MLB Trade Rumors: Recapping, Analyzing the Latest All-Star Break Chatter

If you think about it, the All-Star break is essentially a scaled-down version of the winter meetings.

While it only lasts a few days and there are no shortage of events that command the attention of general managers around the game, it also affords those executives a chance to meet behind closed doors and lay the groundwork for—if not come to an agreement on—potential trades.

We've already seen our first All-Star break trade take place, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins swapping minor league pitchers. While not a sexy deal by any stretch of the imagination, it's a reminder that teams are open for business—and that business is about to pick up.

The rumor mill isn't spinning quite as fast as an Aroldis Chapman fastball yet, but it has certainly picked up speed as the season's second half prepares to get underway. From current and former All-Stars to specific positions that contenders may—or may not—be looking to bolster, let's take a closer look at the latest chatter that's emerged.

Justin Upton Could Be Heading to the American League

Associated Press

Forget a change of scenery...Justin Upton might be changing leagues.

The Rumor

ESPN's Jim Bowden reports that the San Diego Padres have made All-Star outfielder Justin Upton available, and a trio of American League teams—the Kansas City Royals, Los Angeles Angels and Seattle Mariners—are his top suitors.

Analysis

We've been hearing chatter about Upton's potential availability for weeks, so the Padres making it official doesn't come as much of a surprise. It's at least a bit surprising that the Padres didn't wait to see if his bat started to wake up coming out of the break, however, before shopping him. 

Upton rode a massive slump into the All-Star break, hitting .180 (23-for-128) with only five extra-base hits (two home runs) since June 1. While teams are probably more intrigued by his natural ability and track record of success, such a lengthy funk has to at least be a little concerning.

That said, he'd certainly be a fit on all three of the teams that Bowden names.

In Kansas City, Upton could serve as a short-term replacement for the injured Alex Gordon in left field or replace the ineffective Alex Rios (.234 BA, .554 OPS, 1 HR) in right field. 

He'd be an immediate upgrade over the Matt Joyce/Daniel Robertson left field platoon in Los Angeles, just as he'd be for Seattle's current right field platoon of Seth Smith and Franklin Gutierrez.

As for what it might take to pry Upton loose, Bowden suggests a one-for-one swap that finds Upton heading to the Angels in exchange for left-handed starter Sean Newcomb, the team's top prospect, per MLB.com. 

While nobody disputes Upton's talent, that seems like a bit too high of a price for a player who's put up mediocre numbers in his walk year.

Carlos Gonzalez Might Be on the Move

Associated Press

Could this be the year that CarGo finally goes?

The Rumor

While he doesn't believe that Troy Tulowitzki is going anywhere, Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post believes that it's "very possible" that Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez will be shipped out of town before the trade deadline hits.

Analysis

Long the subject of trade speculation, the two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glove Award winner is healthy for the first time in years and playing well. With Colorado going nowhere fast, it makes sense for the club to try and cash in on his first-half success.

Due the balance of his $16 million salary this year and an additional $38 million (approximately) through 2017, Gonzalez wouldn't be an inexpensive addition for a team looking to bolster its outfield. That makes a deal to a team like Kansas City, as Saunders suggests, highly unlikely.

Additionally, his home/away splits and shaky injury history are concerning and could find some teams viewing CarGo as too risky a player to take a chance on. 

That said, he's still in the prime of his career and an above-average defender who can play all three outfield positions, though he's best suited for a corner spot. There are no shortage of teams that could use a player like that in their lineup, and if he can stay healthy (a big if), his contract won't seem so onerous.

Ultimately, owner Dick Monfort, who has been notoriously reluctant to move any of his "core" guys, will make the call as to whether CarGo stays or goes. But after seven years of watching injuries to Gonzalez and Tulowitzki derail his team's chances of contending, the time has come to break up that duo.

Houston Might Be in the Market for a First Baseman

BOB LEVEY/Associated Press

Jon Singleton and Chris Carter haven't produced as expected.

The Rumor

Besides bolstering the rotation, the Houston Astros might be on the hunt for an upgrade at first base as well, per a report by the Houston Chronicle's Evan Drellich.

Analysis

Houston's need for another established starter has gotten all the attention, but first base has quietly been an issue. Whether measuring production at the position by OPS or FanGraphs' wRC+ metric, Astros first basemen have been among the least productive in baseball thus far.

While noting that current first baseman Chris Carter is notorious for having strong second halves and that former prospect Jon Singleton hasn't really gotten a chance to perform this year, Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow admitted to Drellich that time is not on their side.

"I'm not sure we can wait all year for something to come if it's not coming," Luhnow said. "Ultimately, if we make the decision that we're not getting enough production from the guys on the roster right now, we have to consider outside options."

But the market isn't exactly flush with potential upgrades at the position.

Colorado's Wilin Rosario could be available, but the former catcher is still learning the position, and his numbers away from Coors Field leave much to be desired. San Diego's Yonder Alonso, who Drellich floats as a possibility, doesn't offer much in the way of power and may not be available.

The team's best option may ultimately be to target a left-handed bat—like the Milwaukee Brewers' Adam Lind—whom it could platoon with the right-handed Carter.

Seattle Is Going to Trade for Another Catcher

Ted S. Warren/Associated Press

Mike Zunino has essentially been an automatic out this year.

The Rumor

Fox Sports' Jon Morosi reported that the Seattle Mariners were close to acquiring a catcher on Wednesday, a report that Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times later debunked—though he noted that the team was looking for another backup catcher.

Analysis

No team in baseball has gotten less production from the catcher position this year than Seattle, with the group hitting a combined .150 with a .464 OPS and 28 wRC+. Starter Mike Zunino, while a terrific defender, has been completely useless at the plate, while current backup Jesus Sucre is a total non-factor.

Seattle doesn't need another backup catcher—it needs a starter who's capable of holding things down defensively while contributing something at the plate.

The Atlanta Braves' A.J. Pierzynski and Toronto Blue Jays' Dioner Navarro both fit that description. Morosi reported that the Mariners had discussed Pierzynski with Atlanta, but that no deal was close, while Sportsnet's Shi Davidi tweeted that Navarro wasn't the catcher the team was supposedly close to acquiring.

Whether it's Navarro, Pierzynski or someone else—the Cincinnati Reds' Brayan Pena and Philadelphia Phillies' Carlos Ruiz could also be available—the Mariners seem to realize that they can't continue with the status quo behind the plate.

Love him or hate him, at least general manager Jack Zduriencik is paying attention to what's going on with his team and trying to make improvements where he can, which is a major departure from the situation surrounding the team involved in the next rumor we'll look at.

The Mets Aren't Going to Add an Outfielder

Phelan M. Ebenhack/Associated Press/Associated Press

Nobody in this picture has done his job well in 2015.

The Rumor

ESPNNewYork.com's Adam Rubin has been told by those familiar with the New York Mets' trade deadline plans "not to expect" the team to add an outfielder.

Analysis

Mismanagement and shortsightedness have plagued the Mets for years, so I suppose we really shouldn't be all that surprised by this latest example of ineptitude.

Perhaps general manager Sandy Alderson has been looking at the leaderboards upside down and believes that the team's current crop of outfielders ranks fourth in OPS and wRC+ instead of 25th and 26th, respectively.

Or maybe the club believes that Kirk Nieuwenhuis' three-home run performance against Arizona on July 12 indicates that the 27-year-old is the next coming of Darryl Strawberry. Keep in mind, this is the same Nieuwenhuis that the team sold to the Los Angeles Angels in late May before reclaiming him on waivers.

Or maybe Fred and Jeff Wilpon are still hiding behind their losses in the Bernie Madoff scandal from 2009 and refuse to sign off on adding any additional payroll. 

Whatever the reason, the Mets standing pat rather than going after someone like the aforementioned Justin Upton, who I suggest could be acquired without the Mets having to deal from their current 25-man roster, constitutes gross negligence on the team's part.

Unless otherwise linked or noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs and are current through games of July 15. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts.

For the latest trade rumors surrounding your favorite team, make sure to check Bleacher Report's individual team trade rumor trackers, which can be found in each team-specific stream.

Hit me up on Twitter to talk all things baseball: @RickWeinerBR.