MLB Rumors: Latest Trade Buzz Entering Early Stages of Offseason

No MLB player can get too comfortable during the offseason, as trade rumors will constantly fly around the league during the cold days of winter.

Now that there's no baseball left to play, offseason chatter is the only way for fans to get their baseball fix. Free agency will certainly help satisfy the urge for MLB news, but not every club is fortunate enough to holster a lavish bankroll. Other squads must instead scour the trade market to make necessary improvements.

The World Series ended not even a week ago, yet there's already a large scoop of trade rumors floating around the grapevine. General managers aren't wasting any time getting down to business, so fans can't take a break from following America's pastime. 

Royals on the Move?

Following 29 years without a playoff appearance, the Kansas City Royals fought all the way to Game 7 of the World Series, losing the deciding contest by a lone run. Conventional wisdom would suggest they're a tweak here and there away from gearing up for more October baseball.

Given the circumstances, however, they can't take a return to contention for granted. They sneaked into the postseason with 89 wins, and No. 1 starter James Shields could net a bigger contract elsewhere in free agency.

While the New York Daily News' Andy Martino stressed that the Royals are not pursuing a fire sale, he did indicate that they will test the market on three of October's biggest offensive stars:

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Alex Gordon, Eric Hosmer and Mike Moustakas have become identified with a magical year, but the team faces looming decisions and/or escalating salary on each player. The expectation within the industry is that they will at least listen to trade offers.

To be clear, we are not saying that any of those guys are goners -- merely that life with a payroll near $100 million involves hard choices, and a need to consider all options. This will not be a Marlins-style teardown; far from it.

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If they trade Gordon, they better receive a Godfather offer in exchange for their best player. Although his traditional numbers (.266 average, 19 HRs) don't scream irreplaceable building block, he still led the team in home runs. More importantly, he produced a team-high .351 on-base percentage and .432 slugging percentage while playing stellar defense that should win him another Gold Glove.

Put it all together, and Gordon tied for third among position players with a 6.6 WAR, per FanGraphs:

Rank	Player	WAR*
1	Mike Trout	7.8
2	Andrew McCutchen	6.8
3	Michael Brantley	6.6
4	Anthony Rendon	6.6
5	Alex Gordon	6.6

Both highly touted young infielders developing through a loaded Kansas City farm system, Hosmer and Moustakas performed far below expectations before revolutionary playoff runs. After producing an .801 OPS in 2013, Hosmer followed it up with a humdrum .716 OPS during the season. Moustakas, meanwhile, is a career .236/.290/.379 hitter who stays in the lineup for his defensive prowess at third base.

Yet they quickly transitioned from disappointments to pivotal pieces in a World Series run. Hosmer showed the MVP potential pundits raved about during the spring, hitting .351/.439/.554 in 66 playoff plate appearances. The team's Twitter page noted two team records he set in the process:

Not to be outshined, Moustakas clubbed five home runs. However, he also recorded a .259 on-base percentage. If his postseason power has teams interested, the Royals will be wise to see if they can sell high on a 26-year-old who has not panned out offensively.

Mark Buerhle on the Market

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Following his best season in quite some time, the Toronto Blue Jays are kicking the tires around with Mark Buehrle, their expensive workhorse from the starting rotation.

According to The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo, the Blue Jays are interested in dealing the 35-year-old southpaw during the final season of his four-year deal:

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Buehrle will be made available in a trade, though his $19 million contract will likely be a deterrent unless the Jays are willing to assume part of it. The Jays need to replenish their player depth and the quick-working Buehrle might be a way to do it. Buehrle seems more tradable than knuckleballer R.A. Dickey. The Jays will have youngsters Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez in their rotation to go along with J.A. Happ.

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Buehrle logged 202 innings in 2014, extending his streak of pitching at least 200 frames to 14 seasons. His 3.39 ERA was the lowest mark he's generated since 2005. After a sensational yet ultimately unsustainable start, however, opponents hit .314/.350/.447 against him after the All-Star break.

While Buehrle is expensive, his contract expires after 2015, so the long-term risk is minimal for a contender searching for a steady source of innings during a grinding season. 

Yet the same can be said about Dickey, who will make $12 million in 2015 with a $12 million club option for 2016 that the team can buy out for $1 million, per Cot's Baseball Contracts. While the 2012 NL Cy Young winner has faltered since being traded by the New York Mets, moving from the homer-coercive Rogers Centre would help the veteran, who yielded 61 long balls over the past two years.

Making matters stranger, the Blue Jays traded Adam Lind to the Milwaukee Brewers for Marco Estrada, another veteran starter whose fly-ball tendencies won't play well in Toronto. If they didn't have a surplus of arms before, they do now, which calls into question whether they have a move involving Buehrle or Dickey up their sleeve.

Angels Shopping Howie Kendrick and David Freese 

Ann Heisenfelt/Associated Press

Despite being swept in the American League Division Series, the Los Angeles Angels led MLB with 98 wins and 4.8 runs scored per game. Their massive success offensively has the AL West champions dangling two starting position players for pitching help.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that the Angels are looking to move Howie Kendrick or David Freese this offseason:

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The team is likely to trade either second baseman Howie Kendrick or third baseman David Freese to address other needs, according to major-league sources.

The Angels would like to add another starting pitcher for depth and protection as right-hander Garrett Richards works his way back from major knee surgery. They also could seek another left-hander for their bullpen.

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Rosenthal noted that the Angels could replace Kendrick with Grant Green or the recently added Gordon Beckham, but either second baseman represents a significant downgrade from Kendrick, who recorded a .347 on-base percentage.

Most known for his postseason heroics with the St. Louis Cardinals, Freese is a decent contributor at third, notching a .260/.321/.383 slash line last season. Yet injuries are always a concern for the 31-year-old, who has never played 145 or more games in a single season.

With most contracts expiring, the Angels are addressing their pitching staff, whose lack of depth derailed their title aspirations.