MLB Trade Options: The Player on Each Team Who Could Request a Trade

It was recently reported that Bobby Abreu would prefer to play elsewhere in 2012, as he is likely going to lose at-bats to Kendrys Morales at DH now that Albert Pujols is in town.

For one reason or another, there are always one or two players who simply don't fit into a team's plans moving forward or who are not getting as many at-bats or innings as they would like.

So here is a look at the one player from each team who could request a trade, the reason they would request a trade and finally the chances that they are playing elsewhere by the end of the 2012 season.

Arizona Diamondbacks: LF Gerardo Parra

2011 Stats: .292/.357/.427, 8 HR, 46 RBI, 55 R, 15 SB, 1.9 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Coming off the best season of his three-year big league career, Parra posted career highs in home runs, stolen bases and OPS last season while winning a Gold Glove.

However, the Diamondbacks signed Jason Kubel this offseason which will push the 25-year-old Parra to the bench as the Diamondbacks starting outfield will be made up of Kubel, Chris Young and Justin Upton.

Chances He Is Traded: 70%

Atlanta Braves: SP Mike Minor

2011 Stats: 15 GS, 5-3, 4.14 ERA, 1.488 WHIP, 77 K's, 82.2 IP, 0.8 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Taken seventh overall in the 2009 MLB draft, Minor shot through the Braves' system to make his big league debut in 2010 as he appeared in nine games (eight starts) down the stretch.

He was unable to win a rotation spot out of spring training last season though, as Brandon Beachy edged him out, and while he appears to be the front-runner for the fifth spot in the rotation this season after Derek Lowe was dealt, top prospects Julio Teheran and Randall Delgado will be right on his heels.

Minor is a talented, 24-year-old left-hander so if he loses his rotation spot to one of the younger guys, expect him to be on his way out of Atlanta or at least on the trade market.

Chances He Is Traded: 50%

Baltimore Orioles: SP Tommy Hunter

2011 Stats: 20 G, 11 GS, 4-4, 4.68 ERA, 1.358 WHIP, 45 K's, 84.2 IP, 0.7 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Hunter joined the Orioles at the deadline last season when he came over along with Chris Davis from the Rangers for reliever Koji Uehara.

After making just eight appearances out of the bullpen for the Rangers, he started 11 games down the stretch for the Orioles and pitched well aside from a pair of rocky starts.

However, following the signing of Japanese pitcher Tsuyoshi Wada, Hunter looks to be the odd man out in the Orioles rotation and headed for a long-relief spot. At 25 years old and just two years removed from a 13-4 season, Hunter likely won't be thrilled to be in the bullpen.

Chances He Is Traded: 25%

Boston Red Sox: P Michael Bowden

2011 Stats: 14 G, 0-0, 4.05 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 17 K's, 20 IP, 0.2 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

A first-round pick in the 2005 MLB draft, Bowden reached the big leagues for a spot start at the age of 21, as he moved quickly through the Red Sox system and ranked among the top 100 prospects on the Baseball America preseason list three years in a row.

However, he has only made one start since then and a total of 37 big league appearances, as he has simply never gotten a chance to be a part of the team's rotation.

He is out of options, and while he has a solid chance of sticking with the big league club as a reliever, he could start for a number of teams and would no doubt like to get a chance to soon as he will already be 25 next season.

Chances He Is Traded: 30%

Chicago Cubs: IF Blake DeWitt

2011 Stats: .265/.305/.413, 5 HR, 26 RBI, 21 R, 0.3 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Acquired from the Dodgers for Ted Lilly, DeWitt had a fantastic rookie season in 2009 with Los Angeles at the age of 22, but he has been unable to build off of that thus far in his career.

DeWitt looked to be in competition with Jeff Baker for the everyday second base job last spring, but rookie Darwin Barney swooped in and took the job from both of them, and he wound up getting just 230 at-bats in a utility role.

DeWitt has some offensive skills, and he is capable of playing second, third and even some corner outfield so he has value. Throw in the fact that he is still only 26 years old, and there is no reason DeWitt shouldn't have a bigger role.

Chances He Is Traded: 50%

Chicago White Sox: 1B/OF Dayan Vicideo

2011 Stats: .255/.327/.314, 1 HR, 6 RBI, 11 R, 0.0 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

The White Sox look to be headed for a rebuilding effort, and one of their most valuable trade chips is right fielder Carlos Quentin.

Trading him would not only net a solid return, but would open up a starting spot for Cuban import Dayan Viciedo who hit .308 with five HRs and 13 RBI in a 38-game stint in 2010 but spent most of last season in Triple-A.

He is still just 23 years old, but his bat is big league-ready and with Ozzie Guillen—who refused to call him up—no longer managing the team, the club needs to do what it takes to get his bat in the lineup, else there will no doubt be some frustration on his part.

Chances He Is Traded: 1%

Cincinnati Reds: IF/OF Todd Frazier

2011 Stats: .232/.289/.438, 6 HR, 15 RBI, 17 R, 0.4 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

One the top 100 prospects according to Baseball America heading into the 2009 and 2010 seasons, Frazier has never gotten a real chance in Cincinnati with a 41-game audition last season marking his first big league action at the age of 25.

He has terrific power potential for a middle infielder, hitting 67 home runs over the past four seasons in the minors.

Originally a 2B/SS, he has also played third and corner outfield in the minors and it looks like the only role available to him in Cincinnati will be as a utility infielder.

Chances He Is Traded: 25%

Cleveland Indians: 1B Matt LaPorta

2011 Stats: .247/.299/.412, 11 HR, 53 RBI, 34 R, 0.2 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

When the Indians dealt C.C. Sabathia to the Brewers, the prize of the prospect package they got in return was Matt LaPorta.

However, injuries have kept him from locking down the starting first base job in each of the past two seasons and he will now have to earn his way onto the roster this spring as Carlos Santana has moved from catcher to everyday first baseman.

He will be 27 this coming season, and he still has 30-HR potential if he can find at-bats and stay healthy, but it is looking more and more like that won't be in Cleveland.

Chances He Is Traded: 30%

Colorado Rockies: RF Seth Smith

2011 Stats: .284/.347/.483, 15 HR, 59 RBI, 67 R, 10 SB, 0.0 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Smith has quietly become a very productive player for the Rockies over the past three seasons, posting an average line of .275 BA, 16 HR, 55 RBI in just 390 at-bats.

He got the bulk of the at-bats in right field last season, but with the signing of Michael Cuddyer he will be pushed to a fourth outfielder spot.

For a player still in the prime of his career and coming off a very productive season, a demotion to the bench may be hard to take and he could ask for a trade before the season is over.

Chances He Is Traded: 40%

Detroit Tigers: SP Andrew Oliver

2011 Stats: 2 GS, 0-1, 6.52 ERA, 1.966 WHIP, 5 K's, 9.2 IP, 0.0 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Taken in the second round of the 2009 MLB draft, the same draft when the team selected Jacob Turner in the first round, Oliver shot through the Tigers' minor league system to make five starts at the end of the 2010 season.

He has not had much success in seven big league starts thus far, but he has terrific stuff and projects as a front-of-the-rotation starter. He will likely open the season in the minors, but he is close to big league-ready.

However, the current projected Tigers rotation of Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Doug Fister, Rick Porcello and Turner is all under team control for at least the next three seasons. That could mean that if Oliver wants to be a starter it will have to be elsewhere.

Chances He Is Traded: 20%

Houston Astros: SP Wandy Rodriguez

2011 Stats: 30 GS, 11-11, 3.49 ERA, 1.314 WHIP, 166 K's, 191 IP, 2.7 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Over the past two seasons, the Astros have dealt away much of their top talent as Roy Oswalt, Michael Bourn and Hunter Pence have all found their way out of town.

Very few veterans remain on the roster, with the most valuable among them their ace starting pitcher Rodriguez who has won double-digit games and posted an ERA under 4.00 each of the past three seasons.

He will be 33 this coming season, and has not seen the postseason since 2005 so whether or not the Astros want to move their staff ace, he may make his demands known as he looks to pitch for a winner while he is still in the prime of his career.

Chances He Is Traded: 75%

Kansas City Royals: IF Chris Getz

2011 Stats: .255/.313/.287, 0 HR, 26 RBI, 50 R, 21 SB, 0.5 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

A promising prospect taken in the fourth round of the 2005 MLB draft, Getz looked to be the White Sox second baseman of the future in 2009 and he played fairly well in 107 games that season posting a 1.5 WAR.

He joined the Royals prior to the 2010 season though, and looked poised to take over the starting job in Kansas City as well but he never managed to lock down the job and now looks to be heading for a backup role behind Johnny Giavotella.

There is always a market for speedy middle infield talents, and Getz has the potential to be a starter if given a chance. He does not look like part of the Royals' future plans so he could look to head elsewhere.

Chances He Is Traded: 40%

Los Angeles Angels: DH Bobby Abreu

2011 Stats: .253/.353/.365, 8 HR, 60 RBI, 54 R, 21 SB, 1.3 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

The Angels likely would have declined their $9 million option on Abreu had it not been a vesting option that he reached when he made his 550th plate appearance.

At 38 years old, his production has fallen off drastically and while he has still has good on-base skills and decent speed, his power is gone and he is no longer going to approach .300 with his batting average.

Following the signing of Albert Pujols, the Angels have an abundance of first basemen, and with Abreu out of the picture the team could move Kendrys Morales to the everyday DH position. He has already said he would like to play elsewhere, so time will tell if the Angels honor his wishes.

Chances He Is Traded: 75% 

Los Angeles Dodgers: SP Nathan Eovaldi

2011 Stats: 10 G, 6 GS, 1-2, 3.63 ERA, 1.385 WHIP, 23 K's, 34.1 IP, 0.7 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

The Dodgers turned to 21-year-old Eovaldi last season when injuries struck their starting rotation, and he pitched very well in six starts posting a 3.09 ERA.

However, after he was moved back to the bullpen he struggled to a 10.13 ERA in four appearances. A small sample size, but a telling stat nonetheless.

Following the signings of Chris Capuano and Aaron Harang, the Dodgers rotation is set and it does not include Eovaldi. He is still young, so the Dodgers likely won't trade him, but he will no doubt be unhappy about a full season in the bullpen.

Chances He Is Traded: 15%

Miami Marlins: 3B Matt Dominguez

2011 Stats: .244/.292/.333, 0 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, -0.5 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Ranked as the organization's top prospect heading into the 2011 season, Dominguez looked to be the team's third baseman of the future and ready to step into the starting role this coming season.

His defense has always been stellar and his offense has come around in the past few seasons, and while he is still just 22 years old he would likely start for at least a few teams.

However, with Jose Reyes signed and Hanley Ramirez shifting over to third base it looks as though Dominguez no longer has a clear path to a starting job with the Marlins. 

Chances He Is Traded: 50%

Milwaukee Brewers: RP Francisco Rodriguez

2011 Stats: 73 G, 23 SV, 6-2, 2.64 ERA, 1.298 WHIP, 79 K's, 71.2 IP, 2.4 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

In the final season of a three-year, $37 million contract with the Mets, Rodriguez was acquired at the deadline and posted a 1.86 ERA in 31 appearances down the stretch to help the Brewers make the postseason.

However, despite that success and the success of the team he complained about not being able to close games, despite the fact the Brewers had a terrific closer in John Axford.

When he was unable to find any teams willing to offer him a multi-year deal he accepted arbitration with the Brewers. Headed back to a setup role again this year, he is as likely as anyone to complain again and demand a trade.

Chances He Is Traded: 85%

Minnesota Twins: IF Tsuyoshi Nishioka

2011 Stats: .226/.278/.249, 0 HR, 19 RBI, 14 R, -1.8 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Signed to a three-year, $9.25 million contract prior to last season, the five-time Japanese League All-Star was slated to be the Twins' everyday second baseman.

However, just six games into the season he landed on the DL when Nick Swisher broke his fibula with a takeout slide at second base.

When he returned Alexi Casilla had taken over at second base, and he saw sporadic playing time the rest of the season as he played in a total of 68 games and got 221 at-bats.

Now the team has signed Jamey Carroll to start alongside Casilla this coming season, and it looks as though the window has closed on Nishioka's chances of being a starter.

Chances He Is Traded: 5% 

New York Mets: 3B David Wright

2011 Stats: .254/.345/.427, 14 HR, 61 RBI, 60 R, 13 SB, 1.4 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

After failing to get Jose Reyes to re-sign and with Carlos Beltran gone, the Mets are smack dab in the middle of a rebuilding and for the time being, Wright is the face of the franchise.

However, he will be 29 next season with just one postseason appearance under his belt, and set to hit free agency at the end of the season. Wright may want a chance to audition for his next contract while playing in October.

There are so few impact third basemen in the league right now, should the Mets make Wright available he would bring a solid prospect package and he may force their hand with a trade request at the deadline as he hopes to return to the postseason.

Chances He Is Traded: 60%

New York Yankees: UT Eduardo Nunez

2011 Stats: .265/.313/.385, 5 HR, 30 RBI, 38 R, 22 SB, -0.8 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Considered one of the Yankees' better position-player prospects for the past several seasons, Nunez finally stuck with the big league club last season as the team's utility infielder, also playing some corner outfield and in total manning five different positions.

He has great speed, and while his defense suffered from consistently moving positions, he has the ability to be a solid defensive shortstop at the big league level.

He will be 25 this coming season, so he is no longer a prospect, and buried behind Robinson Cano and Derek Jeter his chances of ever seeing more than 300 at-bats with the Yankees rest on someone being injured. He may very well be content with his role, but if he aspires to one day be a starter he will need to do it somewhere else.

Chances He Is Traded: 30%

Oakland Athletics: RP Andrew Bailey

2011 Stats: 42 G, 24 SV, 3.24 ERA, 1.104 WHIP, 41 K's, 41.2 IP, 0.9 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

The AL Rookie of the Year in 2009, Bailey has been one of the top relievers in all of baseball over the past three seasons, and even though he had a down year of sorts last season he is still attracting a good deal of interest on the trade market.

According to CBS Sports' Danny Knobler the Athletics will listen to trade offers on anyone on the roster other than Jemile Weeks and have already dealt starters Gio Gonzalez and Trevor Cahill, so Bailey could very well be next.

After an offseason of listening to rumors of heading to Boston and other contenders in need of a closer, spending the season losing in Oakland may be tough for Bailey to take if he is not dealt and he could request the A's send him to one of those teams if they don't do it soon.

Chances He Is Traded: 75%

Philadelphia Phillies: SP Kyle Kendrick

2011 Stats: 34 G, 15 GS, 8-6, 3.22 ERA, 1.221 WHIP, 59 K's, 114.2 IP, 1.2 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Kendrick burst onto the scene in 2007 with a fantastic rookie season, going 10-4 with a 3.87 ERA in 20 starts and finishing fifth in NL Rookie of the Year voting.

His ERA spiked to 5.49 as a full-time member of the rotation, and he spent most of the 2009 season in Triple-A. He bounced back with another good season in 2010, going 11-10, but was the odd man out in the rotation last season.

Still only 27 years old, Kendrick again looks headed for long relief, and with a good crop of young starting pitchers making their way through the Phillies' minor league system, his opportunity to be a starter in Philadelphia may have passed. He could start elsewhere though, and that could lead to a trade request by him.

Chances He Is Traded: 30%

Pittsburgh Pirates: 1B Garrett Jones

2011 Stats: .243/.321/.433, 16 HR, 58 RBI, 51 R, 1.1 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

A late bloomer, Jones came out of nowhere to hit .293 BA, 21 HR, 44 RBI in just 82 games as a 28-year-old rookie in 2009.

He has continued to hit for power since, but his average has kept him from being an everyday player and following the acquisition of Casey McGehee, that looks to be the case once again provided Pedro Alvarez can turn things around at third base.

For the time being, Jones looks to be an insurance policy should the Pirates have to demote Alvarez and put McGehee at third, but if that doesn't happen expect him to look for a way out of Pittsburgh to somewhere he can get more at-bats.

Chances He Is Traded: 40%

San Diego Padres: 1B Anthony Rizzo

2011 Stats: .141/.281/.242, 1 HR, 9 RBI, 9 R, -0.7 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

In dealing Adrian Gonzalez, the Padres landed a pair of top-tier prospects from the Red Sox in Casey Kelly and Rizzo.

Given a chance at big league action last season at the age of 21, he struggled over 128 at-bats and was sent back to the minors where he tore up Triple-A pitching, as he looked ready to open 2012 as the starting first baseman.

However, following the acquisition of Yonder Alonso in the Mat Latos trade, Rizzo is now blocked at first base and if he is not dealt this season expect him to grow more and more upset with his situation in San Diego.

Chances He Is Traded: 80%

San Francisco Giants: 3B/OF Conor Gillaspie

2011 Stats: .263/.333/.421, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 2 R, 0.0 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

The Giants' outfield logjam has been cleared up a bit after the team released Aaron Rowand and watched Cody Ross and Pat Burrell leave in free agency.

However, there still does not look to be room for 24-year-old prospect and former first-round pick Gillaspie in the big league outfield, and with Pablo Sandoval entrenched at third base (his natural position) it looks as though he will be hard pressed to get at-bats.

With a starting three of Aubrey Huff, Melky Cabrera and Nate Schierholtz, and Brett Pill and Angel Pagan on the bench as reserve outfielders, the situation is no less crowded. Look for Gillaspie to be among the first players shopped by the Giants.

Chances He Is Traded: 30%

Seattle Mariners: 3B Alex Liddi

2011 Stats: .225/.295/.525, 3 HR, 6 RBI, 7 R, 0.2 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

A two-time participant in the Futures Game, Liddi's future in Seattle is looking more and more bleak these days, as he moves closer and closer to being big league-ready.

With an average line of .293 BA, 23 HR, 100 RBI over the past three seasons while moving from High Single-A to Triple-A, Liddi has done little to hurt his stock as a prospect.

However, with Kyle Seager set to open the season as the starting third baseman and 21-year-old Francisco Martinez, who the team acquired from the Tigers, looking like the third baseman of the future, Liddi stands at the odd man out, and he would be a future starter in another organization.

Chances He Is Traded: 40%

St. Louis Cardinals: IF Tyler Greene

2011 Stats: .212/.322/.288, 1 HR, 11 RBI, 22 R, 11 SB, 0.2 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

The Cardinals have had a good deal of turnover at the middle infield position since the days of Fernando Vina and Edgar Renteria, and this season they will again have a new double-play combination.

The team has re-signed Rafael Furcal to play shortstop after acquiring him at the deadline last season, and he will be joined by Daniel Descalso up the middle. 

That means that, once again, Greene will not get a shot at everyday at-bats. Now 28, he has gotten 108, 104 and 104 at-bats over the past three seasons and while he continues to dominate minor league pitching, he has yet to get a chance to show what he can do in the big leagues. He will be the team's primary backup at shortstop, second and could see time in the outfield this season.

Chances He Is Traded: 10%

Tampa Bay Rays: SP Jeff Niemann

2011 Stats: 23 GS, 11-7, 4.06 ERA, 1.241 WHIP, 105 K's, 135.1 IP, 1.1 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

The fourth overall pick in the 2004 MLB draft, Niemann joined the Rays rotation full-time in 2009 and he has gone 36-21 with a 4.13 ERA in 82 starts over the past three seasons.

However, he looks to be the odd man out in the Rays rotation this season, as David Price, James Shields, Wade Davis, Jeremy Hellickson and rookie Matt Moore will likely make up the staff.

The Rays need to upgrade at catcher and shortstop among other positions, and it could very well be Niemann that they use as trade bait to do that.

Chances He Is Traded: 70%

Toronto Blue Jays: CF Rajai Davis

2011 Stats: .238/.273/.350, 1 HR, 29 RBI, 44 R, 34 SB, -0.9 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Acquired from the Athletics following a two-year stretch in which he hit .293 and stole 91 bases, the Blue Jays signed Davis to a two-year extension through 2012 with an option for 2013 as they thought they had found their leadoff hitter and center fielder for the next few years at least.

However, he struggled last season and lost at-bats to Corey Patterson before the team dealt for Cardinals center fielder Colby Rasmus at the deadline and his days as starting center fielder were over.

On top of that, the team acquired Ben Francisco from the Phillies this winter, so Davis is not even the fourth outfielder anymore, and the chances of him being in Toronto through 2012 seem slim.

Chances He Is Traded: 90%

Texas Rangers: CF Julio Borbon

2011 Stats: .270/.305/.348, 0 HR, 11 RBI, 10 R, 6 SB, -0.3 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

After a strong showing in a 46-game audition in 2009, Borbon was a regular in the Rangers outfield in 2010 as he received 438 at-bats and hit .276 while scoring 60 runs.

Looking to build off of that performance, Borbon instead found himself on the DL in early June with a hamstring tweak. Upon his return from the injury, the Rangers chose to stick with the hot-hitting Endy Chavez and sent Borbon to Triple-A.

He was injured again in July, and ankle surgery ended his season. Now he finds himself competing with Chris Gentry and Leonys Martin for the fourth outfielder spot in Texas and he will likely be searching for a new home in 2012.

Chances He Is Traded: 40%

Washington Nationals: C Jesus Flores

2011 Stats: .209/.253/.314, 1 HR, 2 RBI, 5 R, -0.2 WAR

Reason He Could Demand a Trade

Flores looked to be the Nationals' catcher of the future following a strong 2008 season, and he started off the 2009 year even better hitting .301 with four HRs and 15 RBI through his first 29 games.

However, a shoulder injury ended his season in 2009 and a torn labrum kept him sidelined all year in 2010. When he returned last season, Wilson Ramos was the Nationals' catcher of the present and future and he struggled to get at-bats.

He has handled the situation like a professional, but it is clear that he would like to get a chance at more frequent playing time and he has expressed interest in continuing his career elsewhere.

Chances He Is Traded: 75%