Win-Win Prospect Packages for Top MLB Trade Targets on the Market
In case you haven't noticed, Major League Baseball's offseason has been going crazy with activity. While most of the big-name free agents have already signed, there also have been dozens of trades involving scores of players.
Whaddaya say we try to concoct a few more?
With players like Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Justin Upton and Derek Norris being dealt in the past few days alone—all to the San Diego Padres, by the way—the trade market is cooking and jerseys are changing every day.
But there are still a number of names that remain on the trading block and, in fact, have been rumored to be on the move.
With those players as the starting point, let's put together a handful of swaps in which they're traded for prospects, all with the intention of making each deal a win-win for both sides.
Toronto Blue Jays and Houston Astros
1 of 5
Trade Proposal
Toronto Blue Jays get: OF Dexter Fowler
Houston Astros get: RHP Roberto Osuna and C A.J. Jimenez
The Jays seem settled on Dalton Pompey as their center fielder of the future and present, but this is a club aiming to contend, and Pompey is just 22 years old with just 17 major league games under his belt. Heck, the switch-hitter has all of 43 minor league games above A-ball, so he could use a little more time to marinate.
Dexter Fowler would afford just that for both Pompey and the Jays, who would enjoy the 28-year-old's defense in center and .366 career on-base percentage. Not to mention, because he's a switch-hitter too, Fowler could provide another lefty bat against right-handers for a lineup that is very righty heavy, as Jon Morosi of Fox Sports has pointed out.
Because Fowler is a free agent after 2015, Toronto could transition to Pompey easily enough, and the Jays also wouldn't have to give up too much.
Roberto Osuna, who has reached High-A at age 19 even after missing a year to Tommy John surgery, would be a little bit of a lottery ticket for the Houston Astros, but one that could pay off if he reaches his mid-rotation potential.
Young catcher A.J. Jimenez, 24, has battled injuries of his own and is mainly a contact hitter with the bat, but his defense and arm—he's thrown out 41 percent of would-be base-stealers in his seven minor league seasons—are enough to make him a capable backup backstop.
Los Angeles Angels and Tampa Bay Rays
2 of 5
Trade Proposal
Los Angeles Angels get: 2B/OF Ben Zobrist
Tampa Bay Rays get: 1B/DH C.J. Cron
While C.J. Cron technically isn't a prospect anymore, he just barely exceeded the 130 at-bat threshold in 2014 (242), so just go with this for fun.
Cron, a 2011 first-rounder who turns 25 in January, has big power, having slugged .494 in his minor league career and posted a .450 mark in his first taste of The Show. Thing is, Cron is more of an extra piece for the high-scoring Los Angeles Angels, who have Albert Pujols locked in at first base and the recently acquired Matt Joyce to handle designated hitter.
The Tampa Bay Rays could use Cron's bat, though, especially at DH, which currently is being manned by, uh, Brandon Guyer. Besides, the small-market club targets youngsters under team control, and that's Cron.
In exchange, the Rays, who just jettisoned Wil Myers and appear to be rebuilding, could spare the versatile Ben Zobrist.
As Tom Jones of the Tampa Times writes: "Zobrist, who turns 34 in May, is still a productive player, but his numbers are trending down. He still has value but probably won't by the time the Rays figure to be truly competitive again. Why not trade him now while you can still get something decent in return?"
Zobrist is under contract for just another year, but he still gets on base (.354 OBP in each of 2013 and 2014) and would fit nicely at second for L.A., which traded away longtime second-sacker Howie Kendrick during the winter meetings.
Texas Rangers and Atlanta Braves
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Trade Proposal
Texas Rangers get: C/OF Evan Gattis
Atlanta Braves get: RHP Luke Jackson and OF Lewis Brinson
The Texas Rangers have been searching for help at both catcher and in the outfield, which probably has something to do with why they have been linked to Evan Gattis this offseason, as Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News reports.
Defense isn't Gattis' strong suit, so he might work best splitting his time between DH and corner outfield while only occasionally catching.
But Gattis, who has four more years until free agency, has smashed 43 home runs in fewer than 800 plate appearances in his first two seasons, so the Rangers would be happy to have the 28-year-old's raw oomph in their lineup.
Given that Gattis will be cheap for a few more seasons, Texas would have to give up enough to entice the Atlanta Braves to move him.
But considering that new President of Baseball Operations John Hart has been busy rebuilding, and remaking his outfield, in particular—he already has traded Jason Heyward and Justin Upton and signed Nick Markakis—unloading Gattis makes sense.
So does making a play for the future by getting a quality young right-hander like Luke Jackson, who put up a 3.02 ERA and 0.98 WHIP at Double-A as a 22-year-old this year, and taking a gamble on Lewis Brinson, a 20-year-old center fielder who strikes out too much (31.3 percent) and still is a few years away but has loud tools.
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Boston Red Sox and Philadelphia Phillies
4 of 5
Trade Proposal
Boston Red Sox get: LHP Cole Hamels
Philadelphia Phillies get: C Blake Swihart, LHP Henry Owens and RHP Matt Barnes
Some version of this trade just seems inevitable, doesn't it?
The Boston Red Sox clearly have a void at the top of their rotation after failing to re-sign former ace Jon Lester, and the aging, declining Philadelphia Phillies finally have begun the process of going back to the drawing board.
No wonder the Hamels-to-the-Red-Sox idea has been tossed around by many, including Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
Coming off a career-best 2.46 ERA in 2014, Cole Hamels has the goods to be Boston's No. 1 starter, heading up a rotation that now includes newcomers Rick Porcello and Wade Miley. Hamels, who turns 31 at the end of December, also represents the Phillies' top trade chip, so it behooves general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. to get back as much as he possibly can.
A package of the Red Sox's three first-rounders from 2011—22-year-old Blake Swihart, arguably the top catching prospect in baseball, southpaw Henry Owens, also 22, and righty Matt Barnes, who reached the majors in September and could pitch out of the rotation or bullpen—should be plenty to score Hamels.
While Boston is on Hamels' no-trade list, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the Red Sox should find the $90 million he's guaranteed through 2018 appealing enough to pick up his $20 million 2019 option if that's what Hamels requires to give his permission for a deal.
After all, Boston doesn't seem interested in meeting free agent Max Scherzer's $200 million demands after it refused to go above $135 million for six years on Lester. And if the Phillies were to pick up some of the tab, they would get more of a return on talent.
New York Mets and Colorado Rockies
5 of 5
Trade Proposal
New York Mets get: SS Troy Tulowitzki and OF Charlie Blackmon
Colorado Rockies get: RHP Noah Syndergaard, RHP Rafael Montero and SS Amed Rosario
This blockbuster is pure fun, because chances are, each side's fans are going to hate it for their favorite club.
Let's face it: The New York Mets need to do something big, especially on offense, and their primary needs are at shortstop and in the outfield, which is why Troy Tulowitzki and Charlie Blackmon both fit in Flushing.
Tulowitzki, however, is still owed $118 million and is recovering from his latest injury, a torn left hip labrum that required season-ending surgery. That makes him a tough target right now. But the Mets at least appear to be interested, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, because when the 30-year-old is active, he is unquestionably the best shortstop in the sport.
Blackmon, meanwhile, should be movable for the Colorado Rockies, because they have more than enough outfielders as is. The 28-year-old had his breakout campaign in 2014, hitting .288/.335/.440 and playing all three outfield spots. Center field in New York belongs to all-world defender Juan Lagares, but Blackmon could see time on both corners, working mainly as a lefty-hitting platoon with New York's biggest acquisition so far, Michael Cuddyer, who is both injury-prone and old (35).
In the past, the Colorado Rockies have made it known that Tulowitzki is a franchise stalwart who wasn't going anywhere. But for the first time this offseason, new general manager Jeff Bridich indicated that the team is at least willing to listen, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. Maybe the Rockies eyes have been opened by the fact that they haven't won more than 74 games the past four years even with Tulowitzki.
And those eyes would open even wider if the Mets were to put multiple top prospects on the table, particularly some of their high-end pitching, an area that Colorado constantly covets. One could be Noah Syndergaard, a 6'6" 22-year-old righty who owns a 3.25 ERA and 10.0 strikeouts-per-nine rate in his five pro seasons. And he is big league ready tomorrow.
Another arm that might interest Colorado is Rafael Montero, a second ready-to-rock right-hander, albeit one who more likely checks in as a No. 4 starter, compared to Syndergaard, who has No. 2 potential.
The last piece? That's Amed Rosario, who is just 19 years old and is in A-ball. He has loads of upside and would become Tulowitzki's heir in Denver.
Giving up that much young talent might be painful for the Mets, but if any team has the pitching depth to withstand trading two arms, it's New York. And Rosario would be blocked by Tulowitzki in New York, anyway, so the Mets would be trading a little future for the present.
Statistics are accurate through the 2014 season and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.
To talk baseball or fantasy baseball, check in with me on Twitter: @JayCat11.
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