2016-2017 MLB Hot Stove

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Although that the 2016 Major League Baseball season is in the books, the action is heating up on the hot stove. 29 teams are out to topple the Chicago Cubs as World Series Champions, while the Cubs want to remain as the kings of the mountain. MLB’s Winter Meetings are set to take place next month, while we all are awaiting a new collective bargaining agreement, but there are some moves that could be made in the next few weeks on the trade front and here they are.

Chris Sale-Starting Pitcher-Chicago White Sox

Chris Sale

The past five years have seen Chris Sale become one of the better starting pitchers in Major League Baseball. Over that stretch Sale is 68-47 while he’s also been a five-time American League All-Star. But as good as Sale has been, he has been unable to make the White Sox a contender as they’ve finished with a losing record in each of the last four years.

The boiling point between Sale and the White Sox may have been reached this past summer when he was sent home after he allegedly destroyed the team’s throwback uniforms that they were scheduled to wear during his start as he wasn’t a fan of them. It appeared that this would be the opening for White Sox president of baseball operations Kenny Williams to pull the trigger on trading Sale, but he decided to hold on.

However as the off-season is here, there are several contenders such as the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, and Los Angeles Dodgers to could be in line for a quality front line starter such as Sale which could see valuable prospects return to the White Sox organization.

Joey Votto-First Baseman-Cincinnati Reds

After the Cincinnati Reds fired manager Dusty Baker following the conclusion of the 2013 Major League Baseball season, their fortunes have changed. Under Baker, the Reds made the postseason three times during his six years in Cincinnati. But since Baker was fired, the Reds have not had a winning season as they appear to be in rebuilding mode.

Joey Votto

The past decade has seen first baseman Joey Votto emerge as one of the best players in Reds franchise history. Votto’s career on-base percentage of .425 is tops in Reds franchise history while his batting average of .313 is fifth, and his 221 home runs are ninth. Votto has a National League MVP to his credit as he took home the honor in 2010, while he has also earned one N.L. Gold Glove Award. But as the Reds are rebuilding, Votto is 33-years of age and he has hefty contract attached to him.

Votto is under contract through 2024 and he is still owed $192 million. Quality first baseman are tough to come by in baseball which makes Votto a hot commodity for contenders around baseball such as the Boston Red Sox, Seattle Mariners, Houston Astros, and New York Mets if they are willing to take on his take on his massive contract for the next eight years.

Evan Longoria-Third Baseman-Tampa Bay Rays

Evan Longoria

For the last nine years, third baseman Evan Longoria has become the face of the Tampa Bay Rays franchise. The Rays made Longoria the third overall pick of the 2006 Major League Baseball Draft, and he would be vital in their American League Pennant in 2008. In a Rays uniform, Longoria has gone on to be a three-time A.L. All-Star while he is also the organization’s all-time leader in home runs (241), doubles (302), and runs batted in (806).  And at the age of 31, Longoria is coming off of a career-high in home runs with 36.

But Longoria is putting up these numbers for a Rays team that is coming off of their first, last place finish in the American League East since 2007 as they are in full rebuild mode and trading their best player in franchise history could be beneficial for both sides. Longoria is still owed $107 million through 2023, and as the Rays play in one of the smaller markets in Major League Baseball, it doesn’t make financial sense for the organization to keep a player who will command a high salary on a cellar dweller.

If the Rays are interested in trading Longoria, you can expect a plethora of teams to inquire about his availability. The Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, New York Mets, and San Francisco Giants could all be in play for Longoria as they’re all contenders that need help at the hot corner.

Ryan Braun-Outfielder-Milwaukee Brewers

Ryan Braun

From 2007-2012, the Milwaukee Brewers were one of baseball’s better teams with outfielder Ryan Braun at the forefront. In 2007, Braun was named as the National League’s Rookie of the Year as he batted .324 with 34 home runs, and 97 runs batted in. Braun would continue to put up impressive numbers for the Brewers which included him being named as the N.L.’s MVP in 2011.

But shortly after that Braun’s popularity began to fade when he was linked to the Biogenesis scandal. Braun’s involvement would see him suspended by Major League Baseball for parts of two seasons and he quickly became an afterthought.

However at the age of 32, Braun is coming off of one of his best seasons as he batted .305 with 30 home runs and 91 runs batted in this past year for Milwaukee. The Brewers went 73-89 here in 2016 as they are an organization that needs to figure out which direction that they are headed in.

Braun has five years and $91 million remaining on his contract and if a big-market team such as the Baltimore Orioles, Houston Astros, Los Angeles Angels, San Francisco Giants, Seattle Mariners, or Texas Rangers would be willing to take on the money, they could potentially get a quality veteran bat in the middle of their lineup.

Paul Goldschmidt-First Baseman-Arizona Diamondbacks

Paul Goldschmidt

Over the past few years I have maintained that if Arizona Diamondbacks first baseman Paul Goldschmidt played in a bigger market, or on a better team that he would be a household name. Goldschmidt got a taste of the postseason in 2011 as a member of the Diamondbacks, but as his play as has improved, the team around him has gotten worse.

Each of the last four seasons have seen Goldschmidt be an All-Star which included this year as he batted .297 with 24 home runs and 95 runs batted in. But the last three years have seen the Diamondbacks finish with a losing record.

There have been wholesale changes over the past few weeks in the Diamondbacks front office as it isn’t clear how much power that the team’s president of baseball operations Tony La Russa still has being that a new general manager in Mike Hazen has been brought in. And if the Diamondbacks truly feel that it’s time to start over, they could get a king’s ransom in return for Goldschmidt as he is the complete package for as a first baseman being that he can hit for power and average, while he’s also one of the better defensive players in Major League Baseball at his position.

And if Goldschmidt is made available by the Diamondbacks, expect teams such as the Boston Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Houston Astros, New York Mets, Seattle Mariners, and St. Louis Cardinals to be in the mix.

Brett Gardner-Outfielder-New York Yankees

Brett Garnder

New York Yankees outfielder Brett Gardner will never be confused with being one of the most talented Major League Baseball players, but he makes up for it with heart and sheer determination. Gardner has spent his entire nine-year career with the Yankees which has seen him win a World Series Titles along with one All-Star appearance. Gardner is a lifetime .264 hitter, and although that he doesn’t have the speed that he did earlier in his career to steal bases, he is still an above average defensive presence in left field for the Yankees.

The past few years have seen the Yankees flirt with dealing Gardner who is now 33-years of age as New York is looking to get younger. But the only way that I see this scenario playing out where Gardner is trading during the off-season is if the Yankees are able to sign a free-agent outfielder such as Yoenis Cespedes which would make the veteran player expendable.

And if that’s the case I could see the Yankees trading Gardner to a litany of teams as they would more than likely be looking for some help to their pitching staff in return.

Andrew McCutchen-Outfielder-Pittsburgh Pirates

Andrew McCutchen

As the Pittsburgh Pirates have returned to respectability, outfielder Andrew McCutchen has become the face of that movement. McCutchen was the 11th overall pick of the 2005 Major League Baseball Draft by the Pirates, and by 2009, he was ready for his debut. In 2013, McCutchen helped the Pirates reach the postseason for the first time since 1992, and his .317 batting average, to go along with 21 home runs, 84 runs batted in, and 27 stolen bases were good enough for him to be named as the National League’s MVP. McCutchen is a five-time All-Star, but he had a down year in 2016 as he only batted .256 and you have to wonder at the age of 30 if his productivity is set to decline?

I equate McCutchen’s numbers in 2016 to that of simply a down year for both he and the Pirates. But if the Pirates are serious in trading the former National League MVP, there will be plenty of teams that would be interested in his services.

Brian Dozier-Second Baseman-Minnesota Twins

The past six years have seen the Minnesota Twins be one of the worst teams in Major League Baseball which included them losing 103 games this past season. But one bright spots for the Twins over the last few years has been the emergence of second baseman Brian Dozier.

In each of Dozier’s six seasons, his productivity has increased which saw him hit 42 home runs this past season.

Brian Dozier

Dozier isn’t scheduled to become a free agent until 2019 and it is hard to believe that the Twins will be a legitimate contender before then. And as the Twins are in need of an injection of talent, a trade of Dozier could bring back some quality prospects for their minor-league system. I do expect to see teams such as the Los Angeles Angels, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Toronto Blue Jays show interest in Dozier if he is made available by the Twins.

Carlos Gonzalez-Outfielder-Colorado Rockies

The thin air of the Rocky Mountain region allows the Colorado Rockies to consistently have one of the best offenses in Major League Baseball with one of the prime examples of that being outfielder Carlos Gonzalez. Gonzalez has spent the last eight seasons with the Rockies which was highlighted by him hitting 40 home runs in 2015. This past season Gonzalez batted .298 with 25 home runs and 100 runs batted in.

But as good as Gonzalez’s production has been, he is not going to get the Rockies any closer to being a contender being that their pitching staff continuously struggles as their 4.91 team earned run average was 13th in the National League this past season.

Carlos Gonzalez

Gonzalez just turned 31-years of age last month, and he is set to earn $20 million next season in the final year of his contract. I doubt that you’ll see Gonzalez re-sign with Colorado once his deal is up which means that it is prudent for the Rockies to attempt to trade him now in order to get some value back for him.

Unlike other players on this list, I don’t see Gonzalez getting traded over the winter due to his contract. However if the Rockies fall out of contention next season, you can expect to hear Gonzalez’s name in trade talks leading up to the trade deadline as there will be interested teams even if they know that he could only be a rental.

Joe Mauer-First Baseman-Minnesota Twins

Joe Mauer

The offensive skills of Minnesota Twins first baseman Joe Mauer have declined rather rapidly ever since he was named as the American League’s MVP in 2009. That year saw Mauer bat .365 with 28 home runs and 96 runs batted in, but he hasn’t come close to that production in recent years as he only batted .261 with 11 homers and 49 runs batted in this past season.

Mauer is a fan favorite in the Twin Cities being that he was born in St. Paul, Minnesota. But baseball is a business and if the Twins could find a way to deal Mauer, they might think about it. Mauer is 33 years of age with $46 million remaining on his contract over the next two years. And a change of scenery to a contending team could be just what the doctor ordered for Mauer to resurrect his career.

Source: Baseball-reference.com

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