MLB Trade Rumors: Zack Greinke and 15 Untouchables Who Could Be Moved
This Major League Baseball offseason, while slow to build up, has started to make many large splashes. Recently, Adam Dunn signed a contract with the White Sox, and Troy Tulowitzki agreed to a massive extension with the Rockies.
While free agents are being signed, players are being traded. What is particularly interesting about the rumor mill for trades this year is that many of the players there were once considered untouchable. No one saw Jose Reyes leaving the Mets five years ago, or even last year, and likewise for Zack Greinke.
These are the 15 players who are no longer untouchable, and, as a result, are the target of potential trades.
Zack Greinke
1 of 15
Even when Greinke was going 5-17 in a season, the Royals knew they had something and held on to him, and that resulted in a Cy Young win in 2009.
This past year, however, he again slumped, going 10-14. His name has been big in trade discussions, and the Royals are looking to get what they can for him.
As for where he would land, the Yankees have popped up, but there's absolutely no chance of that happening. The best bets are the Rangers and the Twins, if they do decide they are interested, but the Royals are not going to trade Greinke to an AL Central foe unless the offer is incredible.
Prince Fielder
2 of 15
Prince Fielder was once the rising face of the Milwaukee franchise. Now, he's looking for a huge payday in 2011, to the point where the Brewers are going to get what they can for him now.
Since he had a down year, there's always the chance that he's a trade-deadline deal rather than dealt now.
His best options won't be clear until the dust settles with the available power hitters on the free agent market, so I can't say for certain where he would end up if he is traded; pretty much whichever team gives the best offer will get him.
David Wright
3 of 15
To start off, I don't think David Wright's going anywhere. Any team that tries would have to give up far too much.
That said, Wright was long considered untouchable, but Mets GM Sandy Alderson has stated that there are no untouchables on the Mets roster.
Anyone that's looking for an upper-level third baseman would jump at the chance to grab him—namely, anyone who's trying to get Beltre but will be left out. Like I said, though, there's a 99 percent chance Wright's staying on the Mets.
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Jose Reyes
4 of 15
While Wright's staying on the Mets, I can't necessarily say the same for Jose Reyes.
Alderson did say that he could not see giving David Wright to anyone (and Ike Davis and Jason Bay), but he said nothing of the sort about Jose Reyes. He's been great when healthy, but injuries have been a concern, and the Mets may try a different direction.
As for where he would end up, the Giants now have an opening where he would fit, and the Blue Jays could always take a shot on him.
Matt Kemp
5 of 15
Last year, Kemp was a rising star that the Dodgers had no interest in trading after a 10th-place MVP finish.
This past year, however, he struggled badly, having some of the worst fielding in the league, alongside struggles with his bat. While the Dodgers are saying they aren't interested in trading him now, he was popping up almost nonstop for much of the year in that regard.
If they do end up trading him, which was more likely under Torre than under Mattingly, the Nationals would be a good fit of the teams that have spoken up.
Jonathan Papelbon
6 of 15
Jonathan Papelbon was long the untouchable closer of the Red Sox. Even though they were grooming Daniel Bard, at the start of this year he still wasn't going anywhere.
After a season in which he struggled, the team is looking to shop him, mainly since he'll be asking for eight figures once he hits free agency.
It will be tough to shop a closer in an off year, and they did tender him, so it's almost guaranteed he's staying. Despite the tender, they may still shop him, and if they do, I could see the Braves taking a shot.
B.J. Upton
7 of 15
Once one of the rising stars of the Rays organization, with the exodus of most of the Rays' talent, Upton is no longer an untouchable piece.
The Rays are looking to rebuild where they can. As with Papelbon, Upton was tendered and is likely not going anywhere, but there's always the possibility.
If he does get traded, possible landing spots include the Red Sox and the Padres.
Paul Konerko
8 of 15
The face of the White Sox once Frank Thomas left, Konerko has been with the team a decade.
With the signing of Adam Dunn, though, suddenly Konerko has gone from untouchable to likely landing elsewhere.
The White Sox want to keep both of them in what would be a very powerful middle of the lineup, but if not, the Orioles or Cubs could grab him.
Adrian Gonzalez
9 of 15
Even now, it's hard to wrap my head around the Padres trading not only their best hitter, but their only really good one.
It seemed like the hitting would be built around him, but with no titles to show for the Padres' efforts, Gonzalez has gone from untouchable to trade bait. The Padres know they can't pay his free-agent salary.
It's almost a given that he'll end up with the Red Sox unless another team makes an incredible offer.
Colby Rasmus
10 of 15
This is a strange one because Rasmus went from untouchable to trade bait, but now it seems like he's back to untouchable again.
The Cardinals aren't going to be trading their rising star unless something is going on behind the scenes in the front office.
If they do, who knows where he will land, since there are a myriad of clubs noting their interest, including the Braves, White Sox and others.
Grady Sizemore
11 of 15
Sizemore was the player it seemed the Indians were building around the past few years, and, as such, he was untouchable.
Now the hitter they're building around is Shin-Soo Choo, not Sizemore, who has been hurt the past couple seasons.
He likely won't leave in the offseason, but he could be traded during 2011 if the offer is right; as a result, it's too early to tell where he would land.
Heath Bell
12 of 15
A closer who is hitting his peak and the place where any trade rumors are hiding behind Adrian Gonzalez, Bell looked like he was going to be the longtime closer of the Padres.
Imagine my surprise when I started seeing trade talks. It's a more realistic possibility for next year's offseason, given that the market for closers is fairly decent.
Still, Bell is 32, and the Padres will try to get what they can for him while he's in his prime.
Pablo Sandoval
13 of 15
Sandoval was all set to be the Giants' next big bat last year, and no one would have thought about trading him.
After struggling this past season, though, and with the Giants infield being potentially pretty deep, if Sandoval doesn't lose weight during the offseason, the Giants may be fed up, and someone might try to pick him up.
There are no trade discussions on Sandoval, though; this one is just speculation, and I highly doubt a trade will happen.
Paul Maholm
14 of 15
The Pirates' first-round pick in 2003 was looking to be the ace that the Pirates have been waiting for.
However, like Zach Duke and others, he has not been contributing. Still, he is one of the better pitchers the Pirates have, and with a farm system packed with pitching, they may try to see if they can get anything for him.
There are no current trade offers, but he was a big name in deadline-deal rumors last year, and you never know what could happen.
Justin Upton
15 of 15
The man who may seem the most irreplaceable, as evident by his huge contract, is being shopped with many teams interested.
It's not a surprise why, as he has shown greatness already, and at 22 years old he still has a lot of upside.
The Nationals have been interested, as have many other teams, but it will depend on how deep the farm systems are and what the Diamondbacks can get in return.
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