MLB Trade Rumors: 10 Players Whose Names Will Be Common among Trade Talks
Spring training is here!
The market for trades right now is pretty quiet, but as the season goes on, we can expect the trade talk to intensify rapidly. This slideshow lists 10 players who should be expected to have many trade rumors swirling around them this season.
Typically, players with high levels of talent will only be traded if they are on a contract year and their current team doesn't think the players will re-sign with them, or if the team is in the cellar and will be looking to rebuild in the season(s) to come.
Although some of these players are really popular with fans of their current teams, the chances of their names being thrown around trade rumors this year are high. Only time will tell if they are actually traded, but here's a list to get fans mentally prepared for the rumors that lay ahead.
Michael Young
1 of 10
Michael Young, currently the DH for the Texas Rangers, is the only player on this list who is likely to be moved before Opening Day.
While his value to the Texas Rangers organization is clear, the team seems determined to move him. Some teams that have been linked to him are the Arizona Diamondbacks and Florida Marlins, but teams like that are going to need the Rangers to take some of his contract money to make a deal.
As it stands right now, it's almost a certainty that Young will be traded.
Jose Reyes
2 of 10
No doubt this is one of the more controversial choices on my list. There are a lot of people who think the Mets should, and will, shop Jose Reyes this year, but there are as many people who want, and expect, to see Reyes re-signed.
No matter what you believe, if Reyes doesn't sign an extension (which Mets GM Sandy Alderson has said is a possibility) and the Mets are underperforming, it's almost a certainty that the rumors of the Mets thinking about trading Reyes will pop up.
If Reyes is healthy, teams will be calling the Mets about his availability, and this will inevitably lead to trade rumors.
If the Mets believe they will not be able to re-sign Reyes, it would do them well to trade him. However, such a move would be very unpopular with their fans given his popularity.
Nonetheless, without a contract extension being signed, the rumors of him being dealt, whether true or not, are sure to be swirling around the media.
Chris Carpenter
3 of 10
Chris Carpenter is another name that may be popular among rumor headlines come June and July. Of course, this is only if the Cardinals fall out of contention (which I don't think they will).
Carpenter has a $15 million club option or a $1 million buyout option for next year so, unless he returns to Cy Young form, it is unlikely the Cardinals will exercise his option.
That said, one can't help but wonder if the Cardinals pick up Carpenter's option if they are unable to re-sign Albert Pujols. While it may not be the best idea financially to give Carpenter $15 million, it may help ease the pain of losing Pujols.
.png?w=256)
Heath Bell
4 of 10
Heath Bell is almost a guarantee to be involved in trade rumors this summer. With the Adrian Gonzalez trade, the Padres are not expected to be able to compete in the NL West, and since Bell will be a free agent, the Padres will definitely look to move him.
Bell has been one of baseball's top closers over the past few seasons, and interest in him will certainly be high.
Bet on Bell being in a different uniform come the middle of the summer.
Matt Thornton
5 of 10
Matt Thornton is another reliever who may be on the move this year. If the White Sox stay in contention then Thornton will certainly stay with the White sox but should they fall behind in the standings, Thornton is a prime candidate for trade rumors.
He's getting older, will be a free agent and is still very effective out of the bullpen, so interest in him will be very high. In addition to all that, the White Sox have a young reliever who seems to be Thornton's replacement (Chris Sale).
Thorton's time with the White Sox will be dependent upon the success of the team this year. Should the White Sox underperform, Thorton may have a new home in August.
Jonathan Papelbon
6 of 10
Jonathan Papelbon may be the talk of some trade rumors this summer, especially since Daniel Bard seems poised to replace him, and Papelbon's has been regressing over the past few seasons.
While I understand the desire to trade him, I'm not sure the Red Sox will get back players that will immediately impact the team, so they may as well hold onto him as they make a push for the World Series in 2011.
Papelbon's time with the Red Sox, unlike other players, isn't dependent on how the team does (most everyone expects the Red Sox to compete in the playoffs this year), but rather his time depends on the success of Daniel Bard and what the Red Sox can get in return if they did trade Papelbon.
With all that said, however, Papelbon is a free agent after the season.
Nonetheless, I expect to see Papelbon on the team at the end of the season.
Prince Fielder
7 of 10
Prince Fielder is another free agent to be. Again, much like other players on this list, Fielder's time with his current team is entirely dependent how it performs.
The Brewers traded for Zack Greinke this season to make a push for the playoffs, so trading Fielder will be a sign of giving up on the season.
I expect the Brewers to be buyers at the deadline. Unless the team has fallen so far behind, the Brewers seem determined to find a way into the playoffs this year, and they won't be able to do that without Fielder.
James Loney
8 of 10
James Loney's name has appeared in rumors almost consistently from the trading deadline last season up through now, and those rumors will almost certainly continue.
The Dodgers' relationship with Loney appears broken and according to FOX's Ken Rosenthal, he was available earlier in the offseason for the right price.
Also, some speculate the Dodgers would like to free up that position to make a run at Albert Pujols should he become a free agent (and should their ownership situation become more settled).
Much like the Padres, the Dodgers aren't expected to take the NL West from the Giants in 2011, so their desire to move players, like Loney, this season may be high.
Carlos Beltran
9 of 10
The Mets would almost certainly love to trade Carlos Beltran this season, but what his market will be remains to be seen.
Beltran is on a contract year, is owed a lot of money this season (and the Mets will not want to continue to pay any of his contract should he be traded) and has had knee issues the past couple of seasons.
That said, I think there may be an AL team willing to take a chance on him as a DH. After all, he can still hit and being a DH would allow for less chance of injury.
Most likely though, unless the Mets are willing to take on some of his contract, Beltran will be with the Mets for the entire 2011 season.
Still, expect to see his name involved in rumors.
Mark Buehrle
10 of 10
Finally, the last player on the list who will probably face a lot of trade rumors this season is Mark Buehrle.
Like Matt Thornton, if the White Sox are competing and having a successful season, then he will not be mentioned much. But if the White Sox fail to meet their goals, Buehrle's name will almost certainly be involved in rumors given his high value to teams looking to make a push for a playoff spot (I'm sure the Yankees would love to try and nab him).
The only problem with trading Buehrle is he has a full no-trade clause, so he would have to accept any trade.
Buehrle is set to be a free agent at the end of the 2011 season, but has talked about possibly retiring.
Given his success rate, especially in high pressure situations, Buehrle will certainly draw interest from teams if available.
.png?w=480)
