MLB Rumors: Fresh Trade Chatter Prior to Start of Spring Training

Pitchers and catchers report in less than two weeks. I repeat: Pitchers and catchers report in less than two weeks.

With spring training just around the corner, a majority of MLB teams have finished their offseason repairs and are headed into camp with a team they're comfortable rolling with. Of course, most clubs make small acquisitions during the spring as injuries or other minor issues pile up. But most of the moves made from here on out will represent upgrades in terms of depth.

Then again, there's a chance we see a major trade or two within the next six weeks or so. Not every player involved in offseason rumors was dealt during the cold winter months. While it's unlikely that the hot stove will heat up again, one can never underestimate the league's general managers.

Below is the latest trade chatter on the rumor mill just days before spring camp opens.

Dan Haren

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

Starting pitcher Dan Haren was already dealt once this offseason. The Los Angeles Dodgers moved him and infielder Dee Gordon to the Miami Marlins in a multiplayer deal during the winter meetings, but Haren wasn't initially pleased with the move.

Those feelings persisted through January, when Barry Jackson of The Miami Herald wrote that Haren still sought a trade away from Miami. His gripe is that the Marlins don't play on the West Coast, where his family is.

It seems as if he has changed his mind, however. ESPN's Jim Bowden tweeted the latest in the ongoing saga:

As it stands today, the 34-year-old would slot in as the No. 5 starter in a loaded Miami rotation. When Jose Fernandez returns to full strength, the Marlins' two-through-five starters will be Mat Latos, Henderson Alvarez, Jarred Cosart and Haren. Tom Koehler, Brad Hand and David Phelps represent other internal options.

Haren's previous issues with the Marlins likely had nothing to do with the team's talent level. To be fair, Miami is a much better team now than it was when the offseason began. Martin Prado, Michael Morse, Ichiro Suzuki and Gordon help to lengthen the lineup and bench, while Latos and Haren stabilize the rotation.

The Washington Nationals are the class of the National League East, but the Marlins have a serious case to make for a wild-card berth. A successful season on a young team should help Haren come to terms with playing on the East Coast for what could possibly be his final season in the bigs.

Cliff Lee

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

For the first time in a long time, starting pitcher Cliff Lee was simply pedestrian last season. He posted a 3.65 ERA, his highest since 2007, and he made just 13 starts because of an elbow injury. The Philadelphia Phillies are banking on his health in 2015, for one of two reasons.

If he's healthy, they can rely on him for stability in the rotation. But the other plus is that he'll fetch more in a trade if fully healed. ESPN's Jayson Stark tweets that improved health could lead to a trade in the near future:

While we won't know much about Lee until he gets on a mound and pitches against live hitters in March, we do know that he has been progressing nicely. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro told Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News about his rehab: "He's been great, it's been going real well for him. But it's still a risk. He didn't pitch at the end of the year. It's a question mark until he's pitching in spring training and pitching like we know he can pitch. Then we'll know he's healthy and ready to go."

Given the way Amaro has handled how he negotiates deals for his top players, it's unlikely to think of Lee wearing another uniform this season. A supposed rebuild was in the works for Philly at the start of the offseason, but shortstop Jimmy Rollins was the only major player to move. Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, Jonathan Papelbon and others are still in the City of Brotherly Love.

It could be because he asks for too much, but it could also be because he's afraid to fully commit to a rebuild. Whatever it is, things aren't easy for Amaro right now.

Plus, Corey Seidman of CSNPhilly.com writes that teams should be wary about negotiating a trade for Lee:

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Why would a team trade for Lee early in the season if it means attaching itself to a salary so expensive that it could prevent that team from making another (or a better) move a few months later for [David] Price, [Johnny] Cueto, [Jeff] Samardzija or [Jordan] Zimmermann? Sure, there's a chance none of those four aces gets dealt, but would a team punt on that chance just to acquire Lee? Even if those aces' teams are still in the hunt and choose to keep them, No. 2 starters like Doug Fister, Hisashi Iwakuma, Yovani Gallardo, Mat Latos, Scott Kazmir, Ian Kennedy and Rick Porcello could also be available this summer before they reach free agency. They're all younger and less expensive than Lee.

"

Lee might be on the trade block like several other Phillies veterans, but that doesn't mean he'll move elsewhere. Let's watch a few other dominoes fall first.

Phillies Have Small Holes to Address

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

In far more minor news, the Phillies roster is nearly complete as far as adding talent is concerned. There are a few noticeable holes, however, that Stark tweets might be filled in spring training:

Freddy Galvis would man short if the season started today. In 43 games last season, the light-hitting 25-year-old slashed .176/.227/.319 with four home runs and 12 RBI. He made just one error at shortstop in 112 chances.

Fielding is clearly his forte, yet the Phillies have so far felt content enough with his bat to not make a major acquisition to kick off the post-Rollins era. That could change in a few weeks, though it's unknown as to which players could be on Amaro's radar.

There is also a need for a veteran backstop in case Carlos Ruiz and young backup Cameron Rupp are unable to produce consistently. Ruiz has declined each year since his career showing in 2012 (he's also 36), while Rupp has only 73 big league at-bats under his belt.

Backstops who lose out on reserve roles can be had cheaply toward the end of spring games, so don't be surprised if Amaro brings one in to possibly take Rupp's place behind the man they call "Chooch."

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn