MLB Rumors: Buzz Surrounding Sluggers on Trade Block

Now that the winter meetings carnage is over, MLB teams can catch their breath and plot out their next moves.

The trade waves have settled down after an influx of deals devoured the shore Wednesday and Thursday. Since then, everyone has regrouped while quietly laboring to finish the roster puzzle before Opening Day.

Once Jon Lester took his name off the list of free agents, several signings and swaps involving starting pitchers swiftly followed. While arms are flooding the market, power hitters are tougher to locate these days. Despite their flaws, these bats are attracting attention from squads searching for pop. 

Padres Eyeing Another Star Outfielder

Kevin Liles/Getty Images

Desperate to improve their MLB-worst offense, the San Diego Padres made a major splash by acquiring Matt Kemp from the Los Angeles Dodgers. After procuring a big-name bopper from their division rival, they're still hungry for more.

According to MLB.com's Mark Bowman, the Padres are now setting their sights on the Atlanta Braves' Justin Upton.

Even after Atlanta moved fellow outfielder Jason Heyward, Upton has remained one of the offseason's most frequently cited trade candidates. The 27-year-old hit .270./342/.491 with 29 home runs and 101 RBI last year.

His strikeout percentage continues to crawl upward, reaching 26.7 percent last season, the worst clip since his rookie campaign. Yet Upton remains a premium bat, as his .833 OPS ranked fourth among qualified outfielders last season.

He also placed fourth behind the same three guys—Michael Brantley, Matt Kemp and Nelson Cruz—with  a 133 weighted runs created plus (wRC+), a measure that indicated he performed 33 percent above the average outfielder.

Meanwhile, San Diego hit .226/.292/.342 as a team last season. Kemp and Upton would certainly provide some oomph to the heart of the order, but mortgaging more prospects is a risky proposition for a club that's likely more than one player away from making a serious run.

White Sox, Mariners Discussing Dayan Viciedo

Tasos Katopodis/Getty Images

Also not content to call it a day after landing Nelson Cruz, the Seattle Mariners still want more power to boost a lineup that slugged .376 in 2014. Previously linked to Upton as well, the Mariners are now honing in on a cheaper alternative. MLB.com's Scott Berkin connected them to the Chicago White Sox's Dayan Viciedo.

Adding the 25-year-old outfielder certainly doesn't vault Seattle up the MLB hierarchy. Having belted 60 homers over the past three seasons, he'd help in the power department, but nowhere else.

Last season, Viciedo hit .231 with a ghastly .281 on-base percentage, dropping his career OBP to .298. That slices his wRC+ down to 95, presenting him as a slightly below-average contributor at the plate.

He also struggles defensively, costing Chicago minus-17 defensive runs saved (DRS) last season. The Cuban slugger is more suited for designated hitter duty, but so is Cruz.

A move to first base would shield the Mariners from his fielding blemishes, but it would also block Logan Morrison, who recorded a .735 OPS and 110 wRC+ during his first year with the club. 

Phillies Try to Package Veterans to Baltimore

Mitchell Leff/Getty Images

Spurned by Cruz and Nick Markakis, the Baltimore Orioles must now reload in order to replicate 2014's American League East championship.

So far, Baltimore has not accomplished much since extending J.J. Hardy in October. Barring Manny Machado realizing his star ceiling early and Chis Davis re-morphing into a 50-homer behemoth, the offense is in danger of regressing significantly as the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays grow stronger.

General manager Jim Duquette told MASNSports.com's Roch Kubatko that there's a better chance of him attaining reinforcements via free agency, but Kubatko also provided a noteworthy scoop on the trade front involving the Philadelphia Phillies.

"

The Orioles talked to the Phillies about outfielder Marlon Byrd, and he was offered in a package that included first baseman Ryan Howard, according to multiple industry sources. Don't hold your breath on that one, either.

The Phillies want to move Howard, 35, who has two years and a guaranteed $60 million remaining on his contract. He played in 153 games this season after being limited to 71 and 80 the past two seasons and batted .223/.310/.380 with 190 strikeouts.

"

At this point of his career, the two years and $50 million remaining on Howard's contract will cause anyone to sprint the other way. Don't expect Duquette to let desperation cloud his judgment and take such a payroll-clogger just to also acquire Byrd, who has hit 49 long balls through the past two years combined.

Just the fact that Philadelphia is trying to dump its veterans reflects a paradigm shift Ruben Amaro has been reluctant to undergo for years. Dealing 2007 MVP Jimmy Rollins could mark the first of many moves to come for a decaying organization that needs some young talent.

The Phillies are stuck with Howard, but a team like Baltimore would certainly benefit from Byrd's power.

Note: All advanced statistics are courtesy of FanGraphs.