MLB Trade Ideas Based on Latest Offseason Week 3 News, Rumors and Speculation
The general consensus when it comes to building a Major League Baseball team is that you do so up the middle, prioritizing catcher, second base, shortstop and center field—along with pitching—before anything else.
Much of the chatter making the rounds on the rumor mill over the past week has focused on just that, with a slew of notable names, primarily at second base and on the mound, generating a lot of buzz as the Hot Stove League prepares to kick into another gear.
That's where our focus lies in this week's trade ideas. Keep in mind these proposed deals are only ideas and speculation. Unless otherwise noted, there's no indication any of them have actually been discussed.
Brandon Phillips Gets Traded to the Los Angeles Angels
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Cincinnati Gets
OF Chad Hinshaw and a player to be named later
Los Angeles Gets
2B Brandon Phillips
Rumor/Speculation
Entering the final year of his contract, Brandon Phillips is more willing to waive his no-trade clause than he has been in the past, according to Fox Sports' Jon Morosi.
Why It Makes Sense for the Reds
Phillips, 35, remains a popular figure among the Cincinnati faithful. But even the most devout Reds fan will acknowledge that he has no place on a rebuilding Reds team, especially when his presence limits the playing time of Jose Peraza, who could be a big part of the franchise's future.
This deal is more about clearing a path for Peraza than it is shedding Phillips' $14 million salary in the final year of his contract—and getting something of value in exchange for him. There are too many potential risks, including injury, for the Reds to wait until the trade deadline to move him.
At 26, Chad Hinshaw is on the older side of the prospect spectrum, but he's a solid defender capable of playing all three outfield positions. He has line-drive power and the speed to cause problems when he gets on base.
Why It Makes Sense for the Angels
Phillips isn't a long-term answer at the keystone for Los Angeles, and his right-handed bat does nothing to bring balance to an Angels lineup that—outside of right fielder Kole Calhoun—is entirely right-handed.
But he's a massive upgrade over the team's in-house options for second base.
In the two years since Los Angeles traded Howie Kendrick, Angels second basemen have been hugely unproductive, hitting a combined .237 with an MLB-worst .617 OPS. Over the same period of time, Phillips has hit .293 with a .724 OPS.
Chris Archer Gets Traded to the Houston Astros
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Houston Gets
RHP Chris Archer
Tampa Bay Gets
IF/OF Alex Bregman, RHPs Jandel Gustave and David Paulino and C Max Stassi
Rumor/Speculation
Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported that Tampa Bay left the general managers' meetings "under the stronger belief they would trade one from among starters Chris Archer (five years of control), Jake Odorizzi (three years), Drew Smyly (two years) and less likely Alex Cobb (one year)."
He went on to add that the Rays are looking for a left fielder, catcher and bullpen help in any deal, naming Houston as one of six potential suitors for one of Tampa Bay's arms.
Why It Makes Sense for the Astros
It's a hefty price for Houston to pay, but Archer gives the Astros a controllable stud atop the rotation for the foreseeable future. The 28-year-old admittedly got off to a horrid start in 2016 but finished strong, pitching to a 3.32 ERA and 1.04 WHIP with 116 strikeouts over his last 16 starts.
A rotation of Archer, Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Mike Fiers and Lance McCullers Jr., with Joe Musgrove and Brady Rodgers waiting in the wings, would potentially give the Astros one of the better starting staffs in the American League.
Colin Moran can replace Alex Bregman at third base, while Houston can add a relatively inexpensive veteran free agent to take Max Stassi's place as Evan Gattis' backup behind the plate. Or, as we'll explore shortly, the Astros could swing another deal for a veteran backstop.
Why It Makes Sense for the Rays
A four-player package that includes only one top-100 prospect (David Paulino), per MLB.com, might not seem like nearly enough for Tampa Bay to part ways with Archer. But the inclusion of Bregman makes that point null and void.
Bregman, 22, was baseball's top prospect before being promoted to the big leagues in late July. Versatile and dynamic, Bregman would fill Tampa Bay's void in left field while providing the Rays with a big bat to slot alongside Logan Forsythe and Evan Longoria in the middle of the lineup.
Stassi is the young catcher the Rays have sought for years, someone who can immediately take over behind the plate, while both reliever Jandel Gustave and starter Paulino could break camp as members of Tampa Bay's pitching staff.
Ian Kinsler Gets Traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers
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Detroit Gets
2B Willie Calhoun, 2B/OF Micah Johnson, C Will Smith and OF Alex Verdugo
Los Angeles Gets
2B Ian Kinsler
Rumor/Speculation
Morosi reported that Los Angeles sees Detroit second baseman Ian Kinsler as a fit on its roster but did not have any "substantive" talks with the Tigers at the recently concluded GM meetings.
Why It Makes Sense for the Dodgers
Los Angeles could re-sign Chase Utley and roll with an Utley/Enrique Hernandez platoon at second base in 2017, but having Kinsler man the keystone full time sounds like a much better idea.
The four-time All-Star hit .288 with 28 home runs, 83 RBI, 14 stolen bases and an .831 OPS over 153 games for Detroit in 2016 while providing his customary blend of above-average defense and veteran leadership in the clubhouse.
Due $11 million in 2017 and with a $10 million team option for 2018 that can be bought out for half as much, Kinsler is a relative bargain financially. The same can't be said about the cost to acquire him, which includes a pair of top-100 prospects, per MLB.com, in Willie Calhoun and Alex Verdugo.
But it's a price the Dodgers, a team that remains under immense pressure from a restless fanbase to deliver a World Series championship, can afford to pay.
Why It Makes Sense for the Tigers
Back in October, GM Al Avila told reporters, including Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press, that "changes are coming" to Detroit. Trading Kinsler for a package of prospects would certainly fit the bill.
It also fits Avila's desire for the team to get younger and less expensive while adding some high-upside talent to a mediocre farm system. Of the four prospects the Tigers get in return, only one—Micah Johnson—figures to impact the club in 2017. And that'd be as a center fielder, not a second baseman.
Dixon Machado, the team's No. 14 prospect, per MLB.com, would be among the candidates to replace Kinsler at the keystone until Calhoun is ready to take over. Calhoun, along with Verdugo, have a chance to become above-average regulars for the Tigers as soon as 2018.
It'll be a few years before the Tigers know if Will Smith could be their catcher of the future, but the 21-year-old has a terrific arm, great instincts behind the plate and a solid approach at the plate.
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Chris Sale Gets Traded to the Washington Nationals
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Chicago Gets
RHPs Erick Fedde, Lucas Giolito and Austin Voth, OFs Victor Robles and Michael Taylor
Washington Gets
LHP Chris Sale
Rumor/Speculation
USA Today's Bob Nightengale tweeted that Washington is the latest club to approach Chicago about left-handed ace Chris Sale, though he noted that the White Sox have yet to have serious talks with any potential suitors.
Why It Makes Sense for the White Sox
Chicago picks up a trio of excellent, nearly MLB-ready arms in this deal, led by 22-year-old Lucas Giolito, a future ace and baseball's best pitching prospect. Austin Voth has the upside of a solid, innings-eating mid-rotation arm, while Erick Fedde has No. 2 starter potential.
All three would be factors in Chicago's 2017 rotation at one point.
Blessed with off-the-charts athleticism and impressive tools across the board, 19-year-old Victor Robles has a chance to develop into a special outfielder—Vladimir Guerrero is one name that comes to mind as a comparison. He's still a year or two away from contributing, but his potential is limitless.
Michael Taylor's penchant for striking out (nearly 32 percent of the time over parts of three big league seasons) remains a concern, but the 25-year-old is an above-average defender and would fill the gaping void Chicago has in center field.
Why It Makes Sense for the Nationals
Washington gives up a huge chunk of its best prospects in this deal, but in doing so, it puts together arguably baseball's best starting rotation.
Scratch that. With Max Scherzer, Sale, Stephen Strasburg, Tanner Roark and Gio Gonzalez, the Nationals would absolutely have baseball's best rotation. And with A.J. Cole, Reynaldo Lopez and Joe Ross waiting in the wings, they'd still have plenty of depth to guard against injury.
Brian McCann Gets Traded to the Houston Astros
5 of 5
Houston Gets
C Brian McCann
New York Gets
LHP Reymin Guduan and a player to be named later
Rumor/Speculation
Multiple sources, including Morosi and the New York Daily News' Mark Feinsand, reported that Houston has interest in trading for New York's Brian McCann.
Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports tweeted that the Yankees would pick up half of the $34 million left on McCann's deal in exchange for a significant return, while ESPN.com's Andrew Marchand heard that the team has no intention of eating any money on his contract in a potential trade.
Presumably, the Yankees would be willing to take back far less talent-wise in exchange for the acquiring team picking up the full amount left on McCann's contract.
Why It Makes Sense for the Astros
McCann's left-handed bat would not only bring some balance to Houston's lineup, but also allow the Astros to utilize Evan Gattis as their regular designated hitter and backup catcher, spelling McCann once or twice a week to keep the veteran fresh.
With McCann having a full no-trade clause, the idea of a straight platoon between him and Gattis probably wouldn't be enough to entice him to waive it.
Why It Makes Sense for the Yankees
Shedding McCann's salary is the primary goal for New York in this deal, allowing the team to move forward with Gary Sanchez as its starting catcher and Austin Romine the primary backup.
Reymin Guduan, 24, is a hard-throwing southpaw with the requisite fastball-slider combination that screams "impact reliever." His heat sits in the mid-90s and can touch triple digits, but he needs to refine his command before taking his place at the back end of a team's bullpen.
He comes with significant risk, but the payoff could be equally significant if the Yankees can get him to make the necessary adjustments.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts (via Baseball Prospectus).
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