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Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton is an intriguing potential trade chip for the team this offseason.

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Hamilton Among the Reds Reportedly on the Trade Block

Tuesday, Nov. 29

According to ESPN Insider Buster Olney, the Reds are “listening to offers on all of their players, including—sources say—center fielder Billy Hamilton.” 

Olney added: “By the time the Reds are good again, Hamilton—who has three-plus years of service time—will be on the verge of free agency, so it makes sense for Cincinnati to explore and execute a deal, because Hamilton’s trade value may never be higher than it is right now.”

Hamilton, 26, went from simply being known as a fantastic baserunner during his career to putting together a solid all-around season in 2016, hitting .260 with three home runs, 17 RBI, 69 runs scored and 58 stolen bases in 119 games played. 

He also is an excellent fielder. As Olney noted, “Hamilton ranked seventh among all outfielders in Defensive Runs Saved” and “led all major leaguers—by far—in FanGraphs’ baserunning efficiency metric.”

Those numbers would have been even better, but Hamilton’s season was over on Sept. 4 due to injury. But it’s clear Hamilton took a step forward in 2016.

“This year has been a little taste of what I want to become,” he told Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times on Sept. 3. “I don’t want to have this few weeks of going good and then go back to normal. I’m just looking forward to what’s going to come.”

One change for Hamilton was a new mentality at the plate.

“I’m thinking more this year about being a line-drive hitter, trying to hit the ball in the gap, not focusing on hitting ground balls,” he said. “A lot of these guys can hit home runs, hit the ball deep in the gap. My job is to hit it as low as I can, on a line. That’s what I figured out.”

Certainly, if Hamilton continues to improve his batting average and on-base percentage, he’ll be one of the most dangerous weapons at the leadoff spot in baseball. That should make him an attractive trade target for contending teams looking to bolster the top of their lineup. 

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Josh Harrison is a candidate to be dealt this winter.

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Harrison Reportedly on the Trade Block

Tuesday, Nov. 29

The Pirates are considering trading Harrison this offseason, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. 

Per Rosenthal’s report: “The Pirates tried to re-sign free-agent infielder Sean Rodriguez with the idea of trading Harrison and reallocating dollars to other players, according to major league sources.”

Rosenthal also wrote, “One rival general manager described the Pirates on Thursday as a club that ‘generally’ listens to trade offers for players under long-term control.”

The Pirates find themselves in an interesting situation with Harrison. On one hand, Rodriguez signed with the Atlanta Braves this offseason, taking away the obvious replacement for Harrison. On the other, he is due a guaranteed $18.5 million over the next two seasons, which is a steep price for a player whose offensive production has declined.

In 2016, Harrison, 29, hit .283 with 59 RBI and 57 runs scored, all solid marks. But he hit just four home runs and has only eight homers in the past two seasons combined after ripping 13 in 2014, the year he made the All-Star team.

Harrison remains an excellent fielder, so the Pirates won’t be worse for keeping him this offseason. But his production from 2014 (.315 average with 13 homers, 52 RBI and 77 runs) looks like an outlier season, not the norm.

As Rosenthal noted, the Pirates have Alen Hanson and Adam Frazier waiting in the wings if the team trades Harrison.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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The Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA) released its 2017 Hall of Fame ballot Monday, and Jeff Bagwell, Trevor Hoffman, Tim Raines, Vladimir Guerrero, Manny Ramirez, Ivan Rodriguez and Jorge Posada highlight the list of 34 former players.

Bagwell, Hoffman and Raines each obtained at least 67.3 percent of the vote in the 2016 Hall of Fame class, though the three failed to reach the requisite 75 percent needed for induction. Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza did reach that percentage and were inducted in 2016.

That bodes well for the trio in the future, as the BBWAA noted: “Every player who has ever cleared the 65 percent threshold in any one BBWAA election has eventually been inducted into the Hall of Fame, save for Jack Morris—who exhausted his BBWAA eligibility in 2015 and will not be eligible for the Modern Baseball Era Committee consideration until the fall of 2017.”

The three can certainly make a strong case.

Bagwell was the 1994 National League MVP and finished his career with a .297 batting average and 449 home runs. Hoffman was one of the most dominant closers in MLB history, finishing his career with 601 saves (second all-time), and he was twice voted as the runner-up for the Cy Young Award. Raines led the NL in steals four times and is fifth all-time in swiped bags with 808.

The newcomers to the ballot offer strong cases as well.

Vladimir Guerrero finished his career hitting .318 with 449 homers and 1,496 RBI, and he had one of the strongest outfield arms in the game. He was also exciting to watch at the plate, as he was unafraid to swing at a pitch no matter where it was thrown and had the power to hit pitches well off the plate out of the park.

“Vlad’s one of the greatest guys and best teammates I’ve ever been around,” former teammate Torii Hunter told Barry M. Bloom of MLB.com. “I felt honored to play on the same team with a Hall of Famer.”

Manny Ramirez was no slouch with the bat either, hitting .312 with 555 homers and 1,831 RBI. He was a phenomenal postseason hitter, blasting 29 home runs and 78 RBI in 111 postseason games, and he was one of the game’s quirkier figures during his career.

However, he also twice tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs—serving one suspension and retiring to avoid another—which may keep him off some ballots.

Ivan Rodriguez and Jorge Posada, meanwhile, were both excellent catchers. Rodriguez was known for his consistent fielding and his excellent offensive production for the position, hitting .296 with 311 home runs.

“I feel very excited about it,” Rodriguez told Bloom. “It’s hard to believe five years went by that quick. It feels like I just retired a couple of years ago. It will be nice. It will be fun. Hopefully I can be in the Hall of Fame. Nobody knows. I’m feeling positive.”

Posada won four titles with the New York Yankees as part of the legendary core of players for the team that included Mariano Rivera, Derek Jeter and Andy Pettitte.

The other notable names include Barry Bonds, Roger Clemens, Jeff Kent, Edgar Martinez, Fred McGriff, Mike Mussina, Curt Schilling, Gary Sheffield and Lee Smith.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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Los Angeles Dodgers shortstop Corey Seager was named the National League Rookie of the Year on Monday. MLB.com announced he was the unanimous pick. 

ESPN Stats & Info provided two impressive stats on Seager’s accomplishment: 

The Baseball Writers’ Association of America shared the voting results, with Trea Turner of the Washington Nationals coming in second and Seager’s teammate, Kenta Maeda, finishing third:

Seager, 22, was excellent for the Dodgers in 2016, hitting .308 with 26 home runs, 72 RBI and 105 runs scored. He was a crucial member of the Dodgers team that won the NL West and reached the National League Championship Series, where Los Angeles was defeated by the Chicago Cubs in six games.

His ROY win doesn’t come as a huge surprise, as the players made him their choice for the award last week.

“That’s awesome,” Seager said of being the players’ choice, per Bill Plunkett of the Orange County Register. “To be voted by your peers is just a little more special for me. It was kind of the same thing with the All-Star Game. It’s one of those things where it’s nice to know your peers, the guys you play against every day have that mutual respect for you.”

Seager was also named a Silver Slugger winner at shortstop by Louisville Slugger.

Certainly, the young star is a critical part of the Dodgers’ future plans. Already one of the best hitters at his position in baseball, Seager has the makings of a potential MVP candidate later in his career. 

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

New York Mets outfielder Jay Bruce has been the subject of trade rumors this MLB offseason.

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Blue Jays Showing Interest in Bruce

Monday, Nov. 14

The Toronto Blue Jays have reportedly discussed a trade for Bruce with the Mets, ESPN’s Jim Bowden told MLB Network Radio on Sunday.  

According to Bowden, the Blue Jays want to set up a platoon in left field, with Melvin Upton Jr. already in place.

A platoon in left field would make sense. Upton hit just .226 against right-handed pitching last season with a dreadful .274 on-base percentage. He also struck out 116 times against right-handers, as opposed to just 39 times against lefties.

Bruce, on the other hand, hit .262 with 27 home runs and 77 RBI against righties. He had an OPS of .872 against righties compared to his .678 OPS against lefties.

It wouldn’t be the first time the Blue Jays have made a run at Bruce. According to TSN, Toronto “had a trade for Bruce fall through last season.”

Bruce, 29, remains an excellent power hitter. He finished 2016 hitting .250 with 33 home runs and 99 RBI, leading the Mets to pick up his $13 million option for 2017.

But his future in New York is likely tied to free agent Yoenis Cespedes. If the slugger signs elsewhere in free agency, the Mets are more likely to retain Bruce for the middle of their lineup. If Cespedes re-signs with the Mets, however, Bruce would become a valuable trade chip who could be used to acquire assets needed in other areas.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Detroit Tigers outfielder J.D. Martinez has become the subject of trade rumors this offseason.

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Martinez Reportedly Most Likely Tiger to Be Dealt

Thursday, Nov. 10

A rival executive told Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports that outfielder J.D. Martinez is the Tigers star most likely to be dealt this offseason, citing his status as a free agent following the 2017 season and Detroit’s collection of right-handed power in the lineup. 

With Miguel Cabrera, Justin Upton, Ian Kinsler, Victor Martinez (switch-hitter) and Nick Castellanos, the Tigers are loaded from the right side of the plate.

Certainly, Martinez’s pending free agency makes him expendable. And Buster Olney of ESPN Insider reported in October that the Tigers would listen to offers on all of their players this offseason, even guys like Cabrera and Justin Verlander, franchise staples.

While Olney acknowledged that hardly meant the Tigers were about to embark on a fire sale, it was an indication that the front office was at least considering a mild makeover after the team failed to reach the postseason in 2016.

And general manager Al Avila already suggested the Tigers were interested in lowering their payroll and weren’t, at the time, interested in offering Martinez a long-term extension, per Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press:

I don’t foresee any talks of a long-term contract at this point. In saying that, we’re going to keep an open mind in what possibilities come across this winter, this coming summer. I’m not going to rule out that we wouldn’t consider a long-term deal, but sitting here today, we’re not thinking that way right now. Can’t say we wouldn’t be thinking about that down the road.

Martinez, 29, is an appealing trade chip.

He hit .307 with 22 home runs, 68 RBI and 69 runs scored in 2016. He was amazing in 2015, ripping 38 homers and 102 RBI. He’s sandwiched that breakout campaign with seasons where he hit at least 22 home runs but also played 123 games or fewer.

And based on Avila’s comments, it’s hard to imagine the Tigers won’t at least entertain the notion of dealing Martinez.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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New York Yankees catcher and designated hitter Brian McCann has continued to be the subject of trade rumors this offseason.

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Yankees Deny That Trade for McCann is “Imminent”

Thursday, Nov. 10

Yankees general manager and senior vice president Brian Cashman indicated Thursday that “A McCann trade does not appear imminent,” according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. On Friday, Yahoo Sports’ Jeff Passan noted the Yankees are willing to pay half of McCann’s $34 million salary, but they want multiple young players in return.  

McCann, 32, has been the subject of trade rumors this week, with Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reporting Wednesday the Houston Astros were “pursuing” a trade for the veteran designated hitter and catcher.

Also on Wednesday, Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported the Yankees were in talks regarding McCann with the Astros, Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals. So a trade for McCann might not be “imminent,” but it certainly feels like there is a healthy market developing for his services.

McCann Trade Won’t Be Easy for Yankees 

Trading him won’t necessarily be easy, however.

McCann has a full no-trade clause in his contract, is due $34 million over the next two years and reportedly “no longer wants to catch 125 to 130 games,” according to Rosenthal (it’s worth noting Sherman reported McCann still wanted to be a regular catcher). Gary Sanchez is locked into the starting role in New York, so McCann would remain the backup and the primary designated hitter if he remained in New York.

And indeed, those are three pretty tricky factors to navigate for the Yankees, and if McCann indeed would prefer a designated hitter role, it could make any National League team unfavorable. 

Well, any team outside of Atlanta.

“He calls that home and loves it in the offseason,” McCann’s agent, B.B. Abbott, said of the city, per Sherman. “He would look hypothetically at them very seriously if Cash is able to do it. If it is a team a little closer to home that has a chance to contend that fits X, Y and Z, Mac will look at it and determine if it is a fit.”

While McCann had a solid offensive season, hitting .242 with 20 home runs and 58 RBI, the Yankees certainly could upgrade at designated hitter. But McCann also seems happy in New York and would be content remaining with the club.

“He has always approached this as I am a New York Yankee until they ask his permission otherwise,” Abbott noted. “I don’t think this is a slam dunk that it happens, I really don’t. He made a choice to be in New York because that is where he wants to be and he got a full no-trade clause because of that.”

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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Closer Kenley Jansen will be one of the top free agents on the market and is one of the elite closers available to teams that are looking to bolster the back end of the bullpen.

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Giants Showing Interest in Jansen

Thursday, Nov. 10

The San Francisco Giants have met with representatives for Jansen, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network. 

Jansen, 29, was superb for the Los Angeles Dodgers in 2016, finishing 3-2 in 71 appearances with a 1.83 ERA, 0.67 WHIP, 104 strikeouts and 47 saves in 53 save opportunities.

Jansen has established himself as one of the best closers in baseball with at least 25 saves in five straight seasons, 127 saves in the past three years alone and at least 80 strikeouts in six straight years.

For that reason, the Dodgers are still interested in retaining Jansen and are talking to his agent, per Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times. The Dodgers have also met with the representatives of Justin Turner and Rich Hill, as the team looks to avoid losing a crucial trio of players from the 2016 roster on the free-agent market.

Certainly, losing any of them to a divisional rival like the Giants would sting. Especially Jansen, who would be a dramatic upgrade over Santiago Casilla (3.57 ERA, 1.19 WHIP and 31 saves in 40 opportunities).

Closer is clearly a priority for the Giants this offseason. Per Morosi, the team also reportedly reached out to representatives for closer Aroldis Chapman and Mark Melancon, so the Giants have identified a major area of need.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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Veteran pitcher R.A. Dickey signed a one-year deal with the Atlanta Braves on Thursday.

The team announced the move and added there is also a club option for the 2018 season.

According to Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports, Dickey will receive $8 million guaranteed, with $7.5 million coming in ’17. For 2018, he’ll receive an $8 million team option with a $500,000 buyout.

Dickey, 42, went 10-15 with a 4.46 ERA, 1.37 WHIP and 126 strikeouts in 169.2 innings pitched and 29 total starts for the Toronto Blue Jays in 2016. While he has never rediscovered his dominant form from the 2012 season, when he went 20-6 with a 2.73 ERA, 1.05 WHIP and 230 strikeouts in 33 starts with the New York Mets, he was a valuable innings-eater at the back of Toronto’s rotation in 2016.

The Blue Jays ultimately moved the knuckleballer to the bullpen late in September, though, and he didn’t make the team’s postseason roster.

For the Braves, he’ll provide an experienced, veteran presence who is still capable of having quality innings as a fourth or fifth starter.

Dickey’s signing isn’t a major splash, but he figures to be beneficial to an otherwise young team.

The Braves have some major question marks in their starting rotation behind ace Julio Teheran, but Dickey should be able to find his niche and aid in the development of younger pitchers such as Matt Wisler (24), Aaron Blair (24), Mike Foltynewicz (25) and other arms who come up from the minors over the course of the season.

Dickey is familiar with the NL East from his three-year stint with the Mets, and that familiarity should help him have some success in Atlanta.

The Braves’ rebuilding project is making strides and being accelerated thanks to a mix of exciting youngsters and experienced veterans.

Dickey should be a positive influence in the clubhouse, and he could also make for great trade bait if the Braves are out of it by the 2017 deadline.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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The MLB free-agent market won’t be stacked with top-end starting pitchers this offseason, meaning teams looking to bolster their rotation might turn to trades. One player certain to garner interest in that regard is Tampa Bay Rays starter Chris Archer.

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Braves Showing Interest in Archer

Tuesday, Nov. 8

The Atlanta Braves have had discussions with the Rays regarding Archer, 28, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.

David O’Brien of the Atlanta Journal Constitution added that Archer would be a great, though expensive, addition to the Braves:

A few things may make an Archer trade unlikely, however. 

For one, coming off a down season, Archer’s value may be lower than it would have been in years past. Archer started 33 games for the Rays this season, going 9-19 with a 4.02 ERA, 1.24 WHIP and 233 strikeouts in 201.1 innings pitched.

Archer pitched more innings, had more strikeouts and a lower ERA and WHIP in 2015, however, and he’s unlikely to garner the same sort of value on the market as he would have last offseason.

But Archer is also under club control through at least 2019, according to Spotrac.com, with club options for the 2020-21 seasons. He’s due just $4.9 million next year, $6.4 million in 2018 and $7.6 million in 2019, with the club options being worth $8.2 million.

In other words, Archer is incredibly affordable for several years to come. The Rays will likely need to be blown away with a deal to move him, which may not come after he regressed slightly in 2016.

You can follow Timothy Rapp on Twitter.

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