MLB Trade Rumors and Ideas: Top Player on the Trade Block at Each Position
As we head into the 2011 MLB season, there is still a chance for there to be some serious player movement as several big-name players have been rumored to be available on the market.
Some of these players are fragile and a liability to play few games this season, others are headed for free agency next offseason and others are simply unhappy at their current location.
Here are the top players at each position in baseball who have either been put on the trading block now, are being mentioned in various trade rumors or whom I expect to be trade bait at midseason.
For the record, I expect Albert Pujols to last past the trade deadline so he's not on this list.
C: Ryan Doumit, Pittsburgh Pirates
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Bengie Molina would be on this list, but it's widely expected he will retire.
Ryan Doumit, who hit .251 with 13 home runs and 45 RBI last season in 124 games for the Pirates, appears to be available for interested parties.
He's had various injuries over the years and he's due to make $5.1 million this season.
The Pirates will probably look for prospects.
1B: Miguel Cabrera, Detroit Tigers
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Following his DUI arrest this offseason, Miguel Cabrera of the Tigers still appears to be unable to stay clean off the field.
He's one of the top hitters on the team but if he proves to be a distraction or disappoints in the early going, the Tigers could get some valuable pieces for him midseason.
Honorable Mention: Chris Davis
Rangers first baseman Chris Davis has a better chance of leaving town, but he's not as big a star as Cabrera.
With Mitch Moreland appearing to have solidified his spot at first, Davis could most likely be traded.
He would probably bring something back decent to the Rangers organization, due to the 24-year-old's success at Triple-A.
2B: Chase Utley, Philadelphia Phillies
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Chase Utley played in just 115 games last season due to knee issues, and they are causing some concern in Philadelphia again.
Utley hasn't even begun playing regular ball yet, and his knee is flaring up again.
Of course, he's a productive player when he's on the field, but he's not getting any younger and the Phillies might consider shipping him out when they can still get something good for him before his knee blows out for good.
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SS: Jose Reyes, New York Mets
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Jose Reyes practically has been a trade rumor for the last couple of seasons.
He will be a free agent in 2012, the Mets don't have the money to pay for him (or want to), and he's an aging player who has been most effective when he's been able to use his legs throughout his career.
Not to mention he had a hamstring injury in 2009 and a collection of oblique strains last year.
3B: Aramis Ramirez, Chicago Cubs
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Until 2009, Aramis Ramirez did have some injury problems, but nothing that really affected his play.
But he dislocated his shoulder that year and had a miserable 2010 campaign in the midst of a giant contract.
Ramirez, who will turn 33, isn't getting any younger or more limber, either.
The Cubs have a $16 million club option in 2012 when Ramirez hits free agency. Given it's been reported they've been pursuing Albert Pujols, I highly doubt they'll spend that kind of money on Ramirez, or even keep him past the trade deadline.
LF: Manny Ramirez, Tampa Bay Rays
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When isn't Manny Ramirez a possibility to switch teams these days?
Ramirez obviously isn't going to be traded before the season starts, but it's not out of the question that he gets traded midseason if the Rays find themselves far behind the New York Yankees and revamped Boston Red Sox in the AL East.
Despite being past his prime, he still could be a hot item at the deadline with teams trying to push for the playoffs.
CF: Matt Kemp, Los Angeles Dodgers
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The concerns in LA about Matt Kemp's focus have been well-documented, none more so than in 2010, when the five-tool player hit .249 and was caught stealing 15 times in 34 chances.
The Dodgers placed fourth in the NL West in 2010 with a record of 80-82 and saw the rival Giants go on to win the World Series.
Kemp was expected to be someone to build the team around but if he continues to disappoint, he may be out of LA sooner rather than later.
RF: Carlos Beltran, New York Mets
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The Mets have thrown a lot of money out to Reyes and Beltran, and both are in a similar situation.
Beltran, in the midst of an $119 million deal, has been a big disappointment in his last two years with the club, in large part due to his increasing injury risk. Beltran played in just 145 games combined in 2009 and 2010. In 2009, he was still able to hit .325 while in the lineup, so he did offer something. But in 2010, he not only played in just 64 games, undergoing a knee operation in January, while hitting only .255.
He's not the five-tool player he once was, as he doesn't steal anymore, and he actually asked the Mets to move him from center to right because of his knees.
He hasn't exactly gotten off to a great start in 2011, already missing games due to "left knee tendinitis coupled with his chronic right knee woes," according to ESPN.
Well, that doesn't seem too great, does it?
Did I mention he's a free agent in 2012?
SP: Francisco Liriano, Minnesota Twins
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With no extension in sight (Liriano has reportedly asked for a three-year, $39 million contract), it's very possible that the Twins could trade Liriano by the deadline this season.
He will certainly be in high demand, appearing to be completely over Tommy John surgery and posting a 14-10 record in 2010 with a 3.62 ERA and 201 strikeouts in 191.2 innings.
Liriano is on track to enter free agency in 2012.
Honorable Mention: Chris Carpenter, St. Louis Cardinals
The Cardinals need Carpenter more than ever this season, with ace Adam Wainwright out for the year due to injury.
But he's battling hamstring issues in spring training already and he's 35 years old. He could net some nice prospects for the Cards if they find themselves trailing in the more competitive NL Central at the deadline. He can only pitch like this for so much longer.
Setup: Matt Capps, Minnesota Twins
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I know Matt Capps has been the Twins' closer ever since Joe Nathan went down with an injury, but Joe Nathan is back in 2011. Let's not forget he was one of the best closers in baseball from 2004 to 2009 with the Twins.
Nathan won't start out as the closer early on, but if all goes well in his rehabilitation, I think the Twins would give back the job to him.
That would mean Capps would become the setup man.
It's always nice to have a reputable closer as your setup man, but with someone of Capps' caliber, there are sure to be a lot of teams that would give up a lot for him midseason.
Closer: Heath Bell, San Diego Padres
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A lot of diehard Boston Red Sox fans will probably call blasphemy on this, but Padres closer Heath Bell was a better closer than Jonathan Papelbon in 2010, so he gets the top spot and Papelbon will get honorable mention.
As for Bell, he's a likely trade piece for the Padres because a lot of people think they will be toward the bottom of the NL West this year. Bell is also due for a sizable raise from his $4 million salary when he hits arbitration.
Both these factors could have the Padres shipping him out by the deadline, possibly even sooner.
Honorable Mention: Jonathan Papelbon, Boston Red Sox
There is certainly some unrest between Papelbon and the Red Sox camp, with the right-hander blowing eight saves and compiling a 3.90 ERA last season after being nearly unhittable in seasons prior.
The Red Sox like youngster Daniel Bard and they just picked up Bobby Jenks, so they really don't need Papelbon.
He enters free agency after the 2011 season and he would be a great trade piece for the Red Sox. They would likely get a good deal for him if he played better this season and have players ready to replace him.
Utility: Mark DeRosa, San Francisco Giants
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Sure, Mark DeRosa was injured for the majority of last year, but that still doesn't mean he wasn't a disappointment in San Fran.
He hit .194 in 93 at-bats after signing a big contract with the Giants in the offseason.
What's more, the Giants have shown they don't really need him.
The Giants are trying to turn the page on the Aaron Rowands of the world.
DH: Michael Young, Texas Rangers
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The same reason I have regular third baseman Michael Young as a DH is the same reason he wants out of Texas.
The Rangers have said they'd like to use him as a DH/super utility man this season, and that hasn't gone over well with Young.
He's declared he wants to be traded from the American League champs because he felt he was "misled and manipulated on different occasions."
There clearly has been a "breach of trust," as Young put it, and it's hard to see things simply working out between the two sides.
He's still a solid option at the hot corner for those interested, hitting .284 with 21 home runs, 91 RBI and 99 runs last season with the Rangers.
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