MLB Trade Rumors: Eight Prince Fielder Deals That Make Sense For Both Sides
While all of the big chips in free agency have fallen this season, a team looking to make a big splash will need to turn to the trade market, and there may be no more intriguing trade chip than Prince Fielder.
Whether he is traded in the offseason or at the deadline, it seems a foregone conclusion that Fielder is on his way out of Milwaukee with the Brewers unable to re-sign him.
So here are eight deals that make sense, not only for the team acquiring Fielder, but also for the Brewers, as they look to bolster their pitching and fill what will then be a hole at first base.
Angels
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Why The Angels Are A Good Fit
After missing out on the services of Carl Crawford, the Angels are left with money to spend and still in need of an impact player on offense. While Fielder certainly does not bring the same skill set to the lineup that Crawford would have, there is little question he would immediately improve the Angels attack.
Who The Brewers Could Get
1B Mark Trumbo
A former 18th round pick back in 2004, Trumbo broke out last season, and would be Fielder's heir apparent as he is still just 24-years old. Last season, in Class-AAA, Trumbo posted an amazing line of .301 BA, 36 HR, 122 RBI, as he established himself as the Angels top power prospect.
SP Garrett Richards
Richards is arguably the Angels top pitching prospect, and while he is still a ways away at just 22 and having not played above High Class-A, he is well on his way after going 12-5, 3.52 ERA, 9.4 K/9 last season. He could be a future ace if he continues to develop as he is.
Athletics
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Why The Athletics Are A Good Fit
The Athletics are certainly not the first team that comes to mind when thinking of a team going after a big money player, but the fact of the matter is the A's have been bad for a while now. A move for Fielder would immediately bolster what has been one of the weakest in all of baseball the past few seasons, and with a number of solid young arms, the A's could put together a solid package.
Who The Brewers Could Get
SP Gio Gonzalez
Still just 24-years old, Gonzalez broke out last season, winning 15 games and posting a solid 3.23 ERA. Normally, that would make a player untouchable, but with guys like Brett Anderson and Trevor Cahill fronting the rotation the A's can afford to part with him.
1B Daric Barton
Barton has come along slowly since being handed the starting first base job as a 22-year old back in 2008, but last season he began to show some of the promise that made him one of the team's top prospects. Along with setting career highs across the board with a line of .273 BA, 10 HR, 57 RBI, Barton also led the AL with 110 walks while posting a .393 OBP.
Blue Jays
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Why The Blue Jays Are A Good Fit
The Jays are a team on the rise right now, and they have a wealth of young pitching which makes them an ideal trade partner for a Brewers team looking for arms. With Lyle Overbay gone via free agency, the Blue Jays now have a hole at first base, and teaming Fielder with last year's home run king Jose Bautista would give the Jays a formidable power duo.
Who The Brewers Could Get
SP Kyle Drabek
Drabek was the key piece of the deal that sent Roy Halladay to the Phillies, and any deal that the Blue Jays make would almost certainly center around him. After a 14-9, 2.94 ERA season in Class-AA, he earned a call-up last season and looks to be ready to contribute at the big league level this coming season. He projects as a top of the rotation starter.
1B Adam Lind
Lind came out of nowhere to hit .305 BA, 35 HR, 114 RBI in 2009, Lind fell back to Earth in 2010, hitting just .237 BA, 23 HR, 72 RBI in roughly the same number of at bats. He would give the Brewers a viable replacement for Fielder who could be in line for a bounce back season, while the Blue Jays would be freeing up roughly $18 million that they could then use to work out an extension with Fielder.
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Diamondbacks
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Why The Diamondback Are A Good Fit
The D'Backs have fallen on hard times the last few seasons after ranking among the MLB's best not so long ago. They still have a wealth of young talent in their lineup, with guys like Stephen Drew and Justin Upton still among the game's rising stars. However, after trading third baseman Mark Reynolds and not re-signing first baseman Adam LaRoche, there is clearly a lack of power in the lineup.
Who The Brewers Could Get
SP Wade Miley
One of the Diamondbacks top prospects after being selected in the first round in 2008, Miley was terrific following a call-up to Class-AA last season, going 5-2, with a 1.98 ERA in 13 starts, and might not be far off from cracking the rotation. The fact that he is left handed only adds to his value.
1B Brandon Allen
Allen is not nearly the player that Fielder is, but he has legitimate power potential, after hitting 74 HR over his last three seasons in the minors, and he is ready to make the jump to the big leagues in 2011. Despite his low BA, just .261 last season, he has good plate discipline, drawing 83 walks and posting a .405 OBP.
Dodgers
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Why The Dodgers Are A Good Fit
After trading Manny Ramirez last season, and after a down year from Matt Kemp, the Dodgers are looking for a little more punch offensively, and have been shopping first baseman James Loney who, although he is a steady hitter, does not provide much power at the first base position. Fielder would give them the bat they need to once again make them not only contenders in the NL West but in the National League.
Who The Brewers Could Get
1B James Loney
In Loney, the Brewers would get a young, and much more cost-effective option at first base. While he does not provide the power numbers that Fielder does, he is still a solid hitter, and with Ryan Braun and Corey Hart still in the lineup, he would not have much pressure to produce.
RP Jonathan Broxton
Broxton is among the hardest throwers in all of baseball, and he has emerged as a top tier closer. His addition would only strengthen the Brewers pen, and would allow the Brewers to boast a formidable 7th-8th-9th combination when paired with John Axford and Kameron Loe. The Dodgers could then replace Broxton with Ronaldo Belisario or one of their young arms in the closer role.
Nationals
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Why The Nationals Are A Good Fit
The Nationals are a team on the rise, and the have money to spend after making a run at Cliff Lee. After losing Adam Dunn to free agency in the offseason, the team could certainly use a powerful bat to complement Ryan Zimmerman, and they could have the best chance of anyone of signing Fielder to a long-term deal if they acquire him.
Who The Brewers Could Get
SP Jordan Zimmerman
Zimmerman's rapid ascent to the majors was halted as he underwent Tommy John surgery in August of 2009. However, he bounced back well last season, with a 1.59 ERA in 10 minor league starts before making seven big league starts to close out the season. He should be back in full force in 2011, and he is still just 24 and should continue to improve.
SP/RP Collin Balester
Balester made 22 starts over 2008 and 2009 for the Nationals before appearing solely out of the bullpen last season where he pitched well in 17 appearances, posting a 2.57 ERA and 12.0 K/9. Whether his future is in the rotation or in the pen, he can contribute immediately in any fashion.
Orioles
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Why The Orioles Are A Good Fit
The AL East has obviously been a three-team race of late, and if the Orioles hope to claw their way back into contention, a big time deal would be a good place to start. While the Orioles offense has been a weak spot the past few seasons, they have no shortage of good, young pitching which is exactly what the Brewers are looking for.
Who The Brewers Could Get
SP Zach Britton
Britton is perhaps the Orioles top pitching prospect, and after a 10-7 season in which he made it as high as Class-AAA at the age of 22. Britton is ready to contribute at the major league level now, and has the ceiling to be a top of the rotation starter in the not too distant future.
1B Brandon Snyder
Another youngster at just 23, Snyder got a taste of the big leagues last season, and has showed decent power potential in the minor leagues. He has a solid six seasons under his belt after being drafted out of high school, and could make a run at the starting first base job in Milwaukee if this trade were made.
Rockies
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Why The Rockies Are A Good Fit
There is no question that Todd Helton has meant a lot to the Rockies over the past 14 seasons, but his days of being a top flight producer at first base are behind him. That said, he is still due quite a bit of money, and is signed through the 2013 season. However, the Rockies are built to win right now, and the addition of Fielder, if only for a season, could push them over the top.
Who The Brewers Could Get
SP Jason Hammel
Hammel, along with Jhoulys Chacin, emerged last season and helped give the Rockies a formidable rotation behind Ubaldo Jimenez and Jorge De La Rose. He would help the Brewers immediately, and they would be able to control him until 2014 when he first becomes a free agent. Chacin is the more attractive option, but the Rockies won't want to part with the 22-year old.
SP Tyler Matzek
Matzek, the Rockies first round pick in the 2009 Draft, was impressive in his first pro action last season, going 5-1, 2.92 ERA in 18 Class-A starts. He is still raw at just 19-years old, but he is arguably the Rockies top prospect and would certainly be hard for the Brewers to pass up.
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