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The MLB offseason has only been going on for a few weeks, but it’s already been quite a busy one in 2013, as rumors about a number of big players continue to come up.

Several big players have already been traded this offseason.  Prince Fielder was traded to the Texas Rangers in exchange for Ian Kinsler, who is now a member of the Detroit Tigers, according to Richard Durrett from ESPN.com.  Jerry Crasnick from ESPN.com also reported that David Freese had been traded to the Los Angeles Angels.

With a number of big-time free agents looking to get huge contracts and star players likely to be traded, let’s go ahead and take a look at some of the most recent rumors surrounding key names in the MLB.

Shin-Soo Choo, OF, Free Agent

In his first season with the Cincinnati Reds, it’s safe to say that Shin-Soo Choo was a productive player.  Now that his contract has expired and he’s a free agent, other teams have started to take a look at him.

It appears that the Tigers are one of those teams that would be interested in Choo.  According to ESPN’s Buster Olney, several evaluators believe that the 31-year-old will play in Detroit and move to left field.

By bringing in Choo, the Tigers would have a solid outfield that would include him, Austin Jackson and Torii Hunter.  While the move to left field could be a bit awkward, his value on offense makes him well worth it.

Choo had arguably the best season of his career in 2013.  He finished the year hitting .285 with an on-base percentage of .423 while scoring 107 runs and driving in 54 more.  He could certainly come in and be the leadoff hitter, allowing Kinsler to come in and hit just behind him.

With how well Choo played last season, he’s likely to get a pretty sizable contract, and it looks like the Tigers might be willing to give it to him.

Carlos Beltran, OF, Free Agent

After a strong regular season and an even more impressive postseason, veteran outfielder Carlos Beltran is now a free agent.  He may be getting up there in terms of age, but he still has quite a bit left in the tank, and a number of teams are in talks with him.

One team in particular that’s interested in Beltran is the Boston Red Sox.  According to Scott Lauber from the Boston Herald, the two sides are engaged in talks, saying:

According to a major league source, the Sox have had “serious dialogue” with outfielder Carlos Beltran, though indications are that the sides are nowhere close to a deal. The eight-time All-Star could fill a need in the outfield in case Jacoby Ellsbury signs elsewhere and in the middle of the order if Mike Napoli should leave.

Beltran would certainly be an interesting player to add, as he would be moving from the St. Louis Cardinals to the team that beat them in the World Series.  He had a great run in 2013, hitting .296/.339/.491 in the regular season and was named an All-Star for the eighth time in his career.

The biggest concern for the Red Sox is that Beltran will likely be asking for a longer deal.  He’s currently 36 years old, and he could be asking for a contract that lasts until he’s over 40.

Still, with how well Beltran played this past season, the Red Sox would be smart to sign him if the price is right, because he’s shown that he can still play at a very high level.

Matt Kemp, CF, Los Angeles Dodgers

The Los Angeles Dodgers had to be frustrated seeing Matt Kemp sit out so much in 2013, as he only played in 73 games.  While he’s still a terrific player, there’s a chance that the Dodgers trade him away.

According to Nick Cafardo from Boston.com, the Red Sox have inquired about bringing in Kemp, with the report saying:

The Red Sox are one of several teams who have made inquiries on Dodgers centerfielder Matt Kemp according to a major league source. The Red Sox have probably made a few dozen of these types of calls on trades and free-agents, but Kemp is certainly intriguing.

The Dodgers, according to the source, have not been shopping Kemp, but teams have inquired. The Dodgers were reportedly recently in trade talks with the Toronto Blue Jays and Seattle Mariners.

With the possibility of Jacoby Ellsbury signing somewhere else, the Red Sox are likely keeping their options open to add some talent to their outfield.  While he’s only played in 179 games over the past two seasons, Kemp is still an incredibly productive player, hitting .293/.350/.493 with 157 home runs and 162 stolen bases during his eight-year career.

Kemp’s contract is what could keep him from being traded, as it is certainly a big one.  According to Spotrac, Kemp is due $127.5 million over the next six years, making this a very big investment for any team looking to trade for him.

These two teams are quite familiar with each other, as the Red Sox sent off Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett last year, and that could make this trade involving Kemp possible.

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Fifteen years in the big leagues and Carlos Beltran‘s offensive numbers are still good enough to place him as one of the most valued free agents in the majors this winter. 

Beltran recently turned down a one-year, $14.1 million offer from the St. Louis Cardinals, according to Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com. He is seeking a multi-year contract, and teams such as the Boston Red Sox, the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles are interested in signing the 36-year-old.

During the 2013 regular season, Beltran hit .296 with 24 home runs and 84 RBIs.

Throughout his career, in a total of 51 postseason games for the Astros, Mets and Cardinals, Beltran has 16 homers, a .333 average and a .445 on-base percentage per Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.

With an aging Beltran’s stats still pretty good, it is clear to see why the Boston Red Sox are interested in signing him. According to a number of sources, including Scott Lauber of the Boston Herald, Boston and Beltran are having serious discussions about their future.

The biggest reason why the Red Sox should try for Beltran is because free agent Jacoby Ellsbury is most likely going to leave the team. With Ellsbury gone, there will be space in the outfield for Beltran.

This may appear desirable to Beltran, who told Kaegel that whatever team he goes to he wants more playing time.

Even if Beltran doesn’t play the Boston outfield, he has a chance to play first base. Right now, there is the question of whether or not Mike Napoli will stick around with Boston, according to Lauber. If he doesn’t, Beltran could take his spot. Beltran has gotten slower with age so the decreased mobility required at first base could fit him well.

Bryan Hoch of MLB.com noted that the Red Sox’s rivals, the New York Yankees, are also interested in signing Beltran.

Beltran is just one of many free agents the Yankees are considering. New York is also interested in Brian McCann, Jhonny Peralta, Masahiro Tanaka and Stephen Drew, per Mark Feinsand and Michael O’Keeffe of the New York Daily News.

As we all know, money is usually not an issue for the Yankees. So it may be possible that a deal goes down between New York and Beltran. Currently the Yankees’ outfield consists of Brett Gardner, Ichiro Suzuki and Alfonso Soriano. Carlos Beltran would be an offensive improvement over at least both Suzuki and Gardner.

The Baltimore Orioles have also expressed interest in signing Beltran per Chris Mascaro of Sports Illustrated. However, Ricky Doyle of NESN Sports argued that the Orioles cannot pursue the outfielder until they clear up some salary space.

The Boston Globe writer Nick Cafardo agrees with Mascaro, tweeting:

And to do so, the Orioles are considering trading catcher Matt Wieters. In 2013, Wieters hit .235/.287/.417 for his worst statistical season of his career.

Trading Wieters doesn’t seem to be the right move however. Jay Jaffe of Sports Illustrated suggests that the Orioles should keep Wieters and bank on a rebound from him. With Wieters being a career .255/.319/.420 hitter and the lack of catchers on the market, the Orioles should stick to Wieters and move on from Beltran.

Beltran, who was first drafted by Kansas City in 1995, spoke to Kaegel about a possible return to the Royals:

Based on how they played this year, of course that’s a possibility — they competed; they had a team that almost won the Wild Card. They can compete, and my decision will be based on teams that are competing. That’s a team that I would consider, for sure. I don’t want to go back to a team that’s not competing.

Even though Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports stated the Royals would love to see a reunion with Beltran, they may not be able to afford him.

The Royals have a low payroll. Their 2013 payroll was $81.9 million according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Compared to the Red Sox, the Yankees and others, the Royals can easily be outbid for Beltran. So chances are, although both parties are interested, Beltran won’t end up in Kansas City.

Of all the teams considering Beltran, the Boston Red Sox and the New York Yankees seem to be the biggest contenders. Both need help in the outfield. But while the Yankees are looking to upgrade their outfield with Beltran, the Red Sox are looking to fill a gap if Ellsbury leaves.

Besides the opportunity to play more, the fact that the Red Sox beat the Cardinals in the 2013 World Series just might intrigue Beltran enough to sign with Boston.

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The Kansas City Royals enter the offseason with a few needs, and upgrading right field or second base ranks high on their list.

A reunion with Carlos Beltran, whom the team drafted in 1995, would certainly answer one of those needs.  A trade with the Cincinnati Reds for Brandon Phillips would address the other.  It appears that both of those options have been discussed.

Beltran, who is presumed to be in the twilight of his career, is reportedly seeking a three-year contract for his services.  An outfielder who has spent his most recent years playing right field, Beltran has been one of the game’s most prolific switch-hitters in history.  He would bring stability to a position that the Royals have not been able to count on offensively in some time.

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com noted via Twitter that the Royals are interested in Beltran but concerned they may be outbid:

#Royals would love to make a Beltran reunion happen but fear being outbid by high-revenue teams such as #Yankees.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) November 12, 2013

Beltran is a name that some expected to be thrown around in the Kansas City offices this year, but Brandon Phillips may come as a bit of a surprise.  Royals manager Ned Yost was interviewed by Jim Bowden on his SiriusXM radio show this afternoon and confirmed that the team had discussed both Beltran and Phillips. Bowden shared these thoughts via Twitter:

Ned Yost said he & Dayton Moore have talked for hours and hours including the names of Carlos Beltran, Brandon Phillips & Ervin Santana XM89

— JIM BOWDEN (@JimBowdenESPNxm) November 12, 2013

Phillips has continued to be a productive, veteran presence for the Cincinnati Reds but has seen his stock drop this season due to his outspoken nature.

Earlier this year, he complained openly about his current contract and how he felt insulted by the way it was approached.  In addition, his outburst at a Cincinnati reporter before a game in St. Louis did not sit well with people in the Reds organization.  The situation has lead some to believe that Phillips may be traded before the curtain rises on the 2014 season.

Either Beltran or Phillips would add a legitimate power bat to a lineup that desperately needs some offensive production.  Beltran could also see time at DH, allowing him to rest his knees and prolong his career a bit.  Phillips brings stellar defense as well, another sore point at second base in Kansas City.

Ultimately, the offseason is just getting started, and rumors will begin to fly.  Yost acknowledging that he and Dayton Moore, the team’s general manager, had conversations about both players does not suggest that a deal is close at all.  

But it is enough to get Royals fans excited about the possibilities. 

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Eight-time MLB All-Star Carlos Beltran is a free agent after playing the past two seasons for the St. Louis Cardinals, and there is already buzz about the outfielder heading to a different club.

According to Bryan Hoch of MLB.com, the New York Yankees are strongly considering bringing in the 36-year-old veteran:

Lobby chatter: Source says that the Yankees are definitely serious about chasing Carlos Beltran.

— Bryan Hoch (@BryanHoch) November 12, 2013

It’s typical for the Yankees to spare no expense in building a roster laden with big names, but given the late juncture at which Beltran is at in his career, this should be the last lucrative deal he’s able to get.

Tim Brown of Yahoo! Sports reported that Beltran is seeking a contract that runs three or four years, as well as a new team. On Monday, Beltran declined the Cardinals’ one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer, according to a report by Jenifer Langosch of MLB.com.    

Beltran just finished a two-year, $26 million contract in St. Louis, per Spotrac.com.

Instead of a potential decline toward the end of his playing days, Beltran has continued to thrive in being labeled an All-Star in each of the past three seasons. In 2013, he hit .296 with 24 home runs and 84 RBI for a Cardinals lineup that scored the third-most runs in baseball.

That should make Beltran’s market competitive, due to his experience and sustained production. One more lucrative payday should follow, and the Yankees would be among the teams that could offer Beltran the most money.

As documented by CBSSports.com, New York had the highest payroll on Opening Day this season with over $228.8 million in player salaries.

In contrast, the Cardinals were 10th in playing their players approximately $115.2 million.

A move to the Bronx would mark Beltran’s sixth different team as he enters his 17th big league season. For a player of Beltran’s caliber and value, though, this should only be the beginning of speculation surrounding him.

Beltran burst onto the scene with the Kansas City Royals in winning American League Rookie of the Year in 1999, and he’s also played for the Houston Astros, New York Mets and San Francisco Giants.

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On the path to a World Series title, the Boston Red Sox showed the ability to hit in the biggest moments on the October stage. If their free-agency blueprint stays on course, a deep, clutch lineup will soon be even more dangerous.

According to George A. King III of the New York Post, the Red Sox are strongly interested in bringing the 36-year-old Carlos Beltran to Fenway Park.

Just weeks after a parade in Boston, the champions are facing an offseason of question marks. From qualifying offers to Stephen Drew, Mike Napoli and Jacoby Ellsbury, to free-agent catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, a fourth of the lineup that helped win a World Series could be different by spring training.

Although Beltran is in decline, he’s a perfect free-agent fit for the Boston Red Sox due to the insurance his unique skill set provides a roster. As the free-agent period begins, adding Carlos Beltran to the Red Sox would protect them from losing one or more of their 2013 contributors. 

Unlike second-division clubs, Boston doesn’t need a franchise-changing player to walk through the door this winter. Led by Dustin Pedroia, David Ortiz, Shane Victorino and the emerging Xander Bogaerts, the Red Sox simply need complementary talent to ensure a carryover of success.

One year ago, Boston’s front office, led by general manager Ben Cherington, sought out quality second-tier offensive pieces to add to a solid core in Boston’s lineup. The same principles that led to short-term pacts with Victorino and Napoli can serve as a base for a potential deal with Carlos Beltran this winter.

At this juncture of his career, Beltran isn’t a difference-making player from April through September, but he’s good enough to enhance any lineup in baseball with switch-hitting ability, power and defensive reputation. 

Don’t downplay the significance of Beltran’s ability to hit from both sides of the plate when considering why teams will be eager to give a 36-year-old a two- or three-year deal this winter.

From Boston to New York to Baltimore, front offices understand what good switch-hitting ability can add to a lineup. If the Red Sox bring Beltran aboard, he would instantly replace the dynamic lost if Saltalamacchia departs for another team. The combination of Shane Victorino and Beltran would work perfectly with the righty-lefty combination of Dustin Pedroia and David Ortiz in the middle of Boston’s 2014 lineup.

With uncertainty hanging over the return of first baseman Mike Napoli, Boston’s roster needs an infusion of power to pair with David Ortiz in the middle of the lineup. This past season, Napoli hit 23 home runs. With power down around the game, placing a 23-homer bat behind David Ortiz in the regular lineup afforded the team with adequate protection for their star. Although Beltran isn’t the slugger that averaged 30 home runs per season from 2002 to 2007, he’s coming off a 24-homer campaign in St. Louis.

If Beltran does ink his name on a contract in Boston, don’t expect Red Sox president Larry Lucchino to talk up his defense during a press conference in Fenway Park. According to Baseball-Reference’s Defensive Runs Saved statistic, provided by Baseball Info Solutions, Beltran cost St. Louis six runs in the field in 2013, continuing a trend of DRS numbers that have been negative since 2011. The Gold Glove-winning center fielder of old is gone, replaced by an older, slower Beltran, who will need to see time at designated hitter as the years move on.

Despite those facts, there’s value in what Beltran’s past and present bring to the table on defense.

With Shane Victorino proving his worth in Boston’s right field, the Red Sox can experiment with an outfield, from left to right, of Beltran, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Shane Victorino in spring training. Asking Bradley Jr. to effectively replace Jacoby Ellsbury’s defense in center field won’t be easy, but surrounding him with former star center fielders will help ease the transition.

Beltran in left field would be a transition, but asking him to cover less ground—due to the short distance of the Green Monster—would help his knees for 81 games per season. Plus, if Manny Ramirez could survive in Fenway Park’s left field, Beltran can excel. 

As WEEI.com’s Rob Bradford cited, Beltran would cost Boston a draft pick, due to St. Louis placing a one-year qualifying offer on him. The pick, plus the imperfect nature of replacing Ellsbury’s center field glove with another corner outfielder, along with already having corner outfielders like Daniel Nava and Jonny Gomes, makes a potential Beltran signing less than ideal.

Bradford’s thought process is fair, but it doesn’t extend to everything else Beltran could protect the Red Sox from in the free-agent process. Switch-hitting ability, power and defensive flexibility are commodities that rarely come together as a package deal. In Beltran, they accompany one of the most respected clutch hitters in the sport.

If that’s not enough to convince Red Sox nation, signing the potential Cooperstown-bound star would keep him away from division rivals in New York and Baltimore.

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Now that the Cardinals have had about a week to recover from their Game 6 World Series loss, they have firmly turned their attention to the 2014 squad.

So far we know that Trevor Rosenthal will be the closer to start next season and Carlos Martinez will get a shot as a starter.

Also, the Cardinals have extended a one-year, $14.1 million qualifying offer to Carlos Beltran, which will result in a compensatory draft pick should Beltran decide to sign elsewhere.

So until Beltran finishes feeling out the free-agency market, the Cardinals are a little up in the air as to what they will do with the outfield.

Assuming Beltran walks, here is the blueprint for what the Cardinals will need to do for a successful offseason.

Acquire an Everyday Shortstop

The shortstop position was not a very productive one for the 2013 Cardinals. Pete Kozma got the lion’s share of the duties with Daniel Descalso being sprinkled in occasionally. Both are severe liabilities at the plate and are slightly above average in the field.

There are those who suggest Troy Tulowitzki may be a fit for the Cardinals. I don’t see it, especially since Tulo is due a guaranteed $130 million through 2020 with a team option for 2021 at $15 million.  Cardinals GM John Mozeliak isn’t one to spend that kind of money on a guy who can’t stay healthy, so I’d be very surprised to see Tulo in a Cardinals uniform.

What makes sense is picking up someone like Jed Lowrie from the Athletics, who is due a substantial raise because he is arbitration eligible and had a great season in 2013. He is a solid defender and has shown he can hit when he is healthy. The Cardinals could probably get him for a few pitching prospects, which the Cardinals are rich in at the moment.

Plan on Oscar Taveras to Start in Center Field

With the good chance that Carlos Beltran leaves via free agency, the Cardinals have the pieces to replace him fairly quickly. No one wants to see Carlos go, but it seems close to inevitable at this point. So, I see Allen Craig moving to right field, Matt Adams to first base and Oscar Taveras to center field. Taveras hit over .300 in his limited time at AAA Memphis last season and is knocking on the door for big league playing time.

Jon Jay just isn’t a long-term solution in my opinion. He was serviceable at best the last two seasons. He has no power and doesn’t have much speed on the bases. Taveras has both of those qualities and hopefully will translate onto the big league scene. Jay is a decent defender, but the Cardinals need more punch from the center field position.

Keep David Freese

I know what you’re thinking, why keep David Freese? Are you kidding me? The guy killed the Cardinals in the postseason by stranding approximately 832 runners.

Granted Freese couldn’t hit the ball if he was swinging a log this postseason, but he does provide some value. Everyone knows All-Star Matt Carpenter can play third base and that Kolten Wong appears to be the heir-apparent to the second base spot. But, by keeping Freese around, it provides some punch off the bench.  Plus, in the off-chance Wong is a flop at second, Carpenter can move back to second and Freese take back over at third.

If Shelby Miller is Traded, Get a Core-Type Player in Return

There have been rumors that Shelby Miller may be traded, especially given the fact he only pitched one inning this postseason.

Miller had a fabulous rookie year, going 15-9 and posting an excellent 3.06 ERA in 31 starts. So why would the Cardinals even consider trading their 2009 first-round pick? Well there are two possible answers to that question. First, Michael Wacha may have stolen his spot with his lights-out late-season pitching. Second, Miller’s value is high as a proven commodity.

So if Miller does get traded, the Cardinals need a core-type player in return. Frankly, that means getting an above-average everyday shortstop or third baseman. With Miller’s success in 2013, his young age and low salary, he should command some serious trade offers.

All in all, the Cardinals are set up very well to defend their NL Central crown in 2014 and play deep into October. A few moves by the team and it would not be out of the question to expect the Cardinals to make a return to the Fall Classic.

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From an outside perspective, Major League Baseball’s offseason can be difficult to understand. Unlike the NBA, NFL and NHL, a salary cap isn’t present to handcuff the ability of an organization to retain stars with expiring pacts.

Yet, despite the lack of a unified budget for each team, owners and front office executives have limits for each player during the hot-stove season.

Just two years ago, the St. Louis Cardinals allowed Albert Pujols to walk in free agency when the Los Angeles Angels offered him a contract well in excess of $200 million. Instead of folding the tent, St. Louis handed the first base job to a young player developed through its system named Allen Craig.

Due to Craig’s limited service time, his salary was just $495,000 in 2012. With the money allocated to a potential Pujols deal, the Cardinals gave Adam Wainwright a contract extension and signed Carlos Beltran to help fill the power void in the middle of their lineup.

This winter, expect similar decisions to be made all around baseball. When a star leaves in free agency, the door is opened for a young player within the system to become a starter and dollars to be allocated differently throughout the roster.

Here are four top prospects ready to fill the shoes of free agents on the path to departing their 2013 teams.

1. St. Louis Cardinals: Oscar Taveras in, Carlos Beltran out.

If you think St. Louis is going to eschew logic and overpay for Beltran’s age-37 season, you haven’t been paying attention to the way the Cardinals do business lately.

Despite raking on the national stage in October, Beltran’s on-base percentage, slugging, home runs and WAR all slipped considerably from 2012 to 2013. It’s hard to imagine St. Louis showing him the door if he was willing to come back at a below-market-value rate, but if the star outfielder is looking for one last lucrative deal, it won’t come from the team that has his replacement ready in the minors.

If not for injury, baseball fans would have seen Oscar Taveras in the majors in 2013. As Bleacher Report’s MLB Prospects Lead Writer Mike Rosenbaum wrote about the 21-year-old outfielder in September, Taveras will be able to replace Beltran’s bat quickly.

Per Rosenbaum: “Taveras has 25-plus-home run potential; lift to swing; ball has carry; extra-base machine. Hits same-side pitching; makes loud contact to all fields; comfortable hitting any pitch in any count.“

2. Boston Red Sox: Jackie Bradley Jr. in, Jacoby Ellsbury out.

While Tavares, rated as the No. 3 prospect in baseball by Rosenbaum, is simply too talented to block by re-signing Beltran to another deal, Boston’s outfield shuffle will have more to do with philosophy than making the team better in 2014. 

As I wrote when pointing out why Ellsbury wouldn’t be a smart target for the New York Yankees, Boston’s offense with him atop the order was a much more prolific group than it was when he was injured. Although Bradley Jr. projects to be a regular player on a first-division team, he’s not going to come close to replacing the 2011 AL MVP runner-up in Ellsbury.

Boston’s front office knows this, but don’t expect it to suddenly jump back into the business of handing out contracts in excess of seven years or $100 million.

Don’t believe me? Listen to what team president Larry Lucchino had to say when appearing as a guest on WEEI in Boston.

“I don’t want to rule out anything, except that there will be a presumption against doing any very long-term deals,” Lucchino said. “I think we’ve crossed that bridge and we realized that there’s a better way to spend money, that free agency and long-term deals are not the best way to build a franchise or to succeed over time. So there is a very strong presumption against that.”

3. Atlanta Braves: Christian Bethancourt in, Brian McCann out.

Free agent Brian McCann’s impending departure from Atlanta, after nine highly successful seasons, is often tied to the Braves’ belief in power-hitting catcher Evan Gattis. While Gattis‘ breakout 2013 (21 HR, .480 SLG) is reason to shy away from overpaying McCann, it’s the presence of another promising young catcher in Atlanta that should keep fans from worrying about their future behind the plate.

When Christian Bethancourt was called up in September, after posting a .741 OPS with Double-A Mississippi, Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez raved about his talent to MLB.com’s Mark Bowman.

“We think the world of [Bethancourt] defensively,” Braves manager Fredi Gonzalez said. “He’s had a nice season offensively at Double-A. We’ll bring him up here and just let him get some experience.“

Between Bethancourt‘s defense and emerging offense and Gattis‘ power stick, the Braves are covered when McCann departs.

4. Pittsburgh Pirates: Jameson Taillon in, A.J. Burnett out.

To be fair, the 2014 Pittsburgh Pirates’ best shot at the franchise’s first World Series title since 1979 would be with both Burnett and the 21-year-old Taillon in the rotation. If Pittsburgh could sport a quartet of Francisco Liriano, Burnett, Gerrit Cole and Taillon atop its staff, the NL Central could belong to the Bucs.

Of course, Pittsburgh can if Burnett chooses to stick around for one more season. Unlike St. Louis with Beltran, Boston with Ellsbury or Atlanta with McCann, this isn’t a case of dollars and value. After what Burnett became on the mound and in the clubhouse for the Pittsburgh organization, he would be brought back at a fair rate by Pirates management.

Yet, after 15 big league seasons, Burnett is contemplating retirement this offseason. The subject, first brought into the mainstream by Hardball Talk in March, didn’t die down as the season progressed for the 94-win Pirates.

After the conclusion of Pittsburgh’s division series loss to St. Louis, team president Frank Coonelly made it clear that the team would welcome him back during a conversation with Bill Brink of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

“He’s got a decision to make, first and foremost, whether it’s time for him to spend more time with his family or whether he thinks he can go another year,” Coonelly said. “If he decides that he wants to come back, we definitely want A.J. back.”

If Burnett does depart, Taillon, a former first-round pick, will be asked to fill major shoes in the 2014 Pirates rotation. Bleacher Report’s Mike Rosenbaum projects him to be a No. 3 starter during his big league career but would likely have to reach that potential almost immediately to fill the void of Burnett.

However, if Burnett does decide to stick around for one more run at a ring in Pittsburgh, Taillon can be eased into a fourth starter role and given the chance to progress at his own pace.

Agree? Disagree? Can these prospects replace the veterans?

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Of the free agents who will be able to negotiate and sign with new teams beginning on Tuesday, November 5, several of them had an extended opportunity to increase (or decrease) their value in the postseason. 

While only a handful of innings pitched or a small sample size of at-bats normally wouldn’t move the needle very much on a veteran player’s perceived value, a player’s ability to produce in the playoffs certainly can. 

Here are 10 players whose asking price has likely risen or fallen since the end of the regular season.

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The offseason ahead will potentially be one of immense surprise for the Philadelphia Phillies, for a few reasons. First and foremost, the oft-mentioned television contract situation will near its climax, as the Phillies are expected to sign their new, multi-billion dollar TV deal within the next month, according to CBS Philly.

In addition, the Phillies are close to hiring a much-needed statistician, per MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki. While that alone is unlikely to alter the dynamic of the Phillies front office, it should influence future contracts and trades, at least to some extent.

Third, Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. always has some tricks up his sleeve. Just how he plans on utilizing them this offseason remains to be seen, and whether or not they make sense will depend just on how he restructures his philosophy of signing and acquiring players, if at all.

In the following slides, five realistic moves independent of one another will be presented. Again, this slideshow does not and will not suggest that all five moves be made; rather, any of the five moves could come to fruition this winter and at least should be considered.

Here are five realistic moves the Phillies should consider in the coming offseason.

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The World Series is going to be tight. Both the Boston Red Sox and St. Louis Cardinals are talented but flawed teams. They match up well at nearly every position, which means things like execution and fundamentals could be key.

In Game 2, one play appeared more Little League than major league, allowing a couple of runs that could have been the difference in the game.

In tight matchups such as this one, injuries can be amplified and one to a star like Carlos Beltran can be a game-changer.

However, Beltran’s injury doesn’t appear to be affecting him on the field. The treatment he’s received, his own struggles with previous injuries and a secret weapon might just make Beltran a game-changer in the positive sense.

Beltran injured his ribs running into the outfield wall at Fenway. That wall is iconic, once known as Williamsburg due to how many balls Ted Williams put into it. With that said, the odd angle, short warning track and height make it a unique challenge for right fielders.

In the ALCS, we saw Torii Hunter go up and over. The difference? While their heights are only one inch apart, Hunter has longer legs and was more extended, raising his center of gravity. The difference does explain why Beltran was injured while Hunter was only a bit bruised.

Looking at those pictures would make one think there’s much more than a one-inch height differential between the two.

The momentum of their runs manifested themselves differently.

Hunter’s head of steam took him over the wall, with some of it dissipated by the pinwheel action and some by catching himself on the other side. Almost all of the force went directly into Beltran’s ribs. The total force isn’t known, but it’s reasonable to assume they were moving at similar speeds. 

The ribs are a complex structure. It’s not as simple as a bone issue, even in the case of a fracture, like with Hanley Ramirez in the NLCS. The ribs are interconnected, with both cartilage and muscles in between each and a unique movement that allows for breathing—breathing is good.

It’s exceptionally efficient at protecting the internal organs, as evidenced by both Ramirez and Beltran. Neither has injuries to his spleen or liver, which would be worse than a painful rib issue.

Pain management is difficult because of the function and nature of baseball.

A painkilling injection is difficult because of the complexity of the structure and the enervation. A general painkiller is unthinkable. It’s difficult enough to turn on a 90 mph fastball. Forget it after someone’s popped a couple of Vicodins, let alone the worries about reaction time if one of those fastballs come at his head.

Beltran has experience playing through pain and dealing with limitations. His well-chronicled struggles with a damaged and deteriorating knee have given him experience with this kind of situation. He understands the difference between soreness and pain.

He also clearly has a high pain tolerance, given the damage inside his knee that almost necessitated career-threatening surgery.

Beltran will have the most issues with rotational activities. The problem there is that almost everything in baseball is rotational. Swinging a bat or throwing a ball, two things the Cards need from Beltran, are precisely the kind of activities that will tax him and test his pain tolerance.

The benefit for him might be the gap between these activities. A long at-bat with several fouls or swing-and-miss attempts will likely be the biggest test for Beltran. 

During Game 2, it was apparent that Beltran was wearing some sort of flak jacket under his uniform. Fox Sports’ Tim McCarver noted that it was “kevlar” early in the telecast.

I was able to confirm with multiple sources that Beltran is wearing a garment from Unequal Technologies. Beltran has a high level of protection from another collision or a ball to the ribs. If you’re wondering how effective this type of material is, check the video to the right.

Beltran showed with his Game 2 performance that he can be productive through the injury.

While he does have his limitations, adjustments and accommodations are easy. Getting back to St. Louis will help as well. Beltran is much more comfortable with that park, where the walls are not likely to induce issues and the Cardinals’ medical staff has all of its equipment and facilities.

The toughest game for Beltran was always going to be Game 2. Getting through that without any apparent issue makes it much likelier that he will make it through subsequent games. The bruising and inflammation should subside as well, with both time and treatment, making it possible that he won’t need the kevlar later in the series.

Look for Beltran to continue on with no major difficulties as the Cardinals fight to gain another World Series title.

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