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Major League Baseball front offices go through stages every year. Right now, with the draft firmly behind us, all the attention shifts to the trade market. This seems like a particularly interesting market, with big-name stars potentially available and many teams in playoff contention. 

However, therein lies the problem that all 30 clubs are facing before July 31, and it’s been an issue since MLB implemented the second wild card in 2012: There are currently 24 teams within five games of a playoff spot. 

Some of those teams certainly aren’t playoff teams on paper (Minnesota, Colorado, Philadelphia), but if management or ownership wants to placate the fanbase, those teams won’t sell assets to get better for the future. 

Whatever direction the trade season takes, the rumors are beginning to swirl and we are going to break down the best of the best right now. 

Matt Kemp The Odd-Man Out In Los Angeles?

Before the season started, one of the hot topics in baseball was what the Los Angeles Dodgers would do with their surplus of outfielders. Yasiel Puig was the only sure thing to stay, while Matt Kemp seemed like a safe bet if he could stay healthy, given how talented he is and the money invested in him. 

That left Carl Crawford and Andre Ethier, as well as prospect Joc Pederson—who is still in Triple-A—battling it out for one spot. 

Nearly three months into the season, it appears the decision is coming into focus, even if a deal doesn’t happen during the year, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal:

Kemp finally is getting hot, his disposition improving with his swing. Many in the industry, however, believe he ultimately will be moved — most likely in the offseason — due to his tempestuous relationship with some of his superiors.

The Dodgers, replicating their path to the postseason last year, are starting to play better, having won nine of their last 13 games. Kemp’s been on fire in June with nine extra-base hits and a 1.020 OPS. 

He’s just 29 years old but is due to make $107 million through 2019. That’s a lot of money to invest in a player coming off two injury-plagued seasons, not to mention what the Dodgers might ask for to move him. 

Eventually, something will have to be done about L.A.’s outfield, especially if the team wants to re-sign Hanley Ramirez, and Kemp is the most talented player in the group not named Puig. 

An offseason deal also allows more teams to get involved in the bidding, though the Dodgers would likely have to kick in some money to consummate any potential deal. 

Carlos Quentin’s No-Trade Clause May Not Be a Problem

The San Diego Padres are one of the few teams who have fallen out of playoff contention already with a 31-42 record. They do have a lot of potentially valuable trade chips, though, from Chase Headley to Huston Street to Seth Smith. 

One player who isn’t in the final year of his deal but could provide a decent return if he starts hitting is Carlos Quentin. Injuries have always been a huge part of the enigmatic outfielder’s game. He’s been limited to just 27 games this season and is hitting a paltry .192/.302/.342. 

However, it’s precisely because of the injuries and poor start that Quentin could be valuable in a trade for teams in need of a power bat. He must agree to any deal thanks to a no-trade clause, though CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman notes that may not be an issue under the right circumstance. 

While he wouldn’t necessarily approve just any AL team that may call, sources say he would be amenable to considering trades and open to approving at least some teams that may call. In other words, he wouldn’t force the Padres to keep him.

Due to Quentin’s track record, the Padres can’t ask for a lot if they put him on the market. The best they can hope to get is financial relief—Quentin is making $9.5 million in 2014 and $8 million in 2015—along with a C-level prospect. 

For a small- or mid-market team that can’t make a big play on the trade market, Quentin has solid upside as a power bat if he can stay healthy.

He’s got more potential to succeed in the American League, which will allow him to DH, and could start to see an uptick in performance just by getting out of Petco Park. The 31-year-old has a .729 OPS on the road, compared to a .438 mark at home this season. 

Rays Not Selling Ben Zobrist

To say this season has been bad for the Tampa Bay Rays would be an understatement. They currently have the worst record and run differential in the American League, the offense ranks in the bottom 10 in batting average, slugging percentage and runs scored and no player on the roster who qualifies for the batting title has an OPS higher than .742. 

Normally, this would be a clear sign that the Rays would go into sell mode before the trade deadline, but ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark reports that may not be the case. 

Teams that have spoken with the Rays believe (a fire sale is) extremely unlikely.

They might listen on Ben Zobrist, Jeremy Hellickson, David DeJesus or nearly anyone else. But Zobrist in particular fits this team’s mold so perfectly, in every way, one executive who has spoken with the Rays’ brass came away believing it would be “really, really difficult” for them to come to grips with dealing him.

Zobrist is the player highlighted in that group because he’s clearly got the most value. David Price is in a class all by himself, but Stark also notes that if the front office believes contending next year is possible, the Rays won’t just deal their No. 1 starter. 

Getting back to Zobrist, the Rays do have motivation to sell him based on the fact he’s only got one more year, a team option at $7.5 million, left on his current deal. Yet that salary and his versatility to play second base, shortstop and right field make him more appealing to this team. 

There will be moves made by the Rays before July 31 because their farm system is in need of a serious overhaul soon, but the MLB team isn’t so desperate for talent that a complete overhaul is necessary to get back on top in 2015. 

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Outside of the MLB postseason, the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline is the most exciting time to follow the game. The rumors come fast, and they come furious. 

Now, last week was the first time this season when the names being mentioned broke away from guys like Jeff Samardzija and David Price, who are commonly discussed. There were some outside-the-box suggestions that could make sense given the right circumstances.

Here are four MLB trade proposals based on actual need and published rumors from the week ending Sunday, June 15. 

As a standard note, the following trade proposals are nothing more than postulation. The point here is to build a trade based someone else’s written or spoken word.

They are balanced deals that are fair for each team, though, and take into consideration each franchise’s strengths and weaknesses. 

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The MLB trade deadline is still over seven weeks away, but we’re getting to the point where teams—at least the realistic ones—know if they’re going to contend for postseason play or not.

That means trade blocks are starting to open up. 

We’re nearly halfway through June. Teams have played over 60 games, and the numbers in the “games back” column are beginning to trend upward. It’s still too early to get a read on several teams, but picking out potential buyers and sellers is starting to become a little easier. 

With that, trade speculation and rumors are steadily increasing. Let’s take a look at some of the most intriguing recent gossip from around the league. 

Toronto Blue Jays Prefer James Shields to Jeff Samardzija

The Jays continue to win ballgames and increase the distance between themselves and the rest of the AL East—in large part due to their hitting. Edwin Encarnacion hits a home run about once every 14 times to the plate, Jose Bautista is raking and Toronto is second in the majors in OPS. 

Eventually, they’ll need some more consistency in the rotation behind Mark Buehrle, though. 

A name that has seemingly popped up on every team’s summer wish list is Jeff Samardzija of the struggling Chicago Cubs, but according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, Alex Anthopoulos and his staff prefer James Shields. 

The reason? He’s cheaper, and Toronto isn’t interested in gutting the farm system. 

“We can’t keep trading our prospects,” a member of the Jays organization told Heyman. 

They would have to do that to acquire the electric Samardzija, who doesn’t hit free agency until after the 2015 season, so a rental like Shields would seemingly make more sense. 

That said, the Kansas City Royals ace won’t come cheap. Remarkably consistent over the past four seasons, Shields currently sports a 3.44 ERA and 1.26 WHIP. Moreover, the Royals, just 3.5 games back in the Central and 3.0 back in the wild card, are going to have to be enticed into selling their No. 1.

While Shields would be crucial for a stretch run, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal argued against the idea of a short-term solution for the Blue Jays:

Heyman reports that players such as Justin Masterson (Cleveland Indians, second in AL Central), Francisco Liriano (Pittsburgh Pirates, third in NL Central) and Jason Hammel (Chicago Cubs, last in NL Central) are also options for Toronto if they become available. 

Baltimore Orioles Leaders for Jeff Samardzija

Staying in the wacky AL East, the Orioles currently trail Toronto by 5.5 games, while they are behind Seattle by 1.5 for the second wild-card spot. Still in contention but sporting the sixth-worst ERA in baseball, they will undoubtedly be in the market for some arms. 

Unsurprisingly, then, the O’s are currently the team showing the most interest in Samardzija, per CBS Chicago’s Bruce Levine. 

Samardzija has been fantastic this season. Some old-timers might try to point to his 2-5 record as criticism, but go ahead and ask Felix Hernandez how indicative wins are of an individual performance. Even after a brutal start in Milwaukee earlier this month, Samardzjia has a 2.54 ERA (seventh in the NL), 1.13 WHIP (12th), 75 strikeouts (12th) and a 2.1 WAR (sixth, per Baseball Reference). 

For Baltimore, though, acquiring him will likely take one of its prime pitching prospects in Dylan Bundy or Kevin Gausman, along with another piece or two. Although Bundy is recovering from Tommy John surgery, both are top-20 prospects and look like future top-of-the-rotation studs. 

It would be a steep price to pay, but the Cubs will have the kind of market that lets them shoot for the moon. Heyman recently called Samardzija the best trade chip, and there will be a bevy of teams fighting for his services this summer. 

That gives Chicago some necessary leverage. 

Chase Utley Headed West?

Talking on Philly Sports Talk, via CSN Philly’s Corey Seidman, Peter Gammons suggested that Philadelphia Phillies second baseman Chase Utley could be on his way to the NL West:

A general manager said to me that he thought the National League would be decided by whether the Dodgers or the Giants got Chase Utley. There comes a point where you have to think about doing really unpleasant things to completely retool.

In terms of Utley, again, to me, he is the model player, but a team like the Giants, every scout I’ve talked to tells me they might have the best pitching in Double A of any team in baseball. If you get three pitchers for Chase Utley out of that Giants organization, you have a chance to be — two years from now — restore that pitching to where it should be.

Utley, who has spent 12 seasons with the Phillies, is off to a scorching start this season, hitting .314/.371/.498 with a league-leading 24 doubles. Trading him seems like blasphemy, but the Phils are 25-36 and need to reload to keep up with the Miami Marlins, Atlanta Braves and Washington Nationals, who boast three of the four youngest pitching staffs in the NL. 

Philly, meanwhile, has the second-oldest. 

On the flip side, it makes sense for the Giants, who have gotten an atrocious .184/.265/.298 slash line from their second basemen this season. The Dodgers don’t have as big of a need, with Dee Gordon and Hanley Ramirez up the middle and Adrian Gonzalez at first. 

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With the 2014 MLB first-year player draft behind us, it’s time to set our full attention on the upcoming July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

This is, after all, when teams put their full focus on improving the current roster via trade in hopes of reaching the postseason. And with 20 teams within three games of .500 heading into Monday, the potential trades are nearly endless.

Some clubs will be looking to add depth or to fill a hole on their 25-man roster. Others will look to get a slew of top prospects in return for a star. 

Here are four MLB trade proposals based on actual need and published rumors from the week ending Sunday, June 8.

As a standard note, the following trade proposals are nothing more than postulation. They are balanced deals that are fair for each team, taking into consideration each franchise’s strengths and weaknesses. 

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With each passing week of the MLB season, the trade rumblings grow louder. That’s the way it is every year, though, as the annual frenzy that is the non-waiver trade deadline approaches.

This week has been no different.

There are the mainstay rumors involving Jeff Samardzija and the ever-present New York Yankees, of course. Over the last seven days, however, a couple of other names have surfaced on the list of MLB players who are either needed or could be available.

It must be noted that nothing here will go down tomorrow. These are trades that benefit each side and add a little to the national conversation.

Here are four MLB trade proposals based on actual need or published rumors from the week ending Sunday, May 25.

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There are just over 10 weeks remaining until Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline. That means we all have just over 10 weeks of rampant speculation and intrigue awaiting us at every turn.

This past week only added to the anticipation with news that several players could be available. The wheels turn quickly around MLB.

As always, the New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs and Boston Red Sox figured prominently into the media’s conversation. A couple of others, however, joined the maelstrom by letting it be known that they had players that could be had for a price.

Per usual, the proposals put forth here are nothing more than conjecture. They are fair deals for each team, though, that fit specific needs from both sides.

Here are five trade ideas based on actual need or published speculation from the week ending Sunday, May 18.

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Another week of the MLB season has passed, and along with it, a new set of potential trade opportunities has emerged.

In the past seven days, there have been key injuries on contending teams, rumors of relief pitchers being made available and the constant din of a starter leaving the city of Chicago.

And as time passes, the needs of a few teams are coming sharply into focus. Individual roles, for example, are becoming more defined, which means that certain players are now available and could fill an area of weakness for another club.

To be sure, it is highly unlikely that anything mentioned here is on the verge of actually happening. It is simply too early, but now is when conversations between general managers become more intense.

Here are five trade ideas based on actual need or published speculation from the week ending Sunday, May 11.

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We sit only a month into MLB‘s 2014 regular season, and the trade market has already heated up with a number of deals consummated between clubs, the latest of which found Lucas Harrell shipped from Houston to Arizona in exchange for either cash or a player to be named later, per Matt Snyder of CBSSports.com.

Things aren’t likely to slow down anytime soon, with trade speculation swirling around a handful of players, some more notable than others, heading into the season’s second month.

Here’s a look at 10 players who, according to the rumor mill, could be wearing a different uniform in the not so distant future.

Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference and are current through games of Apr. 28. All salary information courtesy of Cot’s Contracts.

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Trade rumors begin to swirl as spring training nears completion in Major League Baseball.  As Opening Day draws near, teams begin to identify their needs as well as their surpluses.  The St. Louis Cardinals, who have found themselves actively involved in the market for shortstops around the league over the last few seasons, suddenly find themselves with a player to offer to the market.

Pete Kozma is the odd man out in St. Louis, and general manager John Mozeliak hopes to benefit from that.

According to Adam Rubin of ESPN, the Cardinals have been shopping Kozma around the league, letting other teams know that the young shortstop is available:

#StLCards making Pete Kozma available, but don’t believe #Mets are interested. Not really upgrade from Ruben Tejada.

— Adam Rubin (@AdamRubinESPN) March 20, 2014

The reasons for trade rumors surrounding Kozma are obvious.  The Cardinals signed Jhonny Peralta during the offseason, Daniel Descalso offers a backup option who can play multiple positions and the team needs the room on the 40-man roster.  

All of this could lead to a trade for a low-level prospect in exchange for the man who played 143 games for the Cardinals last season.

Joe Strauss of The St. Louis Post-Dispatch points out another need that the Cardinals may wish to address with the rumored trade of Kozma based on the recent reassignment of relief pitcher Tyler Lyons.

“The Cardinals can option Kozma or keep him as Peralta’s backup. Having optioned Tyler Lyons to Memphis on Wednesday, the club could survey the market for long relief. No obvious internal candidate currently exists,” according to Strauss.

That option would not alleviate the roster restriction that exists but is a fair trade rumor as it fulfills both the team’s need and surplus at the same time.  The argument against a long reliever in return is based more on the value that Kozma holds.  

Ben Humphrey of Viva El Birdos breaks down the value of Kozma on the market and what fans should expect in return.  Ultimately, Humphrey comes to the conclusion that a trade involving Kozma would likely resemble the trade of Brendan Ryan in December of 2010.  In that trade, the Cardinals received relief pitcher Maikel Cleto, a low-level prospect with a lively arm.

The Cardinals will do their due diligence in shopping Kozma around to see if there is a trade that makes sense.  If the past can tell us anything, it is that Mozeliak will only move Kozma if he feels that the Cardinals will clearly benefit from the return.

Meanwhile, the trade rumors will continue to circulate.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference, unless otherwise noted.

Bill Ivie is the founder of i70baseball.com.
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Jimmy Rollins has been a member of the Philadelphia Phillies organization since the second round of the 1996 amateur draft. If some members of the team’s front office have their way, a nearly 18-year tenure could be coming to an awkward close. 

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Phillies believe it might be time to part with the 2007 National League MVP. 

This news comes less than a week after Rollins sat on the bench for three straight Grapefruit League contests. Manager Ryne Sandberg offered “no comment” when initially asked for his reasoning, per Todd Zolecki of MLB.com.

If the Phillies truly want to move on from Rollins, it won’t be easy. 

With $11 million due to the 35-year-old shortstop in 2014, it will take a team willing to add significant payroll late in spring training or Philadelphia’s ownership eating a large chunk of the money still owed. Furthermore, a one-year, $11 million option for 2015 will automatically be in play if Rollins makes 434 plate appearances this season.

As a 10-and-5 rights player (10 MLB seasons, last five with the same team), Rollins can invoke a no-trade clause to veto any deal. With just 60 hits separating the veteran shortstop from the top spot in Phillies franchise history, it’s unlikely to happen now. 

When broached about a possible deal by CSN Philly’s Jim Salisbury, Rollins didn’t seem keen on the idea.

“I don’t know,” Rollins said. “If we’re in absolutely last place with nowhere to go and change is obviously on the horizon, then at that point I’d think about it. But anything short of a complete disaster, I’m wearing red and white pinstripes.”

These situations, however, have a funny way of working themselves out.

If the Phillies can find a trade partner and Rollins agrees to leave the only team he’s ever known, a move could commence.

In return, the Phillies could look for outfield depth, a veteran bullpen arm or a young starting pitcher. 

Here are Jimmy Rollins trade scenarios that would make the most sense for the Phillies.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted. All contract figures courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Roster projections courtesy of MLB Depth Charts.

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