MLB Trade Rumors: Breaking Down Buzz on Justin Upton, Miguel Montero and More

Can you feel that? The buzz in the air? Can you hear the whispers and negotiations and deals going down?

That's just the winter meetings in baseball starting to really heat up, as free-agent signings and trades are going down left and right. And that means for every completed deal, there are five times the number of rumors making the rounds. 

Below, you'll find a few of the juiciest ones out there.

Miguel Montero

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One of the players who has been popping up left and right in trade rumors is Arizona Diamondbacks catcher Miguel Montero. It now appears as though the Chicago Cubs are closing on the two-time All-Star, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports adds:

Montero, who hit .243 this past season with 13 home runs and 72 RBI, was previously the subject of trade rumors between the Diamondbacks and Los Angeles Dodgers, with outfielder Andre Ethier the rumored piece to be heading back to Arizona, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports (h/t Drew Silva of Hardball Talk). That deal was reportedly nixed by Arizona ownership, though Arizona's chief baseball officer, Tony La Russa, denied that claim, per Nick Piecoro of AZCentral.com:

Ah, what a tangled web we weave.

Regardless, Montero would be another piece for a Cubs team that has been busy this offseason, hiring Joe Maddon to be their new manager. Plus, the team is reportedly in the running to bring back Jason Hammel, per Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago, and should have the financial wiggle room to make a push for Jon Lester, per Mark Gonzales of the Chicago Tribune.

With so much young talent in place and veteran additions like Montero and Hammel improving the squad, the Cubs could make some noise in 2015.

Justin Upton and Evan Gattis

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One team that might be positioning itself as sellers, however, is the Atlanta Braves. The team already moved on from Jason Heyward this offseason, and now Justin Upton and Evan Gattis could be the next players out the door, though indications suggest Upton is the more likely player to be moved.

Mark Bowman of MLB.com has more:

Buster Olney of ESPN is hearing something a bit different on Gattis, though:

After finishing a disappointing and surprising 79-83 last season, it seems the Braves are considering undergoing a rebuilding period. It isn't hard to see why teams would be interested in Upton and Gattis, either:

Player	H	BA	R	HR	RBI
Justin Upton	153	.270	77	29	102
Evan Gattis	97	.263	41	22	52

Upton is still just 27 years old and one of the more well-rounded stars in baseball, so if he is indeed on the market, far more than three teams should be knocking on Atlanta's door. The 28-year-old Gattis has hit 43 home runs in his two seasons, meanwhile, showing excellent pop for a catcher that will make him an attractive target for teams.

If the Braves indeed are looking to rebuild, both Upton and Gattis should get them nice returns. It remains to be seen just how far the Braves will go to reshape their team, however, and whether the Heyward trade was more about retooling or the beginning of a full rebuild.