MLB Trade Rumors: Latest on David Price, Cole Hamels and Jay Bruce

Some big names can be had during this MLB offseason.

The trade market is heating up, as plenty of MLB trade rumors have made their way around the Internet over the past couple of days. With free agency finally providing some answers, the trade market will continue to develop with teams who missed out on players available on the open market.

Given how thin free agency was in terms of quality players, expect many teams to explore trades to fill their most pressing needs. With multiple key free agents already signed to new contracts, we should start hearing even more about trades in the near future.

Below, you'll find three of the latest MLB trade rumors.

David Price

Paul Sancya/Associated Press

The Detroit Tigers only just acquired David Price a few months ago at the trade deadline. With Max Scherzer presumably leaving in free agency, Price is poised to co-headline the rotation with Justin Verlander.

So would the Tigers really trade him?

Fox Sports' Jon Morosi tweets that the Miami Marlins have called and asked:

Price obviously wouldn't come easily. He received Cy Young votes this year after going 15-12 with a 3.26 ERA (2.78 FIP) and 271 strikeouts in 248.1 innings. Detroit would require any team, including the Marlins, to at least match what they had to give up to get Price back in July.

In the three-team deal between the Tigers, Tampa Bay Rays and Seattle Mariners, Detroit ultimately parted with Drew Smyly, Austin Jackson and minor leaguer Willy Adames.

That deal was primarily filled with big league talent, but the Marlins could instead propose a package infused with young prospects. They have a strong farm system, with players like Andrew Heaney, Tyler Kolek and Jake Smolinski possibly interesting the Tigers.

That would go against the organization's recent philosophy, however, as general manager Dave Dombrowski has focused almost solely on acquiring top-tier veterans and worrying about the farm system later.

The Marlins are trying to prove to the rest of baseball that they are for real. Throwing hundreds of millions at Giancarlo Stanton was a start, but they'll need to improve the roster in other areas to succeed. Pitching is one of them.

They have the pieces to get a deal done for a top starter, but Price might not be the right guy. It'd be hard to see the Tigers part with him.

Cole Hamels

Brian Garfinkel/Getty Images

It's not news that Cole Hamels is a hot topic this winter, but there have been some major developments in his situation over the past few days.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal tweeted that two major players are interested in the left-handed ace:

USA Today's Bob Nightengale added, however, that the Boston Red Sox have been the most serious in their pursuit:

Hamels has been the subject of trade rumors for several years now. That's what happens when you're an ace on a team that continues to disappoint. Hamels will be 31 in December and is owed $90 million through 2019, making him an obvious target of rumors.

It looks like his days in Philadelphia are finally numbered, however—especially if Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports is correct:

There are competing opinions on whether the Red Sox should go after Hamels. For one, it would put an exclamation point on what has already been an exciting offseason. With Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval in the fold to stabilize the lineup, adding Hamels would be the cherry on top.

Ted Berg of USA Today is against the idea, mostly because of money:

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The Phillies still owe Hamels at least $90 million over the next four seasons, with a vesting $24 million option for a fifth year if he stays healthy in 2017 and 2018. And Hamels recently added the Red Sox to his 20-team no-trade list, giving him leverage in the trade talks with Boston — perhaps enough to demand the Sox pick up his 2019 option in exchange for waiving the clause.

"

The Sox have been wary to take on big contracts since Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez flopped, but they have already bucked the trend by signing Han-Ram and Kung Fu Panda. Taking on money shouldn't stop them from acquiring Hamels.

Jay Bruce

Al Behrman/Associated Press

Because power is in short supply on the free-agent market, the Cincinnati Reds could receive a small fortune in return if they decided to part ways with outfielder Jay Bruce.

He already has 182 home runs through seven seasons, making him one of the most consistent power hitters in the game. Of course, that also means he strikes out a ton and doesn't hit for a particularly high average.

Regardless, hitters with his talents have a place in today's game.

The Toronto Blue Jays, who have already bolstered their lineup with Russell Martin, are considering Bruce, reports Morosi:

Sportsnet's Ben Nicholson-Smith writes that there is a major road block in the way of a potential trade, however:

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Bruce would have to waive his no-trade protection for a trade with the Blue Jays to occur. The Blue Jays are among eight teams to which the 27-year-old can block trades, industry sources told Sportsnet. The New York Yankees, Oakland Athletics, Tampa Bay Rays, Arizona Diamondbacks, Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins and Minnesota Twins make up the rest of the list.

"

It's obviously not unheard of for players to waive their no-trade clauses to go to a team moving in the right direction. The Jays offense is strong, and adding Bruce to it would make it formidable. That said, the pitching is still a few steps behind.

It's hard to image Bruce leaving the Reds unless they plan on also dealing guys like Aroldis Chapman, Johnny Cueto and Mat Latos and starting over from scratch.

Toronto should focus its efforts on acquiring pitching. Its lineup is already stacked with Martin, Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion and Jose Reyes.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn