MLB Trade Ideas Based on Latest News, Rumors and Speculation
The signings of Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez by the Boston Red Sox have rightfully dominated the discourse around MLB for the past two days.
For as incredible as the saga detailed by CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman is, however, there’s been plenty of movement on the trade front.
Here are four MLB trade scenarios based on actual need and published rumors from the last week. Each of them is a blockbuster in its own right.
As a standard note, the following proposals are nothing more than postulation. The point here is to build a trade based on someone else's written or spoken word.
They are balanced deals that are fair for each team, taking into consideration each MLB franchise's strengths and weaknesses. They are also independent of one another. That is to say that each trade presented here is a singular move and does not take into account any of the other proposals put forward.
Texas Rangers Acquire Justin Upton from Atlanta Braves
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Texas Rangers Get: OF Justin Upton
Atlanta Braves Get: 3B Joey Gallo
Overview
While noting that the Texas Rangers are more concerned with adding to the rotation, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported that the club has reached out to the Atlanta Braves regarding outfielder Justin Upton.
On the surface, there’s a fit between the two clubs.
As many have noted, Rangers general manager Jon Daniels will initially look at the trade market as the primary way of improving his club. Meanwhile, Braves president of baseball operations John Hart has multiple holes to fill, and in clearing payroll, the ability to add Jon Lester or Yasmany Tomas suddenly becomes more realistic from a fiscal perspective.
There’s a catch.
Hart believes that Upton has more value than Jason Heyward did before he was sent to the St. Louis Cardinals in a four-player swap and is “requesting a higher return” than he got in that deal, per Joel Sherman from the New York Post. So with that as a backdrop, what would the Rangers have to send in order to complete a deal between the two clubs?
Well, if we look at the Rangers farm system, there is really only one player with the upside to make this a move worth pursuing for the Braves—Joey Gallo.
True, Gallo may be a year away from contributing, and the Braves already have Chris Johnson, but Gallo is a special talent. In 439 at-bats between Single-A and Double-A, the third baseman launched 42 home runs and drove in 102 while putting up a .271/.394/.615 slash line. Yes, he struck out 179 times, but raw power is hard to come by, making that last stat a bit easier to look past.
It must be noted that the Rangers have indicated Gallo is not available, per Rosenthal. But if the Rangers want Upton, Gallo is the price.
After all, Hart can just as easily keep his outfielder for the first half of next season, hoping for a nice start from his club and then trade him in advance of the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline if Atlanta is out of contention.
The question Daniels must ask himself is whether he believes the Rangers are going to compete with the Los Angeles Angels, Seattle Mariners and Oakland A’s in 2015. If so, then adding Upton for Gallo makes sense in the short term. If not, this deal is a non-starter.
Los Angeles Dodgers Acquire Cole Hamels from Philadelphia Phillies
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Los Angeles Dodgers Get: SP Cole Hamels and cash considerations
Philadelphia Phillies Get: OF Yasiel Puig and a player to be named later
Overview
On the long road to seemingly nowhere, Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. continues to shop Cole Hamels. Instead of the rumors regarding a deal strictly revolving around the Boston Red Sox and Chicago Cubs, there is another player in the game in the form of the Los Angeles Dodgers, per USA Today’s Bob Nightengale.
First, a little history.
Right around the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline this past season, the Phillies also made Hamels available. And at the time, Nightengale reported that the “Dodgers were told the price would be three of their top prospects—center fielder Joc Pederson, shortstop Corey Seager and left-handed pitcher Julio Urias.”
Naturally, then-general manager Ned Colletti said no to the demand. Amaro said that he didn't "think the clubs were aggressive enough" in their pursuit of Hamels and others, according to CSN Philly's Jim Salisbury. Regardless, the left-hander finished a fine season with the Phillies.
Well, the rumors have taken on fresh life in recent days.
Unlike before, however, the decisions in Los Angeles are no longer Colletti’s to make. Amaro now has to deal with president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman and general manager Farhan Zaidi.
Not that those two would've acquiesced to such a demand, of course, but the two sides are certainly starting the conversation from a different vantage point.
So how about a deal for Hamels that includes Yasiel Puig as the central piece?
True, the Phillies would have to assume a large part of the $110 million (including a $20 million club option in 2019) that remains on Hamel’s contract. Puig is owed a paltry $30.8 million over the next four seasons, making cash considerations a must.
Another thing to consider is that trading Puig for Hamels is in the same vein as some of the other notable trades this season. That is to say that most moves have involved major league talent switching teams rather than deals that focus on a return of high-level prospects. See the trade that sent Yoenis Cespedes to the Red Sox for Jon Lester and Jonny Gomes for an example.
Either way, a superstar-for-superstar trade is the cleanest way for the Dodgers to add a third dominant lefty to their rotation and for the Phillies to clear some payroll while adding a star to the lineup.
This move would certainly impact any plans the Dodgers have to trade Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier and/or Carl Crawford, but they would certainly have the best rotation in baseball.
Seattle Mariners Acquire Matt Kemp from Los Angeles Dodgers
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Seattle Mariners Get: OF Matt Kemp
Los Angeles Dodgers Get: SP James Paxton or SP Taijuan Walker
Overview
Suddenly, the Seattle Mariners have joined the ranks of the Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees in that the club is involved in almost every rumor out there. From Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton to Nelson Cruz, if a right-handed hitter has power, the M's are invariably linked.
So it should come as no surprise that Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp was recently mentioned by The Seattle Times' Ryan Divish as a potential fit.
And while he has been purportedly on the market for some time, it seems as though the likelihood that Kemp will be dealt has changed considerably.
See, it wasn’t too long ago when Andre Ethier and Carl Crawford were the presumed pieces to be moved out of a crowded outfield situation in Los Angeles. After all, they are owed less money on shorter deals and wouldn't require the package of prospects it will take to get Kemp.
And let’s not overlook the fact that Kemp is a right-handed masher. Without him or Hanley Ramirez in the lineup, manager Don Mattingly will have an unbalanced batting order. That isn’t the worst thing in the world considering the talent on the Dodgers' 25-man roster, but it is worth mentioning.
In other words, trading Ethier or Crawford is preferable but may not make the most sense, per CBS Sports' Jon Heyman. Granted, Heyman noted that the Dodgers may not move Kemp, but he did offer up no less than seven reasons why he is likely the man switching teams.
Now for the M’s to acquire Kemp, they will have to part with Taijuan Walker or James Paxton. This is a scenario that plays itself out no matter which hitter general manager Jack Zduriencik tries to acquire. They have the most value and are ready to contribute immediately.
Of the two, Walker may be the preferred choice. After all, he is right-handed, and the Dodgers need another solid righty to complement Clayton Kershaw, Hyun-Jin Ryu and Dan Haren. That said, if Paxton were the guy offered, there is little doubt the Dodgers would be agreeable.
The question is: Do the Mariners go after a slugger with one year left on his contract like Yoenis Cespedes or Justin Upton or add a guy like Kemp who can be a central part of the lineup with Robinson Cano for the next several seasons?
True, the amount of money Zduriencik would have to commit to is greater for a guy like Kemp, but the cost in talent will likely be the same in either scenario. And aren't the M's trying to build a roster for the next few seasons?
If so, Kemp is the guy.
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Cincinnati Reds Acquire Yoenis Cespedes from Boston Red Sox
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Cincinnati Reds Get: OF Yoenis Cespedes
Boston Red Sox Get: SP Mat Latos
Overview
Following the acquisitions of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, the Boston Red Sox have a wealth of options when it comes to making a trade in order to improve their pitching staff, including moving Yoenis Cespedes. ESPN.com’s Buster Olney (subscription required) shares his thoughts:
"The Red Sox could hold him [Cespedes] and work to place him in right field. But of all the players who could be Boston surplus, he could be the most likely to move, with just a year remaining before he reaches free agency; he’s set to make $10.5 million in 2015… For a team looking for a one-year infusion of power, such as Seattle or Cincinnati, Cespedes could be an attractive target.
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As Cespedes relates to the Reds, Mat Latos, who MLB.com’s Anthony Castrovince posited could be available according to “rival executives,” would be a fine return.
In fact, it's a perfect fit.
Latos is a legitimate No. 2 starter when healthy and would immediately contribute. Both Cespedes and Latos are in the last year of their contracts. And their salaries next season are relatively comparable, with Cespedes set to earn $10.5 million and Latos projected by MLBTradeRumors.com to get $8.4 million in arbitration.
Heck, even if the Red Sox didn't add Ramirez, who is slated to play left field, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, they still have too many outfielders, according to Fox Sports’ Rob Neyer. Trading Cespedes for Latos satisfies both sides.
Then again, trading Cespedes to any number of teams looking for right-handed power is a wise play. It just so happens the Reds have a guy who satisfies a need.
Unless otherwise noted, all traditional, team and advanced statistics are courtesy of FanGraphs.com and Baseball-Reference.com. Contract information pulled from Cots Contracts. Transaction, injury and game information are courtesy of MLB.com.
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