Predicting the MLB All-Trade Block Team for 2015

From Johnny Cueto to Adrian Beltre, some monster names are set to hit the MLB trade front in 2015. There are three ways for a big leaguer to secure a spot on the MLB all-trade block team for the upcoming season.

The first route is for a player to be a free-agent-to-be, because organizations love to get value for a quality contributor before he just walks away. The second path is for a major leaguer to be a good player on a team that is about to face-plant—or at least a team that is projected to face-plant at this extremely early vantage point. The third option is for a player to be a valuable piece stuck on a squad where there's no obvious job to be had.

The All-Stars and Gold Glovers who populate this squad all fall into one of those camps and there are a couple who fit multiple descriptions. There are also an overwhelming number of players who are currently wearing either Colorado Rockies or Philadelphia Phillies jerseys.

Catcher

Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images

Also on the Block: Welington Castillo, Chicago Cubs

The All-Trade Block Catcher: Dioner Navarro, Toronto Blue Jays

Ever since Russell Martin landed at the Rogers Centre it seemed as if Dioner Navarro's days with the Toronto Blue Jays were numbered.

For now, the 31-year-old is biding his time as a part-time designated hitter, but Gregor Chisholm of MLB.com reports that the club is "exploring trade scenarios." The backstop has demonstrated decent pop over the past two seasons, cracking a combined 25 home runs in 2013 and 2014.

First Base

Also on the Block: Ryan Howard, Philadelphia Phillies; Mike Napoli, Boston Red Sox

The All-Trade Block Team First Baseman: Justin Morneau, Colorado Rockies

Justin Morneau is a textbook trade chip.

He's good. Last year, the veteran first baseman was the National League batting champ with a .319 average, while posting an .860 OPS. He's also on a team that is projected to be bad—really bad.

What's more, the left-handed hitter has a manageable contract. Morneau is slated to make $6.75 million in 2015. He also has a $9-million mutual option for 2016, but that can be bought out for $750,000.

Second Base

Jeff Roberson/Associated Press

Also on the Block: Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies

The All-Trade Block Second Baseman: Daniel Murphy, New York Mets

The clock is ticking on Daniel Murphy's tenure in Queens. Just ask Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

"The second baseman is a free agent after this season, and the [New York] Mets have shown no inclination to try to keep him. Murphy’s best comp might be Martin Prado, who got four years at $40 million a few years back, and Mets ownership seems as likely to start Doc Gooden on Opening Day as pay that."

As Sherman argues, the club could look into dealing Murphy at the deadline rather than simply letting him depart at the end of the campaign. A trade could happen even if the pitching-rich Mets climb into the wild-card chase. The team has Murphy's heir apparent in Dilson Herrera, who could make the 30-year-old expendable by midseason.

Shortstop

Also on the Block: Stephen Drew, New York Yankees; Mike Aviles, Cleveland Indians

The All-Trade Block Shortstop: Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

Troy Tulowitzki lives on the trade block.

At the end of February, the four-time All-Star told Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post that he was well aware of the offseason buzz: “I do pay attention, and yeah, I saw my name being thrown all over.”

If Tulowitzki can stay off the disabled list in the opening months of the season, the talk is sure to ramp up again. That's what happens to a star like Tulowitzki, who plays on an underwhelming squad with a bleak outlook in 2015.

Third Base

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

Also on the Block: Gordon Beckham, Chicago White Sox

The All-Trade Block Third Baseman: Adrian Beltre, Texas Rangers

Adrian Beltre can flat-out rake.

Last season, the veteran third baseman checked in with an .879 OPS, which remarkably was his lowest since 2009. If the Texas Rangers go in the tank in the first half, Beltre will become an extremely popular name on the trade front.

Per David Schoenfield of ESPN, Joe Sheehan of The Joe Sheehan Baseball Newsletter suggests that either the Washington Nationals or the Pittsburgh Pirates could make sense as potential destinations for the four-time All-Star. Both of those teams have the pieces to make such a blockbuster happen. The NL clubs have the No. 9 and No. 6 ranked farm systems, respectively, according to Bleacher Report.

Left Field

Also on the Block: Marlon Byrd, Cincinnati Reds

The All-Trade Block Left Fielder: Allen Craig, Boston Red Sox

Primarily a right fielder and first baseman, Allen Craig is slightly out of position on the all-trade block team. Still, the 30-year-old is more than capable of patrolling left field as well.

The way that the Boston Red Sox's roster is currently constructed, it's difficult to see where exactly the right-handed hitter fits into the equation.

Craig has been racking up at-bats this spring, but those opportunities will dry up once the regular season arrives, as Hanley Ramirez, Mookie Betts, Rusney Castillo and Shane Victorino all stand ahead of him in the outfield hierarchy. According to Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston, rival "talent evaluators" believe that the Red Sox keep playing Craig as a means of showcasing him to help facilitate a trade.

Center Field

Also on the Block: Ender Inciarte, Arizona Diamondbacks

The All-Trade Block Center Fielder: Andre Ethier, Los Angeles Dodgers

With Joc Pederson the future in center field, Yasiel Puig holding down right and Carl Crawford stationed in left, Andre Ethier is a player without a position.

The Los Angeles Dodgers have been shopping Ethier for months and are even willing to eat up to half of the $56 million remaining on the outfielder's contract, per Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times. The 32-year-old has helped pump up his market value this spring by posting a .313 (15-for-48) average in 19 games.

Right Field

Also on the Block: Shane Victorino, Boston Red Sox; Mark Trumbo, Arizona Diamondbacks

The All-Trade Block Right Fielder: Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies

Carlos Gonzalez is yet another Colorado Rockies position player who claims a spot on this squad. Like his teammate Troy Tulowitzki, Gonzalez has all sorts of talent but also a knack for ending up on the DL. Over the past two seasons, the outfielder has missed nearly half of the Rockies' games (144).

Money could also prove to be a stumbling block in an potential trade involving the 29-year-old. Gonzalez is slated to make $53 million over the next three seasons.

Starters

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

Also on the Block: Mat Latos, Miami Marlins; Ian Kennedy, San Diego Padres

The Rotation

1. Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds

Set to become a free agent at the end of 2015 and unwilling to discuss a contract extension past Opening Day, Johnny Cueto is on his way to becoming the focus of all sorts of trade talk. The conversation will be accelerated if the Reds fall behind early in the ultra-competitive NL Central.

As Jim Bowden of ESPN argues, the Reds should get ready to call clubs like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox and Los Angeles Dodgers. If Cueto were to end up at Dodger Stadium, the NL West squad would have baseball's best top three in Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke and Cueto.

2. Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies

Cole Hamels is an ace stranded on an awful team. Clubs around the league are well aware of the situation, as Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. explained via Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly at the beginning of the spring: “I know there are teams interested.”

Hamels was absolutely nasty last season, sporting a 2.46 ERA. Of course, any interested club would have to be willing to make a significant investment in the lefty, as he's still owed $94 million through 2018 with a $20 million option (and a $6 million buyout) for 2019.

3. Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers

It was only January when the Milwaukee Brewers jettisoned Yovani Gallardo to the Texas Rangers. Another trade could be in the right-hander's future. On paper, the Rangers are the worst team in the AL West, and Gallardo, the owner of a 3.69 ERA in eight big league seasons, is a proven middle-of-the rotation arm.

4. Doug Fister, Washington Nationals

Doug Fister is another pending free agent who could be changing addresses this summer. The Washington Nationals' rotation is so loaded that the club doesn't even have room for Tanner Roark.

Fister was quietly solid last year, posting a 2.41 ERA in 25 starts. With the Nats' lineup already dinged up, Washington could at least consider dealing Fister to bring in an extra bat before the deadline.

5. Dillon Gee, New York Mets

Even with Zack Wheeler sidelined for the entire 2015 season, Dillon Gee remains available on the trade front, per Adam Rubin of ESPN New York. The 28-year-old right-hander is nothing more than an end of the rotation starter, but it helps that he is attached to a reasonable price tag. In 2015, Gee will make $5.3 million.

Closer

Kathy Willens/Associated Press

Also on the Block: LaTroy Hawkins, Colorado Rockies

The All-Trade Block Closer: Jonathan Papelbon, Philadelphia Phillies

Jonathan Papelbon is just one of many Philadelphia Phillies veterans who could soon be playing for a new team. As Jim Salisbury of CSN Philly reports, that new team could be the Toronto Blue Jays, who are still accepting resumes for a ninth-inning arm.

According to Salisbury, Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos was in attendance for one of the closer's recent outings. When told by Salisbury about the presence of the AL East exec, Papelbon simply replied: "Huh, interesting."

The Starting Lineup

Darron Cummings/Associated Press

1. Andre Ethier, CF, Los Angeles Dodgers
2. Carlos Gonzalez, RF, Colorado
3. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies
4. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers
5. Justin Morneau, 1B, Colorado Rockies
6. Allen Craig, LF, Boston Red Sox
7. Dioner Navarro, C, Toronto Blue Jays
8. Daniel Murphy, 2B, New York Mets
9. Johnny Cueto, SP, Cincinnati Reds

• Jonathan Papelbon, CL, Philadelphia Phillies

Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com. All 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.