Hitters MLB Teams Should Consider Selling in Suddenly Weak Market
With offense at a premium around the league right now, the position-player market has moved quickly this offseason, leaving little in the way of impact talent remaining on the current market.
On the free-agent market, Billy Butler, Melky Cabrera, Nelson Cruz, Michael Cuddyer, Chase Headley, Torii Hunter, Adam LaRoche, Jed Lowrie, Nick Markakis, Russell Martin, Victor Martinez, Kendrys Morales, Michael Morse, Hanley Ramirez, Alex Rios, Pablo Sandoval and Yasmany Tomas have all signed new contracts.
Meanwhile, the trade market has seen Francisco Cervelli, Yoenis Cespedes, Ike Davis, Josh Donaldson, Dee Gordon, Yasmani Grandal, Didi Gregorius, Jason Heyward, Garrett Jones, Matt Joyce, Matt Kemp, Howie Kendrick, Brett Lawrie, Adam Lind, Casey McGehee, Miguel Montero, Brandon Moss, Wil Myers, Derek Norris, Martin Prado, Jimmy Rollins, Justin Ruggiano, Michael Saunders and Justin Upton all find new homes.
With that wave of activity, we could potentially see some unexpected names become available over the next month or so as teams look to capitalize on the lack of supply and increased demand.
Here are seven guys who their respective teams should seriously consider selling high on before the start of spring training.
RF Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds
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Remaining Contract
| $12M | $12.5M | $13M team option ($1M buyout) | FA |
Overview
The Cincinnati Reds are at a crossroads of sorts right now, as they shipped out Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon during the winter meetings but don't appear ready to commit to a full-blown rebuild just yet.
With the NL Central improving around them and a ton of money tied up in the trio of Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Homer Bailey, they look to be falling behind in their efforts to contend in the immediate future.
If they do change course and opt to go the rebuilding route, slugger Jay Bruce may be the easiest piece to move, as he has just two years at $25.5 million remaining on his current deal.
After three straight 30-plus home runs and 90-plus RBI seasons, Bruce endured the worst performance of his career last year, hitting just .217/.281/.373 with 18 home runs and 66 RBI, as his OPS dropped from .807 in 2013 to a dismal .654.
Rushing back from knee surgery left him hobbled for much of the year, so there is plenty of reason to believe he'll bounce back in 2015. When he's healthy, he's a consistent power threat.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported earlier this offseason that the Reds were willing to listen on Bruce, and while not much has happened on that front since, it's something they could revisit later on this winter.
DH Chris Carter, Houston Astros
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Remaining Contract
| ~$3.5M | arbitration | arbitration | arbitration | FA |
Overview
Always a hulking figure with intriguing power potential, Chris Carter finally turned his tools into production during the second half of the 2014 season, emerging as one of the top power hitters in all of baseball.
Thanks to a monster month of August in which he posted a .940 OPS with 12 home runs and 29 RBI, the 28-year-old finished the season with 37 home runs and 88 RBI, despite a subpar .227/.308/.491 slash line.
Carter is projected to earn $3.5 million in his first year of arbitration-eligibility as a Super Two, so his remaining years of team control do make him an attractive trade chip, and the Houston Astros' best move may be to sell high.
High strikeout totals and weak on-base skills make Carter a fairly one-dimensional player, but his right-handed power is an asset in short supply, and the team may be able to flip him for a nice return as it continues to build toward contention.
1B Justin Morneau, Colorado Rockies
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Remaining Contract
| $6.75M | $9M mutual option ($750K buyout) | FA |
Overview
In search of a replacement for the retiring Todd Helton, the Colorado Rockies bought relatively low on veteran Justin Morneau with a two-year, $12.5 million deal last offseason.
The return wound up being better than anyone could have hoped, as the 33-year-old hit .319/.364/.496 with 32 doubles, 17 home runs and 82 RBI, winning the National League batting title and posting a solid 3.2 WAR on the year.
Offense was not an issue for the Colorado Rockies last season, as they led the NL with 4.66 runs per game and had an MLB-best .772 OPS as a team.
With that in mind, selling high on Morneau and flipping him for some pitching help would make a lot of sense this offseason, as their struggles on the mound continue to hold them back as a franchise.
The Miami Marlins were reportedly targeting Morneau at the winter meetings before talks fell apart, according to Tom Singer of MLB.com, and they have since signed Michael Morse to fill their need at first base.
If someone else comes knocking looking for a left-handed run producer, the Rockies should seriously explore any options who could potentially improve their pitching staff.
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3B Trevor Plouffe, Minnesota Twins
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Remaining Contract
| ~$4.3M | arbitration | arbitration | FA |
Overview
Trevor Plouffe came out of nowhere in 2012 to post a .756 OPS with 24 home runs while playing all over the field, and he has settled as the Minnesota Twins' everyday third baseman over the past two seasons.
The 28-year-old led all third basemen with 40 doubles this past season, adding 14 home runs and 80 RBI while hitting .258/.328/.423 and posting a 3.9 WAR in what was easily the best all-around season of his career.
With top prospect Miguel Sano returning from Tommy John surgery, it may not be long before he is pushing Plouffe for the third base job, and the Twins will have a valuable trade chip on their hands when that time comes.
With free agents Pablo Sandoval and Chase Headley already signing this offseason and Josh Donaldson, and Casey McGehee and Martin Prado finding new homes via trade, the remaining market at third base is virtually nonexistent.
Selling high on Plouffe now and using someone like Eduardo Escobar as a stopgap until Sano is ready could help the Twins add another quality young piece to the rebuilding puzzle.
1B/OF Nick Swisher, Cleveland Indians
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Remaining Contract
| $15M | $15M | $14M vesting option | FA |
Overview
One of the top bats on the free-agent market prior to the 2013 season, Nick Swisher has had a rough go of it during his first two seasons with the Cleveland Indians after signing a four-year, $56 million deal.
The 34-year-old was limited to 97 games last season while dealing with knee issues. And he hit just .208/.278/.331 with eight home runs and 42 RBI in 360 at-bats when he was on the field, so it's fair to say his stock is down.
Prior to last season, Swisher had been durable throughout his big league career, averaging 150 games per season from 2006-13 and never playing in less than 145 games, so a return to health could certainly help him bounce back.
As a switch-hitter who is capable of playing both first base and corner outfield, Swisher provides some versatility, and he remains as positive a clubhouse presence as anyone in the league.
The Indians would likely have to take on a sizable chunk of the $30 million he is still owed to get a deal done, but it's not out of the question to think someone would be interested in adding Swisher to the mix.
SS Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
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Remaining Contract
| $20M | $20M | $20M | $20M | $20M | $14M | $15M option ($4M buyout) | FA |
Overview
News came early on this offseason that the Colorado Rockies were willing to listen to offers for both Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
Not much progress has been made as far as a deal actually coming to fruition, but that has not stopped his name from popping up in rumors over the past month.
"I have been talking to the Rockies throughout the process," Tulowitzki told Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post. "We have respect for each other. But my concentration right now is just on getting healthy."
Health has been the ongoing issue for Tulowitzki, as he played more than 130 games just once in the past five seasons. However, when he is on the field, he remains arguably the best all-around shortstop in the game and a true superstar.
Through 91 games last season he looked like the front-runner for NL MVP honors, hitting .340/.432/.603 with 21 home runs and 52 RBI. And at this point, a half-season of Tulowitzki is more productive than a full season of most shortstops around the league.
The Rockies will almost certainly need to eat some of the $118 million left on his contract to get a deal done, but moving their star could potentially net them a franchise-altering return of players, specifically on the pitching side of things.
2B Ben Zobrist, Tampa Bay Rays
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Remaining Contract
| $7.5M | FA |
Overview
The Tampa Bay Rays surprised more than a few people with their decision to move young outfielder Wil Myers, and Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times talked to President of Baseball Operations Matt Silverman about what could be next for the franchise.
"Though he didn't rule out dealing another veteran — free-agent-to-be Ben Zobrist is popular among other teams and could command a huge return — Silverman indicated there were no plans for a massive sell-off (i.e., franchise cornerstone Evan Longoria), saying they are always willing to talk about any player but did not anticipate any "seismic changes.
"
Given his defensive versatility, offensive production and reasonable $7.5 million salary for the upcoming season in the final year of his contract, Zobrist is as attractive a trade chip as anyone who could legitimately find himself on the block.
The 33-year-old was a 5.0 WAR player this past season and has consistently hovered around that number throughout his career. There would be no shortage of teams vying for his services if he were in fact made available.
Chances are the Rays won't re-sign the veteran once he hits free agency next offseason, so expect him to be moved at some point between now and the upcoming trade deadline. And shipping him off now may be the best way to maximize his value.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.
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