MLB Rumors: Analyzing Buzz Surrounding Ichiro Suzuki, Dan Haren Trade and More

The MLB hot stove is often quite cool by the new year, with most of the big moves completed during the winter meetings back in early December and spring training just weeks away. 

Of course, there are still opportunities for teams to make some late improvements to the squad, but they will have to act decisively if they are to start camp with stability and a clear sense of purpose and direction for all players invited.

At this point, veteran acquisitions become key, especially if a free agent is to be found on the cheap.

Here is a look at three experienced professionals and the latest buzz surrounding their names.

Ichiro Suzuki

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Ichiro Suzuki is a man who needs no lengthy introduction at this point. The Gold Glove-winning, slap-hitting, base-thieving star is now 41 years old and in the dying twilight of his career. Still, it appears a smattering of organizations still see value in the middle-aged free agent.

According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, three clubs are interested in Suzuki, who posted a .284/.324/.340 slash line and 15 stolen bases in 359 at-bats last season with the New York Yankees:

Suzuki's power numbers are essentially nonexistent at this point and his on-base percentage leaves much to be desired, but it's clear he can still scratch out a hit and cause a little havoc on the basepaths. Suzuki can also fill in at every outfield spot, although he doesn't flash the leather quite like he did in his younger days. He posted a minus-0.9 Ultimate Zone Rating (UZR) in 2014, per FanGraphs.

MLB.com's Joe Frisaro noted the Miami Marlins have checked on his status:

The Marlins are a intriguing option, but Suzuki might be better off trying to latch onto a championship contender instead of a team working with young outfield talent in Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich.

The San Francisco Giants could use a lefty bat off the bench, and Suzuki might actually be a better lefty option for the Baltimore Orioles than either Alejandro De Aza (.252 batting average) or David Lough (.309 OBP in 2014).

Suzuki's price will likely have to come way down from the $6.5 million per year he made with the deep-pocketed Yankees, per Spotrac.

Should he expect an offer, and it appears likely one will come his way, Suzuki should jump at the chance. If he stays in shape for a couple of years, Suzuki has a real shot at 3,000 hits in MLB alone.

Dan Haren

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Poor Dan Haren. The 34-year-old righty starter was traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers to the Marlins in December as part of a seven-player deal. Haren has wanted nothing to do with pitching away from the West Coast, informing the Marlins in early January that he had no intention of pitching for them, per Frisaro:

The Marlins have apparently been trying to accommodate Haren and trade him, but to no avail, per the Miami Herald's Barry Jackson:

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At his request, the Marlins have been trying to trade pitcher Dan Haren to a team closer to his Southern California home but have found no takers. The Marlins have no intention of parting with the $10 million that the Dodgers are giving them to pay Haren’s salary or to keep if he retires.

If Haren retires, the Marlins will allocate that money toward Mat Latos' estimated $8.4 million salary.

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Haren put together a solid season in 2014, posting a 13-11 record with a 4.02 ERA and a 1.177 WHIP, per Baseball-Reference.com. It's easy to see why the Marlins would want to hold onto a relatively veteran player who is essentially free rotation fodder (from Miami's perspective, of course).

There are probably a dozen teams that could use a player like Haren, but of course Miami isn't negotiating with the entire league. They're looking at teams close to or within SoCal. According to Fox Sports' Jon Morosi, the defending-champion Giants were interested at one point:

Jake Peavy should round out a solid, veteran pitching corps that also features the likes of Madison Bumgarner and Tim Lincecum. However, Morosi also noted the Giants could still be in play if Tim Hudson's health becomes a factor:

Assuming the Giants' interest has waned and knowing the Dodgers are out of the discussion (as the ones who traded away Haren), this seemingly only leaves the Los Angeles Angels, Oakland Athletics, San Diego Padres and Arizona Diamondbacks as workable trade partners. Of this group, the D-backs and Angels are the most likely to find use for Haren.

The Padres are developing what could be an excellent young rotation, and the Athletics have no need for a veteran like Haren when they are clearly in rebuilding mode after a failed championship run.

Haren's performed admirably for both the Angels and Diamondbacks in the past (he also spent three seasons in Oakland). Of his best five seasons in terms of ERA, two came with the Diamondbacks and one with the Angels. However, nostalgia might not be enough for the Marlins if they are truly unwilling to part with the money owed from the Dodgers—or saved if Harden is forced to retire.

Takashi Toritani

Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images

Known MLB free agents aren't the only route for teams looking to improve. There is the draft, of course, but in terms of immediate fixes, there is always the foreign-player market. The Pittsburgh Pirates earned the right to negotiate with slugging South Korean shortstop Jung-ho Kang in December, and it appears another import is drawing at least some interest from MLB squads.

According to Sportsnet.ca's Shi Davidi, the Toronto Blue Jays are looking at 33-year-old Japanese shortstop Takashi Toritani, who last played for the Hanshin Tigers. He posted a .313/.406/.415 slash line in 2014, with eight home runs and 73 RBI in 144 games, per Baseball-Reference.com. The batting average and on-base percentage were the best marks of his career.

Davidi also outlined a way that the Blue Jays could up the spending money available: 

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The Blue Jays continue to have interest in free-agent infielder Takashi Toritani, but given their limited resources, they’d likely need to get him on a low-risk, one-year deal. Toritani’s agent, Scott Boras, is sure to aim higher. ... The Blue Jays could dump Navarro’s salary to create additional spending room, but they continue to want an asset in return. Navarro provides depth and protection at catcher and DH, and if Martin can catch Dickey, definitely improves the roster.

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Super-agent Scott Boras might need a hungrier market to drive up Toritani's price to one outside of or on the edge of the Blue Jays' range, but it could be that the interest in the Japanese star is lukewarm at best. According to the New York Post's Mike Puma, the New York Mets are no longer interested in Toritani:

His age likely isn't very appealing to most teams, and it appears he may have yet to commit to trying his hand overseas, per The Vancouver Sun's Charlie Caskey:

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Either way, if there’s one thing I remember from my time in Japan, it’s that the baseball is far more structured.  The Tigers will want to know who is playing where, prior to flying to their spring training facility.

That leaves little time for Takashi.  A source in Japan heard that a decision should be forthcoming  middle of the month, which is really just a week away.

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The Blue Jays already have the 31-year-old Jose Reyes at shortstop, but the Toritani (who bats lefty) could provide solid depth and added flexibility in Toronto if the price is right.