MLB Trade Rumors: Top 10 Trades That Could Shock Hot Stove Crowd
MLB Trade Rumors are starting to swirl all over the Hot Stove.
We just saw a fairly big blockbuster, with Atlanta acquiring Dan Uggla to give the Braves the power right-handed bat they have been seeking.
And with the general managers' winter meetings just around the corner (early December) there should be a handful of big deals on the way.
Check out these 10 possible moves that would shake up the 2011 MLB season.
No. 10: Mike Napoli To The Astros
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In Exchange For: Prospects
Good Move For The Angels? No
Napoli seems to be expendable because they have Jeff Mathis to catch and might be in the market to add a power-hitting first baseman through free agency.
But they may just be making a deal to be making a deal: they lost the division for just the second time in six years, and considering their enormous payroll, there are a lot questions as to why.
Good Move For Houston? Yes
Napoli is a flexible player who can potentially cure two spots in the lineup that were lagging in 2010. They got almost no production, and even less power, out of the Humberto Quintero-Jason Castro duo. And not much out of Brett Wallace at first.
Those are all young players, so they may develop into excellent big leaguers. But in the meantime, Napoli is a proven big leaguer with plenty of power. Houston, who finished dead last in the NL in homers with 108, could certainly use that.
No. 9: Aaron Hill To The Marlins
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In Exchange For: Outfielder Mike Stanton
Good Move For Toronto? No
Hill had an outstanding season in 2009, but his numbers dropped tremendously in 2010: his average fell by 85 points in just a single year. Worse yet, even his power numbers dipped significantly. And that was with Jose Bautista in the lineup leading the majors in home runs.
But one bad season cannot ruin the career of a 28-year-old. Giving up on him after one season would be a huge mistake.
Good Move For Florida? No
The Marlins have to do something to make up for trading Dan Uggla away (for very little). If they don't want to seem like they are in the middle of the a third rebuilding stage (after 1997 and after 2004), they can make this type of move.
Trading for Aaron Hill would be a great move, but not at the expense of parting with a 21-year-old who just finished a pretty good rookie season.
No. 8: Milton Bradley (Back) To Padres
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In Exchange For: Outfielder Will Venable
Good Move For Seattle? Yes
The Mariners are starting over again and they brought in a manager who doesn't have a great history with Bradley...then again, Bradley doesn't have a great history with a lot of managers and a lot of franchises.
But he made over $12 million last year, and he hardly produced last year, barely breaking .200. And he didn't even hit .250 the previous year with the Cubs.
If the Mariners are able to get his contract off the books, they can start to rebuild. And Venable would be a great start.
Good Move For San Diego? No
The Padres must get another bat in the lineup if they want to contend with the Padres, the Rockies and even the Dodgers. They have the pitching to contend, but if they start to slide because of their bats, moving Adrian Gonzalez looks a lot easier.
Bradley has added plenty of pop to plenty of lineups, and his antics have been worth it in Cleveland, LA and Texas. They don't seem likely to pay off a second time around.
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No. 7: Pablo Sandoval To The Orioles
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In Exchange For: Starter Jake Arrieta
Good Move For San Francisco? Yes
Sandoval lost his job late in the 2010 season, after his offensive production decreased drastically (62 points in his batting average). Yet the Giants still won the World Series. That makes him expendable.
The Giants staff is certainly set right now, with Lincecum, Cain, Sanchez, and Bumgarner. But Arrieta is a nice young arm to have and to bring along slowly. He might also be good trade bait for next year's deadline.
Good Move For Baltimore? To Be Determined
Sandoval might be a better fit in the American League, where he can play some third base but primarily be a designated hitter.
He is still very young, just 24. But the Orioles have two young options at third and Luke Scott was a productive DH. If Buck Showalter can help Sandoval lose weight and find his swing, it will be worth it.
No. 6: James Loney To The Rockies
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In Exchange For: Starter Jhoulys Chacin
Good Move For The Dodgers? Yes
The Dodgers wouldn't mind adding another young starter to groom for the future, and Chacin would be a nice get. And he was excellent in September last year. Pairing him with Clayton Kershaw gives the club's rotation a bright spot long after 35-year-old Hiroki Kuroda's new contract runs out.
Good Move For Colorado? Yes
The face of the franchise for the last decade, Todd Helton, turns 38 next year and he's struggled two of the past three seasons. Loney would be a great replacement: his power numbers would increase in Denver and he has been an excellent defensive first baseman the last two seasons, just like Helton was...seven years ago.
No. 5: Carlos Zambrano To The Yankees
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In Exchange For: Prospects
Good Move For The Cubs? Yes
On the surface, the Cubs would be getting fleeced to deal a former ace like Zambrano for prospects alone. But the Cubs are definitely in a rebuilding phase: would they have dealt Derek Lee if they planned on winning in 2011?
Unloading Zambrano's enormous $18 million contract (he doesn't become a free agent until after the 2012 season) is a great move no matter what.
Good Move For The Yankees? Yes
If anyone is willing to gamble on Zambrano it would be the Yankees, especially if they don't haul in Cliff Lee through the free agency market. Javier Vasquez didn't work out last year, and neither did A.J. Burnett. Andy Pettitte might not come back in 2011. This is a chance to fix those holes in the rotation.
No. 4: Carlos Quinten To The Phillies
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In Exchange For: Starter Joe Blanton
Good Move For The White Sox? Yes
The White Sox could use another starter if Freddy Garcia bolts via free agency. They could use another beefy starter. Quentin's power numbers are good (26 homers, 87 RBI), but not good enough to disregard his struggles in the outfield or his .243 average.
And if they bring back Paul Konerko, they don't have to keep Quentin to play first base.
Good Move For Philadelphia? Yes
With Roy Halladay, Roy Oswalt, and Cole Hamels, isn't a fourth starter too much of a luxury? It is if the club loses Jayson Werth in the free agent market.
Quentin isn't nearly as good in the field as Werth, but he is younger and has comparable power numbers.
No. 3: Justin Upton To The Red Sox
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In Exchange For: Starter Daisuke Matsuzaka
Good Move For Arizona? No
The Diamondbacks had the second-worst pitching staff in the National League last year, posting a collective 4.81 ERA.
There is a major question mark regarding the starters, including whether or not they want to bring Brandon Webb back. Rodrigo Lopez is a free agent and they traded away starters Edwin Jackson and Dan Haren during the 2010 season.
That means there is a good chance that Ian Kennedy is the only pitcher on the 2011 team that started 20 games or more for the club a year earlier.
Getting Matsuzaka would add depth and someone to mentor Kennedy, but he's been on the DL each of the past two years and at $10 million per season, they'd be better off re-signing Lopez.
Good Move For Boston? Yes
The Red Sox need to start moving to a younger roster. They didn't achieve that by re-signing David Ortiz and even if they do bring back Victor Martinez, he is going to be 32 in a few weeks.
At 23, Upton is a great fit. He can play the outfield, steal a few bases, and with the Green Monster out there, can collect 40 doubles next season.
No. 2: Carlos Beltran To The TIgers
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In Exchange For: Starter Armando Galarraga and Outfielder Brennan Boesch
Good Move For The Mets? Yes
The Mets are bound to go through changes with a new general manager and a new manager. Unloading Beltran should make some noise in the Big Apple, but they know that if they get anyone major league ready it's worth it. And freeing up those millions of dollars might allow them to land a big fish in the free agent market.
Good Move For Detroit? Yes
Beltran will find a rejuvenation in Detroit under Jim Leyland. And he'll feel slightly less pressure in the Motor City than he did in New York, where the expectations were almost impossible.
The are contenders for the AL Central but with Miguel Cabrera and Beltran in the same lineup, they should be the favorite.
And, even though Galarraga would have struggled to make the Detroit rotation in 2011, his name carries some weight (given the should-be perfect game) and is recognizable to the Mets fans. They get more for him than they probably should.
No. 1: Zack Grienke To The Nationals
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In Exchange For: Prospects
Good Move For Kansas City? No
The Royals don't want to deal the 2009 Cy Young Winner, but if Cliff Lee returns to Texas, there are going to be some teams out there who need to upgrade their rotation.
The Yankees, Red Sox, Phillies, and other big-market teams will try to blow the club away, but Greinke will block those move, not wanting to deal with those markets. Washington is a "big city" but it's a nice compromise.
And because he is only a year removed from his Cy Young season (and did not pitch great in 2010), they may as well get something for Greinke before he becomes a free agent in 2013.
Good Move For Washington? Yes
The Nationals would like to think they can sign Cliff Lee, but that is too much of an uphill climb. They need to do something to offset the loss of Stephen Strasburg and bringing in a former Cy Young winner like Greinke is a great (cheaper) way to do so.
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