MLB Trade Scenarios: 6 Overstocked Teams Poised for a Trade

The annual rite of spring, when pitchers and catchers report to training camp, is just days away. The optimism of the spring reigns, as everyone starts the season even and hope abounds.

Several teams have major question marks, while others appear fairly set to open the season. Some teams have an abundance of talent in one area, while others can be strengthened.

Let's take a closer look at those fortunate ball clubs that are overstocked in one area and could use that excess of talent to make a trade to shore up another possible area of concern.

6. San Francisco Giants

The San Francisco Giants have five players who can play first base. Aubrey Huff was the 2011 starter and a hero from the 2010 World Series team. In addition to Huff, the Giants have Brandon Belt, who is the heir apparent to Huff.

Third baseman Pablo Sandoval can play first base, as can catcher Buster Posey. In fact, the Giants have stated that Posey will play a significant number of games at first this year, as they carefully watch his surgically-repaired ankle.

Brett Pill is another first baseman who may make the team. He is 27 years old with a solid bat. Pill had his first Major League Baseball action as a September call-up, last season.

With five players who can play first base, it would make sense for the Giants to consider moving one of them.

The Giants are unlikely to move Posey, Belt or Sandoval, so the trade bait could come in the form of Huff or Pill. Huff has $12 million remaining on his contract, so it's very unlikely that another team will be all that interested in him.

Pill, on the other hand, could be a decent bargaining chip. He had a monster season at Triple-A Fresno. Pill hit .312 with 25 home runs and 107 RBI, prior to his late-season call-up. Once in San Francisco, in only 50 at-bats, Pill hit .300 with two home runs and nine RBI.

Pill is only adequate defensively, at best. He is someone who could also be a fit for an American League team as a DH.

Although I am a fan of Pill, the Giants would be well served to acquire a fifth outfielder or a back-end-of-the-rotation starter. I do not expect Barry Zito to last through the All-Star break as the fifth starter. I expect injury or ineffectiveness to derail him.

Eric Surkamp is the next option as a fifth starter, but he is far from a proven commodity. He has started only six games in the majors. Surkamp started off well in his first couple starts but struggled in his last two or three outings.

I think it would be extremely valuable to have a veteran who could step in if Zito or Surkamp do not throw well.

5. Texas Rangers

The Texas Rangers have played in the World Series the past two years. Losing to the San Francisco Giants in 2010 and the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011, the Rangers seem poised to make another run at a world championship in 2012.

Rumor has it that the Rangers made serious runs at acquiring Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder and Carlos Beltran. Unfortunately for the Rangers, none of these stars ended up in Texas.

The Rangers have a solid pitching staff, with six starters vying for five spots in the rotation. Last year's closer, Neftali Feliz, is penciled in as a starter, along with Colby Lewis, Derek Holland, Yu Darvish, Matt Harrison and Alexi Ogando.

The Rangers bullpen is solid, as Joe Nathan takes over the closer job for 2012. Mike Adams, Koji Uehara and Scott Feldman will handle the main setup roles.

With their solid starting pitching in place, Texas could move one of those starters for a top outfielder. The Rangers have to be concerned about the recent lapse back to alcohol by Josh Hamilton. In addition, the center field position, currently manned by Craig Gentry, can be upgraded.

Look for the Rangers to make a move to bolster their outfield.

4. Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have arguably the best starting rotation in baseball. Roy Halladay, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee, Vance Worley and Joe Blanton give the Phillies an outstanding starting five.

The Phillies also are giving veteran Dontrelle Willis a look, and have Kyle Kendricks available too. Kendricks has pitched in relief and as a starter, so he gives the Phillies a great deal of flexibility.

The Phillies are starting to show their age in the middle of their infield. Nevertheless, they just signed 33-year-old shortstop Jimmy Rollins to a three-year, $33 million contract.

Second baseman Chase Utley has seen his production decline in the past three years. In 2011, Utley played in only 103 games, as a balky knee hampered him. At the age of 33, one has to wonder just how much he has left.

If the Phillies could get a decent utility infielder for someone like Joe Blanton or Kyle Kendrick, I think that would give them a great deal of insurance in the event Utley or Rollins are forced to miss time with injuries.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers are about a year away from being a force in the National League West. Once their ownership situation is settled, expect the Dodgers to start spending more money for free agents.

The Dodgers will not be a pushover this year, either. The starting pitching is solid, with Cy Young award winner Clayton Kershaw leading the staff.

Chad Billingsley, Ted Lilly and Aaron Harang are solid veterans who will provide innings for the Dodgers.

The Dodgers have two very good options for their No. 5 starter. Left-handed pitcher Chris Capuano comes to L.A. from the Mets, and youngster Rubby De La Rosa has a live arm and this could be his time to step forward.

The Dodgers also have Zach Lee, a very promising young pitcher who will be working his way up the ladder very quickly.

L.A. may be tempted to move one of their starters for a proven bat at third base or an upgrade at the catching position. Juan Uribe was a major disappointment in 2011, after signing with L.A. as a high-priced free agent.

The Dodgers cannot be comfortable going into the season with A.J. Ellis and Matt Treanor handling the catching duties. This is an area where they can definitely upgrade.

2. New York Yankees

The New York Yankees acquired starting pitchers Hiroki Kuroda and Michael Pineda this offseason. They will combine with CC Sabathia and Ivan Nova to make up the top four starting pitching spots.

Phil Hughes and Freddy Garcia will battle it out for the No. 5 spot in the rotation, which means veteran A.J. Burnett is the on the outside looking in. Burnett will be entering his 14th season in the majors and won 11 games last year.

Burnett has value on the trade market, as do Hughes and Garcia. Look for the Yankees to make a move prior to the start of the season. Rumor has it that they are actively trying to move Burnett now, but if they can't find a deal to their liking, they could explore the possibility of trading Hughes or Garcia, also.

The Yankees could use some youth in the infield, outfield and behind the plate. A trade involving Burnett, Hughes or Garcia would definitely bring them some decent talent in return.

The outfield could be the biggest area where the Yankees will want to upgrade their roster. Outside of Curtis Granderson, who is set in the outfield, either of the other two spots can be improved.

1. Atlanta Braves

The Atlanta Braves have excess at the most critical spot in baseball: starting pitcher.

The Braves have so much talent in their starting pitching staff that they traded veteran Derek Lowe to Cleveland for a minor-league pitcher by the name of Chris Jones. Atlanta also ate $10 million of the remaining $15 million left on Lowe's contract.

The Braves feature Tim Hudson, Jair Jurrjens, Tommy Hanson and Brandon Beachy as their four top starters. The Braves then have three other quality pitchers battling for the final spot in the rotation.

Youngsters Randall Delgado, Arodys Vizcaino and Julio Teheran are vying for the No. 5-starter role. In addition, Kris Medlen, who pitched in 31 games in 2010 for the Braves, starting 14 of them, is coming off surgery in 2011 and appears strong. He is also in the mix.

This gives the Braves four excellent options for the final spot in the rotation. With this wealth of young talent, the Braves would be well served to trade one of them for a quality starting outfielder.

The Braves outfield consists of Jason Heyward, Michael Bourn and converted infielder Martin Prado. Prado could also find himself playing some third base when the inevitable Chipper Jones DL stints occur.

Heyward also had a poor season in 2011, hitting only .227 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI, in 396 at-bats. Acquiring a solid outfielder for one of the Braves' good young arms makes perfect sense for Atlanta.

Backing up the starters in the outfield are veterans Eric Hinske and Matt Diaz. These are journeymen veterans who are capable, but more fit for a reserve role.

The 2012 Season Promises to Be Exciting

The 2012 season promises to be exciting. Several top stars have changed uniforms, including Albert Pujols, Prince Fielder, Jose Reyes and Carlos Beltran.

The extra wild-card team will add further excitement to the latter portion of the regular season, along with the playoffs. I can hardly wait for the games to begin.