MLB Trade Rumors: How Much Would It Cost To Obtain Albert Pujols and Others?
As a typical fan, you always wonder what if? What if my favorite team made the postseason? What if my favorite team made a move to sign this hot name off the market? What if the team I hated had it's franchise player suffer an injury like a torn rotator cuff?
Well it goes to show you we live in a world of what ifs and we always seems to wonder, what if.
Quoting the narrator for the 30 for 30 commercials, what if I told you what it took to obtain a player such as Albert Pujols or Hanley Ramirez? It would be a team's dream to have one of those players and in light of the recent Pujols contract deadline, we examine his worth and other stars' worth and what it would take to acquire his talents.
Now in this instance, we examine baseball's biggest names who might just find themselves out of town if their teams can't win or sign a long-term deal to stay and what trade package it might take to land them. Some scenarios are likely, some are just thought but so that we just to stick to the real world, we will only look at those with the slightest chance of being traded in the near future.
Let's find out what price teams would have to pay if they were to trade for the superstar they desire.
Albert Pujols
1 of 10
Don't be so sad Pujols, if your St. Louis Cardinals can't make you baseball's first $300 million man, than you'll have to go somewhere where it's possible for you to make that much. While the sexy names such as the Red Sox and Yankees are likely out of the running due to big moves to first base (Gonzalez and Teixeira) and in other areas, they're is expected to be a bidding war for his services amongst other teams and there will be one who will overpay for him.
If the trade scenarios below look eye popping to you, lets take a moment to digest this, Pujols is baseball's best player, hands down, he is your number one guy to take in a fantasy draft and the guy who will always hit .300 or better, with at least 30 home runs and 100 RBIs. Furthermore, "The Machine" is a three time NL MVP, six time Silver Slugger and two time Gold Glover.
Interested Teams: Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, Chicago Cubsand Washington Nationals
Nationals: Pujols to WSH for P Stephen Strasburg, C/OF Bryce Harper, and P Drew Storen.
Giants: Pujols to SF for C Buster Posey, P Madison Bumgarner, SS Ehire Adrianza, 1B Brandon Belt, OF Gary Brown, and P Zack Wheeler.
Cubs: Pujols to CHC for OF Tyler Colvin, P Carlos Marmol, SS Starlin Castro, P Jeff Samardzjia, OF Brett Jackson, and P Trey McNutt.
Dodgers: Pujols to LAD for OF Matt Kemp, P Jonathan Broxton, P Zach Lee, 1B James Loney, and P Scott Elbert
Angels: Pujols to LAA for 1B Kendry Morales, P Garrett Richards, P Scott Kazmir, and OF Peter Bourjos
Felix Hernandez
2 of 10
Now, while King Felix signed a long-term deal to stay Seattle last January, ($10 million in 2011, $18.5 million in 2012, $19.5 million in 2013 and $20 million in 2014.) Seattle knows their ace is expected to get a hefty pay raise in 2012 with teams like their AL West foes Rangers and Athletics making big moves in order to compete during the tenure of the deal.
With Eric Wedge as manager such move won't right away but if a hungry team comes calling, can Seattle really turn it down?
Interested Teams: New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers, and New York Mets
Mets: Hernandez to NYM for P Jenrry Mejia, SS Wilmer Flores, OF Fernando Martinez, P Mike Pelfrey, and 1B Ike Davis
Rangers: Hernandez to TEX for SS Jurickson Profar, P Martin Perez, P Neftali Feliz, and P Derek Holland
Red Sox: Hernandez to BOS for SS Jose Iglesias, P Jonathan Papelbon, P Anthony Ranaudo, P Drake Britton, and OF Jacoby Ellsbury
Yankees: Hernandez to NYY for C Jesus Montero, P Dellin Betances, P Manny Banuelos, P Hector Noesi and P Joba Chamberlain.
Ichiro Suzuki
3 of 10
If Felix Hernandez goes, there is a strong chance Ichiro does as well. It would hurt the Mariners dearly if they had to trade their fan favorite who has been about the most consistent player in the major leagues right up there with Albert Pujols since the new millennium began. While Ichiro is a hitting machine, he might not command the same value as Pujols or Ramirez because of his age (37) and the lack of power. However this is a hypothetical, we know the chances Ichiro is traded are very slim because he means a lot to the franchise and fan base in Seattle.
If Ichiro is indeed on the move, the only landing spots would seem to be on the West Coast and perhaps the Big Apple with the Yankees where Hideki Matsui broke in.
Interested Teams: San Francisco Giants, Los Angeles Angels, and New York Yankees
Yankees: Ichiro to NYY for C Jesus Montero, OF Brett Gardner, P Joba Chamberlain, and P Hector Noesi.
Angels: Ichiro to LAA for OF Mike Trout, C Mike Napoli, P Jordan Walden, and 3B Kaleb Cowart.
Giants: Ichiro to SF for 1B Brandon Belt, OF Francisco Peguro, P Kendry Flores and P Jose Casilla.
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Prince Fielder
4 of 10
The Milwaukee Brewers just hired hired a new manager, and acquired a former Cy Young pitcher in Zack Greinke, so they are hardly sellers at this point. Still we can't negate the fact the Brewers have been dangling Fielder out there for the right price which they haven't found. Each odd year season, Fielder seems to recover his stride and have better numbers so perhaps he might build up his value in 2011 for a hefty Scott Boras-ed contract or a trade.
Interested Teams: Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, and San Francisco Giants
Giants: Fielder to SF for 1B Brandon Belt, P Zack Wheeler, P Jose Casilla, and OF Gary Brown
Angels: Fielder to LAA for C/1B Mike Napoli, OF Gary Trout, P Garrett Richards, and P Jordan Walden
Dodgers: Fielder to LAD for 1B James Loney, SS Dee Gordan, P Kenley Jansen, and OF Trayvon Robinson
Hanley Ramirez
5 of 10
The Florida Marlins are entering a new stadium in 2012 so they won't be dealing their biggest players for the foreseeable future but what if Jeffrey Loria went crazy or he got into a confrontation with Hanley like he did with former Marlins manager Joe Girardi which led to his firing in 2006? Of course the chances this happens are that of winning the Powerball jackpot and catching a Marlin on the open sea on the same day.
Ramirez would seem to garner serious interest by the two AL East rivals, Red Sox who have reportedly made plays to acquire him back in recent years and the Yankees who want to find their Derek Jeter successor.
Interested Teams: Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees
Yankees: Ramirez to NYY for C Jesus Montero, P Joba Chamberlain, P Dellin Betances, P Manny Banuelos, P Hector Noesi, and SS Cito Culver
Red Sox: Ramirez to BOS for SS Jose Iglesias, OF Jacoby Ellsbury, P Daniel Bard, and P Felix Doubront, and P Brandon Workman
Josh Johnson
6 of 10
I go back to what I said about Hanley Ramirez, the chances JJ gets traded anytime within the next couple of seasons remains very slim. However, when you look at the NL East, it's obvious many are quick to appoint the Braves and Phillies the top dogs of the division with the Mets and Nationals dangling behind the Fish for the third wheel.
Considering the Phillies' short window of opportunity, about three seasons at the most and the Braves with the aging starting rotation, the Marlins could deal Josh Johnson along with Hanley Ramirez for an array of top prospects. I as a fan would not be happy with that considering what happened back in 2007 with Miguel Cabrera but the front office has learned it's lesson and would demand a king's ransom in return.
Interested Teams: Texas Rangers, New York Yankees, and Boston Red Sox
Red Sox: Johnson to BOS for P Anthony Ranaudo, P Drake Britton, P Junichi Tazawa, and P Jonathan Papelbon
Yankees: Johnson to NYY for P Andrew Brackman, P Manuel Banuelos, P Dellin Betances, and P Joba Chamberlain.
Rangers: Johnson to TEX for P Neftali Feliz, P Derek Holland, and P Tanner Scheppers
Grady Sizemore
7 of 10
Let's face it, Cleveland knows that they are headed for another de facto losing season partly due to their inactivity this offseason. They haven't been buyers or sellers and have just laid low and you can't blame them. The White Sox, Tigers, and Twins have made moves to be contenders in the division while the Royals have conceded defeat and dealt their ace Zack Greinke while he value was high.
Grady Sizemore has fallen off the radar as one of the better players in the game and with that the Indians have fallen towards the cellar of the AL Central. Sizemore has only played a total of 139 games between 2009 and 2010 and as hit .239 with 18 home runs, 77 RBIs, and 17 stolen bases. Compare that to his 2008 numbers which consisted of a .268 batting average, 33 home runs, 90 RBIs, and 38 stolen bases in 157 games. His value has diminished and at this rate the Indians are hoping for a rebound to get that value back up to the point they can get a better return but it'll be hard.
Interested Teams: Atlanta Braves, New York Mets (if Beltran is off their hands), Florida Marlins, Chicago Cubs, and Washington Nationals
Nationals: Sizemore to WAS for OF Roger Bernadina, OF Eury Perez, 1B Chris Marrero, and P Cole Kimball
Cubs: Sizemore to CHC for OF Brett Jackson, P Robinson Lopez, and P Alberto Cabrera.
Marlins: Sizemore to FLA for SS Osvaldo Martinez, OF Scott Cousins, P Elih Villanueva
and P Brad Hand
Mets: Sizemore to NYM for SS Wilmer Flores, OF Fernando Martinez, P Juan Urbina, and P Armando Rodriguez
Braves: Sizemore to ATL for SS Matt Lipka, P Arodys Vizcaino, P Randall Delgado, and OF Cory Harrilchak
Andrew McCutchen
8 of 10
The Pirates have had as bad a curse as the Red Sox did with Babe Ruth even though they have only had it for 18 seasons. Yes, 18 seasons, in that time period we've seen Barry Bonds leave Pittsburgh to the Bay Area of San Francisco only to become the career leader in home runs, a strike shortened season in 1994, an expansion team in the Marlins to win a pair of World Series titles (one of with Jim Leyland, the last Pirates manager to take the team to the playoffs), a move to a crowded NL Central (with six teams over the usual five), and Pirates see their best players leave like Jason Bay, Freddy Sanchez, Nate McLouth via trade in recent seasons.
Let's take a look at what could happen with Andrew McCutchen, a player who could give the Pirates other players to build around such as sophomore Pedro Alvarez.
Interested Teams*: Atlanta Braves, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, and New York Mets
Mets: McCutchen to NYM for SS Wilmer Flores, OF Fernando Martinez, and P Jenrry Mejia.
Cubs: McCutchen to CHC for OF Brett Jackson, P Chris Carpenter (minor leaguer), and P Hayden Simpson
Red Sox: McCutchen to BOS for OF Jacoby Ellsbury, P Stolmy Pimentel, C Luis Exposito.
Yankees: McCutchen to NYY for C Jesus Montero, P Andrew Brackman, and OF Slade Heathcott
Braves: McCutchen to ATL for P Mike Minor, OF Cory Harrilchak, and P Brett Oberholtzer
* There is expected to be a fair share of teams in on McCutchen's services partly due to a lack of a longer-term deal (currently year to year with Pittsburgh) but the most notable and aggressive teams vying for his services include..
Justin Upton
9 of 10
The Arizona Diamondbacks dangled Justin Upton in trade discussions in November but couldn't find a price they liked and instead dealt their free swinging third baseman Mark Reynolds to Baltimore. There is no denying that the Diamondbacks are in a rebuilding mode which is something they would like to go into with more pieces. In the past year, they've lost Adam LaRoche, Brandon Webb, Dan Haren, Mark Reynolds whether through free agency or trades and now they look to build around shortstop Stephen Drew and outfielder Justin Upton, or least that could be case until the trading deadline in July.
Interested Teams: Atlanta Braves, Toronto Blue Jays, New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners
Mariners: Upton to SEA for OF Michael Saunders, IF Nick Franklin, P Taijuan Walker, P Mauricio Robles, and OF James Jones
Yankees: Upton to NYY for P Ivan Nova, IF Brandon Laird, and C Gary Sanchez
Blue Jays: Upton to TOR for C J.P. Arencibia, P Deck McGuire, P Aaron Sanchez, and OF Anthony Gose
Braves: Upton to ATL for P Brandon Beachy, P Mike Minor, and OF Nate McLouth
Joakim Soria
10 of 10
The Royals took the initiative to be a rebuilding team with their trade of Zack Greinke to the Milwaukee Brewers and it's only a matter of time before Joakim Soria gets moved as well. More than likely, Soria will be traded around the July 31st trade deadline so that his value can skyrocket among teams would need a bullpen arm for a postseason run, giving the Royals great incentive to do it then.
Soria's contract with the Royals stretches to 2014 at a bargain price amongst baseball's elite closers with a $4 million salary in 2011 and a three year team option from 2012 to 2014 worth nearly $23 million if all years are exercised by Kansas City.
Interested Teams*: New York Yankees, Philadelphia Phillies, Chicago White Sox, and Washington Nationals
Nationals: Soria to WSH for C Wilson Ramos, IF Danny Espinosa, and P Sammy Solis
White Sox: Soria to CWS for P Gregory Infante, 3B Brent Morel, and P Addison Reed
Phillies: Soria to PHI for 1B Jonathan Singleton, P Brody Colvin, and P Jarred Cosart
Yankees: Soria to NYY for C Jesus Montero and P Ivan Nova
* There is expected to be a boatload of teams in on Soria's services partly due to his team friendly contract but the most notable and aggressive teams vying for his services include..
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