MLB Trade Ideas Based on Latest Offseason Week 2 News, Rumors and Speculation
We've already seen a handful of trades since the World Series came to an end, most recently a Monday deal that found the Los Angeles Dodgers trading veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz to the Seattle Mariners in exchange for left-handed reliever Vidal Nuno.
Odds are that won't be the last trade that either of those teams make, as we'll dig into on the pages that follow. The rumor mill may just be starting to crank up for what could be an offseason full of swaps between clubs, but that doesn't mean there's no immediate speculation to dissect.
Keep in mind these proposed deals are only ideas and speculation. Unless otherwise noted, there's no indication any of them have actually been discussed.
J.D. Martinez Gets Traded to the Toronto Blue Jays
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Detroit Tigers Get: OF Anthony Alford, SS Bo Bichette and C/DH Max Pentecost
Toronto Blue Jays Get: RF J.D. Martinez
The Rumor/Speculation
Late last month, Detroit general manager Al Avila told the Detroit Free Press' Anthony Fenech that he didn't "foresee any talks of a long-term contract [for J.D. Martinez] at this point," leaving the 29-year-old outfielder's future as a member of the Tigers in doubt as he heads into his walk year.
More recently, Martinez made Ken Rosenthal's list of the top 10 trade candidates, with the Fox Sports scribe echoing Fenech's belief that the outfielder was "the most likely [Tiger] to be traded."
Why It Makes Sense for the Tigers
Detroit could set a high price on Martinez and hang on to him until next season's non-waiver trade deadline, but in doing so, it would be adding the risk of injury or a prolonged slump crushing his value as a trade chip. If the Tigers are going to trade him, the offseason is the time to do it.
The Tigers add a trio of intriguing prospects in this deal, though none are ready to contribute in the majors.
Anthony Alford, named a top-100 prospect by MLB.com (No. 86), is a stud athlete with all the tools to stick in center field, while Bo Bichette, a second-round pick in the 2016 draft, has the makings of a dynamic, offensive-minded shortstop.
A pair of shoulder surgeries may have pushed Max Pentecost permanently out from behind the plate, but the former first-round pick (11th overall in 2014) has the offensive potential to be an impact player as a designated hitter or first baseman.
Why It Makes Sense for the Blue Jays
Martinez isn't the "athletic, speedy left-handed hitter" Sportsnet's Shi Davidi believes would be a focal point for the team to add in the offseason, but with Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Michael Saunders all heading for free agency, the Blue Jays need to add at least one impact bat to their lineup.
Dealing away three prospects is a hefty price to pay for what might not amount to anything more than a one-year rental, but none of the players heading to Detroit factor into the team's immediate plans, and the Jays could certainly pursue an extension with the 29-year-old during the regular season.
Zack Cozart Gets Traded to the Seattle Mariners
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Cincinnati Reds Get: RHP Dan Altavilla, LHP Paul Fry and OF Luis Liberato
Seattle Mariners Get: SS Zack Cozart
The Rumor/Speculation
Cincinnati and Seattle nearly completed a trade involving Zack Cozart at the non-waiver trade deadline, per Bob Dutton of the Tacoma News Tribune. Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe suggested that the two sides will revisit those talks during the offseason.
Why It Makes Sense for the Reds
Moving Cozart will create regular playing time for middle infielder Jose Peraza, who has been blocked by a pair of veteran middle infielders since arriving in Cincinnati.
Dan Altavilla and Paul Fry immediately improve what was baseball's worst bullpen in 2016, while Luis Liberato gives the club a potentially dynamic all-around corner outfielder, though he's still raw and not yet ready to contribute.
Why It Makes Sense for the Mariners
Ketel Marte took a step backward in his development last season. Adding Cozart is not only an upgrade at a premium position for Seattle, but it'll allow the club to send Marte, who can still be the team's shortstop of the future, back to Triple-A to work on his game.
Ryan Braun Gets Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
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Los Angeles Dodgers Get: OF Ryan Braun
Milwaukee Brewers Get: 1B/3B Edwin Rios, RHP Brandon McCarthy, RHP Trevor Oaks and OF Yasiel Puig
The Rumor/Speculation
Back in mid-September, USA Today's Bob Nightengale reported the following:
"Braun and Puig were about 20 minutes from being traded for one another two weeks ago, according to several executives with direct knowledge of their trade talks, but the teams ran out of time at the Aug. 31 trade deadline. ...
Braun was being traded to the Dodgers, who would pay the entire $76 million in his contract, for outfielder Yasiel Puig, injured veteran pitcher Brandon McCarthy and prospects.
Negotiations lasted all the way to the 11:59 p.m. ET waivers trade deadline on Aug. 31. Officials vowed to revisit the talks again this winter.
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Monday, Rosenthal acknowledged as much, writing, "The Dodgers tried to acquire Braun in July and then again in August. No one should be surprised if the third time is a charm."
Why It Makes Sense for the Brewers
Replacing Braun's long-term commitment (four years, $80 million) with a pair of two-year pacts, belonging to McCarthy and Puig, which are worth a combined $40.5 million, frees up significant future payroll for Milwaukee.
McCarthy remains a solid starter when healthy, something the Brewers sorely need, while Puig could finally start to meet his potential with regular playing time away from the pressure and spotlight of Los Angeles.
The Brewers also pick up a pair of closer-than-not prospects in strong-armed slugger Edwin Rios and potential mid-rotation starter Trevor Oaks. Both could conceivably contribute in Milwaukee next season.
Why It Makes Sense for the Dodgers
Braun's combined 131 wRC+ (weighted runs created plus) over the past two seasons is eighth-best among qualified outfielders, ahead of the likes of Dexter Fowler, Mark Trumbo, Adam Eaton and Carlos Gonzalez.
It'd cost Los Angeles far more financially to sign a comparable free agent—and nearly as much, if not more, to trade for a comparable player.
Braun's checkered past and injury history are concerning, but the Dodgers add a consistent run producer to the middle of their lineup without sacrificing anything significant.
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Wade Davis Gets Traded to the Washington Nationals
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Kansas City Royals Get: RHPs Pedro Avila, Erick Fedde and Austin Voth
Washington Nationals Get: RHP Wade Davis
The Rumor/Speculation
A team source in Kansas City told Cafardo that the Royals are willing to trade Wade Davis in exchange for controllable starting pitching.
Why It Makes Sense for the Royals
Kansas City gets the controllable pitching it seeks, adding a trio of arms with varying degrees of upside to its ranks. Erick Fedde and Austin Voth could be part of the team's rotation at some point in 2017, with Fedde having the higher ceiling of the two, while Pedro Avila is still a few years away from helping.
Either Kelvin Herrera or Joakim Soria can take over in the ninth inning for the Royals.
Why It Makes Sense for the Nationals
With the team needing to work out an extension with Bryce Harper over the next two years, making a lucrative, long-term investment in a free-agent closer simply may not be something Washington wants to do.
Trading for Davis, who enters the final year of his deal with a $10 million salary, avoids that scenario.
While both Fedde and Voth could have been depth options for the team's rotation in 2017, the Nationals still have their two best pitching prospects, Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez, waiting in the wings.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts (via Baseball Prospectus).
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