Andre Ethier and 15 MLB Stars Who Must Be Traded in 2012

With more and more players being signed, MLB free agency is starting to come to a close this offseason. As a result, looking toward next season, even if there are a couple months until the season begins, makes sense.

A few teams in particular need to look at 2012 especially closely. Much like the St. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers last year, some teams have players on contract years they could end up losing, and other teams may have players they want to get rid of.

The Chicago Cubs have already made their move in trading Carlos Zambrano, who would have made this list. Here are 15 others who will need to be traded for various reasons.

Andre Ethier

Starting with the slideshow's namesake, Andre Ethier has had six solid seasons and will be a free agent in 2013. He has taken a backseat to Matt Kemp in the outfield but can still produce when needed.

If the Dodgers move to rebuild with Clayton Kershaw and Kemp as centerpieces, then Ethier may be a player for whom they can get some good prospects, so long as his power numbers bounce back.

Grady Sizemore

Grady Sizemore has not been healthy for quite some time. After being signed to an incentive-laden deal, he is now getting one more chance with the Indians.

If he produces in 2012 and the Indians are not in the chase by the trade deadline, then he could be worth moving to a contender to pick someone else up. The odds of him being moved are low since both of the above conditions would have to occur.

Carlos Lee

Carlos Lee's power has been slipping in recent years. Having to be the main source of run production in Houston does not help much. That being said, he only has one more year left before free agency.

Due to that, as well as the Astros' current rebuilding phase, they should be able to trade him to a contender and get a couple nice pieces for him, as long as he is on pace for another 90-RBI season.

Brett Myers

Brett Myers is a free agent in 2013. While he has an option for that year, it seems unlikely that the Astros would pick it up, especially with the rebuilding they are doing.

Myers had a great 2010 season. If he can tap into that, then the Astros can add to their pile of prospects and perhaps return to contention sooner. Even if Myers underperforms, he can still be acquired as an innings eater, and teams may want him down the stretch.

Wandy Rodriguez

This is the first one that could be a question mark, since Wandy Rodriguez could provide a veteran presence to any prospects that join the roster. Also, he is under contract for two more seasons with a 2014 option.

That being said, he has been very consistent, and I would have to imagine many clubs have tried to acquire him. As a result, Houston could get a nice number of prospects from any team that may want him.

Edwin Encarnacion

Over the past couple seasons, Edwin Encarnacion has turned into a bargain for the Toronto Blue Jays. The third baseman has put up nice enough hitting numbers to bat at designated hitter occasionally.

His contract is up at the end of this year, and with Brett Lawrie as the future third baseman, Encarnacion is suddenly expendable. The lack of quality third basemen in next year's free-agent class means the Blue Jays could get a lot for him.

Brandon McCarthy

Brandon McCarthy came out of nowhere in 2011 to have a great season for the Oakland Athletics, one that may have been lost behind Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez.

With both done, McCarthy has an opportunity to shine. More importantly, that opportunity means that the Athletics should have no trouble picking up some prospects for him at the trade deadline.

B.J. Upton

B.J. Upton seems to have all the natural ability and has one of the smoothest swings of the game. That has not completely turned into production, however.

He is a free agent in 2013, and a change in scenery could do him so good. Besides, he's a good enough all-around player that the Rays would be able to get enough to make the trade worth it on their end.

Yuniesky Betancourt

Yuniesky Betancourt was a low-risk signing by the Kansas City Royals this past season for one year. He's the type of player that advanced baseball researchers hate, although his surface stats are passable.

A trade involving Betancourt could get the Royals a prospect or two if he has a decent season in 2012. Even if he doesn't, the Royals spent little to acquire him and can just toss him after this year.

Alfonso Soriano

Alfonso Soriano is under contract for three more years, so a lot of people would presume he's unmovable. Had it not been for the Vernon Wells trade a year back, I would agree with that. As the baseball world works, anyone can be moved.

Not only that, but Soriano can still put up some power numbers, which are going to start diminishing at some point. It's best to trade him when he still has some value rather than waiting a couple seasons, when he may be valueless.

Jeremy Guthrie

Jeremy Guthrie has been a reliable innings eater for the past couple seasons. As a result, it's likely that he'll be a fairly hot commodity at the trade deadline, if not this offseason.

The Orioles are not going anywhere, and he'll be a free agent after this season. Thus, the Orioles would not be able to acquire much for him, although they do need some more pitching badly.

Francisco Liriano

Francisco Liriano's possible trade may be more dependent on where the Minnesota Twins are in the season, rather than him. If the Twins pop back into playoff contention, Liriano would likely be leading that charge.

Should they not be in the playoff race, teams have seen what Liriano can do when he's hot. The Twins would be able to acquire a lot for him compared to his career numbers.

Gavin Floyd

Gavin Floyd has been a consistently solid pitcher since the Chicago White Sox acquired him four years back. However, he's a free agent at the end of the year, and if the Sox were going to sign him long-term, they would have done so.

He is a consistent, middle-of-the-rotation guy and is easy trade bait either at the deadline or during the offseason. The White Sox would not have much trouble grabbing solid prospects in return.

Francisco Rodriguez

This is a tough one, actually. There's no doubt that Francisco Rodriguez will be a great setup man in Milwaukee. Since the Brewers will be in the pennant race, they will want to keep him around.

However, if K-Rod ends up getting sick of the setup man role and controversy erupts, then there's the chance that he'll be traded at the deadline. I would imagine the odds of this are very low, though, since he accepted arbitration.

A.J. Pierzynski

Trading A.J. Pierzynski is a move that could benefit all three parties involved during the season. A team can grab a veteran catcher who can provide a bit of offense, and the White Sox can continue their quasi-rebuilding.

However, this helps Pierzynski as well. The catcher class of 2013 is deep for once. Playing elsewhere and seeing if he can get his foot in the door could be a gateway to a better contract next year, even though he may be a year-to-year guy now.