With Opening Day rapidly approaching, MLB teams are beginning to scramble in an attempt to shore up whatever weak spots may exist on their respective rosters, with one eye on the waiver wire and the other on the trade market.
The idea that substantial trades can’t take place this close to the start of the regular season is a bogus one. If there’s a deal to be made that both teams feel good about, it can take place at any time. After all, it was only a year ago that the Atlanta Braves traded All-Star closer Craig Kimbrel to the San Diego Padres, only hours before the first game of the regular season got underway.
Speaking of San Diego, the rebuilding-on-the-fly Padres factor significantly into the trade ideas we’re about to delve into, dealing away a pair of high-profile players while taking one back in return (along with a handful of prospects).
But the Padres aren’t the only team in position to pull off a win-win deal before Opening Day. Let’s take a look at a handful of players who are in limbo with their current clubs and whose names have floated around the rumor mill and could wind up elsewhere over the next few days.
Keep in mind these proposed deals are only ideas and pure speculation. Unless otherwise noted, there’s no indication that any of them has actually been discussed.