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Most of the offseason’s biggest trades come prior to the flipping of the calendar, but there could still be a blockbuster or two in the works as the MLB offseason continues on through January.

Despite the calm associated with the holidays, there are still a few MLB trade rumors to analyze. The rumor mill is done churning out bit after bit like it did during the winter meetings. That said, the buzz that comes out now can still have an impact.

Take the recent string of rumors, for example. They can have a major impact on the rest of the league if they come to fruition. Find out more about them below.

David Price

Acquired at last year’s trade deadline to aid the playoff push of the Detroit Tigers, left-handed ace David Price shouldn’t get too comfortable in the Motor City this winter.

Tweets from Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi on Sunday evening suggest that Price could be dealt yet again in order for the team to re-sign free agent Max Scherzer:

A free agent after the season, Price was just OK for the Tigers. He was 4-4 in 11 starts with a 3.59 ERA, though his 2.44 FIP suggests that he was actually a bit better, per Baseball-Reference.com. Price also lost his only start of the playoffs, although it was a successful outing (two earned runs in eight innings against the Baltimore Orioles).

It seems strange that the Tigers would consider trading Price so quickly, but it makes a lot of sense when you consider that he is only under contract for another season. Moving him now to re-sign Scherzer would guarantee that the team at least gets to keep one of its starters.

Detroit can’t afford to let Scherzer walk and then risk Price walking as well at the end of the season. The team needs at least one of them in the fold to be successful, especially if Justin Verlander doesn’t bounce back in 2015.

In an ideal world, the Tigers would be able to both re-sign Scherzer and keep Price next season. By not giving Price an extension now, that would free up the necessary funds to ink the right-hander.

Scherzer‘s market has been slow to develop, despite him being head-and-shoulders the best pitcher left on the market. It could take a major move for the dominoes to start falling.

Trading Price qualifies as a major move.

Not that many teams would have the necessary prospects to get something done. The Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins and Chicago Cubs do, so they would likely be players.

Of course, we know that Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski generally seeks major leaguers in trades who can help immediately. Even fewer teams can supply enough of that talent to pique his interest.

Detroit is completely in the driver’s seat with Price. There’s no immediate need to deal the ace. Locking him up to a long-term extension comes down to a matter of preference—it’s Scherzer or Price.

Toronto Blue Jays

In the midst of a busy offseason that has seen the Toronto Blue Jays acquire Josh Donaldson, Russell Martin and Michael Saunders to boost the lineup, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman tweets that the organization will now shift all of its attention to the vacancy at the back end of the bullpen:

Casey Janssen closed games last year, saving 25 of 30 ballgames. He’s a free agent, though.

It makes sense that the Blue Jays could look to pass on him given the value of other relievers like Andrew Miller and David Robertson. They locked down massive contracts. Janssen would likely fetch half their value, but that’s still a lot for a reliever who is merely average.

That’s why it makes sense to approach other organizations with a wealth of relievers. Two teams come to mind immediately—the Kansas City Royals and Washington Nationals.

The 2014 postseason proved to the nation that the Royals have a plethora of incredible arms finishing off games. The unit was headlined by Greg Holland, who has been one of the best closers in baseball the past three seasons.

Despite K.C.’s success with the current formula, Fox Sports’ CJ Nitkowski thinks the team must trade its closer this offseason:

One of those players who should be on the move is closer Greg Holland. Holland has been magnificent in his Royals career, particularly in the last two seasons. In those 144 games, post season included, Holland has posted a 1.28 ERA, earned 100 saves, and struck out 208 batters in 140 innings. Incredible numbers.

[…]

In a a trade, the return of a well-regarded prospect or two is likely. He has an incredible streak of 151 straight games of throwing one inning or less. The Royals aren’t a team that should pay $8 million for that kind of reliever.

Toronto has prospects that could pique Kansas City’s interest.

The Nationals are a more likely trade partner because the target, Tyler Clippard, won’t come with the value of a closer. He has the pedigree to possibly blossom into a shutdown closer, but the Nationals have yet to show the willingness to entrust him with the job.

He’ll likely pitch the eighth inning in Washington in 2015, but GM Mike Rizzo hasn’t ruled out trading him (or any of his players) just yet, via James Wagner of The Washington Post: “We’ll listen to any deal for any player we got. If it’s the right deal, increases productivity and helps the ballclub, we’re all in.”

Clippard is exactly the type of pitcher Toronto must target. He’s cheap given his lack of recent closing experience (just one save the past two seasons), and if he pans out, the team can look to re-sign him following the season.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn

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Troy Tulowitzki sure draws a lot of trade interest for a player who has an extremely difficult time staying on the field. 

Over the past three seasons, the 30-year-old has missed out on 222 games due to an assortment of injuries. When he has remained on the diamond, the Colorado Rockies veteran has been one of the most dynamic players in the big leagues.

In 2014, Tulowitzki posted a 1.035 OPS and clubbed 21 home runs in just 91 contests. It’s that unreal production that has resulted in so many teams calling to check in on the availability of the four-time All-Star.

Earlier in December, Rockies manager Walt Weiss told MLB Network Radio that the club is definitely picking up the phone when other clubs call.

Weiss “We take all the calls on Troy(Tulowitzki) and listen to what they have to say, but we are not trying to move a guy like Troy.”

— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) December 10, 2014

Let’s take a look around the league at which teams can offer the Rockies the best trade packages and which ones can provide Tulowitzki with the best landing spot.

New York Mets

No team in baseball has been the subject of more Tulowitzki trade rumors than the New York Mets. 

The rampant speculation makes sense considering that the shortstop position has been a black hole in Queens. The Mets have the young arms to work out a trade with the Rockies, and Noah Syndergaard is right at the top of the list. 

TBS MLB analyst Ron Darling recently suggested a trade offer on MLB Network centered on the 22-year-old right-hander, per Amazin’ Army.

Ron Darling’s proposed Troy Tulowitzki trade package: pic.twitter.com/dtooSQA5qz

— Amazin’ Army (@WE_ARE_MET_FANS) December 22, 2014

That offer would look significantly more compelling to the Rockies if Zack Wheeler was also added to the mix. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the 24-year-old’s name has been brought up during trade discussions. 

While there have been plenty of links between the National League East club and the shortstop, the Mets aren’t the only New York team that could try to make a blockbuster move for Tulowitzki.

New York Yankees

Admittedly, the New York Yankees just can’t offer the same kind of trade chips that the Mets can. 

However, the Yankees appear to be higher up on Tulowitzki’s list of potential new employers. Last summer, while the right-handed hitter was on the disabled list, he popped up in the box seats during a game at Yankee Stadium. 

When asked about his appearance, Tulowitzki told Nick Groke of The Denver Post, “I wanted to see (Derek) Jeter play one more time.”

Troy Tulowitzki causes stir with surprise Yankee Stadium visit http://t.co/dDBwGeyPhC pic.twitter.com/qBJEM3ObSb

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) July 28, 2014

That cameo sparked an avalanche of trade speculation, and months later the idea of a swap isn’t entirely out of the question. 

According to Heyman, the Yankees “have checked in recently on Tulowitzki.” If New York did manage to bring him in, the team could then shift Didi Gregorius to second base, where he could battle for playing with Rob Refsnyder. 

Working out a deal between Colorado and New York would be no easy task. The Yankees’ minor league system claims the No. 21 spot in Bleacher Report’s farm system rankings. 

Per MLB.com, the club’s top two prospects are right-handed starter Luis Severino and catcher Gary Sanchez. Both players ended the 2014 season in Double-A. 

Seattle Mariners

It’s difficult to imagine a more dangerous middle-infield combination than Tulowitzki and Robinson Cano. 

The Seattle Mariners have the pieces to make just such a scenario a reality. In Taijuan Walker and James Paxton, the M’s have two of the most promising young starters in baseball on the club’s roster.

According to Bob Dutton of The Tacoma News Tribune, during the winter meetings, “multiple club officials flatly dismiss[ed] the idea of trading either Walker or Paxton” for a player with just one season of club control remaining. 

It’s possible that the Mariners would be more willing to part with one of those starters for a player with Tulowitzki’s contract situation. The shortstop is under team control for up to seven more seasons. 

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics are definitely the dark horse on this list. 

Then again, it’s never wise to rule out anything when it comes to general manager Billy Beane. After all, the executive has shipped out five All-Stars since the trade deadline. In the process, Beane has racked up a surplus of pitching—a surplus that MLB.com’s Jane Lee suggests could be used to pull off a monster move.

Can’t imagine the A’s will keep all this pitching. Have to think they’re prepping for a bigger move, like an Upton or Tulowitzki.

— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) December 19, 2014

That tweet is right out of the pure-speculation department, but Lee isn’t the one to link Oakland with Tulowitzki, who happens to be from the Bay Area. Tracy Ringolsby of MLB.com reports that the team has “kicked the tires” on Tulowitzki. 

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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The Cleveland Indians are reportedly ready to renege on their considerable investment in All-Star Nick Swisher.

Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports Sunday that Cleveland is prepared to trade away the 11-year MLB veteran, and a number of potential suitors are named (h/t HardballTalk.com’s Bill Baer):

The Indians would like to trade [Swisher] because they acquired Brandon Moss from Oakland. Tampa Bay, Toronto, Baltimore, San Diego, Milwaukee, and the Cubs (who would love to add a veteran leader), could be possible trade partners. Swisher, who has had some knee issues, has some $30 million left on his deal and the Indians might have to eat some of the money to move him.

Swisher has played every position in the outfield in addition to first base in his career, and he now appears destined to be suiting up for his fifth different club.

The Indians signed Swisher to a four-year, $56 million contract in December 2012, with hopes that he would help turn Cleveland around into a consistent winner.

While the Indians played rather well since Swisher arrived in posting two seasons north of .500, the versatile 34-year-old did not contribute as much as was expected to the cause. In 2014, Swisher batted just .208 in 97 games, as his year was cut short by surgery on both knees in late August.

Before then, in June, the usually durable Swisher discussed dealing with the trying circumstances, per Cleveland.com’s Paul Hoynes: “It’s been a crazy year. I’m dealing with some bad luck, some adversity, some injuries. It’s all come up in one year this season. … It’s the first time in 11 years I’ve gone through something like this. It’s uncharted waters for me. I’m just trying to be the best teammate I can be and get my work in.”

However, Swisher made it through most of 2013 and struck out 138 times with just a .246 average—a 26-point drop from his last year with the New York Yankees. To be fair, he did have a solid 3.8 WAR, compared to minus-1.1 in the same category this past season, per Baseball-Reference.

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported last month that Cleveland was interested in dealing Swisher away this offseason:

Cleveland.com’s Dennis Manoloff felt it was the right move to at least gauge the interest in placing Swisher on the trading block:

In light of his recent knee injuries, though, Swisher has an uphill battle ahead to prove himself. What Swisher will bring no matter what is a radiant, positive presence to his new clubhouse, should the Indians ultimately decide to move him.

No matter what role he’s in as a ballplayer, a potential new team has to be excited about the prospect of adding someone like Swisher to the roster to help with team chemistry.

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The Los Angeles Dodgers may have revamped their roster this offseason with a flurry moves during the winter meetings, but there are still questions remaining now that the dust has settled for the time being.

New president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman believes that the roster shakeup has allowed the Dodgers to become “highly functional,” according to MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick, even though last season’s squad functioned well enough to win 94 games and take the NL West division crown.

So what exactly does Friedman perceive as more functional about the 2015 Dodgers?

Advanced metrics indicate that the team’s defense up the middle of the infield—with Jimmy Rollins and Howie Kendrick—is superior to last season’s double-play combination of Hanley Ramirez and Dee Gordon.

The back end of the starting rotation is younger with Brandon McCarthy and Brett Anderson. Yasmani Grandal should provide some much-needed offensive punch from the catcher position, and manager Don Mattingly will be able to breathe a little easier when it comes to shuffling highly paid outfielders in and out of the lineup now that a sometimes-moody Matt Kemp is down in San Diego.

But not everything has been tied up in a nice little bow just yet. There are still question marks facing the Dodgers with the regular season only three months away.

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If you thought the MLB hot stove would temporarily switch to the off position for the holidays, think again.

After all, some teams still have needs to be met, and the number of days until pitchers and catchers report to spring training is dwindling. It should come as no surprise, then, that there has been speculation around the league regarding potential trade targets. 

With that in mind, here is a look at some of the latest trade rumors and whispers from the diamond.

Orioles and Padres Talking Outfield

The San Diego Padres have excess outfielders after their dramatic overhaul this offseason, and the Baltimore Orioles have some holes to fill. This is a match made in trade heaven.

Eduardo A. Encina of The Baltimore Sun suggested as much:

According to sources, dialogue continues between the Orioles and the San Diego Padres, who have a surplus of outfielders after acquiring Matt Kemp, Wil Myers and Justin Upton this month.

The Padres need to move some outfielders, and left-handed hitters Seth Smith and Will Venable are drawing the most interest from the Orioles.

The Orioles watched both Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis leave and now need some outfielders to fill the void. They could also use a left-handed batter to balance the lineup, and both Seth Smith and Will Venable hit from that side.

Venable hit only .224 on the season with eight home runs and 33 RBI, but seven of those long balls came against right-handed pitching, and his on-base plus slugging percentage (OPS) was a full 125 points higher against righties. As for Smith, he hit all 12 of his homers against right-handers and boasted a .814 OPS, compared to a .744 OPS against southpaws. 

There may be some concerns with starting either player on a day-to-day basis considering the vast differences in splits and the fact that the Orioles will face a number of lefties next season, but Encina noted that Baltimore is not opposed to a platoon situation in the outfield.

A.J. Cole

Pete Kerzel of MASNSports.com passed along a rumor and a quote from a scout regarding the future of pitching prospect A.J. Cole:

One scout told me in the lobby of the Manchester Grand Hyatt that his team had been trying to pry Cole away from the Nationals since general manager Mike Rizzo reacquired him from the A’s in a three-team trade in January 2013.

“No dice,” the scout told me. “They ain’t letting him go. They’re that high on him.”

Baseball Prospectus recently ranked Cole as the No. 2 prospect in the Nationals organization, so it is no wonder other teams have at least inquired about his availability.

Cole is only 22 years old and finished the 2014 season with a 13-3 record and a 3.61 ERA in 25 starts in Double-A Harrisburg and Triple-A Syracuse. He was even more impressive in Syracuse (7-0 in 11 starts), which is encouraging for those hoping to see him in the majors sooner rather than later.

Kerzel noted that Cole may have to beat out the likes of Xavier Cedeno, Matt Grace, Heath Bell and Blake Treinen if he hopes to make Washington’s bullpen this season, so fans may have to keep track of Cole’s performances in the minors for the immediate future. 

Regardless of whether the Nationals feature Cole as part of the major league team at the start of the season, it is clear they have big plans for him in the future. It would take a Godfather-style, too-good-to-refuse offer to pry him from Washington.

Luis Avilan 

Mark Bowman of MLB.com noted that the Atlanta Braves may look to trade Luis Avilan in the near future to create room for A.J. Pierzynski:

Avilan was a critical part of Atlanta’s bullpen during the 2013 season, but his production fell off in 2014. He finished with a 1.52 ERA and a sparkling 0.954 WHIP in 2013, but those numbers jumped to a 4.57 ERA and a 1.569 WHIP last season.

There is still plenty of value in a 25-year-old southpaw who has proved himself at the major league level. That 2.56 career ERA will look enticing to some teams, and the Braves only need to find one trading partner. 

What they get back in return for what would essentially be a roster dump to create space for another signing remains to be seen.

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Not even the holidays can completely halt MLB trade talk.

The offseason doesn’t shut down, but don’t expect another flurry of deals before New Year’s Day. After all, general managers are actual people with families, so landing that left-handed reliever can probably wait a week. 

After all the action that has already went down, the final week of 2014 is a good time to cool down and refresh on the latest buzz permeating the league. Even if none of these deals are imminent, they’re not going anywhere once the calendar turns to 2015.

Troy Tulowitzki to the New York…Yankees?

Last week, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman wrote about the New York Mets and Colorado Rockies resuming trade talks for star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.

Not one to be outdone by their younger brother in Queens, the New York Yankees have now joined the fray as well, per Heyman‘s latest update:

Tulowitzki, who attended a Yankees game and sat in a box seat to watch his idol Derek Jeter play in his final season last summer, is said to love the idea of going to the Bronx, though the Yankees’ need to replace Jeter was lessened with their trade for defensive whiz Didi Gregorius, who is expected to at least platoon at short for the Yankees. The Yankees re-checked late last week on Tulo’s availability, and while there is significant question whether they could even match up with the Rockies, their trade for the hard-throwing Nate Eovaldi could possibly give them a slightly better chance.

The Yankees replacing Jeter with baseball’s best shortstop standing makes sense on paper, but good luck creating a deserving package. While the Mets can dangle top pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard, the Yankees don’t possess a blue-chip youngster or deep farm system.

Luis Severino would probably have to move, but the 20-year-old only made six Double-A starts after opening 2014 in Single-A. Syndergaard could pitch for the Rockies in April, but Severino still needs a couple years of seasoning.

This amounts to no more than the Bronx Bombers doing their due diligence. Their chances are even slimmer than the Mets’ shot, which isn’t great either. Heyman‘s new report also mentioned “a major gap to bridge in negotiations” with Colorado asking for Zack Wheeler.

Don’t expect Tulowitzki to play in the Big Apple next year.

Baltimore Eyeing San Diego Outfielders

After losing Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis in free agency, the Baltimore Orioles are searching for outfield reinforcements. Meanwhile, the San Diego Padres are swimming in them after acquiring Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers.

Perhaps an introduction is in order. According to The Baltimore Sun‘s Eduardo A. Encina, the two sides noticed the sensible trade scenario.

According to sources, dialogue continues between the Orioles and the San Diego Padres, who have a surplus of outfielders after acquiring Matt Kemp, Wil Myers and Justin Upton this month. 

The Padres need to move some outfielders, and left-handed hitters Seth Smith and Will Venable are drawing the most interest from the Orioles.

On the same day this rumored transaction surfaced, MASNSports.com’s Roch Kubatko reported the Orioles reaching an agreement with Delmon Young.

Young, however, should not offset Baltimore’s desire to attain Smith or Venable. If anything, it amplifies the need to complete a symbiotic platoon. While the former No. 1 overall pick hit both sides well last season, Young sports a career .302/.338/.467 slash line versus lefties.

Smith and Venable, both lefties, fare much better against right-handed pitching.

He’ll never hit for a high average, but Venable‘s speed and pop makes him a worthwhile get, especially if he maintains his .758 career OPS away from Petco Park. Coming off a career year, Smith proved the Padres’ most prolific batter with an .807 OPS through 521 plate appearances last season.

Neither can combine with Young to replicate Cruz’s 40 home runs, but the platoon would provide serviceable production for the defending American League East champions while giving the Padres added depth elsewhere.

Dan Haren Wants Out of Miami

Certainly no longer a top-level arm, Dan Haren can still fill out a rotation. He’s made 30 starts in each of the past 10 seasons, posting stellar strikeout-to-walk rates despite his fly-ball woes.

The 34-year-old would do well inside Marlins Park, but he has no desire to pitch away from the West Coast. Heyman said the veteran, recently traded from the Los Angeles Dodgers, wants to get dealt back near the area. 

Last month, Haren told ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Mark Saxon that he doesn’t want to pitch outside of California: “My signing with the Dodgers last year and my decision to exercise my player option were based on my desire to play in Southern California near my family. I had other opportunities, but at this point in my career, I have no interest in playing in a city away from my family.”

Although hampered by a lack of pitching depth last year, the Los Angeles Angels’ rotation now looks set because of the Marlins. After acquiring Andrew Heaney in the trade that sent Haren to Miami, the Dodgers redirected the top young arm to the Angels for Howie Kendrick.

Now that the Marlins are back in spending mode, the Angels should try to leverage Haren’s desire for an L.A. return by offering them C.J. Wilson. Now that the Marlins care about winning again, they just might be crazy enough to take a 34-year-old with a 4.51 ERA and hefty contract.

The Padres have recently added low-risk, high-reward gambles Josh Johnson and Brandon Morrow to compete for a rotation spot. Haren would strive in Petco, and the Marlins could use Venable as a fourth outfielder. They also, however, can let younger, cheaper arms exploit the park’s dimensions. 

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As we approach the end of December, there is still work to be done in what has been one of the most eventful MLB offseasons in recent memory.

After a busy month of November, we saw a whirlwind four days in San Diego for the winter meetings, and the big moves have kept coming in the days since as 2014 draws to a close.

At this time last offseason, Shin-Soo Choo, Nelson Cruz, Ervin Santana, Matt Garza, Ubaldo Jimenez, A.J. Burnett and Fernando Rodney were the top names still looking for a new home in free agency.

This time around, the position player market is essentially barren, led by the likes of Colby Rasmus, Asdrubal Cabrera and Nori Aoki.

The pitching market still has some star power, though, with Max Scherzer and James Shields headlining a group that also includes Aaron Harang, Chris Young, Ryan Vogelsong, Francisco Rodriguez and others.

Cole Hamels is the big chip still being dangled on the trade market, while teams also continue to inquire about a trio of Colorado Rockies hitters in Troy Tulowitzki, Carlos Gonzalez and Justin Morneau. More realistic names to be moved include Welington Castillo, Seth Smith and Dillon Gee.

With all of that said, let’s take a look at the top remaining free-agent and trade options at each position.

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The beauty of the MLB offseason is that you never know if the biggest move of the winter has been made.

Each day brings the potential for a move that’s bigger than the moves from days prior. Such is the case now. While the trades of Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Jimmy Rollins, Wil Myers and Jeff Samardzija could be categorized as the top deals so far, the potential for even bigger things is on the horizon.

Cole Hamels and Troy Tulowitzki have found themselves the focus of trade rumors for longer than just the past few months, but this offseason has featured the most serious talks for both players.

Where will each superstar play in 2015? They’re members of the Philadelphia Phillies and the Colorado Rockies, respectively, for now, but that could change in an instant. Read below to find out the most recent buzz.

Cole Hamels

The San Diego Padres are in the midst of a roster overhaul, having acquired Matt Kemp, Justin Upton, Wil Myers and Derek Norris in the past few weeks. They might not be done dealing.

Hamels, a native San Diegan, can be had for the right price. Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News reported Sunday that the Padres were interested in making a deal: “The Padres have had discussions about trading for San Diego native Cole Hamels with new outfielder Wil Myers as potential bait, according to a baseball source.”

Trading Myers would be bold. Even though he wasn’t all that productive last season, the 24-year-old outfielder has untapped potential and could become one of the best right-handed hitters in the division as soon as next season.

A conflicting report from Dennis Lin of U-T San Diego suggests the Padres recognize that and aren’t willing to trade him: “Indications from sources within the organization, however, are that the Padres intend on playing all three of their newest outfielders, including Myers. The early plan is for the 2013 American League Rookie of the Year to start in center field.”

Trading Myers in a deal for Hamels isn’t a far-fetched idea, though.

For one, Hamels would approve a trade to the Padres, reports USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale:

The Padres have a wealth of capable outfielders. Myers, Upton and Kemp are slated to start, but Cameron Maybin, Seth Smith, Will Venable, Abraham Almonte, Carlos Quentin and Rymer Liriano are also worthy of playing time. Obviously, it is impossible for a team to play nine outfielders.

Philly should be interested in bringing in outfield help. Marlon Byrd could be dealt, but he and Ben Revere are the only capable players they have to roam Citizens Bank Park. Myers and someone such as Liriano could pique the interest of general manager Ruben Amaro.

Hamels has been successful in San Diego, owning a 1.78 ERA and a 5-1 record in eight starts at PetCo Park. But that’s not the only reason he’s worth acquiring.

The Padres have a budding young rotation, headlined by Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross. Ian Kennedy, Odrisamer Despaigne and Robbie Erlin round out the group. The latter two pitchers could easily be replaced by Hamels, giving San Diego one of the top staffs in the National League.

It makes a ton of sense for these two clubs to strike a deal. Padres general manager A.J. Preller isn’t messing around in his first offseason with the team, and a move for Hamels would represent the icing on the cake.

Troy Tulowitzki

Tulowitzki is the top shortstop in baseball when healthy, though that’s the operative word here. He’s rehabbing as you read this, but he could also be scouring the rumor mill for his name.

He told MLB.com’s Thomas Harding that he’s aware of the recent trade rumors: “I’m keeping up but I’m not worrying about it. I’m just doing my rehab and want to get back on the field. That’s my main focus.”

Those rumors involve the New York Mets, who are in desperate need of someone not named Ruben Tejada or Wilmer Flores to play shortstop.

CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman has the latest: “The Mets maintain interest in Rockies star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, but it’s clear there’s a major gap to bridge in negotiations between the teams, with differences in ideas of player compensation and financial considerations, as well.”

It’s easy to see how player compensation could be a potential snag in talks. The Rockies likely want multiple top prospects for Tulo. Noah Syndergaard, Rafael Montero and other young players are must-haves for Colorado.

Of course, the Mets probably recognize the shortstop’s extensive injury history. Newsday‘s David Lennon opines that his history with the disabled list should convince the Mets to stay away:

The reality, however, suggests the short-term benefit of Tulowitzki would not outweigh the lasting fallout from the huge price for an aging, injury-prone star at a high-impact position.

Tulowitzki is rehabbing from hip surgery, which is something that’s expected for your grandma but alarming when it happens to a 30-year-old shortstop. He played only 91 games last season and has averaged 88 since 2011, when he made it all the way to 143.

He was phenomenal in 91 games last season, though, slashing .340/.432/.603 with 21 home runs and 52 RBI. The thought of plugging that into the lineup is certainly intriguing.

It might be safer for the Mets to avoid dealing for Tulowitzki, but it’d be hard to justify not bringing him in if the Mets can get him at their price. They are not far from contention. The only thing holding them back is their offense.

Pairing Tulowitzki with Lucas Duda and Curtis Granderson in the middle of the lineup could be what finally brings the Amazins back to the postseason.

A deal doesn’t appear likely at this point, but no one should be surprised if it happens.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn

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With most of the quality free agents already inked to fresh money, general managers around MLB are formulating trade ideas that will help improve the product on the field.

And while it would be fantastic to have a lens into the mind of the executives in charge of such decisions, all we have are the rumors and speculation floating around various media outlets. It’s time to see what the old MLB trade machine can conjure up.

Here are two MLB trade scenarios based on actual need and published rumors from the last week. 

The following proposals are nothing more than speculation. The point here is to build a trade based on someone else’s written or spoken word.

They are balanced deals that are fair for each team, taking into consideration each franchise’s strengths and weaknesses. They are also independent of one another. Each trade presented is a singular move and does not take into account any of the other proposals put forward.

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With the flurry of moves that the Los Angeles Dodgers have made this offseason, it’s difficult to hone in on just one.

After all, some of these deals were interconnected, a web of swift transformation ushered in by the metric-minded tandem now running the front office at Dodger Stadium: Andrew Friedman and Farhan Zaidi.

The current Dodgers roster looks noticeably different than the one that walked off the Busch Stadium field in early October as a second consecutive postseason was cut short by the pesky St. Louis Cardinals. But the recent changes appear to be for the best. Several positions have been upgraded—both offensively as defensively—while the team has improved its depth all while retaining the top prospects.

If there’s one move that stands apart from the rest as a bona fide steal this offseason, it’s the acquisition of second baseman Howie Kendrick.

Speaking of steals, it’s a coincidence that Kendrick will be replacing last season’s stolen-base leader in Dee Gordon.

But make no mistake, Kendrick over Gordon at second base is a definite upgrade for the Dodgers.

On the Surface

Sure, Los Angeles parted ways with a dynamic game-changer in the speedy Gordon when he was shipped to Miami. But upon closer inspection, Kendrick’s .347 on-base percentage trumped Gordon’s in 2014. As the old saying goes, “You can’t steal first base.”

Gordon turned heads around baseball with his first half last season. The former shortstop switched positions in spring training, won the second base job and ran with it—literally. His 105 hits and 43 stolen bases during the first half earned him an All-Star nod after his Dodgers career appeared to be in jeopardy before the season. It was a feel-good story in every sense of the word.

Those numbers would suffer post All-Star Game, however, and Gordon stole far fewer bags in the second half simply because wasn’t getting on base as much. 

Gordon’s underwhelming second-half performance was more indicative of his career  numbers, and Los Angeles’ new front office sniffed out what may have been an anomaly in the first half of 2014. Friedman and Zaidi decided to send Gordon to his home state of Florida in exchange for pitching prospect Andrew Heaney, who was then flipped to the Angels for Kendrick.

Digging Deeper

The Dodgers’ new front office—Zaidi in particular—is well-versed in advanced metrics. Before joining the Dodgers, Zaidi worked under Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane, the pioneer of incorporating advanced metrics into baseball.

When analyzing the two second basemen in question, the metrics don’t lie.

Kendrick has been one of the best offensive second baseman over the past few seasons in terms of a metric called “weighted runs created plus” or wRC+. Since 2011, Kendrick has posted 115, 117, 103 and 123 when it comes to wRC+.

Not only does Kendrick provide an upgrade over Gordon on offense, his defense is also superior to the Dodgers’ former second baseman.

Once again, the front office surely examined the pertinent metrics when evaluating Gordon and Kendrick.

A common barometer used to value a player’s defense is a metric called defensive runs saved (DRS). Zero is considered average, 10 is great and minus-10 is poor. According to Fangraphs, Kendrick’s DRS ranked seventh among all second basemen with at least 500 innings played last season. Gordon’s minus-five DRS ranked 25th.

When it came down to it, the Dodgers needed to answer an important question regarding Gordon this winter: Was the second half of last season merely a slump or was it more indicative of his true self?

By trading Gordon, Los Angeles essentially sold high and bet that he will never again reach that early-2014 level on a consistent basis. The Dodgers opted to bring in a proven commodity like Kendrick, perfectly mindful that he has just one year left on his current contract.

“There are a lot of different ways it can play out, but we’re excited to have him,” Friedman told Steve Dilbeck of the Los Angeles Times. “All of our focus right now is on the 2015 season.”

The focus for Los Angeles should not be on the departure of a fan favorite like Gordon. The Dodgers should feel about their fortunes after reeling in an underrated player like Kendrick, a solidly consistent performer who happens to be the team’s biggest steal of the offseason thus far.

All statistics courtesy of Fangraphs.

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