MLB Trade Ideas Based on Offseason Week 12 News, Rumors and Speculation
While there are still plenty of familiar names available as free agents, there's a multitude of reasons those players remain unsigned. Some teams may be scared off by price, while others may not believe that those familiar names represent a significant upgrade over their in-house options at a particular position.
That's led to an increase in trade chatter and speculation on the rumor mill, which seems to only grow louder with every free-agent signing. In fact, the names being bandied about as potential trade chips are just as familiar and notable—a list that, this week, includes a handful of former All-Stars.
Keep in mind these proposed deals are only ideas and pure speculation. Unless otherwise noted, there's no indication any of them has actually been discussed.
Aaron Hill Gets Traded to the Pirates
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Arizona Diamondbacks Get: 1B/OF Michael Morse
Pittsburgh Pirates Get: 2B/3B Aaron Hill and $3.5 million
The Rumor
MLB Network's Jon Heyman tweets Arizona is trying to trade veteran infielder Aaron Hill.
Why It Makes Sense for the Diamondbacks
Arizona clears its middle infield logjam while adding some insurance at both first base and in the outfield corners with Michael Morse. Due $8.5 million in the final year of his deal, Morse doesn't represent a long-term commitment, allowing the team to keep future payroll flexibility.
While he struggled last season, hitting .231 with five home runs, 19 RBI and a .649 OPS over 98 games, he showed signs of life after joining the Pirates at the trade deadline, hitting .275 with a .782 OPS in limited playing time (82 plate appearances) down the stretch.
Why It Makes Sense for the Pirates
Hill's arrival allows the Pirates to keep prospect Alen Hanson down on the farm a bit longer, as the veteran can fill in at second base for the injured Jung-Ho Kang until he's deemed healthy enough to return to action.
Versatile enough to play second base and third base, Hill gives Pittsburgh insurance for Kang and Josh Harrison, allowing skipper Clint Hurdle to perhaps give both starting infielders more breathers during the regular season in an attempt to keep them fresh for the stretch run.
Arizona kicks in the $3.5 million difference between Morse's salary ($8.5 million) and Hill's ($12 million), ensuring the small-market Pirates don't incur any payroll increase.
C.J. Wilson Gets Traded to the Braves
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Atlanta Braves Get: LHP C.J. Wilson
Los Angeles Angels Get: 1B/OF Nick Swisher
The Rumor
MLB Network's Jon Heyman reports multiple teams have checked in on Angels starter C.J. Wilson, noting that Los Angeles had not heard a proposal it liked thus far.
Why It Makes Sense for the Angels
While Nick Swisher is no longer an everyday player, the 35-year-old switch-hitter could still be a useful part of a platoon in left field with either Todd Cunningham or Craig Gentry, Los Angeles' current projected platoon at the position.
More importantly, the Angels save $5 million in this deal, giving the team some much-needed breathing room between their payroll and the $189 million luxury tax that owner Arte Moreno has no interest in paying. It would also give general manager Billy Eppler some flexibility moving forward.
The Angels would certainly prefer Nick Markakis to Swisher, but the Braves would likely require more of a return than Wilson, and Los Angeles' farm system isn't deep enough for the team to continue subtracting from.
Why It Makes Sense for the Braves
Atlanta has an impressive array of young arms in its rotation, but outside of Julio Teheran, it lacks a true innings-eater to help keep not only their workloads in check, but also that of the bullpen.
Enter C.J. Wilson, who averaged 33 starts and 204 innings a season from 2010 to 2014, and were it not for an elbow injury last season, might have cracked both plateaus once again. Contrary to popular opinion, Wilson remains a solid starter, pitching to a 3.89 ERA (4.02 FIP) and 1.24 WHIP in 2015.
Taking on additional salary isn't ideal, but Wilson gives the Braves another chip to dangle at the Aug. 1 trade deadline—assuming the Braves haven't shocked the world and are in contention.
Corey Dickerson Gets Traded to the Rays
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Colorado Rockies Get: RHP Erasmo Ramirez
Tampa Bay Rays Get: OF Corey Dickerson
The Rumor
Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times writes the Rays have had ongoing trade discussions with both the Chicago Cubs and Colorado Rockies, with outfielder Corey Dickerson as Tampa Bay's focus with the latter. Either a reliever (Jake McGee) or a starting pitcher would be heading back to Colorado.
Why It Makes Sense for the Rays
Until he proves otherwise, there will always be questions about Dickerson's ability to produce away from Coors Field. But the 26-year-old is not yet arbitration-eligible, giving Tampa Bay a controllable left-handed outfield bat in the prime of his career.
Primarily a left fielder, Dickerson would provide the Rays with insurance for when Desmond Jennings makes his annual trip to the disabled list, and he could work into a right field platoon with Steven Souza, who has struggled against right-handed pitching thus far in his young career.
Why It Makes Sense for the Rockies
Colorado clears its outfield logjam and adds an experienced arm to its rotation in Erasmo Ramirez. While he's not a front-of-the-rotation starter, the 25-year-old does a solid job of inducing ground balls—reaching a career-high 47.8 percent rate in 2015—always a plus for a pitcher at Coors Field.
Due $2.375 million in 2016 with three arbitration-eligible seasons remaining, Ramirez is more than a short-term addition to a team that is constantly on the hunt for quality arms, whether it be in the starting rotation or the bullpen.
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Andre Ethier Gets Traded to the White Sox
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Chicago White Sox Get: OF Andre Ethier
Los Angeles Dodgers Get: OF Avisail Garcia and RHP Thaddius Lowry
The Rumor
Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times believes the Los Angeles Dodgers need to move Andre Ethier before he gains 10-and-5 rights—and veto power over all trades—in April.
Why It Makes Sense for the Dodgers
Los Angeles would be selling low on Ethier, who rebounded from a dismal 2014 to hit .294 with 14 home runs, 53 RBI and a .852 OPS last season. But the club simply can't risk not being able to unload him after he gains the ability to veto any and all trades.
That knowledge, along with multiple options still available via free agency and the trade market, conspire to keep Ethier's trade value down. Still, the Dodgers don't walk away empty-handed in this deal, landing a pair of youngsters who have some upside.
Avisail Garcia, who many pegged as a future star when the White Sox obtained him from Detroit at the 2013 trade deadline, has struggled in all aspects of the game since arriving in Chicago. Entering his age-25 season with at least one minor league option remaining, Garcia still has time to get on track.
A change of scenery could be exactly what he needs.
Thaddius Lowry, 21, has struggled thus far as a starter, pitching to a combined 4.72 ERA and 1.44 WHIP over parts of three minor league seasons while never advancing past Single-A. But he's a strike-thrower with a live fastball and nasty changeup and could find new life as a reliever, likely as a setup man.
Why It Makes Sense for the White Sox
Chicago's other big offseason addition, Todd Frazier, is under contract for another two years, so the two years and $38 million (including a $2.5 million buyout for 2018) left on Ethier's contract work within the team's somewhat limited window to contend with its new third baseman.
While he struggles against left-handed pitching, Ethier would be a substantial upgrade over Garcia in right field. He's also versatile enough to play all three outfield positions, giving manager Robin Ventura options on days he wants to rest either Melky Cabrera or Adam Eaton.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts (via Baseball Prospectus).
Hit me up on Twitter to talk all things baseball: @RickWeinerBR.
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