MLB Trade Scenarios: One Trade to Replace Each Contender's Huge Injury Loss

Thus far, the 2012 MLB season has seen a veritable plethora of players shelved for a significant period of time.

In fact, the 2012 disabled list All-Star team just might be the strongest in history, but that's a story for another day.

Many teams have already been left struggling to find replacements from within. For some, pleasant surprises have been in store (Will Middlebrooks, Red Sox). But for others, the injury bug has brought to light the fact that their teams have an issue with depth.

Even though it's not even Mother's Day, trade talk is already taking place at a feverish pace. Just a quick search on the web using the search term "trade rumors" and one can find over 91,000 search results just in the last week alone.

I adore speculation; it literally makes the world go 'round. In baseball, if it weren't for speculation, radio talk shows would be downright boring.

In that vein, I am going to offer some speculation of my own. Here is a list of possible trade scenarios for each contending MLB team to replace one of their injured stars.

Note: The list of teams on this slide are not all of the contending teams, merely ones facing major injury concerns.

Arizona Diamondbacks: SS Yuniesky Betancourt for SP Patrick Corbin

With both Stephen Drew and Geoff Blum currently on the disabled list, the Arizona Diamondbacks are are lacking in quality depth on the left side of the infield. Ryan Roberts is off to a very slow start, and Willie Bloomquist has been anemic thus far as well, hitting just .204.

Drew's timetable for return is uncertain, and Blum was recently moved to the 60-day DL with his oblique strain, so reinforcements aren't there in the system for GM Kevin Towers.

Shortstop Yuniesky Betancourt could definitely help fill the void. Currently on the 15-day DL with a sprained ankle, Betancourt could return to his natural position with the D-Backs and give the club a lift with a bat capable of 15 HR.

Corbin would be a nice add for a Royals' staff that is currently struggling, and the D-Backs have plenty of young arms to offset his loss.

Boston Red Sox: SP Randy Wolf for 1B Lars Anderson

This would be a trade that fills a need for both teams.

The Boston Red Sox starting rotation has been nothing short of abysmal, especially over the past two weeks. Daisuke Matsuzaka will be ready to join the club shortly after working his way back from Tommy John surgery, but at this point, the Sox need more than just Dice-K.

Wolf has a $10 million option for the 2013 season, and it's likely the Brewers would opt to buy it out. Adding Wolf for the rest of the season certainly can't hurt at this point.

Anderson would help fill the void left by the season-ending knee injury to Mat Gamel. With Adrian Gonzalez in place along with a plethora of outfielders, Anderson is essentially blocked in Boston, and his recent work in the outfield gives the Brewers depth there and at first as well.

Cincinnati Reds: Closer Huston Street for SS Billy Hamilton

With the season-ending injury to Ryan Madson, Cincinnati Reds manager Dusty Baker has been forced to use LHP Sean Marshall as his closer.

Marshall has collected five saves, but has been shaky, and is clearly more suited as a seventh-/eighth-inning guy.

San Diego Padres closer Huston Street was off to a nice start before suffering a strained lat muscle that landed him on the DL late last week. Street's injury is not considered serious, however, so he should return to form quickly.

Hamilton's path to the majors could be blocked by the presence of both Zack Cozart and Brandon Phillips, and with both Orlando Hudson and Jason Bartlett likely to depart San Diego at the end of the season, Hamilton's path to the majors would be wide open.

Los Angeles Dodgers: LF Juan Pierre for RHP Allen Webster

The Los Angeles Dodgers received a blow this week when left fielder Juan Rivera went down with a strained left hamstring.

Rivera was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Wednesday, but it's thought that the injury could be significant. Minor league outfielder Scott Van Slyke was called up from Triple-A Albuquerque to replace Rivera on the roster.

Recently acquired outfielder Bobby Abreu will likely see more time, but at this point in his career, Abreu is not a likely everyday option. Unless Van Slyke completely rakes at the major-league level, the Dodgers are left with a major hole.

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Juan Pierre would be a nice addition at the top of the Dodgers lineup. Pierre is hitting .341 thus far, but has been used sporadically. With Jim Thome due back from the DL soon, Ty Wigginton and Thome will likely split duties at first, with John Mayberry Jr. playing in left. If and when Ryan Howard returns, there will be an even bigger glut of utility players in Philly.

Milwaukee Brewers: 1B Mark Trumbo for RHP Francisco Rodriguez

I'll admit, this is a bit of a stretch, but think about the possibilities.

The Milwaukee Brewers may just be the hardest-hit team in terms of devastating injuries in 2012. Starting pitcher Chris Narveson, 1B Mat Gamel and SS Alex Gonzalez are all lost for the season, and outfielder Carlos Gomez is on the DL with a strained hamstring.

The Los Angeles Angels are looking for relief help, and K-Rod would have the chance to go back to the team that he pitched for very successfully for seven seasons.

Trumbo would give the Brewers a big bat in the middle of the lineup and give him the opportunity to return to his more natural position at first.

New York Mets: SP Carl Pavano for SS/3B Wilmer Flores

It's probably safe to assume that the Minnesota Twins won't be reaching out to starting pitcher Carl Pavano at the end of the season after his contract expires.

As such, Pavano could easily be had as a rental player for a contending team, and while the New York Mets couldn't have been considered to be contenders prior to the start of the season, they're certainly playing like one now.

Adding Pavano to offset the loss of Mike Pelfrey (season-ending Tommy John surgery) would bolster the starting rotation.

Flores is getting time at third base for Advanced Single-A Port St. Lucie, and with the Twins recently demoting an underperforming Danny Valencia, Flores could have a shot to move up rapidly.

New York Yankees: SP Jake Peavy for CF Mason Williams

With everyone wondering about the state of the New York Yankees bullpen after losing Mariano Rivera for the season, naturally everyone is talking about additions on the back end of the pitching staff.

However, how about adding a stellar starter instead?

Adding Chicago White Sox starter Jake Peavy, along with the returning Andy Pettitte, would allow Yankees skipper Joe Girardi to utilize both Phil Hughes and David Phelps in the 'pen, bolstering both ends in the process.

Minor league outfielder Mason Williams is one of the few top position players in the Yankees' farm system, and for a system already depleted, it's a sacrifice indeed.

However, with Peavy seemingly back to the form that earned him a Cy Young Award in 2007, it's a sacrifice worth taking.

San Francisco Giants: UTIL Jamey Carroll for SP Chris Heston

The San Francisco Giants could use some infield help, plain and simple.

Freddy Sanchez is still working his way back from shoulder surgery last August, and his return sometime in May was recently estimated at 50-50.

Third baseman Pablo Sandoval is lost until at least mid-June with a broken hamate bone, and the duet of Brandon Crawford/Joaquin Arias doesn't exactly inspire confidence by the bay. Ryan Theriot has been just plain awful, with one extra-base hit and a .179 average.

There's no question that the Minnesota Twins will be sellers this season, and shortstop Jamey Carroll was recently moved back to super-utility status after the promotion of SS Brian Dozier. Carroll would immediately help the Giants, and the Twins are very familiar with minor-league starting pitcher Chris Heston, having drafted him out of high school in 2007 before he committed to college.

Washington Nationals: CF Denard Span for C Derek Norris

The Washington Nationals are a team desperate for offense right now, and for healthy outfielders.

Both Michael Morse and Jayson Werth are expected to be out until at least midseason, and Roger Bernadina has not blossomed into the offensive presence that the Nats envisioned.

Rumors have swirled around GM Mike Rizzo's interest in Minnesota Twins center fielder Denard Span, and while that interest was reportedly tabled for now, it may be renewed sooner rather than later.

Norris offers the Twins another option behind the plate so that Joe Mauer can see more time at first base and as designated hitter.

Doug Mead is a featured columnist with Bleacher Report. His work has been featured on the Seattle Post-Intelligencer, SF Gate, CBS Sports, the Los Angeles Times and the Houston Chronicle. Follow Doug on Twitter, @Sports_A_Holic.