MLB Trade Predictions: 10 Hot Heads That May Be on the Move
Competitive fire is something that a general manager loves to see in a player. The drive to succeed and the intensity that accompanies it can be an important part of a recipe for success.
There is, however, a fine line that some players walk, teetering between intense and insane.
Whether it's a result of the fame, pressure, media, teammates or just themselves, players can find themselves losing the battle with their composure.
Many players fitting this bill are on their third, fourth or fifth team, a sure sign that they're worth at least a certain amount of extra hand-holding and perhaps another change of scenery somewhere down the road.
1. Vincente Padilla
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Just a year ago Vincente Padilla was the Los Angeles Dodgers' Opening Day starter. Since then the eccentric pitcher has had his share of conflicts both on and off the field.
When he's on the mound he can be an impactful pitcher. With the ability to change speeds and occasionally drop down into the 50s, Padilla and his $2 million contract could be an easy target if the Dodgers find themselves in the mood to make a move.
2. Frankie Rodriguez
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With 729 strikeouts in 578 innings pitched in his career, Frankie Rodriguez would seem to be a figure that any team would want to hold onto for dear life.
But with the anger issues surrounding K-Rod after his arrest last summer stemming from an assault on his father-in-law, the future of Frankie Rodriguez in the Big Apple is less certain.
Many teams could be interested in his services, but at this point it wouldn't seem out of the question to see him head to Texas in exchange for Michael Young.
3. Andre Ethier
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Andre Ethier's issues appear to be with management more than anything. You can hardly blame the outfielder for wanting to see some stability given the ugly proceedings that have taken place with regards to Frank McCourt and his wife.
Ethier is in the last year of a two-year deal, and he has recently been more vocal in publicizing his desire for certainty with regards to his long-term future.
Since he's not eligible to become a free agent until after 2012, you'd have to think the team will be hedging their bets for now, but if the right deal is placed on Mr. McCourt's desk, who knows what could happen.
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4. Nyjer Morgan
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Even though he was recently moved to the Milwaukee Brewers, it wouldn't be terribly surprising to see Nyjer Morgan moved again down the road.
Morgan has a notoriously hot temper that has gotten him suspended multiple times and had plenty to do with his departure from Washington.
He does have the raw talent that could make him a very impactful outfielder in this league, but the Brewers may not have enough of a need to keep him around as the season progresses.
5. Yunel Escobar
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It was in part his perceived 'bad attitude' that sent Yunel Escobar from the Atlanta Braves to the Toronto Blue Jays.
And while Escobar played decently after coming north of the border in batting .275 with 65 hits in 60 games, it will take more than that for the Blue Jays to commit to him long-term.
Escobar has gotten off to a good start in 2011, but the Blue Jays will need to weigh whether or not they think he's worth the trouble in deciding on keeping Escobar around past the 2011 season or cutting ties while they can still get something in return.
6. Carlos Zambrano
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Are we witnessing a new Carlos Zambrano?
After watching Zambrano shake off some bad defensive effort from teammates in the final days of spring training, it would seem as though the man infamous for dugout tirades may be changing his tone.
Don't be so sure that we won't see the 'old' Zambrano return at some point. It's easy to shrug off a performance in spring training, but if the Cubs lose ground in the NL Central and Zambrano fails to win games, it could get ugly.
The only predicament for the organization may be finding a suitable trade package that would give them a decent return on their investment.
7. Joba Chamberlain
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Joba Chamberlain at one point appeared to be a consistent player in the Yankees starting rotation. Ultimately, however, moments of brilliance would give way to frustrating outings that would ultimately get him demoted to the bullpen.
Whether it be his 2008 DUI arrest, publicly displayed weight issues entering spring training or losing composure when given the ball in pressure situations, frustration appears to be owned by both sides.
With the depth that the Yankees appear to have in their pitching staff and in their farm system, moving Chamberlain could be an option, as he's still a pitcher with plenty of potential that could be beneficial to teams in need.
8. Milton Bradley
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Milton Bradley has been through so many ups and downs that it's sometimes hard to believe that he still finds himself on a Major League roster.
After a 2010 season that included a .205 batting average in 73 games and a trip to the restricted list, Bradley was eager to put the past behind him.
Even though he seems to like the scenery in Seattle, low productivity could push the Mariners to make a move. Bradley has batted better than .290 in four seasons, so it's not out of the question to think that a ninth team may be interested in giving Bradley a chance—the biggest obstacle would be his $12 million 2011 salary.
9. Jose Reyes
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In what could be a turbulent season for the Mets, Jose Reyes might just find himself in a different uniform before the calendar turns to 2012.
The speedy shortstop—that at one point got into a fight with former Mets great Keith Hernandez on the team plane—is in the last year of his contract, and while some hope that the team re-signs Reyes, it seems likely that the team will ship him off in exchange for future gains.
10. Manny Ramirez
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It may just be 'Manny being Manny', but many teams have grown tired enough of the antics that Manny Ramirez displays to ship him out time and time again.
The Tampa Bay Rays took a chance on Ramirez, reuniting him with former Red Sox teammate Johnny Damon.
The pair could provide some entertainment for Rays fans, but with the Yankees and Red Sox poised to battle for the AL East crown Manny's bat could be headed to a contender if the Rays decide to throw in the towel.
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