MLB Trade Rumors: Jurrjens, Blanton, Lannan and the Pitching Trade Market

There may be no asset in baseball more valuable than reliable starting pitching, so when an impact arm is placed on the trade block there are generally more than a few teams interested.

This spring, there are a handful of arms that could be had for the right price as they have been made available based on their current contract status, depth in the rotation on the team or something else.

So here is a quick overview of starting pitching arms on the market this spring for teams looking to add another piece to their rotation.

Wandy Rodriguez, Houston Astros

The Astros have unloaded the bulk of their trade-able veteran talent over the past few seasons as they head towards a full-on rebuild.

One remaining piece that could return some value is 33-year-old left-hander Wandy Rodriguez who went 11-11 with a 3.49 ERA last season.

Rodriguez is no doubt available for the right price, but due $23 million over the next two seasons with a $13 team option for 2014 that becomes a player option if he is traded, there has been very little interest to this point on the trade market.

Gavin Floyd, Chicago White Sox

The White Sox look to be headed for a rebuild, and while they did re-sign John Danks this offseason, right-hander Gavin Floyd is headed for free agency at season's end if the team chooses not to pick up his $9.5 million option.

After a 17-8 season in his first full year in the White Sox rotation, Floyd has gone 33-37 with a 4.17 ERA over the three seasons since.

The latest reports have the Blue Jays interested in acquiring the 29-year-old, who is set to make $7 million this season, making him a relative bargain for a middle-of-the-rotation starter.

Jeff Niemann, Tampa Bay Rays

No team has more starting pitching talent than the Rays, as their rotation will be James Shields, David Price, Jeremy Hellickson and rookie Matt Moore this coming season.

The competition comes for the fifth spot in the rotation where Wade Davis and Jeff Niemann will compete, and the one who loses out will likely be headed to the bullpen or used to trade for a catcher or shortstop.

Last season Davis (11-10, 4.45 ERA, 26 years old) and Niemann (11-7, 4.06 ERA, 29 years old) had similar seasons, but considering Davis is younger and is locked up through 2014 after signing a four-year, $10.1 million contract prior to last season that includes team options through 2017, it seems Niemann would be the more likely to be dealt.

John Lannan, Washington Nationals

The Nationals significantly upgraded their starting rotation this offseason, adding Gio Gonzalez and Edwin Jackson to front their rotation alongside young talents Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmerman.

That leaves the fifth starter spot to whoever emerges from the group of John Lannan, Chien-Ming Wang and Ross Detwiler, and if Wang wins the job as many expect, Lannan could be on his way out.

He should have some value after a solid 10-13, 3.70 ERA, 106 Ks season last year, that after serving as the Nationals opening day starter in 2009 and 2010. 

Joe Blanton, Philadelphia Phillies

Entering the final season of a three-year, $24 million contract, Blanton is once again being shopped with the Phillies said to be willing to eat up to $2 million of the $8 million remaining on his deal.

Last season he made 11 appearances for the Phillies, eight starts, and went 1-2 with a 5.01 ERA. He is still only 31 and two years removed from a 12-win season, so there is still hope that he could return to effective form.

Kyle Kendrick is more than capable of stepping into the fifth starter spot after splitting last season between the bullpen and rotation, going 8-6 with a 3.22 ERA.

Jair Jurrjens, Atlanta Braves

The Braves have a good team in place for the upcoming season, but they could very well look to upgrade in left field, where adding a powerful bat to the middle of their lineup would mark an upgrade over incumbent Martin Prado.

With so much pitching depth, the piece they could use to pull of a deal could be 26-year-old Jair Jurrjens who will be entering his final year of arbitration eligibility. Last season he was 13-6 with a 2.96 ERA and he has the stuff to be a future rotation ace.

If he were moved, the team could move Julio Teheran, Randall Delgado or Arodys Vizcaino to the rotation where they would be joined by Tim Hudson, Tommy Hanson, Mike Minor and Brandon Beachy.

Matt Garza, Chicago Cubs

High-profile arms Gio Gonzalez, Trevor Cahill and Mat Latos were all dealt this offseason with the trading teams acquiring impressive prospect packages in return.

It remains to be seen if the Cubs will look to use Garza as a trade chip in their rebuilding efforts or as the ace of their team moving forward.

He has the best season of his career last year, going 10-10, 3.32 ERA, 197 Ks and he is under team control through the 2013 season, so he could net a return even bigger than that of the above mentioned pitchers.