2013 MLB Winter Meetings: 15 Bold Trade Predictions
2013 MLB Winter Meetings: 15 Bold Trade Predictions
With the winter meetings set to begin in just a few short days, baseball fans throughout the world can expect plenty of trade talk to take place over one of the busiest trade periods of the year.
Among contenders, there seems to be plenty of teams that are just a big arm or bat away from getting over that proverbial hump and with that, there should be plenty of action. The lone question that is to be answered is whether the deals will take place over the meetings or if, like last year, the meetings act as a sort of foundation for future deals to take place.
As the market is full of impact bats and arms, the potential for a very busy few days is present and in my eyes at least, I expect more than a few high profile names finding new addresses by the conclusion of the event set to begin in Orlando, Florida on December 9. Whether it is a high impact bat that might be finding a new home because of a logjam that now exists, as in the case of Matt Kemp, or simply a situation in which a team is ready to sell off its remaining veteran pieces and start fresh, each team comes into the meetings with something different as a driving force.
No matter the reason, with the executives of every organization present under one roof, one should expect the unexpected, especially from teams that are teetering the line of contention or rebuild.
Without further delay, here are 15 bold trade predictions that Major League baseball fans should not be shocked with taking place over the coming days.
20. Seattle Mariners acquire Matt Kemp
With the Seattle Mariners looking for impact bats to further their chances of competing in the AL West, the match between them and Matt Kemp is undeniable. With the Los Angeles Dodgers looking to unload the talented slugger, they have a viable trade partner in Seattle, one with the farm system to get a deal done.
19. Toronto Blue Jays acquire Jeff Samardzija
To say that the Toronto Blue Jays' starting pitching didn't meet expectations would be the understatement of the century. In a division that demands the possession of power arms, Jeff Samardzija heading north of the border seems like a perfect move for a team that prefers players that come with plenty of years under team control.
18. St. Louis Cardinals acquire Troy Tulowitzki
Year after year, the oft-injured star shortstop seems more likely to be on the disabled list than making a meaningful impact on the field. With the St. Louis Cardinals showing interest in acquiring Troy Tulowitzki, this could be the winter that he finally moves on from the friendly confines of Coors Field.
17. New York Yankees acquire Brett Anderson
With C.C. Sabathia showing his age and the rest of the rotation essentially up in the air, the New York Yankees are desperate for pitching. With the type of talent that Brett Anderson brings to the table when healthy and the Oakland Athletics' lack of need for the oft-injured starting pitcher, the match between the teams is undeniable.
16. San Francisco Giants acquire Ike Davis
It seems that every year, the same story is heard with regards to the San Francisco Giants and their missing power bat that evidently eludes them each and every year. With the New York Mets looking to ship out Ike Davis, the year might finally have come that the Giants get their power bat.
15. New York Yankees acquire Chase Headley
With Alex Rodriguez' career most likely over with the New York Yankees, the need for a good third baseman is one of the major needs for the team and in Chase Headley, all of the requirements are met. With his name attached to the team before, expect this winter to be the one where rumors become more than just talk.
14. San Francisco Giants Acquire Asdrubal Cabrera
The Cleveland Indians have made the decision to start shoring up for the future of their up and coming team by beginning to gauge the interest for their veterans such as Asdrubal Cabrera in order to attain players with more years of control available going forward. With the San Francisco Giants in desperate need for consistent bats to back the likes of Matt Cain and Madison Bumgarner, Cabrera could be just the kind of player they're looking for.
13. Seattle Mariners acquire Billy Butler
With the seemingly failed projects at first base in recent times for the Seattle Mariners and a desire to add proven offense to a team that already has more than enough pitching to compete in the division, Billy Butler looks as good an option as any to call the city of Seattle home in the near future.
12. Texas Rangers acquire David Price
With David Price having one foot out of the door, there will be plenty of teams lining up for the former Cy Young award winner's services this winter. With the Texas Rangers possessing than share of great young prospects, the match between them and the Tampa Bay Rays seems too good to be true for both ball clubs.
11. Cleveland Indians acquire Pablo Sandoval
Although the San Francisco Giants might be hesitant to part with the Kung Fu Panda, his impending free agency in 2014 along with the kind of inconsistency that is sure to give them second guesses about investing a small fortune for his services might just create the perfect formula for the deal of their talented third baseman.
10. Colorado Rockies acquire Starlin Castro
A stretch but one that makes sense for both teams. The Chicago Cubs have grown tired of the issues they've faced with the young shortstop while the Colorado Rockies might be looking to try someone new at the position.
9. Los Angeles Angels acquire Cliff Lee
At some point, the Angels will need to look to something other than adding big name free-agent bats to improve their lack of success over the past few seasons. With a rotation that is very thin after Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson along with a Philadelphia Phillies organization that probably has accepted that the time has come and gone for their roster, the chances of the two teams figuring something out are as high as they'll ever be.
8. Kansas City Royals Acquire Chase Utley
A young team always needs a stabilizing presence in the clubhouse and with Chase Utley, the Kansas City Royals could acquire just that. With a team that's filled to the brim with talent and poised to compete in the AL Central, Utley could be the final piece to the puzzle.
7. Atlanta Braves acquire Aaron Hill
If the Atlanta Braves have learned anything over the past few seasons, it is that they can't trust Dan Uggla anymore to provide consistent production from second base. With an Arizona Diamondbacks team that might be looking to regroup before jumping into contention once again and Aaron Hill fitting the mold of the type of player the Braves look for, don't be surprised to see a deal take place.
6. Milwaukee Brewers Acquire Logan Morrison
Since the departure of Prince Fielder, the Milwaukee Brewers have had tough luck in recent times attempting to fill their first base slot. With the Miami Marlins finally sick of the act of Logan Morrison over recent seasons, expect the team to look to the former Marlins' top prospect as the answer to their problem.
5. Baltimore Orioles Acquire Justin Masterson
The Baltimore Orioles have plenty of firepower in terms of the bats that roam their potent lineup. Unfortunately, last season saw their lack of consistent starting pitching finally catch up to them. With a good minor league system and plenty of pieces to use as trade chips, Justin Masterson could be just the arm that could anchor a rotation that needs a leader.
4. New York Mets acquire Brandon Phillips
For the past few seasons, aside from David Wright, there has been very few consistent performers with the bat for the New York Mets. With a rotation that might be ready to compete for something meaningful once Matt Harvey returns next season, a future piece to boost an offense for that time might well be in the cards with the acquisition of Brandon Phillips.
3. Chicago White Sox Acquire Domonic Brown
The Philadelphia Phillies are in a state of total rebuild right now after the retirement of Roy Halladay along with the aging roster that just doesn't seem to have what it takes to win a tough AL East division. As the gem of their positional players, the team may look to sell high on Domonic Brown, especially to a team such as the Chicago White Sox which looks poised to rebound soon and could be in the market for a centerpiece for their offense for years to come.
2. Boston Red Sox acquire Mark Trumbo
It is no secret that the Angels need pitching and in the Boston Red Sox, they potentially find a match with a team that has a great farm system and enough riches on the mound to part with some in exchange for another power bat. With his name tied to the Red Sox in recent times, the winter meetings might just be the perfect forum for the deal to take place.
1. Baltimore Orioles acquire Jose Bautista
Whether or not the deal takes place within the division, the Baltimore Orioles possess the young arms and prospects to get a deal done for the 3B/OF power bat who has fallen on a tough stretch of injury-shortened seasons. With the team looking to add a little more pop to the lineup, Jose Bautista could be just be their answer.
