MLB Trade Rumors: Every Team's Top Trade Asset This Offseason

The baseball offseason is often ruled by free agency, and this offseason will be no different with big names such as Prince Fielder and Albert Pujols on the market. There are always noteworthy trades as well, though.

Some of the traded players are veterans that their team is moving in an effort to get younger and pick up a few prospects for them. The other side are the aforementioned prospects, who will be traded to pick up veterans from other teams in an effort to make their new team a better contender.

In this article, I'll be taking a look at players who would be their team's biggest trade asset but not players that will necessarily be traded by their team this offseason.

San Diego Padres: Heath Bell

The Padres did trade Mike Adams this year, but Bell remains on a team that doesn't look like it will be heading to the playoffs in 2012. 

If the Padres do move Bell, they would likely get some nice prospects for him that can help them rebuild. A closer of his level may even give them a top-notch prospect along with a couple above-average ones.

San Francisco Giants: Jonathan Sanchez

The Giants once again had a great pitching staff, but their offense was terrible. Sanchez wasn't as good in 2011 as he was in 2010, but he has shown that he can be an excellent pitcher in the league and there may be a team out there will take a chance on him.

Trading Sanchez may get the Giants a decent bat or a second-level prospect. Any prospect that has the potential to have a plus-bat would be great for the Giants.

Los Angeles Dodgers: Rubby De La Rosa

The Dodgers have had their organizational troubles, but with guys like Clayton Kershaw and Matt Kemp, they do have players to build around. I wouldn't suggest them trading anyone, but trading a guy like Rubby De La Rosa may get them a bat that could use to try and turn the team's fortunes around next year.

I highly doubt they do this, but he could possibly get them a great bat if he were to be traded.

Colorado Rockies: Ty Wiggington

Ty Wiggington's a great trade asset because of what he could bring to another team. Wiggington can play several positions and is a solid all-around player.

Wiggington is not going to get you elite talent, obviously; he could maybe get you a second-level guy, but a notch below that would be much more expected.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Wade Miley

Definitely one of the biggest surprises in the 2011 season, the Diamondbacks were a balanced team led heavily by two players: Justin Upton on offense and Ian Kennedy from the pitching staff. Because of this balance, it can be a little tough to pick out a guy.

I'm going to go with Miley, a guy that pitched a couple of times for the Diamondbacks this season; he's not their top pitching prospect but has shown to be a good pitcher at the minor league level.  

Pittsburgh Pirates: Joel Hanrahan

Hanrahan was amazing this year for the Pittsburgh Pirates. He posted an ERA of 1.83 in 68.2 innings, which means he will be highly sought after by many teams this offseason.

The Pirates can get some nice prospects in return for a guy that can help virtually every team in the league with his late-inning ability.

Chicago Cubs: Aramis Ramirez

The Cubs struggled once again in 2011 and don't seem to be close to a World Series title, so it may be time to unload Ramirez whiile he is still a good player and has value.

Ramirez can help any team that needs a third baseman and could probably DH for an American League team. He still has a solid bat and would bring good experience to any team.

Ramirez would bring some good prospects back to the Cubs.

Houston Astros: Wandy Rodriguez

The Astros definitely lack big-time talent at the major league level right now, but Wandy Rodriguez is a player that can help out any team. 

The lefty posted a 3.49 ERA and would be a good No. 1 but a great No. 2 for just about any team. He would also bring the Astros back some major talent. 

Milwaukee Brewers: Mat Gamel

This was a tough one for me, as another team would have to think pretty highly of Gamel to trade for him. He's just not really necessary in Milwaukee, and he might bring something back in return.

The Brewers just don't have a great farm system, and they aren't going to trade any of their top players. I could maybe see Corey Hart, but I don't think it's likely.

Cincinatti Reds: Yonder Alonso

With Joey Votto entrenched at first base, the Reds have been trying to find a place to put Alonso at so that he can play every day. Alonso has a big-time bat and could be one of the better offensive players in the league.

Sounds like a recipe for a great trade, though the Reds have been reluctant to this point. He would bring in either some good prospects or a good veteran pitcher for the team.

St. Louis Cardinals: Ryan Theriot

Theriot is a valuable trade piece for the same reason that Wigginton is: he can play a couple different positions and is a solid all-around player. 

Being able to play second and shortstop makes him extremely valuable; add in the fact that he hit .271 this year, and it's more apparent that he is a good player and could really bring some value to any squad.

Washington Nationals: Jesus Flores

Flores is by no means an elite catcher, but a .253 average with good defensive skills could make him a guy that the Nationals might trade to another team for a couple.

Flores could likely bring the Nationals a prospect or two, and he wouldn't be a guy that they really miss that much.

New York Mets: Lucas Duda

The Mets' offseason talk will mainly surround Jose Reyes, but I think Duda could be a good trade asset for the team.

Duda has some positional versatility and hit .292 with 10 homers in 100 games this season. Some teams may want to see what he can do with a job fully given to him and see if he can help guide them to a playoff spot.

The Mets could get a prospect or two for him.

Florida Marlins: Javier Vasquez

Vasquez is a veteran pitcher that went 13-11 with an ERA of 3.69 for the Marlins.

Sounds like he'll be on the trade block.

The Marlins could probably move him and get some good prospects, though some may get scared after what happened when the Braves traded him to the Yankees.

Atlanta Braves: Arodys Vizcaino

The Braves have a lot of young pitching talent, and Vizcaino is definitely one of the top guys in this group. 

The team had some major struggles down the stretch in 2011, so trading Vizcaino with another prospect may be able to get the Braves a very good bat.

This won't be happening, but he is their biggest asset to me.

Philadelphia Phillies: Joe Blanton

Blanton is the fifth man in baseball's best rotation, yet would be either a good No. 3 for the majority of teams in the league.

The fact that the four ahead of him are so good is what makes him an asset, but Blanton has shown at times in his career that he is a pretty solid player. His career numbers are a 73-62 record with an ERA of 4.32.

Seattle Mariners: Ichiro Suzuki

Ichiro is coming off of the worst season of his career, but the 37-year-old is about as good a bet as anyone to bounce back from an offseason.

Despite his age, he is still in great shape, and this was the first season where his average (.272) was below .303.

The Mariners could get some good prospects for Ichiro, though they won't trade him because of the money he brings in and because of what he just means to the franchise. 

Los Angeles Angels: Garrett Richards

The Angels were a pretty tough team for me to pick. I see them as a fairly balanced team with great pitching. 

If they were to trade someone, it would be a top prospect to try and get some more offense into the lineup. I decided I would go with Garrett Richards, who has very good stuff and is still pretty young at 23 years old.

Oakland A's: Josh Willingham

There was a lot of talk about Willingham being traded before the deadline this year, but nothing came of it.

Willingham provides a solid bat from the right side and is a veteran that brings good experience. He could start for many teams or be an excellent bat off of the bench.

Texas Rangers: Michael Young

The Rangers tried to trade Young this past offseason, and he then went out and hit .338 for the team this year. That much offense going for a guy that can play anywhere in the infield makes him very valuable for them but would make him equally as valuable for another team.

Young could bring in some good prospects for the Rangers, who may be back on their way to the World Series this year. 

Kansas City Royals: Mike Aviles

The Royals are still a few years away from contending, and moving Butler may get them a few prospects that can help them when that time comes.

Butler is a good right-handed hitter, though may be limited by the fact that he has been almost strictly a DH to this point.

Cleveland Indians: Grady Sizemore

After a couple of injury-riddled seasons, Sizemore didn't play at his best in 2011; however, there is a enough there for some team to take a chance and try to trade for him.

Sizemore at one time was one of the best players in the game with a great mixture of power and speed, but he only showed flashes of that this past season.

Detroit Tigers: Ryan Perry

A rebuilding team may look at Ryan Perry as a guy they can use as their closer of the future, and that makes him a valuable trade chip for the Detroit Tigers. 

Perry has good stuff and a closer-like mentality; he just needs some fine tuning to make him a good closer at this time.

Chichago White Sox: Dayan Viciedo

Viciedo is a 22-year-old kid that could really bring back some veteran help for a White Sox team that hasn't really seemed like it wants to rebuild. If they continue to think this way, then why not trade away a guy that other teams may be very interested in?

Viciedo has hit six homers and .282 in 206 career at-bats.

Minnesota Twins: Michael Cuddyer

Cuddyer was the best offensive players for the Twins this year, and many thought that he would be traded at the deadline.

Cuddyer is a good right-handed hitter that provides a solid all-around bat and good leadership. Any contending team would love to have him on their squad, and the Twins can get some young players for him.

Baltimore Orioles: Mark Reynolds

If there is a team looking for a power bat that isn't too worried about the player's average, than Mark Reynolds may be on the move this offseason.

The Orioles won't be contenders next year, and trading away a guy that was probably the team's best offensive player may help them in the future.

Toronto Blue Jays: Adam Lind

The 28-year-old first baseman is just entering his prime, and that could really help the Blue Jays work on their pitching staff.

The Blue Jays were once again one of the best offensive teams in the league but had their struggles with pitching. Trading Lind for a couple of good pitchers could really boost their performance next year.

Tampa Bay Rays: Wade Davis

Davis is a young pitcher on a team full of great ones. Lots of teams would be willing to trade for him and try to make him the ace of their staff.

This means that the Rays could get some good prospects to bolster their already great system.

Boston Red Sox: Jonathan Papelbon

Papelbon is one of the most polarizing players in baseball amongst his team's fans, and there was some talk last offseason about him being traded.

Papelbon isn't elite, but he is a pretty good closer that a younger team with a hole there would really like to trade for and it could bring the Red Sox back some offense.

New York Yankees: Jesus Montero

Montero is one of the game's top young prospects and he is so at the catcher position, one of the most sought-after positions for a good offensive player.

Montero could bring back some very good veteran talent from a non-contending team that could really help the Yankees out.