MLB Trade Rumors: Every Team's Player They Are Most Reluctant to Move
The trade market is starting to heat up now that we are in mid-June.
In less than a month, the trade deadline will be upon us, and the entire power structure of Major League Baseball can change.
While each team has a player it's looking to deal, it also has players they are hesitant to deal and have to be floored in order to move them.
Here is a list of each team's player they are most reluctant to move.
Anaheim Angels: Mike Trout
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The Angels will be hesitant to dangle Mike Trout as trade bait, so don’t expect teams to go fishing for Trout any time soon.
Trout will be the franchise in a couple of years, but right now, he and the Angels are content with him raking in AA.
The Angels are an old team, so look for them to instead deal Torii Hunter.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Justin Upton
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The D-Backs had their chance to move the young superstar this past offseason, however the D-backs decided to keep Justin Upton and throw caution to the wind.
This is a young team, but a team that could show promise two or three years down the line.
Upton is only 23 with a friendly contract and under team control for the next few years, so expect him to stay in Arizona for a long time.
Atlanta Braves: Jason Heyward
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There may be some dissent in the clubhouse when it comes to Jason Heyward’s effort to play through his injuries, but don’t let that fool you. He’s not going anywhere.
Heyward, like Trout and Upton, is the face of his franchise, and his young and potent bat will recover from a sophomore slump either in the second half of this season or in 2012.
Either way, the Braves will not panic on such a young talent.
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Baltimore Orioles: Adam Jones
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The law abiding Adam Jones is slowly becoming the superstar the Orioles expected of Nick Markakis.
Jones is young and super talented, so they definitely got their worth out of the Erik Bedard trade.
Jones, not Markakis or Matt Weiters, is the player the O’s will build their team around for the next decade.
Boston Red Sox: Jon Lester
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Jon Lester is the Red Sox’s ace and quite possibly the best pitcher in the American League.
Lester is young, talented and has yet to reach his apex.
While they could deal Jon Lackey or David Ortiz to fill other holes, expect Lester to stay put.
Chicago Cubs: Starlin Castro
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This kid is a near lock to represent the Cubs in the All-Star Game, so why would the Cubs even think about trading him?
Castro is one of the young, bright spots on an old team five years past its prime.
The Cubs will instead look to deal Aramis Ramirez and Alfonso Soriano while they can get prospects and payroll flexibility for them.
Chicago White Sox: Gordon Beckham
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Gordon Beckham is still young and shows flashes of brilliance for the White Sox, so don’t expect them to quit on him just yet.
Beckham is only 24, so he deserves another season-and-a-half before warranting any trade rumors.
Fortunately for the White Sox, they have plenty of other trade bait like Paul Konerko, Alex Rios and Adam Dunn.
Colorado Rockies: Carlos Gonzalez
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The Rockies invested a huge amount of money into CarGo, so don’t expect the Rockies to sell low on him.
When right, CarGo is one of the best hitters in the game, and one of its brightest stars.
He’s already starting to come out of it, so expect him to go on a tear in the second half, and the Rockies to hold onto him for at least the next few years.
Cincinnati Reds: Aroldis Chapman
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Chapman’s potential is far too great for the Reds to ignore.
Seriously, who would willingly trade a young pitcher with a 106 mile per hour fastball and a toxic, devastating slider?
Chapman needs to work on his control, and what the Reds should instead focus on, is getting a pitching coach to harness his potential like Mel Stottlemyre.
Cleveland Indians: Shin-Soo Choo
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Although fantasy owners nationwide are quitting on Choo, the Indians won’t.
Choo is mired int he worst season of his career, so the Indians would have to sell low on a player that is a perennial All Star, and when right, one of the best all-around players in baseball.
Even though the Indians are fading from relevance more rapidly than Justin Bieber, don’t expect them to move Choo.
Instead, long time incumbents like Grady Sizemore and Travis Hafner will probably get the call.
Detroit Tigers: Alex Avila
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While it might make sense to trade Avila to free up a DH spot for the impending return of Magglio Ordonez, it actually doesn’t.
Sure, the could trade Avila and move Victor Martinez to catcher because after all, he is listed as a catcher in fantasy baseball.
However, V-Mart is a catcher in name only, and is best suited playing first base or designated hitting.
The only time he should ever be behind the plate is to spell Avila.
Florida Marlins: Hanley Ramirez
12 of 30
Let’s put it this way, if the Marlins trade Hanley Ramirez, they know something about his back that the rest of us clearly don’t.
H-Ram has been all-world the past few seasons, but a nagging back injury has sapped his offensive firepower the entire 2011 campaign.
If the Marlins were to move him, they wouldn’t get close t the haul they could have in previous seasons.
The Marlins have to hold steady when it comes to Ramirez, and hope he bounces back at a later point.
Houston Astros: Brett Wallace
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Wallace has been one of the few bright spots for the Astros this season.
He is also one of the few players that are young and effective on the team.
While stalwarts like Hunter Pence and Wandy Rodriguez will probably be moved by the deadline, the Astros will be incredibly hesitant to move Wallace.
Kansas City Royals: Eric Hosmer
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Hosmer is going to be the franchise, and has fared pretty well since getting the call to the show earlier this season.
Hosmer is a front runner for Rookie of the Year honors, and despite a recent slump, is still one of the best bats in the Royal lineup.
The Royals may become sellers soon, but don’t expect the young studs like Hosmer, Mike Moustakas or Billy Butler to get traded.
Instead, they will likely deal Jeff Francoeur or Melky Cabrera, who is having a renaissance in Kansas City.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Andre Ethier
15 of 30
Ether has been slumping lately, but he and Matt Kemp are the only things keeping the Dodgers in any kind of contention this year.
However, the Dodger’s divorce dilemma is shaking the team up, and the team could be sold, which will drive down payroll until at least the new owner is installed.
If that be the case, the Dodgers might move Ether to free up payroll and not have to deal with an impending expensive arbitration hearing.
However, they will never get the value they should get for Ether, so he’ll probably stay put until at least the offseason.
Milwaukee Brewers: Prince Fielder
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However, the Brew Crew are in the midst of a pennant race, and if they are going to give the Phillies and Reds a run for their money, they’re going to need their sovereign Prince on board.
Therefore, it is highly unlikely the Brewer trade Fielder so long as they stay in contention.
Minnesota Twins: Justin Morneau
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The once proud MVP now stands a shell of his former self.
Constant injuries have derailed a once Hall of Fame bound career, and now all he can do is hope to regain his pre-2008 form.
Until then, it will be difficult to move the slugger, which might be a good move now that Joe Mauer’s catching days are numbered.
The Twins won't want to move him because they'll never get the value they would get for a healthy/producing Morneau.
New York Mets: Jose Reyes
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They’re not going anywhere this season, and have baseball’s biggest trade chip in Jose Reyes.
But, they will not make the right call on him, and it will inevitably set the franchise back another half-decade.
The Mets will either not trade Reyes for sentimental reasons and not re-sign him because he will command too much money on the open market, or not trade him, then re-sign him for over $200 million and he’ll revert to his pre-2011 form.
Just remember never to trust a player that has an exceptional walk year after a few mediocre ones.
New York Yankees: The Killer B's
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The three all have major league talent, and they could make an impact on the Yanks’ big league rotation as soon as 2012.
However, the Yankees are a win now team, and the three pitchers along with Jesus Montero make the team’s four big trade bullets to acquire Carlos Beltran or any other aging superstar.
Still, it is extremely unlikely the Yanks move one of the Killer B’s because of the increased emphasis on building the farm system, and especially young pitchers.
Oakland Athletics: Andrew Bailey
20 of 30
The A’s aren’t going anywhere this season, but it wouldn’t be wise to trade one of the game’s best young closers for some above average prospects that might not have an impact on the team.
Still, this could be one of the players the Yankees part with a Killer B for.
Philadelphia Phillies: Cole Hammels
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However, the Phillies are dominating right now, and they are committed to winning this year while they have the fearsome foursome in place.
After this season, all bets are off.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Andrew McCutchen
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If there is any hope of the Pirates crawling out of the cellar any time soon, McCutchen is it.
He is a five-tool player, super young and super cheap. These are all things the Pirates’ organization loves, especially the last part.
It would take an insane offer to get them to part ways with their budding superstar.
San Diego Padres: Anthony Rizzo
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He is a high level talent, and the main reason they traded Adrian Gonzalez.
Rizzo will be under team control for some time, so he should be easily affordable for at least the next three seasons.
Once he becomes arbitration eligible, it will be a different story.
Seattle Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki
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It’s time for the Mariners to move on with Ichiro.
He’s 37 now, and his days of being baseball’s best pure hitter are over.
Sure, he still plays a good right field, and still has a cannon, but if the M’s want to contend, they need to move his giant contract, and get Chone Figgins regular at-bats in right field.
However, everything I just said is a waste, simply because he means too much to the team for the Mariners to move him.
Unfortunately, players like Ichiro and Derek Jeter continue to get playing time despite their eroded skills because of what they did yesterday instead of what they’ll do today or tomorrow.
San Francisco Giants: Pablo Sandoval
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The Panda is young, talented, and reminds many of a young Albert Pujols, so expect him to remain not he Giants for a long time, and contribute to the Giants last stand as champions down the stretch,
St. Louis Cardinals: Albert Pujols
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The Cardinals might not be able to pay Pujols the ten years and $300 million he wants, so it puts the Cardinals in between a rock and a hard place.
On the surface, his subpar season will lower his demand and make it easier to sign him.
On a deeper level, it could be an early indication of Pujols’ decline, and a warning to the Cards not to commit so much time and money into him.
However, the Cardinals are still in the division hunt, and with the addition of a couple of players at the deadline, have a realistic shot to win the pennant.
The pennant chase, and Pujols’ meaning to the Saint Louis faithful will be enough to keep him in the Gateway City.
Tampa Bay Rays: BJ Upton
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He is getting close to free agency and will probably get a decent amount of value from teams like the Yankees or Cardinals, who can both use an outfielder.
But, the Rays are only 4.5 games back of the Red Sox in the AL East, and three back of the Yankees for the Wild Card.
The Rays are also intent to keep Upton unless they are wowed in a trade offer, while they would be better off moving the underproducing centerfielder while they can.
Texas Rangers: Michael Young
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Young is still the face of the franchise, and the team is still in first in the mediocre AL West.
The pennant race will keep the Rangers buyers, and Young on the team for at least another six months.
Toronto Blue Jays: Brett Lawrie
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Lawrie is baseball’s best prospect, and only a recent hand injury kept him from ascending to the show last week.
He is a big-time piece of trade bait, but the Jays aren’t going anywhere this year, so there is little point in trading him.
It would take something ridiculous to pry Lawrie from the Jays.
Washington Nationals: Ryan Zimmerman
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That Nats aren’t going anywhere this year, and he is the lone player on the team they could get a massive haul for.
However, he is only 26, and still the face of the franchise. The National brain trust is probably planning to wait to team him with super-prospect Bryce Harper in mid-2012.
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