Predicting Which Team Will Undergo MLB's Next Full-Blown Fire Sale

Now is not the time to panic. 

There are still more than two-and-a-half months before the MLB regular season gets underway, but it's also not too early to look out onto the horizon and predict which clubs could be in for a seriously disappointing year in 2015. 

What follows is a rundown of the teams that are most likely to bottom out next season and undergo a major fire sale before the trade deadline arrives. Five unfortunate clubs crack this list, and the squad that has the highest odds of just such a scenario playing out claims the No. 1 spot.

The ranking criteria are simple. All of the teams in the top five struggled in 2014 and have done little to improve their chances this offseason. From Johnny Cueto to Adrian Beltre, all of the teams also have some big-time trade chips who could get dealt next summer. 

5. Cincinnati Reds

John Minchillo/Associated Press

The National League Central is once again shaping up to be the most competitive division in baseball. 

The St. Louis Cardinals and the Pittsburgh Pirates, who both snagged playoff spots a season ago, are on track to make October runs in 2015. The Milwaukee Brewers are looking to rebound from last season's second-half face-plant, and Joe Maddon will be angling to guide the Chicago Cubs into contention. 

That could be bad news for the Cincinnati Reds. 

After adding outfielder Marlon Byrd in a trade, Cincinnati clearly isn't punting on the upcoming season, but the team has also shipped out starters Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon this winter. If the Reds go into the tank this summer, there are plenty of other assets for the team to sell off.

Some of the names at the top of that list are closer Aroldis Chapman, second baseman Brandon Phillips and right fielder Jay Bruce. There's no question that Johnny Cueto is the team's biggest trade chip of all.

The right-handed ace, who is set to become a free agent at the end of the season, ripped off a 20-9 record with a 2.25 ERA in 2014. As his agent, Bryce Dixon, explained to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Cueto is looking to land a monster payday next winter. 

"[Jon] Lester is a better comp," Dixon said when asked how his client compared to Reds teammate Homer Bailey, who in early 2014 received a deal worth $105 million over six years. "[Max] Scherzer's the closest comp."

Lester raked in a six-year, $155 million deal from the Chicago Cubs, while Heyman notes that Scherzer is aiming for a $200 million contract. Considering those numbers, there's an excellent chance that Cueto gets traded before the deadline if the Reds are out of the race. 

Odds of a Fire Sale: 3-1

4. Tampa Bay Rays

This fire sale might be underway already. 

As Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports, the Tampa Bay Rays shipped shortstop Yunel Escobar and second baseman Ben Zobrist to the Oakland Athletics. That move follows the trades of Wil Myers, Jeremy Hellickson, Joel Peralta and Ryan Hanigan.

If the Rays fall out of the race in the American League East this season, Evan Longoria could become an extremely popular name on the trade market. For now, he's not on the block. According to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, one NL general manager checked in on the third baseman at the end of December but was told he "wasn't available." 

Aside from the three-time All-Star third baseman, the Rays' most valuable trade piece is Alex Cobb. The starter has recored a sub-3.00 ERA in back-to-back years and remains under club control for the next three seasons. Outfielders Desmond Jennings and David DeJesus are two other Rays who could potentially get moved in a deal. 

Odds of  Fire Sale: 1-1

3. Texas Rangers

LM Otero/Associated Press

The Texas Rangers will be better in 2015 than the team was a season ago.

Last year, Texas racked up 95 losses during an injury-riddled campaign. The question is how much better the team will be. So far, the most noteworthy addition of the offseason came in the trade for left-hander Ross Detwiler from the Washington Nationals. 

If the 2015 season goes sideways, the Rangers braintrust will have to seriously consider dealing away some of the club's most valuable players.

Adrian Beltre falls into that group. The third baseman, who hit .324 with an .879 OPS last year, makes $18 million in 2015 and has a $16 million vesting option for the season after that. In four years with Texas, the right-handed hitter has produced a .530 slugging percentage. 

As for arms, the most prominent players to watch out for are Yu Darvish and Derek Holland. Both starters are signed to team-friendly deals. Darvish makes $31 million over the next three seasons, while Holland is slated to earn $17.4 in the next two years. The lefty also has an $11 million option for 2017 and a $11.5 million option for 2018.

Odds of a Fire Sale: 1-3

2. Colorado Rockies

2014 was a train wreck for the Colorado Rockies.

Based on the club's underwhelming offseason, there's no compelling reason to think 2015 will be any different. Entering the year, the most prominent storyline surrounding the club is just what will happen to Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez. 

Over the winter, Tulowitzki in particular has been the subject of all sorts of trade speculation. As New York Mets GM Sandy Alderson explained via Mike Puma of the New York Post, the four-time All-Star shortstop won't be headed to Queens anytime soon.

“We’ve continued to have conversations, but nothing is likely to occur," Alderson explained. "There is currently nothing imminent. I still believe at this point that we will go into spring training with what we have at shortstop.”

For now, holding onto Tulowitzki and Gonzalez is the shrewdest move, as both stars were injured at the end of 2014. By allowing the the veterans to prove their health in the opening months of the next season, the Rockies have the chance to maximize their potential return. 

Odds of a Fire Sale: 1-9

1. Philadelphia Phillies

Laurence Kesterson/Associated Press

After back-to-back 73-win seasons, there's no question that the Philadelphia Phillies need to rebuild.

The NL East squad has assets to move, but the problem is that a lot of them are bad assets. Some of the players who fit that description are closer Jonathan Papelbon and first baseman Ryan Howard. The 35-year-old Howard, who is owed at least $60 million over the next three seasons, has one of the worst contracts in baseball. 

Speaking on 97.5 The Fantatic, via Dan Toman of TheScore.com, GM Ruben Amaro explained that Howard doesn't have much of a future in Philadelphia.

"We've talked to Ryan, and I told him that in our situation it would probably bode better for the organization not with him but without him," Amaro said.

While it will be nearly impossible to find a taker for Howard, that's certainly not the case when it comes to Cole Hamels. According to Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports, the St. Louis Cardinals are one of the teams "exploring" a deal for the starter. 

Odds of a Fire Sale: 1-19

Note: All stats and videos courtesy of MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.