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The Dodgers have spent over $80 million so far this off-season, and in a city like LA, they can’t afford to bring second rate talent to the plate in 2011.

It’s been a rumor for years, but once again, Matt Kemp has been a subject of trade rumors. He’s only 25 years old, and with his contract taking him through the 2012 season, only the perfect trade would be a viable option.

Chad Billingsley was a trade topic in the summer, and with back-to-back seasons with a 12-11 record, Billingsley is certainly not immune from a deal that would net the Dodgers some talent.

But, however the deal could go down, the Dodgers would like to replace the 750 career strikeouts that Chad has notched in Los Angeles.

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So far this off-season, the headlines have revolved around big name targets. As the Giants have showed us, it may not be entirely about the big shots in relation to bringing home the rings.

Cody Ross was responsible for countless game-saving hits, and Edgar Renteria led the World Series charge. Both players were picked up with no intention of season altering implications.

Who will be 2011’s Cody Ross?

Let us take a look at 10 free agents who could be next in line to follow suit.

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The NL West has been very active in the early stages of the MLB offseason. Juan Uribe is a Dodger, Miguel Tejada is a Giant, Adrian Gonzalez is playing in Boston and Mark Reynolds has left the Diamondbacks for Baltimore.

With all the rumors of which players are being targeted by which teams becoming more clear, it’s safe to say that the NL West is far from being solidified.

Let us take a look at trades that are either being conjured, and some that are merely rumors in the swirling MLB offseason.

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As we journey deeper into the winter months, the swirling trade rumors begin to intensify. Already, the Giants dumped the world series MVP Edgar Renteria, Adrian Beltre left the Red Sox for places unknown and Zach Greinke made it public that he wants to play “for a winner.”

Several teams are in the market for a shortstop of Jose Reyes’ status, and after a sub-par season last year he might be a bargain for a Mets squad trying to downsize their salary cap space.

Jon Heyman of Sports Illustrated stated that the Mets will hold off on signing Reyes to any type of long-term deal until they see him play a chunk of next season. He is due around $11 million in 2011.

That might not be entirely true, considering the Mets have been listening to phone calls referring their shortstop.

San Francisco Chronicle writer Henry Schulman tweeted that the Mets, should they be willing to deal Jose Reyes, would be expecting a handful of players and prospects in return.

As to whether they will deal him or not, the Mets organization has not given a definitive “no” response.

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As the Giants remain in the hangover stages of a World Series championship campaign, the questions are beginning to swirl in the Bay Area over who will replace the World Series’ most valuable player, shortstop Edgar Renteria, in the upcoming 2011 season.

With Juan Uribe as a high candidate for moving teams, one thing is for certain. The Giants are going with the young guns: There is always room for improvement.

Will the Giants try to reel in Derek Jeter, or will they make a trade for another big name infielder?

Only time will tell.

Let’s look at some players around the league that the Giants have their eyes on.

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As the 2010 season wound down, people like myself couldn’t help but check the transaction wires around the league. The playoffs serve as a chance for some teams to be victorious, but for most, it’s a chance to jump start their 2011 campaign.

In the following pages, I have outlined nearly every move that every club has made since their season ended.

Keep in mind, as the off-season progresses, so will this article. I will update it weekly, adding notes to every team with every new transaction or roster move.

I’ve decided to wait on power rankings until more activity happens; reason being teams like the Rays could fall more then five spots due to the fact of how many players they may lose. 

Rejoice baseball fans, the season has already started.

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The Oakland Athletics are up to their old tricks of headlining the off-season’s signings. This time, Edwin Encarnacion is the new bat in their lineup.

Billy Beane had said he wanted to address the lack of power in the lineup and, as of last weekend, he’s done just that.

While Encarnacion is by no stretch the missing link that the A’s need, he’s certainly a step in that direction.

Only batting .244 last season, it’s not the average the Athletics are gaining. It’s the 21 home runs, which would have led the club last year (Kouzmanoff had only 17). 

Oakland now has two viable options for third base after picking up Edwin off the Blue Jays waiver wire. The next question is, who will be offered up should the rumored bargaining of Adrian Beltre, Hideki Matsui and Lance Berkman have any truth to it?

According to local newspapers, the players mentioned were all contacted by Oakland during last years off-season festivities. This would simply be round two.

Personally, I’d like to see Hideki Matsui in the green and gold, but his age and future productivity is certainly an issue. Beltre looks the best on paper from last year and Berkman could have the best year of all three of these players. It’s pretty much a toss up.

If it’s Beltre, then Kouz and/or Encarnacion will be discarded to make space. Matsui would be a nice addition and could possibly settle in as the designated hitter. Berkman would also be a great addition to the line-up.

For now, the A’s will ponder their targeted players and await phone calls regarding the many strong armed pitchers that reside in the bullpen. Beane has mentioned that the big four will not be offered in a trade, but after the acquisition of DeJesus from the Royals, Rajai Davis looks to be next in line to catch a flight out of Oakland. Kouzmanoff is not far behind.

Oakland desperately needs a modern day Frank Thomas. The pitching is locked in and the defense is always improving. In a lot of ways, the Athletics are setting themselves us to be a competitive opponent in the AL West.

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Oakland Athletics GM Billy Beane has made it clear: The As will acquire a power hitter before the offseason is over.

We’ve heard that before.

Days after having a bid accepted for Japan’s premier pitcher, Hisashi Iwakuma, the Athletics have pulled the trigger for a bat in the lineup.

The burning question remains.

Why did they trade the highly clouted pitching prospect Vin Mazzaro for an outfielder with literally no power?

The answer can’t be found.

Vin Mazzaro has the ability to be a rotation ace and Billy Beane has really dropped the ball with this trade. Not to mention, the Athletics also dealt prospect pitcher Justin Marks.

Oakland has seen firsthand what happens to traded prospects. For example, see OF Carlos Gonzalez, who is now one of the league’s premier players for the Colorado Rockies. How did that happen? Oh yeah, Matt Holliday came to Oakland, so that wasn’t a bad deal.

Wait, Holliday is on the Cardinals? Oh, so that was a bad move?

As a bitter Athletics fan who has seen the likes of Nick Swisher, Eric Byres, Miguel Tejada, Mark Mulder, Tim Hudson and Mark McGwire slip through the cracks, I am inclined to call this trade as stupid as it gets.

OK, I concede, McGwire might have been a fire sale. Maybe they found a syringe in the locker room.

Why didn’t Beane try for Tampa Bay Rays slugger Carlos Pena?

The search to bring in a power hitter is far from over, as Billy Beane told the San Francisco Chronicle:

“Beane said on a conference call that the team still plans to address its power needs via free agency or with trades. He said nothing will be ruled out except dealing starters Trevor Cahill, Brett Anderson, Gio Gonzalez and Dallas Braden.”

Let’s see where Oakland goes with this. As of now, it seems like they are backpedaling a bit from their desperate power-hitting philosophy.

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The Oakland Athletics have started preparing for the 2011 season, as per usual with GM Billy Beane.

Third baseman Eric Chavez, who has been riddled with injuries over the last three years, has finally been released. He looks to start fresh with another team, but realizes he is a 12-year veteran.

Susan Slusser, writer for the San Francisco Chronicle, published this telling quote from Chavez:

“If things had been different, I would have wanted to stay in Oakland my whole career,” the six-time Gold Glove third baseman said. “I’ve had therapy, I’ve had treatment, I’ve had surgeries. The only thing left is to change scenery. … To go back to Oakland, even with the direction they’re going, I’m not even sure there would be a spot open.”

Ellis added that Oakland will miss him.

As Oakland prepares for another season, players and staff alike are thrilled about the second-place finish in the AL west. Closer Andrew Bailey has been rehabbing an injured shoulder that he suffered in September and looks to resume his closer role once play resumes.

Additionally, Rickey Henderson has decided to work with young outfielder Chris Carter on his defensive play. I think Rickey should also leak a few secrets about base-running. He’s only the all-time leader in stolen bases and runs scored. No biggie.

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