MLB Trade Rumors: Rumblings Around Josh Hamilton, Ian Desmond and More

At this stage of the MLB offseason, trade gossip usually tends to reserve seats for the regulars circling the block on a close-knit set of customers.

That holds true for one of the latest round-up's subjects, whose name everyone knows at this point. While nothing has materialized from all the rumors, another transaction foreshadows a move in his future.

On the other hand, two new names enter the fray. Due to enormous salaries, both of their general managers will struggle find a partner to sit with at the trading table. But nobody can blame them for trying anyway.

Here's a purview into some of the chatter streaming through Major League Baseball.

Josh Hamilton No Longer Angel in Los Angeles' Outfield?

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Courtesy of Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, a new marquee player has entered the rumor mill. The MLB insider has talked to sources who consider Josh Hamilton's days with the Los Angeles Angels numbered:

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A scout with whom I speak regularly predicted Tuesday that Josh Hamilton would not open the season as a member of the Angels.

I would not go that far. But I would bet that Hamilton does not complete the final three years of his contract with the club.

The Angels, according to major-league sources, have discussed a possible Hamilton trade with at least two teams this offseason, the Rangers and the Padres.

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It's not hard to figure out why the Angels would want to dump him. Signing a massive deal after clubbing 43 for the Texas Rangers in 2012, the outfielder has wildly underwhelmed for his new American League West employer. 

Through two years in California, Hamilton has hit .255/.316/.414 with 31 homers. That makes him a serviceable contributor, but he's getting paid to shatter worlds as pitchers beg for mercy.

The 33-year-old is due $90.2 million over the next three years. In 2016, he'll become MLB's highest-paid position player, even though Martin Prado has a higher accumulated WAR since 2011.

Despite all that, general manager Jerry Dipoto insisted to Rosenthal (from story above) that the club still supports Hamilton:

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We do believe in Josh. We’ve seen it every day when he takes batting practice. We’ve seen him hit balls that humans shouldn’t hit. What he does, 99 percent of the players can’t do. We are absolutely of the belief that the ability is there for him to do the things that he has done in the past. Now we have to help him turn the key to bring the ability out.

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At this point, he's probably hoping to persuade another general manager of all that holding merit. Unless the Angels are eating a significant chunk of his contract or adding some other assets for their troubles, it makes no sense for another team to knowingly absorb one of baseball's worst contracts.

Ian Desmond "Remains a Possibility" for Mariners

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Although not the first time an Ian Desmond-Seattle Mariners pairing has been discussed, the upper-echelon shortstop remains a member of the Washington Nationals.

Despite a lull on the hot stove, Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish.com said Seattle and Washington are still negotiating for the only shortstop to compile 20/20 seasons over each of the past three seasons:

Desmond trade talks will further percolate after Wednesday's three-team trade headlined by Wil Myers. In the deal, as reported by ESPN Insider Jim Bowden (via Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com), the Nationals brought back Trea Turner, a 21-year-old shortstop who hit .369/.447/.529 in Single-A last season.

Rosenthal reported the youngster's role in the transaction:

Per MLB Network Radio, Bowden offered his assessment on Turner, whom MLB.com lists No. 96 on its offseason prospect rankings:

The San Diego's Padres' first-round pick from last June's draft, Turner's arrival expedites Desmond's expiration date in Washington. With this move, the Nationals likely won't re-sign him once he hits free agency next offseason.

Not that they're pinching pennies and looking to rebuild, but they also have to worry about paying ace Jordan Zimmermann, along with the behemoth contract due Stephen Strasburg's way in two months.

Seemingly not content with Brad Miller and Chris Taylor, Seattle could form baseball's most potent middle infield with Desmond and Robinson Cano. Even though Desmond reached base at an unappetizing .313 clip last season, few shortstops can match his power, speed and defensive aptitude at a brutal position to fill.

Any Takers for Brandon League?

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In Andrew Friedman's quest to rid the Los Angeles Dodgers of all their past mistakes, the new president is hoping someone is kind enough to take Brandon League off his hands. 

Rosenthal reported that the club would even split the bill if someone bites on the 31-year-old reliever:

For anyone on the other end of that call, laughter is the proper response. While League notched a pretty 2.57 ERA in a bounce-back 2014, he did so with a ghastly mix of 38 strikeouts and 27 walks through 63 innings. 

He also didn't surrender a single home run, an unsustainable feat. And for the third straight year, he lost velocity on his heater.

Year	FB Velocity (MPH)
2011	96.5
2012	95.2
2013	94.5
2014	93.8

Relief pitchers with declining velocity and a 3.65 career ERA are not valuable commodities, especially when they earn a laughable $7.5 million. Someone who wants a former closer could have instead signed free agent Sergio Romo, who, according to Rosenthal, re-upped with the San Francisco Giants for the same yearly rate.

Jason Grilli, Francisco Rodriguez, Rafael Soriano and Casey Janssen, among others, remain available on the open market, so nobody will rush to land League at an inflated price tag.

All advanced statistics courtesy of FanGraphs. Contract info obtained via Cot's Baseball Contracts.