paid player in team history, Price thinks he has priced himself off the Rays' payroll.
If you go with what's been done in the past, I guess you're going to have to think you're going to get traded, Price said Wednesday night on a conference call.
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As far as teams that would be interested in the left-hander, there is no shortage of suitors.
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe lists a lot of teams who may be interested in Price:
"What teams can even entertain this? The Dodgers, Nationals, Mets, Twins, Cubs, Blue Jays, Yankees, Rangers, Angels, Giants, Mariners, Phillies, Diamondbacks, and maybe the Orioles. It’s hard to imagine the Rays would deal within their division, though if they got their bounty they may just throw caution to the wind.
Imagine a Dodgers rotation of Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Price, Hyun-jin Ryu (unless he was sent to the Rays in the deal), and a recovering Chad Billingsley? The Twins have countless prospects, as do the Cubs. The Twins may not have the financial resources to make it happen, but the Cubs surely do.
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MLB.com's Greg Johns doesn't think the Mariners will be one of those teams in one of his responses to a reader:
"I don't see Seattle as being one of the primary contenders for Price for the simple reason that if the Mariners are willing to pay such a steep price in young prospects to make a big trade, it would make far more sense to pursue an impact bat. The M's could well add another pitcher this offseason, but I'd imagine more of a mid-rotation veteran than a top-end ace.
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Peter Gammons also mentioned that the Dodgers could be in on Price, according to one GM:
"They have the minor league talent to get Price. If they would trade Corey Seager and Julio Urias (the 17-year old lefthanded pitcher) and a couple out of Zach Lee, Joc Pederson or Chris Withrow, it would get it done.
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To think the Dodgers could have Price to go along with Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke would be scary.
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Mark Trumbo
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Mark Trumbo's name has gotten hot on the rumor mill mainly because the Los Angeles Angels have said they're willing to trade him (and others) in an effort to acquire starting pitching, according to a tweet by ESPN's Buster Olney.
The Padres have said they are interested in acquiring Trumbo, according to a tweet by Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times. However, Shaikin also noted the Padres' young pitching depth depends on the return of three players from Tommy John surgery—Casey Kelly, Cory Luebke and Joe Wieland.
MLB.com's Alden Gonzalez reported multiple teams had interest in Trumbo at the trade deadline and that he could see those same teams in the mix again this offseason:
"Trumbo, however, is also valuable to the Angels, not only for his middle-of-the-order production but because of the insurance he provides by adequately filling in for Pujols at first base and Hamilton in the outfield corners.
In July, the Pirates, Mariners and Royals were among the teams interested in Trumbo, a source said—and plenty more should be this winter.
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The bottom line is, the Angels need starting pitching. They don't have very many quality guys who are affordable and can be traded. Trumbo is just one of those few quality guys who comes in at a cheap rate ($4.7 million, according to projections by Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors).
Billy Butler
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The Kansas City Royals are prepared to listen to offers for designated hitter Billy Butler, as reported by ESPN's Buster Olney.
Butler hit .289 last year with 15 home runs and 82 RBI. He's owed $8 million in 2014 and $12 million in 2015.
Last offseason, the Mariners and Orioles were two teams that had talks with the Royals about Butler, according to a tweet by Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi.
What hurts Butler's market is the fact that he's mainly a DH, having only played in 38 games at first base in the last three years. That could leave interested NL teams out of the running.
Max Scherzer
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Max Scherzer is coming off a year where he went 21-3 with a 2.90 ERA and 240 strikeouts. It was a year where he'll most likely win the AL Cy Young award.
So, why would the Detroit Tigers consider trading Scherzer?
Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports the Tigers may indeed be shopping Scherzer this winter before his cost skyrockets:
"Scherzer is one year away from free agency and is a Scott Boras client who is very unlikely to sign a long-term deal this close to being able to test the market. The Tigers may make an attempt to sign him after this season, but they realize that it's unlikely he would accept a deal now.
With or without a new deal, Scherzer's 2014 salary figures to jump to somewhere around $20 million, a stiff price for a team that already has three players making more than $20 million a year...
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Knobler goes on to mention the Nationals, Cardinals, Orioles, Yankees, Angels and Blue Jays as teams that would all be interested in him as well:
"The Nationals have long had interest in Scherzer, and have enough young pitching to get a deal done. The Rangers, who could chase Price, are another team with plenty of prospects and a need for a top pitcher. The Cardinals seem to churn out quality pitchers, but could believe that as a Missouri native, Scherzer would be more inclined to stay with them if they traded for him. The Orioles could be another possibility.
Other teams, such as the Yankees, Angels and Blue Jays, hope to acquire top pitching this winter, but likely don't have enough to trade for a pitcher as valuable as Scherzer.
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Having Boras as his agent adds another variable in the equation, as few teams would trade the farm to acquire a one-year rental.
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