MLB Winter Trade Market: Starting Pitching

This winter's free agent market for starting pitching in Major League Baseball is especially thin, with John Lackey being the only real headliner.

Other pitchers, like Rich Harden and Randy Wolf, might fill out the middle or bottom of a team's rotation, but some teams are looking to upgrade the front of their rotation.

That's where the trade market begins.

The economy has stripped teams of a lot of the financial flexibility, and big contracts are becoming as unpopular as ever. There also happens to be a fairly large number of pitchers in the final years of their contracts, making them potential short-term fixes for teams that feel they're close to taking the next step.

Let's take a look at some pitchers that will probably get traded at some point before August (Roy Halladay) and some other arms that might become available.

Roy Halladay, Toronto

Remaining Contract: 2010 - $15.75M

2010 Age: 33 (May 14)

2009 Stats: 17-10 208 Ks 1.13 WHIP 2.79 ERA

Reasons to deal: Um...the Blue Jays can't afford him, and run the risk of watching the best pitcher in their franchise's history walk out the door for nothing. I would be shocked if he's in Toronto in April.

Josh Beckett, Boston

Remaining Contract: 2010 - $12M

2010 Age: 30 (May 15)

2009 Stats: 17-6 199 Ks 1.19 WHIP 3.86 ERA

Reasons to deal: Boston has plenty of young starting pitching, and has a lot of big contracts in their lineup that can't stay healthy, can't perform, or both. Beckett might become a trade chip if the BoSox decide to make a trade for a bat.

They'd like to unload dead weight like Mike Lowell or JD Drew, but not many teams are biting on guys that might give you 100-110 games. Beckett's still young enough that he could be a cheaper alternative to Roy Halladay.

Javier Vazquez, Atlanta

Remaining Contract: 2010 - $11.5M

2010 Age: 34 (July 25)

2009 Stats: 15-10 238 Ks 1.03 WHIP 2.87 ERA

Reasons to deal: The Braves have six starting pitchers under contract, and need a bat. Derek Lowe and Vazquez have been named as candidates, but Vazquez has less left on his contract.

Bronson Arroyo, Cincinnati

Remaining Contract: 2010 - $11M, 2011 - $11M club option ($2M buyout)

2010 Age: 33 (February 24)

2009 Stats: 15-13 127 Ks 1.27 WHIP 3.84 ERA

Reasons to deal: He was fantastic down the stretch for the Reds and has a huge salary. The Reds are looking to cut payroll, and nobody wants Aaron Harang. Arroyo could become a very popular second-tier trade prospect because of his buyout after the 2010 season.

Edwin Jackson, Detroit

Remaining Contract: 2010 - arbitration eligible ($2,2M in 2009)

2010 Age: 26 (27 on September 9)

2009 Stats: 13-9 161 Ks 1.26 WHIP 3.62 ERA

Reasons to deal: The Tigers are in Detroit, and have lost a ton of their revenue. With escalating contracts carrying a ton of weight on their roster, they're reportedly looking to deal some younger players with mid-level salaries (Curtis Granderson - $6M) and some players that will be arbitration eligible and could get a substantial raise, like Jackson.

Both Jackson and Justin Verlander could get considerable raises from an arbitrator the next couple winters, and the Tigers would prefer to keep their ace.