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When the Atlanta Braves traded outfielder Jason Heyward to St. Louis in November, it signaled that the club might be initiating a rebuild.

However, a lack of activity on the trading front at the winter meetings as well as the signing of free agent Nick Markakis to a four-year deal gave the impression that the organization still might try to compete in 2015.

“I made it real clear from the beginning that we’re not looking to trade anybody. We’ll certainly entertain whatever might come our way. If there is something that comes along with real value for us, we’ll certainly examine it,” said Braves President of Baseball Operations John Hart following the winter meetings, via Mark Bowman of MLB.com.

Well, Hart clearly likes what came his way Friday morning, as the Braves traded left fielder Justin Upton to the San Diego Padres in return for a prospect package featuring left-handed pitcher Max Fried, infielder Jace Peterson, third baseman Dustin Peterson and center fielder Mallex Smith, per FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman.

Granted, the Braves failed to acquire any of San Diego’s top prospects in the deal, but they were able to fill some of the glaring holes in their weak farm system, namely left-handed pitching and infield depth, and did so at the cost of one year of Upton.

Now, with both Heyward and Upton out of the mix, it’s time for the Braves to officially commit to a rebuild.

Headlining Atlanta’s return for Upton is left-hander Fried, whom the Padres selected with the No. 7 overall pick in the 2012 draft out of high school.

Fried impressed in his 2013 full-season debut, registering a 3.49 ERA with 100 strikeouts in 118.2 innings over 23 starts at Low-A Fort Wayne. His control was shaky, evidenced by 56 free passes and eight hit batsmen on the year, though that was almost expected as he made the jump from the rookie-level Arizona League to Low-A.

Fried, who turns 21 in January, missed the first three months of the 2014 season due to forearm tightness, but returned in early July to make five starts between the Arizona League and Low-A. Unfortunately, the southpaw’s ulnar collateral ligament gave out and resulted in season-ending Tommy John surgery, thus putting his promising career on hold for at least a year.

Prior to the injury, Fried, a 6’4”, 185-pound southpaw with a projectable build and smooth delivery, showcased three potentially above-average to plus-plus offerings: a low-90s fastball, an outstanding curveball with varying speeds and shapes and a hugely underrated changeup that will be a weapon against right-handed batters.

The Braves are also getting a pair of Petersons in the deal, Jace and Dustin, who are not related.

The Padres selected Jace, a former two-sport standout at McNeese State University, with the No. 58 overall pick in the 2011 draft. The 24-year-old left-handed batter received his first taste of the major leagues in 2014 but hit just .113 with 18 strikeouts in 58 plate appearances.

However, Peterson did showcase his defensive versatility during his time in The Show, playing both second and third base after logging 330 games at shortstop in the minor leagues.

Dustin Peterson, the younger brother of Mariners prospect D.J. Peterson, was San Diego’s second-round draft pick (No. 50 overall) in 2013 and is generally viewed as a bat-first third baseman.

In his 2014 full-season debut, Peterson batted .233/.274/.361 with 10 home runs, 31 doubles and 79 RBI in 564 plate appearances for Low-A Fort Wayne. However, the 20-year-old’s 137-25 strikeout-to-walk ratio during that timeframe indicates his approach and plate discipline will require considerable refinement moving forward, and his 38 errors at the hot corner highlight his room for improvement defensively.

The Braves are also getting center fielder Smith, a fifth-round draft pick in 2012 who’s since emerged as one of the better base stealers in the minor leagues.

Smith, 21, will join the Braves after a breakout 2014 campaign between Low-A Fort Wayne and High-A Lake Elsinore in which he batted .310/.403/.432 with 41 extra-base hits over 120 games and led the minor leagues with 88 stolen bases.

But after trading both Heyward and Upton this offseason, it makes sense for the Braves, who clearly have their eye on being competitive in 2017, to further their rebuilding process and deal some of their top remaining assets.

From Mark Bradley of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution:

…it’s clear the new-but-also-old Braves hated everything Frank Wren had done with this organization, and they’re determined to build something that they regard as better and, to use a sabermetric word, sustainable.

I don’t know if they’ll succeed. Nobody knows if they’ll succeed. But this is what they’re doing, and when you do something like this — trade the corner outfielders off a team that couldn’t hit in the first place — you’re not thinking of winning next season. It will be a while before the Braves are winners again.

Just to be clear, I’m not advocating the Braves should consider parting with Freddie Freeman, Andrelton Simmons and Julio Teheran, each of whom signed long-term extensions within the last two years.

Rather, the club should look to trade Evan Gattis (four remaining years of team control) and Craig Kimbrel (owed $33 million over the next three years, with a 2018 team option) this offseason while there’s still an opportunity to extract maximum value for both players.

Considering Atlanta’s return for both Heyward and Upton, whom were both a year away from free agency, there is a real chance they could pull in an even greater haul with Gattis and Kimbrel—guys who might appeal to contenders and rebuilders alike.

It’s hard to say exactly what the next move will be for the Braves this offseason. However, if the team truly is intent on rebuilding for the 2017 season, it’s a safe bet that more trades are coming.

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If it wasn’t obvious before, it certainly is now: The San Diego Padres are going for it in 2015. Like, really going for it, so much so that they have acquired an entirely new starting outfield made up of Matt Kemp, Wil Myers and now Justin Upton—just in the past week.

The man behind all the manic maneuvers? New general manager A.J. Preller, who was hired only four months ago, in August, to try to revitalize a franchise that hasn’t had a winning season since 2010 and hasn’t made the playoffs since 2006.

“A month and a half into his first offseason as general manager, A.J. Preller has already introduced himself as one of the more aggressive front-office types in the game,” writes AJ Cassavell for Sports on Earth. “And one thing is very clear: He wants to win now.”

The Padres, suddenly and undoubtedly, are relevant again, thanks to all of these new big-name additions—Preller also traded for All-Star catcher Derek Norris from the Oakland Athletics on Thursday evening—but is this avalanche of activity going to work out?

Or could so much turnover in such a short period of time backfire on Preller and the Padres?

While there are questions to be answered and likely still more moves to be made, of this we can be sure: The Padres offense will be better in 2015. It almost has to be just by default, but now it’s going to be way, waaay better.

After all, San Diego scored just 535 runs last year—dead last in MLB by a wide margin—and the club’s aggregate triple-slash line was look-away hideous: .226/.292/.342.

To put that in context: Those first two triple-slash numbers rank among the very worst in baseball history since the end of the dead-ball era in 1920. That .226 batting average was 14th-worst in that span, and the .292 on-base percentage was 21st-worst.

All three of Kemp, Myers and Upton are right-handed power-hitters, which should provide a huge—and much-needed—boost.

But that doesn’t necessarily guarantee offensive success. Remember: The Padres still have to try to make contact with the baseball at hitter-hell Petco Park, which is death to righty swingers in particular. And all of the players Preller has brought aboard in the past week happen to hit from the right side.

“If you have an imbalance…you don’t want to flip it too far the other way,” Preller said recently via Dennis Lin of U-T San Diego. “I think ideal world is you leave [manager] Buddy (Black) with enough pitching and try to find a way to get a few more bats.”

Maybe San Diego’s lineup is too righty-heavy?

There’s also the fact that the club’s outfield defense could be a concern, as none of Kemp, Myers or Upton is more than an average defender, and they’ll have to cover an extremely spacious outfield, to boot.

Can Kemp’s reportedly arthritic hips handle center field? Or will the Padres play the younger, fresher Myers there? Or maybe San Diego will put Cameron Maybin to use by letting him patrol center with his athleticism and range, thus perhaps shifting Myers to first base?

It certainly could help if Myers, who has experience as a catcher and third baseman in the minors, could handle that position. Otherwise, the Padres appear for now to be stuck at first with injury-prone Yonder Alonso and his 27 career homers in 405 games.

While it seems that third base also could present a problem, madman Preller already has addressed that potential Yangervis Solarte-sized hole by swapping one of his recently acquired catchers for yet another righty slugger, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:

That said, despite his power, Will Middlebrooks is far from a sure thing, having endured injuries and struggles at the plate the past two years, hitting just .213/.265/.364 in that time for the Boston Red Sox.

Then there’s the issue of what San Diego does at shortstop, currently manned by glove-only Clint Barmes.

In other words, despite the additions of Kemp, Myers, Norris and now Upton and Middlebrooks, Preller, it seems, isn’t finished. He can’t be.

After all, why stop now, when the roster is overstocked with excess outfielders who have to become bait for even more trades? Lookin’ at you, Rymer Liriano, Seth Smith, Will Venable and Carlos Quentin!

With Kemp and Myers both under team control through 2019, there’s no way the Padres can carry so many outfielders.

Look for Preller to spin at least a couple of those names above to obtain either a shortstop and/or some rotation depth after Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross, Ian Kennedy and the ever-injured duo of Josh Johnson and Brandon Morrow.

A former top prospect, Liriano could command a nice little return, and Smith’s team-friendly contract has drawn interest, according to Lin. Then again, Smith looks like the only capable lefty bat on the roster at the moment.

As for the Upton deal, it represents both a bigger push for 2015 and a bigger risk, because he is a free agent this time next year. The Padres could try to sign him long term, of course, but if not, at least they’ll get a compensation draft pick out of it in 2016.

Thanks to Preller, the Padres now have overtaken the Dodgers, Red Sox and Chicago White Sox as the most active team so far this offseason. And there’s almost certainly more to come out of—and more into—San Diego.

There still are holes to be filled and problems to be answered. Preller has work to do, trades to make and players to sign.

But the Padres are better now than they were a week ago, maybe even better enough to matter in the NL West—home to the presumptive favorite Dodgers and World Series defending San Francisco Giants—for the first time in years.

Before that judgment can be made, though, let’s see what else Preller has up his sleeves, which are firmly rolled up.

Statistics are accurate through the 2014 season and courtesy of MLB.com, Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

To talk baseball or fantasy baseball, check in with me on Twitter: @JayCat11.

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The latest domino of the Atlanta Braves‘ offseason rebuild has fallen, as Atlanta agreed Friday to send outfielder Justin Upton to the San Diego Padres in exchange for prospects.

The Braves made the move official on Twitter:

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports first reported the news, while CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman was the first to divulge the rest of the players involved.

Heyman notes what the Padres will likely do with their newly acquired outfield talent:

Dennis Lin of U-T San Diego provides more details on Upton’s expected role with the team:

Upton, 27, has been the subject of trade rumors for most of the winter. Teams began calling Atlanta in the aftermath of its blockbuster Jason Heyward-Shelby Miller swap, which sent one of the Braves’ supposed cornerstones to the St. Louis Cardinals. While the Braves let it be known Upton would command a higher price than Heyward, who will hit free agency next winter, their willingness to listen opened the market for bids.

Upton will also be heading into the last season of his deal but was viewed as more likely to sign a long-term extension in Atlanta. His brother, B.J., signed with the team before the 2013 season and should be around for the duration of his five-year, $75.25 million contract given his offensive struggles.

Jettisoning Justin Upton now seemed like cashing in early on one of the best value trades of the last few seasons. The Braves acquired the then-25-year-old Upton from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a package that has so far produced one-and-a-half seasons of Martin Prado, a mediocre reliever in Randall Delgado and two prospects (Nick Ahmed and Zeke Spruill) yet to make a major big league impact.

The Upton experiment in Atlanta has generally been a success, with the two-time All-Star hitting 56 home runs over the last two seasons. He hit .270/.342/.491 with 29 home runs and a career-high 102 RBI in 2014, earning his second Silver Slugger award. FanGraphs’ formula for wins above replacement calculated last season as Upton’s third-best of his career and his best since his breakout 2011 campaign.

Nonetheless, a disappointing September collapse and changes in the front office have led to a roster overhaul. Heyward’s trade to St. Louis was just the tip of the iceberg, with Upton following and possibly more players heading out the door.

The Braves hired John Hart as their president of baseball operations in October, replacing longtime executive Frank Wren. Hart joined the organization before the 2014 season, meaning nearly all of the players on the roster were acquired before his arrival. It’s no surprise that Hart would want to come in and immediately put his stamp on the franchise.

Ridding the Braves of two All-Star talents, though? We’ll have to wait a few years before seeing whether that was a smart call.

Follow Tyler Conway (@tylerconway22) on Twitter.

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With so many of the league’s top free agents signed to big contracts, MLB teams still looking to make an offseason splash will likely have to do so via trade.

The Los Angeles Dodgers set the bar fairly high with a frenzy of deals that netted them a sweet-looking double-play combo in Howie Kendrick and Jimmy Rollins, among other players. One might think that by mid-December, most teams are secure with their rosters and don’t see the need for much tinkering, but the rumor mill suggests otherwise.

Several notable names have found their way into the latest chatter from around the league. Here is a look at the buzz surrounding four players who just might be sporting new colors and crests in 2015.

Ryan Howard

The Philadelphia Phillies enjoyed a great deal of success over the past 11 seasons relying on the terrific trio of Jimmy Rollins, Chase Utley and Ryan Howard.

However, the Phillies are breaking up the band after finishing last in the NL East in 2014 with a 73-89 record. As previously mentioned, they traded J-Roll to the Dodgers, and it appears the team wants to offload Howard as well, per Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe:

The Phillies are trying to get teams interested in Howard, and a team source indicated they are willing to pay a great majority of his contract to move him. Howard, who hit 23 home runs and knocked in 95 runs last season, is owed $60 million between 2015 and ’17, which includes a buyout. The Phillies are trying to sell him as a DH. The Rays and Orioles could have needs in that area.

Howard was once one of the most feared power hitters in the game, but a sharp decline in productivity, injuries and poor defensive play have seen the 35-year-old become more of a liability than an asset.

Indeed, there is no way the Phillies move Howard without eating a large chunk of his contract. A mid-30s slugger whose one remaining tool is a blunt instrument is a big risk for another team to assume, a risk Philadelphia is apparently aware it has to mitigate.

Neither the Baltimore Orioles nor Tampa Bay Rays have a predilection for large payrolls, so it’s possible they would still pass on Howard if Philadelphia can’t or won’t eat much of his contract.

If no team bites on Howard, it’s possible the Phillies could make Howard a ludicrously expensive platoon member at first base. 

“General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. indicated Tuesday that it was possible that Howard could be a platoon player if still with the team,” writes CSNPhilly.com’s Jim Salisbury.

Manager Ryne Sandberg was essentially mum on that possibility and said he hadn’t discussed it with Howard.

“No, just kind of waiting to see what plays out and what happens,” he said, according to Salisbury. “It’s hard to have some conversations when you don’t know what the roster is going to be.”

Barring a miraculous return to all-star form, platooning Howard doesn’t help this team move on into the next era, especially when prospects like Cody Asche and 21-year-old Maikel Franco could be future first baseman for the club.

Justin Upton

It appears the San Diego Padres aren’t done bringing some much needed brawn to their reedy lineup. Having already agreed to a deal for the Dodgers’ Matt Kemp, the Padres are reportedly looking to bring Justin Upton into the fold, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal.

“It’s true — the Padres want Justin Upton in addition to Matt Kemp,” Rosenthal notes. “They’re also looking at other hitters, but one rival executive says the Pads are ‘all over’ Upton, confirming a report by Mark Bowman of MLB.com.”

Bringing in both Kemp and Upton would be a welcome infusion of runs for a team that finished dead last in scoring in 2014.

The 30-year-old Kemp—who finished in second in MVP voting in 2011 but has struggled with injuries and ineffective play over much of the last three seasons—came on strong in the latter half of the 2014 season, but the Dodgers had to do something to relieve the logjam in the outfield, and it’s likely his massive contract made him expendable.

Pairing Kemp and Upton in the outfield should sell tickets from behind the backstop out to the bleachers, but the fans in the latter seats might have a bone to pick with the defensive play from this potential duo.

Kemp finished last among innings-qualified outfielders in Ultimate Zone Rating in 2014, while Upton ranked 47th out of 55 outfielders over a three-year span from 2012 to 2014, per FanGraphs.com. The defensive play means the Padres would also need to hold onto their strong corps of starting pitchers.

According to Rosenthal, the Padres are reluctant to trade the likes of Ian Kennedy, Andrew Cashner or Tyson Ross.

While defense is a concern, Rosenthal also notes that bringing in Upton would likely clean the coffers, assuming the Padres aren’t able to dispense with some salary in a trade with the Atlanta Braves:

The additions of both outfielders would increase the Padres’ commitments next season to $71.525 million for 10 players, according to Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Add the nine Pads eligible for arbitration, and the number would zoom past $100 million, according to projections by Matt Swarz of MLBTradeRumors.com.

Something would have to give – the Pads’ Opening Day payroll last season was a club record at $90.6 million. Perhaps the team could trade Kennedy, who projects to earn $10.3 million or closer Joaquin Benoit, who is under contract for $8 million.

The Padres aren’t deep enough at other positions to trade any bona fide major leaguers and remain competitive. If the reported interest in Upton does indeed mean San Diego is looking to contend rather soon, then it’s likely some of the organization’s top prospects would have to be involved in any trade.

Upton and Kemp would bring plenty of lumber to a run-starved team, but it likely won’t be enough for the Padres to scaffold all the way to the NL West penthouse. 

For the Braves, this could be a good bit of business if they do intend to rebuild. They already traded away Jason Heyward to the St. Louis Cardinals this offseason. If the team can land a mix of prospects and/or picks from the Padres, it could push the perennial NL East contender to a full-on rebuild, albeit with a solid foundation thanks to the swaps.

Ian Desmond and Jordan Zimmerman

The Washington Nationals are set up to be perennial contenders if they want to be. They finished with the best record in the National League in 2014 and have a solid corps of both young and proven talent that includes the likes of Bryce Harper, Stephen Strasburg and Jayson Werth.

However, two members of the team that played so well last season could be set to leave the nation’s capital, per Rosenthal:

The Nats indeed are open to moving Zimmermann and Desmond, perhaps even in the same deal. They recently engaged in multiple conversations about both players with the Mariners, according to major-league sources. One of the many ideas the Nats proposed was Zimmermann and Desmond for right-hander Taijuan Walker and shortstop Brad Miller, sources said.

Rosenthal also reported in his column that the Nationals had talks with the Boston Red Sox about Zimmerman.

Desmond and Zimmerman are in the last years of their contracts and set to make $11 million and $16.5 million in 2015, respectively, per Spotrac.

It appears the Nationals are willing to part with two players who have been solid contributors for much of their careers. Desmond’s average and on-base percentage took a notable dip last season, but he still hit 24 homers and notched 91 RBI while playing 151 games at shortstop, clearly no easy feat.

Zimmerman, who was an All-Star in both 2013 and 2014, had the best year of his career last season, going 14-8 with a 2.66 ERA. At 28 years old, he’s in his athletic prime and has pitched in 32 games in each of the last three seasons.

Considering the team won 96 games last season, it would likely be a frustrating development for Nationals fans if these players were traded for prospects. A bounce-back year from third baseman Ryan Zimmerman could put the Nats over the top, especially considering other NL contenders might be taking a step back. The Dodgers lost offensive firepower by trading Kemp, and the San Francisco Giants are without Pablo Sandoval now.

Of course, the Nationals could end up with nothing if one (or both) of those players decides to leave as a free agent at the end of next season.

This is a team the front office really should try to keep together. With a championship in reach and players like Ryan Zimmerman, Harper and (hopefully) Strasburg to carry them through lean years, the Nats would likely be better off holding onto both Zimmerman and Desmond in 2015 and taking their chances.

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The winter meetings have come and gone, but the ripple effect they left is still being felt around the MLB. Even with names like Matt Kemp and Josh Donaldson being moved in recent weeks, there are several notable players still reportedly on the market.

Cole Hamels, one of the best arms in trade discussions, has been a popular name yet again with six clubs currently looking for his services. Meanwhile, Justin Upton might be teaming up with another big slugger on the West Coast to change the face of a franchise.

Before the next big trade is made this offseason, here’s a look at the latest rumblings from around the league.

Cole Hamels

Not that anyone noticed, but Hamels put together another phenomenal season last year. Even on a Philiadelphia Phillies team that finished 16 games under .500, the ace was in rare form with the lowest ERA of his career.

After years of relenting to move its biggest assets, Philly has already moved both Jimmy Rollins and Antonio Bastardo. Now, the Phils might be willing to deal Hamels, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe:

The Cubs, Red Sox, Dodgers, Padres, and Rangers are interested in Hamels. The sleeper team is the aggressive Astros. The Giants may be in if they can’t get James Shields. The feeling has been that if the Red Sox would pick up Hamels’s 2019 option at $20 million, he would waive his no-trade. The five years remaining on Hamels’s deal would be worth $110 million. Would he want an extension beyond that to OK a trade?

Needless to say, quite a few teams liked what they saw in Hamels last season. Much like Jon Lester, the 30-year-old pitcher brings true No. 1 value to any rotation—including the Chicago Cubs.

The Los Angeles Dodgers are simply searching for even more depth in their rotation while the others need Hamels’ services. On the heels of another great season, landing with the Cubs, San Diego Padres or Texas Rangers would give him the best shot at another playoff run.

If the San Francisco Giants do get into the fold, Hamels along with Madison Bumgarner and a healthy Matt Cain would be dangerous. However, Hamels will want to land in a spot where he can be the ace and have a shot at the title, making the Cubs a perfect fit.

Justin Upton

Oh, Justin Upton. Coming off a year where he posted great numbers yet again, the Atlanta Braves are reportedly looking to get value for him on the trade market.

One potential landing spot for the impressive bat is with the Padres. Mark Bowman of MLB.com passed along the latest on the Upton trade rumors:

Last season, Upton won his second Silver Slugger award after going .270/.342/.491 with 29 home runs and a career-high 102 RBI. Adding the slugger would instantly bolster any lineup regardless of the talent on the roster.

With the Padres already reportedly making the addition of Kemp, acquiring Upton along with Seth Smith would make for a stout outfield corps. Bringing in more pitching would instantly make this team a contender in the loaded NL West.

Allen Craig

Prior to last season, Allen Craig might have been one of the biggest names on this list. However, a down season for the Boston Red Sox slugger has teams overlooking him on the trade market.

Cafardo also passed along the latest on talks surrounding Craig:

The Marlins have Craig on their list of possible acquisitions as they pursue a righthanded hitter to play first base. They’re doing their homework on the 30-year-old, who had very good years with St. Louis before he was sent to Boston at last year’s trading deadline. Milwaukee also has some interest in Craig in a platoon with Adam Lind.

Both the Miami Marlins and Milwaukee Brewers will want to do their homework after Craig’s disappointing 2014 season. Coming off two straight years with double-digit homers and 90-plus RBI, Craig wasn’t able to come close to either mark last year.

After hitting .237 with the St. Louis Cardinals, he finished with a staggering .128 average in 29 games with the Sox. Boston likely won’t get the value they had hoped for initially, but Craig can help either lineup for two teams hoping to make the playoffs.

Follow @RCorySmith on Twitter.

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Several big names changed addresses during the winter meetings earlier this week, but there are still plenty of premier players available to be had via trades.

This MLB offseason is quickly shaping up to be one of the most active in recent memory. There weren’t that many top-notch free agents, but the ones who were available were franchise-changers. Of course, a shortage of free agents means the trade market is a hotbed for new rumors and player movement.

Some of the best at their respective positions have been floated around the rumor mill over the course of the past week. Very few players are safe from trades this time of year, so you should never be surprised when aces and middle-of-the-order bats are made available.

Below are a few of the most recent names to hit the mill.

Cole Hamels

The interest in Philadelphia Phillies starter Cole Hamels is sure to heat up now that Jon Lester has found the place he’ll pitch for the next several seasons.

One team thought to be in on the left-hander is the Los Angeles Dodgers, but Joel Sherman of the New York Post tweets that the team won’t get involved in talks with the Phils:

The “heavy lifting” Sherman refers to is the bevy of moves L.A. made during the winter meetings. It shipped Dee Gordon to the Miami Marlins, acquired Howie Kendrick from the Los Angeles Angels, signed Brandon McCarthy to a four-year deal, acquired Jimmy Rollins and dealt Matt Kemp to the San Diego Padres.

Talk about a busy couple of days.

Despite the roster overhaul, the Dodgers could still have the pieces necessary to make a deal with Philadelphia. Shortstop Erisbel Arruebarrena, now displaced by Rollins, is an attractive piece given his outstanding defense.

Los Angeles also has top prospect Corey Seager though it’s unclear as to if he’ll be available.

The way the current rotation is structured, Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke would open things up at Nos. 1 and 2 before the likes of Hyun-Jin Ryu and McCarthy make their starts. Juan Nicasio is probably the No. 5 at this point.

Hamels is an obvious upgrade over Nicasio, and a deal would make the Dodgers rotation absurdly deep. That’s enough incentive to get a deal done, but it still appears as if they’ll only target bench and depth pieces now that they’ve made so many big moves.

This is certainly a situation to monitor closely. The Dodgers could reenter the bidding at the drop of a hat.

Jay Bruce

The Cincinnati Reds have already traded Mat Latos this offseason, and there’s even more talent on that underachieving roster to be dealt. General manager Walt Jocketty spoke toward the end of November about how he plans on handling the offseason, via John Fay of Cincinnati.com.

“We’re still talking to both agents and clubs about trades. We really aren’t close on anything.”

It still appears as if they aren’t close on anything, as Sherman tweeted about how the Baltimore Orioles attempted to strike a deal with the club:

The Orioles have a desperate need for outfield bats after losing Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz to free agency. As the roster currently stands, Alejandro De Aza and David Lough would play the corners with All-Star Adam Jones manning center field. That won’t cut it.

It’s unclear as to what the Reds have asked for in return for Bruce, but it’s safe to assume that arms like Brian Matusz and Dylan Bundy came up in talks. It’s no surprise that Baltimore may have scoffed at those requests.

Baltimore isn’t the only team that has a need for a power bat. Bleacher Report’s Scott Miller opined that the San Diego Padres are a perfect fit:

The Padres have already acquired Kemp, and new GM A.J. Preller has shown a willingness to upgrade his lineup. Before Pablo Sandoval and Yasmany Tomas signed with the Boston Red Sox and Arizona Diamondbacks, respectively, Preller and the Padres were involved in talks.

Bruce could very well man right field in Cincy in 2015, but the incentive to move him is high. The 27-year-old has mashed 187 homers through seven seasons, making him one of the best pure power bats in the game.

Justin Upton

If the Padres are unsuccessful in their possible attempts to land Bruce, they could turn to another power bat currently playing right field for the Atlanta Braves.

Justin Upton was the No. 2 right-handed power hitter in the National League in 2014, smashing 29 homers and leading the Braves offense. He has been the subject of rumors for most of the offseason. The trade of Jason Heyward acted as a bit of a catalyst to those talks.

MLB.com’s Mark Bowman tweets that the Padres are in the mix for his bat:

A pairing of Upton and Kemp in the outfield would instantly make the Friars lineup a productive group. They ranked last in baseball this year by scoring a dreadful 535 runs.

Should they get Upton, the team would then be in a position to deal from their outfield depth and improve other areas of the team.

Carlos Quentin would be displaced by a trade, but his days as an outfielder are pretty much numbered. He’s best suited for a job in the American League as a designated hitter.

A trade would also make one of Cameron Maybin or Will Venable expendable.

The Padres offense has already improved enough with Kemp to make other NL West teams take notice, but adding Upton would aid immensely.

Look out for San Diego in 2015 if it can pull this off.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn

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Just because Major League Baseball’s busy-as-all-get-out winter meetings are in the rearview mirror doesn’t mean the hot stove has to cool down any time soon.

Having been over the winners and losers of the busiest four days baseball has had in quite some time, it’s time to turn attention toward what still might happen next.

The offseason is only a month-and-a-half old, which means there’s enough time for a heck of a lot more moves to be made before pitchers and catchers report in mid-February.

Like, perhaps, some of these predictions.

Begin Slideshow

The start of the MLB season is still months away, but rumors surrounding some of the biggest stars are already getting chaotic. No player is safe during the winter meetings, including some of the most notable names for franchises.

Two of the most heralded players on the market are Matt Kemp and Justin Upton. The two sluggers have lit up the West Coast and East Coast, respectively, and might be on the move during the offseason.

Whether it’s during the winter meetings or after, myriad players will be relocating ahead of the 2015 season. Here’s a look at the latest rumors coming out of San Diego.

Matt Kemp

Even a great end to the 2014 season hasn’t saved Kemp from being involved in trade rumors.

The two-time All-Star outfielder was riddled with injuries during 2013, but he bounced back last year with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Finishing at .287/.346/.506 with 25 home runs and 89 RBI, Kemp has become a hot commodity.

While several teams were initially looking to land the power hitter, just one remains in the hunt. Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com and Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the latest on the San Diego Padres’ interest in Kemp:

If there’s one thing the Padres lineup lacks, it’s pop. Kemp would immediately bring that to the middle of the order. In fact, he had more homers last season (25) than the entire projected outfield for San Diego of Seth Smith, Will Venable and Carlos Quentin (24).

Making this trade also seems like a win-win for L.A. as well with a loaded outfield already in Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford and Andre Either. It also leaves a spot for Joc Pederson, who finished last season with 33 homers with Triple-A Albuquerque.

If the Dodgers get an impressive package back, they would have even more assets to add to Pederson. For the Padres, the franchise would be able to insert a key bat into the lineup and add a superstar—who is still only 30 years old—to the roster.

Justin Upton

Jason Heyward might not be the only notable name leaving the Atlanta Braves this offseason. Upton’s name has been in rumors for a while now, but it appears talks are heating up at the winter meetings.

However, the haul that the Braves received for Heyward might not be matched by other teams interested in Upton. Heyman, who’s been a busy man during the meetings, has the latest on Upton:

The Braves believe they should get more for Justin Upton than they got from the Cardinals for Jason Heyward.

Rival executives agree with that. Upton, due to better power and overall offense, is worth more than Heyward.

But here’s the problem: Executives also believe the Braves got too much for Heyward, a defensive specialist whose offensive numbers are declining a bit. They see young pitcher Shelby Miller as an overpay, so no one wants to do better than that yet.

Heyman goes on to mention that the Seattle Mariners were reluctant to trade Taijuan Walker, who might be a comparable asset for Upton. Given the slugger’s talent, getting a great prospect in return seems like the only way he’s leaving Atlanta.

After hitting 29 homers and 102 RBI last year, the Braves should get a huge return for him on the market. However, finding a partner willing to pull the trigger might make this deal wait until desperation sets in ahead of the trade deadline.

Marlon Byrd

On a slightly smaller scale, Marlon Byrd has put up similar numbers to both of the previously mentioned players. Being with the Philadelphia Phillies, however, has kept him out of the spotlight recently.

With the Phillies potentially looking to trade quite a few assets, Byrd has been a popular name. Rosenthal passes along the latest on Byrd’s likely destination if he’s moved:

When looking at the numbers, Byrd had a great season last year with a .264 average, 25 homers and 85 RBI. However, being 37 years old might cause some drawback for teams looking to build a franchise for the future.

For a team like the Baltimore Orioles, they have a huge hole to fill after losing both Nick Markakis and Nelson Cruz to free agency. Landing in Baltimore seems like a perfect fit, but there are several other contending teams that might inquire about the slugger.

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The calendar has turned to December, bringing about unbearably cold climates and a flaming MLB hot stove.

As baseball fans found out last week, anything can happen during the offseason. In a stunning twist of events, the Oakland Athletics dealt third baseman Josh Donaldson to the Toronto Blue Jays for Brett Lawrie, 18-year-old shortstop Franklin Barreto and two pitching prospects. 

Wow, who saw that coming? Donaldson’s name never frequented the rumor mill, and for good reason. Not only was he the Oakland Athletics’ best player over the past two years, but only Mike Trout and Andrew McCutchen have netted a higher WAR since 2013.

After that blockbuster unfolded, let’s not steer away from marquee names who could change scenery by Opening Day. Two of the three following players play on a team that already made a seismic move, and the other plays for an aging squad that really ought to shake things up.

Justin Upton “Marked Man” on Trade Market

Five years from now, anybody who foreboded Justin Upton getting shopped at age 27 would have been declared insane. He hasn’t exactly lived up to the Ken Griffey Jr. comparison, but he remains a tremendous power bat after decking 29 homers in 2014.

The Atlanta Braves already sent Jason Heyward to the St. Louis Cardinals for Shelby Miller, but that hasn’t locked down Upton’s spot in Atlanta’s outfield next season. According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, several teams are clamoring for Upton, whom the Braves remain willing to sell.

With about 12 teams looking for an outfielder, and at least that many seeking that rarest of commodities, right-handed power, Upton is a marked man these days.

Word is, the Braves have been hit hard with Upton trade interest, and he could wind up with one of about a dozen other teams, assuming he is dealt (and that appears to be a likelihood now).

Heyman cited the Seattle Mariners as a top threat, as they could dangle Taijuan Walker or James Paxton. He believes Seattle is more likely to deal Walker but added that the team is reluctant to move either valuable young pitcher.

Whiffs remain a problem for Upton, who brandished a career-high 26.7 strikeout percentage in 2014. That excessive number of punchouts has contributed to a career .274 batting average, yet he’s managed to post a prolific .830 OPS. He has his limitations, and anyone about to give the moon for him should have pursued the younger, more defensively potent Heyward instead.

Yet power comes at a premium these days, and the righty‘s 133 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) rated 11th among all qualified outfielders. Suitors must beware valuing him as the superstar he was once expected to become and instead treat him as the three- to four-win asset he is.

Jeff Samardzija May Be Next Oakland Star on Move

Brad Pitt better get ready for Moneyball 2, where a scorned Billy Beane decides to watch Oakland burn after one disappointing postseason too many. After trading Donaldson, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported that the A’s general manager is not done.

“The Athletics, according to a major-league source, have at least one more significant trade brewing,” Rosenthal wrote. “The source went on to say, ‘This is Billy re-working the club.'”

It certainly looks like Jeff Samardzija is the next big name out. Heyman pinpointed the 29-year-old righty at the center of trade discussions.

A’s star right-hander Jeff Samardzija is in the middle of trade talk, rivals executives confirm. And his “hometown” Chicago White Sox are one of the teams talking to the A’s about Samardzija.

It’s no surprise considering Samardzija‘s available since Oakland nine possesses no less than nine viable starters following the big trade late Friday night, and Samardzija is due to become a free agent after the season, with no hope of the A’s re-signing him.

Without Donaldson and Yoenis Cespedes, the Athletics are in need of some serious offensive reinforcements. Even though they won’t retain Jon Lester, their rotation remains deep with Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir, Drew Pomeranz, Jesse Chavez, Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin, the last two returning from Tommy John surgery.

“Hey, what about Upton?” you ask. John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group shut that pairing down:

Plenty of teams would love to acquire a rebranded Samardzija, who registered a 2.99 ERA last season behind a career-low 1.76 walks per nine innings. Although the White Sox won 73 games last year, they remain committed to fielding a winner, having already given Adam LaRoche and Zach Duke sizable free-agent deals.

Trading significant pieces for a pitcher under contract for one year, however, makes little sense for a team more than one player away from a title push. The Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo linked Samardzija to the Boston Red Sox, a much more logical fit given their surplus of position players and deep farm system.

Now that Beane is retooling, expect him to return the pitcher he rented in July.

Phillies Underwhelmed in Talks for Cole Hamels

Cole Hamels might exist as the anti-Donaldson, the star constantly mentioned in trade rumors who never gets moved anyway. According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, little is cooking on the Hamels front:

One of MLB’s most reliable aces, Hamels weaved a 2.46 ERA through 204.2 innings last season. Since 2010, only five starters have pitched more frames. Among those guys, only Clayton Kershaw and Felix Hernandez hold lower ERAs over that stretch.

The Philadelphia Phillies are understandably setting the bar high on Hamels, who turns 31 later this month. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has apparently expressed unwavering stubbornness to deal any of Philadelphia’s veterans. Stark also said the New York Yankees balked on shortstop Jimmy Rollins when finding out the general manager’s asking price.

If this sounds familiar, the Phillies reportedly wanted top prospect Aaron Judge from the Yankees in exchange for 37-year-old Marlon Byrd this past summer. One would think a last-place team saddled with overpriced players past their peak would eagerly desire a youth movement.

So far, Amaro remains content to wait out these tumultuous years. If he stands pat much longer, Hamels will become the only bargaining chip with any remaining trade value.

Note: All statistics courtesy of FanGraphs.

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Justin Upton and Matt Kemp should probably keep their phones nearby. 

The outfielders have been two of the most talked-about players in MLB trade rumors this offseason. One baseball executive simply told Joel Sherman of the New York Post: “Justin Upton will be moved.” As for Kemp, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports writes that “there is serious interest” in the 30-year-old. 

One attribute that both players have in common is the ability to hit for power—and a lot of it. In 2014, Upton clubbed 29 home runs, while Kemp posted a .606 slugging percentage in the second half of the season. With so few impact bats to be had on the free-agent and trade markets, that kind of pop is extremely valuable. 

While their offensive skill sets are similar, their contract situations couldn’t be more different. The 27-year-old Upton will make $14.5 million next season and is set to become a free agent at the end of the campaign. Meanwhile, Kemp is still owed $107 million through 2019. 

What follows is a rundown of the best potential packages and landing spots for the All-Star outfielders. The list begins with the Settle Mariners because the American League West club has been linked to both bats, per Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports. 

Seattle Mariners

The Targets: Upton and Kemp

It makes a lot of sense that the Mariners would be calling about both of these outfielders. 

Last year, the M’s had the lowest OPS in the AL, and the team was especially weak from the right side of the plate. As for Upton, the Atlanta Braves are looking to land a major haul. Sherman writes that the team is seeking a “higher return” than the Jason Heyward deal. 

In that four-player swap, Atlanta received right-hander Shelby Miller and pitching prospect Tyrell Jenkins in exchange for Heyward and reliever Jordan Walden.

Seattle definitely has some talented young arms, with Taijuan Walker and James Paxton right at the top of the list. Parting with either of those starters would be a big risk, as the Mariners would only be guaranteed to have Upton under team control for one season. 

Kemp is under contract for five seasons, but his price tag is significantly higher as a result. Walker and Paxton would once again be logical names to begin the conversation with, but position players would have to be discussed, as well. 

With Hanley Ramirez joining the Boston Red Sox, the Los Angeles Dodgers are in the market for a new shortstop. Seattle has a couple of players who the Dodgers could target in Chris Taylor and Brad Miller. Last year in Triple-A, Taylor checked in with a .328 average and an .894 OPS. 

Houston Astros

The Target: Upton

According to Sherman, the Houston Astros are one of the teams that have “inquired” about Upton. 

Houston certainly has the prospects to make such a deal happen. Carlos Correa headlines the farm system, but the shortstop isn’t going anywhere. MLB.com tabbed the 20-year-old as the No. 2 prospect in all of baseball. Aside from Correa, the Astros still have some prominent names to offer up.  

As for pitching prospects, the Astros have Mark Appel, who was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2013 MLB draft. Right-handers Mike Foltynewicz and Lance McCullers are two other pitchers who could be part of a potential deal. 

Houston also has some position players who are high-profile trade chips. Outfielder Domingo Santana ranks as the No. 50 prospect on MLB.com’s top 100. Plus, third baseman Colin Moran was the No. 6 overall pick in the 2013 draft. 

If Houston were to part with any of those names, the team would have to feel remarkably confident that it would be able to ink Upton to a contract extension. 

San Diego Padres

The Target: Kemp

The Dodgers and the San Diego Padres have discussed a possible trade involving Kemp, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. 

Rosenthal tweets that the Padres have the pieces to help the Dodgers upgrade either their pitching staff or the catcher’s position. San Diego has the top catching prospect in baseball in Austin Hedges. MLB.com dubs Hedges the “best defensive catcher” in the minors and ranks him as the No. 22 prospect on the top-100 list. 

The NL West team also has a number of starting pitchers who could interest the Dodgers. According to Corey Brock of MLB.com, Ian Kennedy is the most available arm. Brock adds that the Padres would be “reluctant” to part with Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross. 

After Kemp posted a .971 OPS in the second half of 2014, San Diego would have to put together a highly compelling offer to pry Kemp away from its northern neighbor. 

Texas Rangers

The Target: Upton

The Texas Rangers have checked in on the availability of Upton, as Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com reports. When it comes to potential trade pieces, the Texas Rangers are loaded at the middle infield spots, as general manager Jon Daniels explained, via Evan Grant of The Dallas Morning News. 

“It’s not a secret that we have depth there,” Daniels said. “It’s an area of strength for us. We’ve talked about the possibility for a while. We just have to decide if now is the time to make a move there.”

Of course, the Braves already have a Gold Glover at shortstop in Andrelton Simmons. As a result, adding another middle infielder isn’t exactly a top priority for the club. However, the Rangers do have one infield prospect who would draw the interest of every team in baseball.

Last season, third baseman Joey Gallo connected on 42 home runs while splitting the year between High-A and Double-A. According to Rosenthal, the 21-year-old likely wouldn’t be “in play” in trade talks. 

Note: All stats courtesy of MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com. 

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck. 

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