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Johnny Cueto and Jose Fernandez are just two of the big league stars whose future has yet to be determined as the winter meetings recede into the background and the 2015-2016 MLB offseason rolls along.

In addition to Cueto, there are at least a couple of prominent players who are still waiting to hit the free-agent jackpot. Meanwhile, Fernandez isn’t the only dynamic major leaguer who just can’t seem to shake all those pesky trade rumors.

After taking an inventory of all the action in Nashville, Tennessee, here’s a breakdown of the biggest questions (and answers) from the baseball week that was.

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The 2015 MLB winter meetings have not disappointed, as several high-priced players have been made available either through free agency or via trade.

Yet, the market for offensive firepower has been relatively quiet to this point, but with the winter meetings set to close at the end of the day Thursday, we could see some last-minute deals done before the general managers part ways.

1. Jason Heyward makes his long-awaited decision

It seems clear that Jason Heyward is going to make his decision before the winter meetings draw to a close.

Heyward is the key to opening up the outfield free-agent market, as Alex Gordon, Yoenis Cespedes and Justin Upton are all waiting to see how much the lefty is offered before agreeing to contracts of their own.

The Cardinals and Cubs appear to be at the forefront of the conversations surrounding Heyward, who will ultimately decide which NL Central club is more appealing. St. Louis was the best team in the major leagues during the regular season, winning 100 games while winning the division crown.

But the Cubs were arguably the most surprising team of 2015, and their surplus of young talent should appeal to Heyward.

Theo Epstein isn’t afraid to pay free agents, as evidenced by the Ben Zobrist signing, but St. Louis will likely emerge victorious in this bidding war.

After seeing how valuable Heyward was at the plate and in the field, it just wouldn’t make sense for the Cardinals to let him go. Heyward gets paid and will be a Cardinal for years to come.

2. Chris Davis returns to Baltimore

One of the biggest sluggers on the market, Chris Davis, remains available, although several teams seem reluctant to pay a guy who struck out 208 times the $200 million he is supposedly requesting.

The Orioles were one of those teams reluctant to meet that price tag but still remain the favorite to land Davis.

However, Davis has 126 homers over his past three seasons, which has to intrigue some teams who struggled to hit the long ball in 2015.

The Orioles seem to have shown the most interest in Davis throughout the offseason and would be willing to reopen previous talks if his price comes down.

In the end, Davis signs with Baltimore for less than he is currently asking for after realizing he’s not likely to get the same long-term deal from other teams.

3. Todd Frazier heads to Cleveland

Cincinnati has a slugger of its own in Todd Frazier, one it had to trade in order to truly kick off the great Reds rebuild of 2015.

Frazier is an intriguing option for many teams, as his 35 home runs make him a middle-of-the-order threat. What makes him even more valuable is his defense, as he finished as a Gold Glove finalist at third base in 2015.

At first, it seemed the Angels were a perfect fit, but their weak farm system and unwillingness to pay the luxury tax have likely soured any deals for a player of Frazier’s caliber.

Cleveland has emerged as a front-runner in the Todd Frazier sweepstakes, and it has enough young pitching depth to make the deal happen. The Indians would likely have to part ways with a starting pitcher such as Carlos Carrasco to make the trade happen, but they appear to have enough depth to consider it as a possibility.

Carlos Santana led the Indians with just 19 homers in 2015, so Frazier could step in and become the power threat this team desperately needs.

Right now, Cincinnati’s asking price seems to be too high for Cleveland to agree to a deal, but if the Reds bring down their offer, expect the Indians to pounce and make a trade happen.

So now we’ve talked about some of the big bats on the market, but how about those remaining pitchers that could be available?

4. Johnny Cueto becomes a Cardinal

Johnny Cueto is now the most sought-after starting pitcher on the free-agent market. Cueto‘s performance in Game 2 of the World Series only increased his value, and the fact he is still 29 years old makes him an easy long-term commitment.

Despite both the Dodgers and Giants acquiring starting pitchers this offseason, Cueto remains linked to the NL West rivals. However, the Dodgers appear more inclined to work on their bullpen, while the Giants are targeting outfield help as a main priority.

St. Louis is a potential landing point; however, many Cardinal fans still remember this moment in one of the ugliest brawls in recent memory. 

According to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, though, Cueto‘s agent sees the Cardinals as a likely fit for his client’s services.

Houston and Seattle are also looking to fill voids in their starting rotations, but Cueto‘s asking price will likely be out of either team’s range, especially with cheaper options on the market like Scott Kazmir.

In the end, St. Louis will sign Cueto to a large deal, and all will be forgiven in St. Louis when he leads the Cardinals back to another division title in 2016.

5. Andrew Miller is traded to the Dodgers

The last deal that has some potential would be a trade between the two wealthiest teams in baseball: the Yankees and the Dodgers. 

After seeing their trade for Aroldis Chapman go absolutely haywire due to possible domestic violence charges, the Dodgers appear to have moved on and set their sights on Yankees closer Andrew Miller.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports believes Miller is now the top priority for a Dodgers team seeking bullpen help.

While he doesn’t throw 100 miles per hour on a regular basis like Chapman, Miller still features a dominant fastball and a nasty slider.

L.A. seems to have made it a priority to add another solid bullpen arm to go alongside Kenley Jansen, and Miller fits the bill perfectly.

The Astros were the other team with major interest in Miller, but after trading for Ken Giles, their interest in the Yankees lefty has waned. 

With a strong farm system and enough of a budget to take on incoming contracts, a deal between the Dodgers and Yankees seems highly likely. 

With spring training still almost three months away, all we can do is wonder how each offseason move will impact teams in 2016.

But if the last day of the winter meetings is anything like the first three, we’re in for a roller-coaster ride full of trades and giant contracts for players who could be leading their new teams to playoff success in 2016.

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It’s the most wonderful time of the year—and I’m not talking about Christmas.

The Hot Stove League is operating at scorching temperatures, with baseball’s annual winter meetings providing the setting for some big free-agent signings and even bigger trades. Starlin Castro, Shelby Miller and 2015’s No. 1 draft pick, Dansby Swanson, have all switched teams this week.

And that may only be the beginning.

Is what would be a franchise-record contract enough to keep one of baseball’s premier sluggers with the team he’s found the most success? Have off-field issues made a valuable trade chip worthless? Is there a club brave enough to pay a franchise-altering price for one of the game’s premier young arms?

We’ll tackle all of that and more in this week’s edition of Fact or Fiction.

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The Major League Baseball winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee, are in full swing as rumors and speculation swirl around countless players and teams looking to make a change. 

While some wheeling and dealing has already been done in a few notable deals, some of the biggest names in the game have become available on the trading block. Let’s take a look at the latest on some of baseball’s hottest trade rumors. 

Jose Fernandez

Miami Marlins pitcher Jose Fernandez has surprisingly become a trade target this offseason after reports surfaced, via WINZ’s Andy Slater, that Fernandez asked Marlins management to be traded multiple times during the 2015 season. 

It’s that kind of attitude that saw him fall out of favor of some teammates, who anonymously told Slater that they hoped the 23-year-old would get “shelled” while pitching. 

According to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark, the New York Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers and Arizona Diamondbacks have spoken with the Marlins about a deal. On Tuesday, an unidentified fourth team, per Stark, entered the conversation as well. Representatives from other teams around the league told Stark that it’s the Houston Astros, though there has been no confirmation on those reports.

Stark deduced why the Astros would be an interested party: “The Astros would make sense as a trade partner because of Fernandez’s age and relatively low salary as a first-time arbitration-eligible player, along with Houston’s depth of prospects and young players already in the major leagues.”

Put him in the same rotation as American League Cy Young Award winner Dallas Keuchel, and the Astros would be a tough team to hit next season.

Per the Miami Herald‘s Clark Spencer, Marlins president of baseball operations Mike Hill has continually told teams that Fernandez is unavailable, but those interested continue to call. 

Even the possibility of an available arm like Fernandez is justifiable for teams to continue hounding the Marlins. Fernandez is 22-9 in a career that was interrupted by Tommy John surgery and could provide a fantastic one-two punch with any of the teams reportedly involved in talks. 

In New York, Fernandez would join Masahiro Tanaka, who experienced a sophomore slump of sorts with the Yankees, seeing his ERA balloon from 2.77 to 3.51. With the uncertainty surrounding CC Sabathia, who cut his 2015 season short to enter rehab, an All-Star-caliber arm is needed for a Yankees team that allowed over 650 runs last season.

With the Diamondbacks, Fernandez would team up with Zack Greinke, who signed a six-year, $206.5 million deal on Dec. 4. However, the addition of Shelby Miller from the Atlanta Braves on Tuesday could cool off their interest if Fernandez were available. 

Having lost Greinke to Arizona, the Dodgers could use Fernandez as support for Clayton Kershaw, one of the most consistently dominant pitchers in the game over the past five seasons. An arm like his could ensure they’ll remain as one of the favorites in the National League West. 

James Shields

For a pitcher who just completed the first season of a four-year, $75 million deal (via Spotrac.com), the San Diego Padres’ James Shields hasn’t exactly been the “Big Game James” he was once billed as while a member of the Kansas City Royals. 

Going 13-7 last season with a 3.91 ERA, Shields was one of a few acquisitions during the 2014 offseason— including the Upton brothers, Melvin and Justin, and Matt Kemp—that didn’t translate into winning, as the Padres limped to a 74-88 record in 2015. 

His walks increased from 44 in 2014 to 81 in 2015, and rival executives told Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal that Shields’ “velocity and stuff” were on the decline.

Some other intangibles were nowhere to be found, either, according to the Pioneer Press‘ Mike Berardino:

In fact, Shields was put on waivers by the Padres in August, but he cleared, which makes it odd that Shields is now drawing trade interest, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney. 

While he’s struggled recently, the 33-year-old could be an attractive option for teams looking for help in the middle of their rotation. The problem is, the Padres’ asking price might be too much. 

According to Stark, San Diego is looking for a young shortstop, among other things. The Padres received little contribution from Alexi Amarista and Clint Barmes at short last season, as the two combined for a .215 average with four home runs and 43 RBI. 

Taking Shields’ contract while giving up a prospect might be too steep of a demand for teams interested in him. If the Padres decide to eat some of Shields’ deal, it could help things move along in finding him a new home. 

Orioles In Search of 1st Baseman

The more the winter meetings progress, the less likely it seems that free-agent first baseman Chris Davis will be returning to the Baltimore Orioles. 

Baltimore met with Davis’ agent, Scott Boras, on Tuesday, according to Eduardo A. Encina of the Baltimore Sun, and little progress was made. 

Elsewhere, the Orioles were looking at other options at first base, according to Rosenthal:

Since Rosenthal announced Baltimore’s interest, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel‘s Tom Haudricourt reported that the Orioles are not matching up with the Brewers on Adam Lind. 

That leaves the Texas Rangers’ Mitch Moreland, who will be going through arbitration this season. Moreland, a left-handed bat like Davis, is coming off of the best season of his career with a .278 average with 23 home runs and 85 RBI. 

It’s difficult to compare that to Davis, who hit .262 with 47 home runs and 117 RBI. 

But if he does decide to walk, the Orioles are going to need some kind of left-handed pop in their lineup. Davis was the only left-handed Oriole last season to hit more than nine home runs. 

However, they would need to have something that would make the Rangers pull the trigger on a deal involving Moreland, and it might have to come from behind the plate. 

The Star-Telegram‘s Jeff Wilson stated that the Rangers need help with their catching situation after they started five different players at the position and received little production in 2015. 

It’s unclear if the Orioles are willing to part with the likes of Matt Wieters or Caleb Joseph, as the Rangers would probably be looking for a major league-ready catcher instead of prospects. But if Baltimore retains Chris Davis, then it might not have to worry about any of this. 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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The 2015 Major League Baseball Rule 5 draft, being held Thursday at the winter meetings in Nashville, Tennessee, is not likely to churn out a future superstar or MVP candidate, but there are always diamonds found in the rough from the minor league scrapheap.   

Josh Hamilton is the most famous Rule 5 draftee of the last decade, being selected by the Cincinnati Reds in 2006. The first overall pick in the 1999 draft, Hamilton worked his way back from rock bottom to have a three-year stretch as one of the most dominant hitters in baseball. 

MLB rule changes since 2006 have made it more difficult to find impact talent because players are kept under control of a franchise for an extra year before teams must decide whether to protect them on the 40-man roster. 

As you would expect, the longer a player is under team control, the more time he has to determine how much of a role he will have in the future. Age is also a big factor because a player who is 22 or 23 has a better opportunity to turn into something than a player who is 24 or 25. 

Teams are not obligated to make a selection, and most likely won’t. Once a team skips its selection, it can’t make a pick if the draft goes into Rounds 2, 3, etc. 

With a limited talent pool to choose from, teams must be more diligent while trying to find a player capable of holding down a 25-man roster spot so that the selection in the Rule 5 draft bears some fruit. 

Top Prospects Available

Corey Black, RHP (Current Team: Chicago Cubs)

When the New York Yankees picked Corey Black in the 2012 draft, odds were working against him to be a starting pitcher by virtue of his being an undersized right-hander.    

The 5’11”, 175-pounder finally shifted to the bullpen in 2015 with 28 relief appearances (37 games), posting a terrific 101 strikeouts in 86 innings. 

That is indicative of the power stuff Black brings to the table. MLB.com’s scouting report noted the pitcher has hit 100 mph with “riding effort” and has a “mid-80s slider” to go along with it. The report added he has a deep arsenal, which is necessary to start, but is “destined to become a reliever because there’s effort in his crossfire delivery and he lacks control and command.”

The last part is relevant for why Black has been unable to get past Double-A despite being a college draftee with three years of professional experience. Along with his 101 strikeouts last year, Black had 47 walks. In 370.2 minor league innings, he’s issued 188 free passes. 

Black’s erratic control and command are going to limit his ultimate ceiling because his power stuff is what every team hopes to find in a closer or high-leverage reliever.

He could get integrated into the big leagues as a swing man who works multiple innings at a time or as a sixth- or seventh-inning arm to see if his control will get better with consistent work at the highest level. 

Teoscar Hernandez, OF (Current Team: Houston Astros)

Teoscar Hernandez is unlikely to be drafted on Thursday by virtue of having played one bad full season at Double-A in which he hit .219/.275/.362 in 121 games, but there is a lot to dream on with the 23-year-old. 

For instance, Hernandez had 33 stolen bases and 17 home runs. He’s a great-looking athlete at 6’2″ and 180 pounds with the kind of tools that aren’t often found in a Rule 5 prospect. 

MLB.com grades Hernandez as having four average or better tools (power, run, arm, defense) while also highlighting what may be a fatal flaw in his package:

Hernandez stands out for his athleticism and power-speed combination. If he can develop more feel at the plate, he has the potential to become a five-tool player. To do so, he’ll need to refine his pitch recognition and cut down on his strikeouts after whiffing in a quarter of his plate appearances during his first two years of full-season ball. 

Hernandez is not ready for the big leagues, which is why the Rule 5 draft is problematic for a player like him. It requires players to be on the 25-man rosters out of spring training, or else they go back to their previous teams. 

Yet just from a tools and prospect level, Hernandez is as impressive as any player who wasn’t kept on a 40-man roster this offseason. As long as Hernandez maintains his speed and defensive profile, he projects as a solid center fielder. 

Hernandez has to develop his hit tool. But the offensive bar for center field is lower than a corner spot, so it’s plausible to think the Dominican Republic native can be in the big leagues late next season with a few adjustments. 

Onelki Garcia, LHP (Current Team: Chicago White Sox)

If I were to bet on one player from the Rule 5 draft sticking in MLB when next season starts, it would be Onelki Garcia. 

Admittedly, that’s something of a cheat because Garcia already tasted the big leagues in 2013. He pitched 1.1 innings over three games with the Los Angeles Dodgers, allowing four walks and two earned runs. 

There is also another reason to think Garcia will catch on as a reliever out of spring training: He’s left-handed. He’s not the only southpaw available—Reymin Guduan and Sam Selman are other prominent lefties up for grabs—but his advantage over them is having already reached the highest level. 

As noted by MLB.com, Garcia also has the necessary ingredients to become an impact reliever: “His fastball sits at 92-95 mph and seems quicker coming out of his deliberate delivery. He throws two versions of a curveball, a hard breaker that reaches the low 80s and gets swings and misses, and a mid-70s bender that he can locate for strikes.”

Last year was a disappointing effort from Garcia, as he posted a 4.82 ERA with 64 hits allowed and 29 walks in 56 innings. The power arsenal was on display with 72 strikeouts, but the command around the zone has to improve to make his stuff work. 

There’s not a perfect player available in the Rule 5 draft, so teams have to be opportunistic. Garcia is the best of the lot because of his two-pitch mix, being left-handed and brief MLB experience. He may not be the first player taken, but his impact will be the greatest in 2016. 

Stats and measurables courtesy of MiLB.com unless otherwise noted.

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Baseball’s winter meetings have gotten off to a rousing start, with trades—some completed, some falling apart—free agent signings and enough rumor and speculation to fill Dodger Stadium.

Nobody seems to know whether Miami’s Jose Fernandez is actually available in a trade or not. The Marlins say he’s not, via the Miami Herald‘s Clark Spencer, while multiple well-known and highly respected sources, including ESPN’s Jayson Stark and CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, have heard otherwise.

One thing is for sure: If and when Miami does shop Fernandez, its asking price for a pitcher that will pitch on an innings limit in 2016 and is a stone cold lock to test free agency in three years will be outrageous. So we’re not even going to attempt to piece together a hypothetical Fernandez trade this week, since it appears to be an effort in futility.

That said, there’s plenty for us to sink our teeth into.

From All-Star closers to All-Star catchers; young, up-and-coming stars to youngsters that have been around for a few years, some intriguing, impactful players could be switching teams in the not-so-distant future.

Keep in mind these proposed deals are only ideas and pure speculation. Unless otherwise noted, there’s no indication any of them has actually been discussed.

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Free agency has hogged most of the MLB offseason buzz, but with the winter meetings underway, trade talks are heating up at a rapid rate. 

This four-day gathering of league executives is generally the biggest tipping point of the offseason in shuffling personnel, and a few high-profile names have been linked to potential news. 

Here is the latest buzz on the hot trade market as all 30 teams convene in Nashville, Tennessee. 

Brewers listening to offers for Jonathan Lucroy

The Milwaukee Brewers sat atop the National League Central for 159 days in 2014 before a September meltdown that carried over into a 68-94 record last season, tied for fourth-worst in the majors. 

They’re in the midst of a rebuild under new general manager David Stearns that’s putting a premium on young talent, according to Andrew Wagner of the Wisconsin State Journal. 

Such an approach has seen the team trade closer Francisco Rodriguez and could possibly involve an additional move of veteran catcher Jonathan Lucroy. 

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported Monday that the Texas Rangers have expressed interest in Lucroy, though the Brewers would want a high return given their limited depth at the position:

Lucroy is an appealing add to any team needing a catcher—particularly one with a positive clubhouse presence—but even more so due to his cost-friendly contract, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports:

Lucroy was considered one of the league’s best backstops from 2012-14 but suffered an injury-filled season in 2015 with a fractured toe and concussion. 

But Rosenthal indicated at least one league executive isn’t worried about the attrition the catcher weathered:

The Rangers have a great farm system—ranked seventh by MLB.com last spring—and could use an everyday catcher. Robinson Chirinos played 78 games last year, and backup Chris Gimenez played 36. 

Texas won the American League West at 88-74 but will probably need to win even more next year to repeat given the competition from the up-and-coming Houston Astros. Adding Lucroy would certainly be a step in the right direction.

Chicago Cubs infielder Javier Baez targeted by Tampa Bay Rays

The Chicago Cubs have a bevy of infielders and not enough room to house them all in a nine-man lineup. Such a crowded depth chart has prompted Javier Baez to train this offseason in center field, where the team has a gap after Dexter Fowler declined a qualifying offer and became a free agent. 

The Cubs have been linked to top free-agent outfielder Jason Heyward, according to Julie DiCaro of 670 The Score, which would again leave Baez without a spot to contribute, increasing the likelihood he gets moved. 

The Tampa Bay Rays are reportedly targeting the powerful infielder, according to Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times, who indicated the Cubs would want pitching in return. 

Among the possible chips Chicago may be interested in, per Topkin, include Brad Boxberger, Drew Smyly, Matt Moore, Jake Odorizzi and Erasmo Ramirez.   

However, Rosenthal reports the Rays aren’t the only team in play:

Baez, 23, was considered among the elite trio of prospects—along with Jorge Soler and NL Rookie of the Year Kris Bryant—but struggled in his first season, striking out 95 times in 213 at-bats in 2014. 

He was sent back to the minors to start 2015 but eventually made the playoff roster. He’s a young talent with elite bat speed that, if developed properly, could become a great infield bat. 

Oakland A’s attempting to move Brett Lawrie

The Oakland A’s have been actively trying to move third baseman Brett Lawrie since at least last month, according to Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle, and a quartet of teams—possibly more—are interested. 

Slusser wrote a trio of AL Central teams—the Chicago White Sox, Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers—are in the Lawrie market, and the Los Angeles Angels and New York Yankees have also expressed interest. 

Lawrie became expendable when the A’s acquired Jed Lowrie, who spent 2015 with the Astros after helping the A’s reach the playoffs in 2013 and 2014. 

Lawrie still has two years of arbitration eligibility, meaning he won’t cost a fortune. 

The Angels reportedly backed off interest Monday, per Slusser, and the Yankees would only follow through if they believe they need a second baseman.

But Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine reported Oakland is determined to get a deal done with someone:

The White Sox make a lot of sense, as Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago wrote:

The versatility of Lawrie makes him even more attractive to the White Sox, who must stabilize the position in order to give their fine young pitching staff some defense and run production support. Lawrie made the third-highest total of errors in the league at the hot corner last season with 18. Still, the metrics support his range factor as being well above the league average for third basemen.

Lawrie is coming off a season with career highs in games played (149), home runs (16) and RBI (60). He’s only 25, meaning there is still room for development. 

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Baseball’s winter meetings officially kicked off Monday in Nashville, Tennessee, bringing with them the usual expectations of free agent signings, trades and the vast majority of rumor and speculation ultimately going nowhere.

But sometimes, the rumors that seem so far-fetched actually do become reality, while other moves, on rare occasions, are announced without a whisper of them ever actually making the rumor mill rounds. Those are the kind of potential moves we’ll focus on here: the out-of-nowhere and highly unlikely.

From Gold Glove outfielders to Cy Young Award-contending starters and former MVP candidates, these moves would not only surprise the baseball universe, but change the outlooks of the teams involved, both in 2016 and beyond.

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The MLB winter meetings commenced Sunday in Nashville, and there is plenty of buzz that could shift the competitive landscape in the industry’s largest annual congregation of executives and media.

The top free agents—starting pitchers Zack Greinke and David Price—were snatched off the market last week for deals exceeding $200 million. But there are still plenty of high-profile chips that could be in play.

The trade market has been relatively quiet this offseason, but there are a few rumors floating that indicate it could heat up during the four-day event.

Here is a look at the latest buzz as the always-exciting winter meetings get underway.

Reds expected to trade Aroldis Chapman

Cincinnati Reds general manager Dick Williams indicated he expects to strike a deal to ship triple-digits closer Aroldis Chapman before the winter meetings conclude Wednesday, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

Among the possible suitors include the Houston Astros, Washington Nationals and the increasingly aggressive Arizona Diamondbacks, per Heyman.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the Los Angeles Dodgers were in talks with the Reds for Chapman on Sunday.

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com reported an interesting note on why Houston may be in play as well:

Chapman, a lights-out closer whose fastball consistently tops 100 mph, will become an unrestricted free agent in 2017 and will likely command top dollar that Cincinnati simply won’t be able to afford.

The Reds finished 64-98 last year—second-worst in the majors—and gave Chapman only 36 save opportunities, for which he successfully earned 33.

The Reds were in a similar scenario at this time last year with starting pitcher Johnny Cueto, and they played their cards swimmingly, dealing the right-hander at the trade deadline that yielded prospects from the Kansas City Royals rather than winding up empty-handed when he walked.

Cueto remains on the open market and turned down a six-year, $120 million offer from the Diamondbacks last month, according to Enrique Rojas of ESPN Deportes, which is well above the Reds’ budget.

The Astros make the most sense in a trade for Chapman. After four abysmal seasons, Houston built its farm system and made the playoffs in 2015, and it’s here to stay for the near future.

The Astros have the prospects the Reds would want and need a closer to take an extra step, as was shown in their American League Division Series defeat to the Royals.

Nationals to shop Drew Storen at meetings

The Nationals have two closers in their clubhouse, but they could rid themselves of at least one by the end of the week.

Three industry sources told Bill Ladson of MLB.com that Washington is seeking to trade reliever Drew Storen, who lost his job as closer when the team acquired Jonathan Papelbon at the trade deadline last season.

The addition prompted Storen and his agent to meet with GM Mike Rizzo to discuss his role and future.

ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark reported last month the Nationals wouldn’t mind getting rid of both Papelbon and Storen and adding someone else:

It was the third time Storen lost his job as closer, but each time has been under unique circumstances. Tyler Clippard replaced him in 2011 after Storen suffered an elbow injury, and Rafael Soriano replaced him prior to the 2014 season.

At the time of the Papelbon trade, Storen had a 1.73 ERA with 29 saves and an opposing slash line of .212/.271/.250—figures most teams would take any day.

Should the Astros or Dodgers lose out on the Chapman sweepstakes, Storen wouldn’t be a bad substitute.

Braves could deal Shelby Miller for right price

For all the fan flak the Atlanta Braves caught for trading longtime staples Andrelton Simmons, Justin Upton, Craig Kimbrel and others, they looked quite smart for last year’s deal of Jason Heyward for starting pitcher Shelby Miller.

Heyward is now a free agent who’s expected to haul in a 10-year, $200 million contract, per Tim Dierkes of MLB Trade Rumors, while Miller is under club control through 2019. But now the Braves are apparently engaged in talks to deal Miller after just one season.

Heyman reported last week that 20 teams were in the mix, and Buster Olney of ESPN The Magazine wrote Saturday the Diamondbacks are pushing to add Miller as a No. 2 to their minted addition, Greinke:

Mark Bowman of MLB.com indicated that despite the vigorous interest, the Braves are not actively seeking trades for the 25-year-old righty.

“Still, while the Braves are certainly willing to gauge what they might get for Miller, they do not appear to be actively shopping him,” Bowman wrote. “In fact, one National League club said the talks did not go anywhere after it expressed interest in Miller.”

It’s an incredibly robust market for a pitcher who went 6-17 last year, but that figure is a prime example why the win-loss category isn’t the most indicative statistic to determine a starter’s success.

Miller eclipsed 200 innings for the first time and posted a career-low 3.02 ERA in 33 starts. Arguably no pitcher was worth more to his team, and the Braves offense could rarely return the favor.

Miller went 24 starts over a span of more than four months without a win—a testament to the incredibly limited run support.

He’s one of the game’s great up-and-coming pitchers and, with the right team, could develop into an ace.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

While attention might be shifted toward college football or the NFL as we descend into winter, Major League Baseball’s offseason is staying hot as the winter meetings are set to kick off on Monday from Nashville, Tennessee. 

For four days, the landscape around the league will be changed as many players, free agents and trade targets alike, are set to find new homes. 

Let’s take a look at some of the biggest trade rumors heading into the winter meetings. 

Brett Lawrie

After just one season with the Oakland Athletics after coming over from the Toronto Blue Jays in the Josh Donaldson deal, infielder Brett Lawrie could be on his way out of Oakland, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney:

Lawrie, who started the season at third base with the A’s, was moved to second after the team acquired Danny Valencia from Toronto. 

Valencia hit .284 with 11 home runs and 37 RBI in just 47 games with the Athletics, while Lawrie hit .260/16/60 in 149 games. 

Now with the A’s acquiring second baseman Jed Lowrie from the Houston Astros on Nov. 25, Lawrie could be expendable. 

An American League executive spoke with John Hickey of the San Jose Mercury News.

“I don’t see how they don’t trade one of those guys,” he said. “That’s a logjam there, and that’s not a team that can afford logjams.”

At 25, Lawrie is younger than both Valencia and Lowrie, which makes him a more attractive target to teams that are looking for infield help. 

Shelby Miller

Atlanta Braves starting pitcher Shelby Miller experienced the worst season of his career in the win-loss column with a 6-17 record. But don’t let the numbers completely fool you. 

The 25-year-old posted a solid 3.02 ERA in a career-high 205.1 innings pitched, while giving up a career-low 13 home runs. 

He’s garnering some interest on the trade market, too. According to Olney, the Arizona Diamondbacks are pushing for Miller while the Braves are looking for an outfielder. One of the names that has popped up in a proposed deal was outfielder A.J. Pollock, who put together his first All-Star season at age 28 with 20 home runs and 76 RBI. 

But according to SportingNews.com’s Alec Brzezinski, the Diamondbacks won’t be giving up Pollock any time soon. 

After signing free agent pitcher Zack Greinke as their new ace, the Diamondbacks could still use help in the middle of the rotation. Of pitchers that started 15 games or more last season, only one had an ERA under 3.60. Bringing in Miller could help add some quality depth. 

For the Braves, an outfielder with some power is a necessity. Last season they did not receive much production, seeing Nick Markakis, Cameron Maybin and Jonny Gomes, who was later dealt to the Kansas City Royals, combine for 20 home runs, as many as Pollock hit. 

Cubs Looking For Bullpen Help

The Chicago Cubs made the playoffs for the first time since 2008 with a young crop of upcoming stars. One of them, Hector Rondon, anchored the team’s bullpen, converting 30 saves during his third year in the league. 

Chicago didn’t necessarily have a struggling bullpen. They ranked 18th in the league with 19 blown saves and their bullpen had an ERA of 3.38, ranked in the top-10 in the league. 

According to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick, that doesn’t look like it’s good enough for the Cubs:

Without particular names, one cannot deduce exactly which closers the Cubs might go after, but Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal does list a few possible options:

The Pittsburgh Pirates’ Mark Melancon led the league with 51 saves while the Cincinnati Reds’ Aroldis Chapman is one of the most explosive, regularly eclipsing the 100 mile-per-hour mark. However it might be difficult to trade within the division for such big-name players.

Of course, it will all come down to what each team is looking for. 

With a bevy of young talent, it remains to be unseen what products the Cubs are willing to part with in order to further bolster their bullpen.

While the talks are exploratory at the moment, they could really heat up during the winter meetings. So that is something to look out for. 

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com.

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