MLB Winter Meetings 2014: Dissecting the Latest Rumors on Top Talent

There are always MLB rumors that make you scratch your head or refresh the web page to ensure that what you read was real. Or yell. Yeah, plenty of yelling.

The MLB winter meetings can be just as infuriating for fans of one team as it can be rewarding for fans of another. With so many potential options to target each offseason, general managers would be foolish not to explore every avenue.

Even still, some rumors that hit our Twitter timelines seem downright ridiculous. A few of the latest rumors fit that category.

Kendrys Morales

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

Kendrys Morales waited until the season was well under way to sign with the Minnesota Twins last season after not finding the contract he and agent Scott Boras wanted during the offseason.

He didn't produce well upon arrival, posting an OPS of .584. He was dealt to the Seattle Mariners at the deadline and produced an OPS of .632 in 59 games. His career OPS is .784. It goes without saying that he was a major disappointment last season.

Boras must not have been watching his client play last season. ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reports that Boras is seeking a significant contract for him:

Billy Butler was a key member of the Kansas City Royals' World Series push last season, driving in 66 runs and posting a .702 OPS. Both players are similar in terms of versatility, possessing experience at first base, but are best suited for designated hitter.

It would be quite the coup if Boras could get around $10 million annually for a player who was completely ineffective in 2014. Even more shocking is that he wants multiple years. Would you want your team to commit more than a season to a complete risk?

A one-year deal worth what he made last season (roughly $7.4 million) is reasonable. A team committing $10 million to Morales would be saying that he's on the same level as Butler, and he isn't at this point in their respective careers.

Morales is definitely a candidate to bounce back, but there's absolutely no way teams take the risk that Boras wants them to.

Jordan Zimmermann

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

The thought of the Washington Nationals trading Jordan Zimmermann still seems absurd given the fact that he has been the team's best pitcher the past two seasons, but Adam Kilgore of The Washington Post reports that the Nationals asked a team to part with one of their top prospects and were rebuffed:

Washington has a hole at second base that Rougned Odor would help fill. Pitching is a deep area for the team, but there's no reason to trade their top starter for an unestablished middle infielder when there are cheaper options available in free agency and through other trades.

Re-signing Asdrubal Cabrera is probably still the best way for the Nats to add consistency to the position. He posted an OPS of .700 in 49 games for the team last season, providing decent power (five homers) and valuable versatility.

It doesn't seem likely that they'll deal a starter (whether it be Zimmermann or someone else) for a middle infielder.

Zimmermann first popped up in trade rumors earlier in November when the Chicago Cubs were the alleged trade partner, but that buzz was quickly squashed. Since then, though, Zimmermann has been in the back of everyone's minds as a trade candidate. MLB.com's TR Sullivan tweeted that the team isn't "inclined" to move him:

It's not often that an ace is dealt away from a team sure to contend. He may be a free agent following the 2015 season, but it'd be shocking to actually see Zimmermann move. 

Greg Holland

Reed Hoffmann/Associated Press

The Kansas City Royals wowed the baseball world in the playoffs with a bullpen that shortened games to six innings and made opposing lineups look silly. The leader of the pack is closer Greg Holland, who saved 46 games and produced a FIP of 1.83 and a WHIP of 0.914.

A wealth of late-inning arms and a shortage of bats has led the Royals to explore trade options, and Holland's name has popped up in some discussions, reports Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun. "Holland is available," he writes, "and the Jays are pursuing the closer."

Someone familiar with the talks summed them up to Elliott: "He’s available, but they’re asking for a lot in return."

And why shouldn't they? Holland has been arguably the top closer in the game the past two seasons, converting 93 of 98 saves and striking out 193 batters in just 129.1 innings. The Toronto Blue Jays have a need for someone of that caliber in the back of the bullpen, but a potential deal all depends on what "a lot" means.

If the Royals value Holland in the same way in which they'd value a top starter, then there's no way he gets moved. K.C. probably wouldn't refrain from moving him if it's blown away. The likes of that are slim, however, as teams aren't always keen on valuing closers so highly.

David Robertson and Andrew Miller are a few recent exceptions who signed lucrative contracts. That said, many teams feel confident that they possess many relievers who can be converted into a closer. Just look at what the Baltimore Orioles did with Zach Britton and what the Jays themselves did with Casey Janssen.

The likelihood of the Royals' asking price being met is not high, though nothing should surprise us at this point.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn