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It doesn’t look like Nelson Cruz or Shin-Soo Choo will be playing for the Texas Rangers in 2014.

During an interview on KRLD-FM The Fan’s Ben and Skin show, general manager Jon Daniels said he expected the Prince Fielder trade to be the biggest move they make this winter (via the Dallas Morning News). That answer came after he was asked about conversations with Cruz and Choo.

But should it be the biggest move?

Of course not, but it all depends on whether Daniels is willing to make another one. It would make sense to bring in at least one of the aforementioned players.

Based off the 2013 season, Choo would be the best option to spend money on.

Daniels has shown he is less willing to give players long-term deals, especially after the age of 30. He did sign Elvis Andrus to an eight-year extension, but the shortstop was 24 when he signed it in April. Fielder has seven years left on his deal, but four of those seasons will be discounted thanks to the $30 million the Tigers sent with him.

Scott Boras, Choo’s agent, is famous for trying to get the longest and largest deal possible for his clients. He got Jacoby Ellsbury a seven-year deal worth $153 million with the Yankees 10 days ago.

That seems to be the only thing standing in the way of the Rangers landing Choo.

It may be the time to just go ahead and give him the seven years they want. Besides the stolen base department, Choo’s numbers are more impressive then Ellsbury’s.

Choo has a career .288 batting average and a .389 OBP and averages 20 homers per 162 games.  Although he struck out 133 times, he walked 112 times last season and led the National League with 26 hits-by-pitch. In a nutshell, he gets on base and produces runs.

The South Korean has stolen 20 or more bases in four of the past five seasons. He has had 31 or more doubles and has scored at least 81 times in the same time frame, including a career high of 107 runs in 2013.

Choo could easily improve on those numbers if he signed with the Rangers. He has Andrus, one of the best bunters in the game, to move him over, followed by Fielder and Adrian Beltre to bring him in. Plus, Choo is one of the better defensive right fielders in the big leagues.

That means moving Alex Rios to left field, but that shouldn’t be too much of a factor. If you are going to pay a guy like Choo, you put him at his best position.

It may not happen, but Texas should pull the trigger on Choo. He is an established leadoff hitter who would improve the lineup and the outfield.

It’s time for Daniels to show him the money.

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.

You can follow Trey on Twitter @treydwarren

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It’s time to put your general manager hat on and make a very important decision. Your team is in position to add one impact player prior to the 2014 season. You can either trade for Tampa Bay Rays ace David Price or sign free-agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo. Which would be the better choice?

Before you make your pick, here’s a closer look at each player, what it would take to acquire them and the potential impact they’d have on your ballclub. 

Shin Soo-Choo

The 31-year-old Choo, who posted an .885 OPS with 21 homers and 20 stolen bases for the Cincinnati Reds last season, is reportedly seeking a seven-year, $140 million contract, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today. Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports tweeted that the general belief is that whichever team goes to eight years will ultimately land him.

One of the best all-around players in the game—he is considered to be a plus-defender in a corner outfield spot and one of the best in the game at getting on base, to go along with a strong combination of speed and power—the left-handed hitting Choo is capable of hitting anywhere in the lineup and playing anywhere in the outfield. He led off and played center field for the Reds in 2013, although he might fit best in right field while hitting second or third in the lineup. 

It’s not out of the question for a player to remain healthy and productive through his ages 37-38 seasons, but the likelihood isn’t very strong. In giving Choo seven or eight years and somewhere between $140-$160 million, a team should be satisfied with three to five great seasons, a couple of so-so seasons and at least one bad one. 

That might sound like a terrible value, but that’s what it’ll cost to sign a player of Choo‘s caliber for the last few years of his prime.  

David Price

With a projected 2014 salary of $13.1 million through arbitration, according to MLB Trade Rumors, and a 2015 salary that will most likely be in the $16-$18 million range in his final year under club control, the financial cost of acquiring David Price is quite affordable for most big league teams.

The necessary package of players it will take to trade for him, however, is not. 

Teams without an elite prospect in their organization need not inquire on the 28-year-old left-hander. For those that do have at least one, realize that a willingness to include that elite prospect in the deal is imperative for the trade talks to go any further than the initial inquiring stage. 

For two years of one of the best starting pitchers in the game—Price has a career record of 71-39 with a 3.19 ERA, 2.6 BB/9, 8.1 K/9 and a 67 percent quality start rate in 973 innings—the Rays are setting their sights high in terms of what they’ll need to receive in order to trade the former Cy Young award winner. 

In last offseason’s deal that sent pitchers James Shields and Wade Davis to the Kansas City Royals, the Rays received one elite prospect (outfielder Wil Myers), a good pitching prospect with a middle-of-the-rotation profile (Jake Odorizzi) and two other minor leaguers with some upside but not a great chance of becoming big league regulars. 

You’ll have to do much better than that to acquire Price. 

What Would You Do? 

Let’s assume that your team has a decent-sized payroll and signing Choo won’t completely handcuff you in your pursuit of other players in the future. But if Choo isn’t productive over the first 2-3 years of the deal, you’ll probably lose your job. 

Now, let’s say that your farm system is deep enough to where you could give up three of your top five prospects, including two that are considered among the top 50 in the game, and still not completely deplete it. But if Price doesn’t help lead your team deep into the playoffs and he walks as a free agent following the 2015 season, while at least one of the players you traded for him is putting up big numbers with his new team, you’ll probably lose your job. 

Now make your pick. What’s the better acquisition? 

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Expect the MLB offseason market action to pick up following Thanksgiving weekend and heading into the winter meetings from Dec. 9-12. There has already been a few notable signings, like Brian McCann and Jason Vargas, but virtually all of the top free agents are still available on the market.

Here’s a look at the latest news and rumors concerning three of the top hitters looking for new deals this winter.

Robinson Cano, 2B

Since September, Robinson Cano and his negotiating team had reportedly been holding firm to their asking price of more than $300 million over a 10-year contract.

But according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, Cano and the Yankees met on Tuesday to discuss a new deal:

While it doesn’t sound like a new contract is imminent, Feinsand also reported the two sides will meet again shortly:

The Yankees have been a favorite to retain Cano all offseason long, and it’s still looking that way. But it’s encouraging that Cano’s camp has been able to realize its outlandish expectations and lower its asking price, no matter how small.

Even though the Yankees have already inked McCann to a five-year deal that could reach $100 million with incentives, sources have told Feinsand it “doesn’t impact Cano” even as the team tries to get under the $189 million luxury-tax salary-cap figure.

Shin-Soo Choo, OF

Could Shin-Soo Choo be headed back to the Cleveland Indians?

Nick Camino of WTAM 1100 radio in Cleveland recently cited sources who said Choo would be interested in rejoining the Indians:

Choo played in Cleveland from 2006-12 and established himself as an everyday force in the lineup by the 2008 season. But the two parted ways for 2013, as Choo became one of baseball’s top leadoff hitters with the Cincinnati Reds (.285/.423/.462 slash line, 21 home runs, 54 RBI) and the Indians made a magical run to claim an AL wild-card spot.

It would be interesting to see where Choo would fit in Cleveland’s lineup. Michael Bourn is about to start a four-year, $48 million contract, and he spent last year as the team’s leadoff hitter and center fielder, the two spots Choo held in Cincinnati.

Choo, 31, might be better served to play one of the corner outfield spots, where he would be an upgrade over Michael Brantley and/or Drew Stubbs, who are both arbitration eligible this winter.

With Scott Boras as his agent, Choo is due for a big raise. Earlier this offseason, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti said the team would be aggressive after annual revenues were up 20 percent, so it will be interesting to see if there will be a Choo-Cleveland reunion.

Mike Napoli, 1B

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports recently painted a dim picture on the recent pursuits made by the Seattle Mariners in free agency.

In a report that characterized the team as “desperate,” Rosenthal cited Seattle sources who said the team is interested in signing first baseman Mike Napoli to a free-agent deal, and that it might take extra money to lure him to the Pacific Northwest.

The Mariners reportedly had interest in Napoli as a free agent last year, per Bob Dutton of The News Tribune, but backed off over injury concerns. Now that Napoli has made the switch from catcher to first base and is fully healthy, he could be counted on to bring some power to an offense that desperately needs it.

Seattle’s top two sluggers from a year ago, Kendrys Morales and Raul Ibanez, are both free agents, so the team could use a power bat like Napoli‘s. Rosenthal said the Mariners are also interested in other big names available like Choo, Nelson Cruz and Jacoby Ellsbury.

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With the shocking Ian Kinsler for Prince Fielder trade on Wednesday night, the Texas Rangers took the baseball world by storm.  

Finally—and let me emphasize that—Texas has a premier power bat at first base.  Since GM Jon Daniels traded Mark Teixeira to the Atlanta Braves in 2007, the club has tried desperately to fill the position on a trial-and-error basis.  

Prince Fielder is a huge offensive upgrade over Mitch Moreland at first. He will boost the Rangers’ offensive output immediately.

But Daniels has made it clear: he’s not done. Not at all. He’s been open about his search to fill the two remaining needs for his club: another catcher and an outfielder.  

With that said, here are the moves I think Daniels needs to make to fill out the 2014 Texas Rangers roster.

1. Sign Brian McCann

According to The New York Daily News’ Anthony McCarron’s piece, the Rangers and Yankees are the front runners for McCann’s services. 

This was once an obvious “YES!!!” for just about every Ranger fan, but many seemed to have shied away from him a bit since the Fielder acquisition. There is a school of thought that both Fielder and McCann—because of body type and injury history respectively—will eventually need to DH during the back years of their contracts.  

Since Fielder is signed for seven years, and it will likely take six years to sign McCann, there could be a logjam of DH candidates. These fans aren’t counting on McCann catching full time over the life of his contract. I agree that he certainly won’t.  

Is $100 million or more for McCann worth that potential knot in a few years?

Also, these Rangers fans will point to 20-year-old catcher Jorge Alfaro in the minors. He’s drawn Pudge Rodriguez comparisons with his big arm and elite power.

He could be truly ready to start with the Rangers by 2016, by which time McCann would still have three remaining years on his contract.

These are all fair points, and could ultimately be the reasons Daniels doesn’t sign McCann.

But here is why he should.

a. McCann will be 30 for all of next season.  Since his birthday is on February 20, he’ll never turn a year older during a season.  Maybe it doesn’t make a difference.  Just a thought.

b. Geovany Soto cannot be this team’s best catcher. While he is a quality backup with some pop and a decent arm, that’s about it. I do not believe he is capable of catching 130 or more games.  He’s only signed through 2014, and isn’t a long-term option behind the plate.

c. All of last season, the Rangers had a serious deficit of left-handed hitting.  A.J. Pierzynski was really the only consistent lefty hitter, and it’s very likely he isn’t returning.  Mitch Moreland only hit .232 and carried a .299 OBP, per ESPN. Leonys Martin showed flashes of potential, but seemed like a roll of the dice at times.

McCann would provide a consistent, power and average presence in the middle of the order. 

d. Take a look at McCann’s resume. Seven-time All-Star, five-time Silver Slugger, led the National League in fielding percentage in 2012 and has finished top five in the NL in number of games caught in six of his eight career years. Three times, he finished top three in the NL in catcher assists, per baseball-reference.com.

e. Of any catcher available, he’s the best combination of offense and defense.  While he doesn’t feature an impressive caught stealing percentage—just 23.8 percent for his career, per ESPN—he blocks the plate very well.

f. He has shown he can effectively handle a pitching staff over a whole season.  His catcher’s earned run average last season was 2.98 per ESPN, meaning that when McCann was behind the plate the Braves’ team ERA was under three.  That’s pretty impressive.

With Texas, Soto started just under half the games McCann did in 2013, yet his CERA was 3.67, per ESPN. 

g. Rangers fans: can you imagine a 3-6 of Alex Rios, Prince Fielder, Adrian Beltre and Brian McCann? Whoa. That’s a loaded mixture of power on both sides of the plate. Balance of lefty and righty hitters is key. 

h. As you can see in that video, McCann is also a stand-up guy.  This makes for a special addition to the clubhouse and team chemistry.  He’s a hard worker and wants to win.

2.  Sign Shin-Soo Choo 

Choo, 31, is perhaps the most complete player on the free agent market.  He really does it all—hits for average and power, gets on base, steals bases and is an solid defender in right field.  

The price of all of these tools? In his cost projection of Choo, Jay Jaffe of SI.com suggests the right fielder could receive a five-year, $100 million offer.  

I’d be all in on a five-year deal for Choo. And I don’t mind paying a little more per year if it shortens the length of the contact. This, instead of say a six-year, $115 million deal.

The years and dollars could vary slightly off of that projection, but the fact is that Choo‘s agent is Scott Boras. You know what that means: Choo will get max money for his skill set.  If Jon Daniels signs him, it would be Texas’ fourth $100 million plus contract.  

I might get some backlash for this, but here’s why Daniels should sign Choo.

a. He is an IDEAL leadoff hitter.  Per ESPN, he took 112 walks last season, good for a whopping 19.6 percent of his at bats.  This was a huge part of his mind-boggling .423 OBP.  Once Choo was on base, he stole a respectable 20 bases. 

b. He has power—both to the gaps and to the fences.  If he played in Arlington, it’s fair to assume he would increase upon his 2013 home run total of 21.  He hit 34 doubles last season, and that figures to remain consistent. His 2013 .285 batting average is no slouch either.

c. He is at least an average defender in right field, and would join a speedy corps of Leonys Martin and Alex Rios in the outfield.  Rios could conceivably move to left, with Choo taking over in right. In 588 career games in right, Choo has a solid .985 fielding percentage, per ESPN.

If Choo isn’t signed, it will certainly be because of the hefty contract he is seeking, and that’s understandable.  He may also scare some potential suitors off with his lefty-righty batting splits.  He struggled against left-handed pitchers mightily in 2013, hitting just .215, per ESPN. 

But don’t let that taint his .317 batting average against right-handed pitchers. 

Signing Choo would cost the Rangers a draft pick, since the Reds extended him a qualifying offer. This shouldn’t be the tipping point in a decision not to sign him however. The Rangers will get that pick back when Nelson Cruz signs elsewhere.

The Rangers can afford both Choo and McCann. It’s just a matter of the front office wanting to. This ownership group is aggressive, has deep pockets and a burning desire to win after being so close to glory in 2010 and 2011. Signing both of these players is entirely possible.

Here is the lineup I’d like to see in 2014 if Daniels hauls in both of these players.

RF Shin-Soo Choo

SS Elvis Andrus

LF Alex Rios

1B Prince Fielder

3B Adrian Beltre

C Brian McCann

DH Mitch Moreland

CF Leonys Martin

2B Jurickson Profar

I truly believe that is a World Series-contending lineup. Look, I know it’s ideal to be successful while not spending boatloads of cash.  But we’ve seen how Billy Beane’s system works out in Oakland. With cheap, cost-effective talent you can only make it so far.  

That Athletics team had problems when it ran into the Tigers, who flat out had more talent.  

The Rangers should be ready to spend money to win now.  

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

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

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

Shin-Soo Choo, OF, Free Agent

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

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

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

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

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

Carlos Beltran, OF, Free Agent

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

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

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

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

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

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

Matt Kemp, CF, Los Angeles Dodgers

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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A few weeks into the offseason, the open market isn’t quite yet, well, open for business.

The biggest name to sign a deal with a new team is…Tim Hudson? The former Atlanta Braves pitcher, who agreed to a two-year, $23 million deal with the San Francisco Giants on Monday, is a perfectly fine get for a team that’s been on the lookout for pitching.

But with all apologies to Hudson, who has had himself a great career to this point, he’s also a 38-year-old coming off a broken ankle that cost him the second half of 2013.

That profile doesn’t exactly scream “big-name signing.”

It’s not uncommon for it to take time before the hot stove starts cooking. The moving and shaking and wheeling and dealing usually gets going around the time of the winter meetings, which are coming up in early December, a little less than three weeks from now.

But aside from the timing and what seems to be a consensus opinion that this free-agent class is lacking, it’s also possible that there’s another dynamic to blame for this offseason’s slow start.

Here’s a hint: His initials are Alex Rodriguez.

It may seem a tad trite to bang the A-Rod drum as reason behind why more of the top-tier names, like Robinson Cano, Jacoby Ellsbury, Shin-Soo Choo and Ervin Santana haven’t signed, but there just may be something to that stance.

You’re well aware by now that Rodriguez, who played last season even after being suspended by Major League Baseball for 211 games last August for his alleged involvement in the Biogenesis scandal, is appealing the ban.

The arbitration process, though, which didn’t begin until after the playoffs, remains in a holding pattern, as the two sides are continuing with their no-love-lost “courtship,” which was yet again delayed last week when Rodriguez fell ill.

At least the hearings have advanced to the stage where witnesses are being called, with the latest expected to be Yankees president Randy Levine, according to the New York Daily News.

When might all this actually come to an end with a ruling? For an update, here’s Andrew Marchand of ESPN New York:

The 211-game suspension should be upheld, reduced or eliminated by Christmas, probably a bit sooner. After the appeal hearing’s conclusion, arbitrator Fredric Horowitz will have 25 days to decide. He can come to a decision at any point.

So what does this have to do with the free-agent market exactly? As is always the case this time of year, it comes down to money, cash, dough, the green stuff.

Whatever you want to call it, the Yankees may or may not have a lot more lying around, depending on the outcome of Rodriguez’s appeal. That’s because next year, the Yankees third baseman is due at least $25 million—and in all likelihood upward of $31 mill, if he hits merely six more home runs to tie Willie Mays for fourth all-time.

That’s quite a chunk of change that the Yankees could be throwing at another prime free agent or three this winter.

Part of the reason this is so important is that the club is attempting to stay under the $189 million payroll for 2014 to avoid once again having to pay the ever-increasing luxury-tax penalty.

One imagines that, in such a scenario, not knowing whether a potential $31 million will fall on the debit or credit side of the ledger could be the sort of thing that pushes pause on a potential spending spree.

And not just for the Yankees. So much of free agency is about agents and reps determining and defining the market for their players, which becomes especially challenging when one of the deepest-pocketed teams in the sport can’t say for sure whether they can even open up their wallet, let alone flash the cash.

Cano, in particular, is in a tricky spot. As the Yankees’ longtime star second baseman and top name on the market, he’s looking to land a massive contract. Because his maybe-former teammate is holding things up, though, Cano already has indicated that he’s willing to wait until the new year—if it takes that long—according to John Harper of the Daily News.

To be sure, Rodriguez’s appeal process is far from the only obstacle that’s standing in the way of the inevitable domino effect that comes when a big name or two finally does sign.

As mentioned above, getting the general managers together in one place—that would be the winter meetings in Orlando, Fla., from Dec. 9-12—often proves to be baseball’s version of an aphrodisiac for trading.

Plus, there’s that whole hold-up surrounding the as-yet unresolved agreement between Major League Baseball and Nippon Professional Baseball with regards to the posting process for Japanese players. Caught in the middle of that is star pitcher Masahiro Tanaka, who arguably would be the top available arm on the market—if made available.

But in the end, it’s hard to ignore or argue that Rodriguez’s ongoing (never-ending?) appeal isn’t hijacking, or at least stalling, this year’s free agency.

Plus, it’s fun to pull a page out of the league’s book and blame A-Rod.

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The Cincinnati Reds knew that they may only get one season of free-agent outfielder Shin-Soo Choo when they traded for him last December.

The acquisition also enabled the organization to take a more conservative approach in its development of prospect Billy Hamilton. 

Rather than rushing him to the major leagues to open the 2013 season after only a half-season at the Double-A level in 2012, signing Choo provided the Reds with the roster flexibility to keep Hamilton in Triple-A for a majority of the year. 

However, with Choo—ranked as the No. 3 free agent by MLB Trade Rumors—seeking more than the seven-year, $126 million contract that Jayson Werth received from the Nationals before the 2011 season, according to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com (via Twitter), he may be out of the Reds’ price range.

Hamilton’s lack of production in the minor leagues this past season was disappointing, though the 23-year-old outfielder was sensational as a September call-up.

The only question is whether Hamilton convinced the organization he’s ready for an everyday role next season.

Ready or not, it appears as though the job may finally be his with the Reds’ chances of signing Choo dwindling.

Defense: Check

As noted by Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Reds believe that Hamilton is “ready to handle center field defensively.”  

After moving from shortstop to center field last fall, Hamilton made noticeable improvements this year in regard to his jumps and routes to the ball. As one might expect given his speed, Hamilton has plus range in the outfield and can get to virtually any ball—provided it’s in the air and not over a fence. 

He still needs work on his first step, but the wheels help him compensate even when the route is sketchy. His arm action at shortstop was awkward and rushed at times, but it’s played well in center field, where he can afford to have a longer stroke on the backside.

September Speed

Hamilton took baseball by storm after reaching the major leagues as a September call-up, going 4-for-4 in stolen base attempts and scoring three runs as a pinch runner before logging his first career at-bat.

The Reds gave Hamilton three starts over the final month of the season to see what he could do, and the 23-year-old didn’t disappoint by batting .500 (7-for-14) with four runs scored, two doubles and six stolen bases in those games.

Overall, Hamilton was 7-for-19 (.368) with nine runs scored and 13 stolen bases in 13 games.

During his time in The Show with the Reds, Hamilton demonstrated his ability to put constant pressure on opposing defenses thanks to feet that never stop moving on the field and a mindset geared toward taking an extra base whenever possible.

Hamilton put himself on the map by stealing 103 bases in 135 games during his full-season debut at Low-A Daytona in 2011. Last season, he set a new professional record by swiping 155 bases in 132 games between High-A Bakersfield and Double-A Pensacola. He was also thrown out 37 times.

Believe it or not, Hamilton was actually more efficient on the basepaths this season. In 123 games at Triple-A Louisville, he stole 75 bases in 90 attempts (83.3 percent), not to mention the 13 he added after joining the Reds.

When Hamilton reaches base, everyone in the park knows he’s stealing. Yet, he still accomplishes the feat with relative ease.  

Hamilton has the potential to eclipse 100 stolen bases in a given season during his prime. However, that’s only if he hits enough to warrant everyday playing time.

The Deal Breaker 

Despite Hamilton’s ability to impact games on the basepaths, there are legitimate questions as to whether he’ll ever develop the hit tool needed to hold an everyday job in the major leagues.

As a switch-hitter, Hamilton has quick wrists from both sides of the plate, which allow him to generate above-average bat speed and be short to the ball. However, his overall inconsistency is worrisome; Hamilton struggles to keep his weight back and will lunge at too many offerings within the strike zone. And though he controls the zone relatively well, he also makes far too much weak contact for someone who projects as a dynamic leadoff hitter. 

Furthermore, Hamilton has a wiry frame at 6’0”, 160 pounds that lacks physical projection. Even if he continues to mature physically in the coming years, he’ll never be regarded as strong. He actually does a decent job creating backspin carry by driving through the baseball, especially from the left side of the plate, where he showcases a more leveraged swing.

However, there’s doubt as to whether he’ll ever develop the necessary strength to make consistent hard contact in the major leagues.

Oh, Billy: 2014 Outlook

If the Reds fail to re-sign Choo this winter, they have nothing to lose by deploying Hamilton as the center fielder on Opening Day—even if he’s not 100 percent ready.

Though his numbers weren’t particularly inspiring this past season, the Reds stuck to a strict plan and handled Hamilton’s development admirably by keeping him in the minor leagues until September. But after buying him an extra year in the minors with Choo’s acquisition, it’s now time for the organization to find out what it really has in Hamilton.

With speed that grades as a 90 on the 20-80 scouting scale, the 23-year-old boasts arguably the most dynamic tool among all prospects—and perhaps soon among all major leaguers. Even though he regressed at the dish this season at the Triple-A level, the hope is that his bat will come along as he gains experience against advanced pitching—as was the case in September. 

If he can develop into at least a league-average hitter, Hamilton should approach his high ceiling as one baseball’s premier top-of-the-order and up-the-middle players.

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There hasn’t been much action early on in the 2013 offseason by any team, and the Cincinnati Reds aren’t likely to make much noise the rest of the winter. With most of the roster set, general manager Walt Jocketty will work on adding some finishing touches.

It will be a tough task as Cincinnati doesn’t have much payroll flexibility. The lack of available money kept the Reds from giving pitcher Bronson Arroyo a $14.1 million qualifying offer. Now the team has to figure out creative ways to improve the roster.

Don’t expect many big moves by the Reds. There aren’t many spots open on the roster, so they won’t be in the running for most high-profile free agents. However, The Cincinnati Enquirer’s John Fay believes the Reds are up to something.

Let’s take a look at a couple of the moves the team could make this offseason.

Re-sign Shin-Soo Choo

This is the likeliest of any big move that the team could make, but even this move could be a long shot. 

Cincinnati made a bold move to trade center fielder Drew Stubbs and shortstop Didi Gregorious last offseason for Shin-Soo Choo. The Reds had been missing a productive leadoff hitter, so trading for Choo was the best solution Cincinnati could think of. For the most part, it was a success.

After Choo declined the Reds’ qualifying offer, via Fay, he will now test the market.

The 31-year-old hit .283/.423/.462 with 21 home runs, 34 doubles, two triples and 20 stolen bases. He joined teammate Joey Votto as the only National League players to draw 100 walks this past season, and he led the majors by getting hit by a pitch 26 times. He got on base 300 times this past season.

Choo‘s biggest weakness was hitting against left-handed pitching. He hit only .215 with only seven doubles and eight RBI against southpaws. He didn’t hit a home run against one in the regular season.

If Cincinnati can re-sign Choo, he’d be in center field for the 2014 season and then likely shift to left field after that.

As the 2013 season went on, Choo got better in center field, and he was able to show off his great arm quite a bit.

Scott Boras, Choo‘s agent, is looking to get his client a big deal. Mike Puma of the New York Post tweeted that Choo could get a deal worth around $90 million, but ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reported that MLB teams have told him that Boras is looking to exceed what Jayson Werth got from the Washington Nationals ($126 million) a few years ago.

The New York Yankees and the New York Mets are among the teams that are interested in Choo, and big-market teams will be able to offer more money than Cincinnati.

If that’s really what Boras is chasing, don’t expect the Reds to be able to stay in the chase very long. That’s a lot of money to give someone who was limited against left-handed pitching and was a liability in the field.

Great American Ball Park helped Choo‘s offensive numbers and hid his defensive issues pretty well. If he wants to play somewhere where he could succeed, Cincinnati is one of his top options.

Choo gave the Reds a legitimate leadoff hitter and set the tone early in many games. If the market doesn’t cooperate with Boras, the Reds could find a way to get a deal done. 

Trade Brandon Phillips to the New York Yankees for Mason Williams and other prospects

This isn’t to be an advocate of trading the second baseman, but if the club is going to pull off a big trade, it’s likely going to involve Brandon Phillips. 

The New York Yankees are the favorites to sign Robinson Cano. If that happens, they won’t be a potential landing spot for Phillips.

If Cano signs elsewhere, this could be a possibility. Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that the Yankees inquired about Phillips, but the asking price was too steep. MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon reported that general manager Walt Jocketty isn’t looking to trade Phillips, but he didn’t guarantee that the superstar would be on the team next season.

Another reason that a trade isn’t the best idea is that it doesn’t make sense for the team to deal Phillips. He is a three-time All-Star, a four-time Gold Glove winner and has won a Silver Slugger. The 32-year-old set a career high with 103 RBI in 2013.

Phillips plays with a lot of emotion, which can help fire up the team.

The team could use a right-handed bat, so it wouldn’t make sense to trade away the team’s best bat from that side of the plate for prospects. This team is in win-now mode, and Phillips has been a big part of the club’s success.

When the team needed him, Phillips got better at the plate. He hit .213 with nobody on, .307 with runners on and .338 with runners in scoring position.

Not all of his numbers were great in 2013. The second baseman’s .261 average tied for the worst mark during his tenure in Cincinnati, and his .310 on-base percentage and .396 slugging percentage were the worst of his Reds career. 

Don’t forget that he was drilled in the forearm on June 1 in Pittsburgh. He was hitting .296 at the time, and it was obvious that he wasn’t the same hitter after that.

If the Reds and Yankees ever get into serious discussions, Yankees prospect Mason Williams would likely have to be a part of any package. MLB.com ranks the outfielder as the team’s No. 2 prospect and No. 36 overall. 

Williams is projected to be a solid hitter with great speed and good defense. The 22-year-old bats from the left side and will continue to improve at the plate.

Catcher Gary Sanchez, the team’s top prospect, would be a nice target, but he’s unlikely to be dealt given the team’s current catching situation. The right-handed catcher can hit for power and has a great arm.

New York would have to give up one of its two top prospects, and Williams is the more realistic option. From there, the Yankees would have to throw in another high prospect or two to get the deal done.

Phillips would be cheaper financially for the Yankees in comparison to Cano. The Reds star has four years and $50 million left on his contract, and Cano is going to get a huge deal this winter. Although a trade would be cheaper in terms of money, it would cost them some top prospects.  

*All stats are courtesy of MLB.com

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Shin-Soo Choo has quietly developed into one of the most well-rounded outfielders in baseball. He isn’t a big name because he’s spent his entire career with small-market teams, but he’ll be among the likely free agents taking center stage this winter.

The 31-year-old center fielder is coming off a season in which he hit .285 with 57 extra-base hits, including 21 home runs, 20 steals and a terrific on-base percentage of .423. He was a key piece of a Cincinnati Reds lineup that helped carry the team into the playoffs.

He started his career with the Seattle Mariners in 2005 before moving to the Cleveland Indians the next year. It took him awhile to get his footing in the major leagues but finally turned the corner in 2008 and has been a valuable asset ever since.

Now, it’s time to find out exactly how valuable he is as free agency looms. His ability to get on base is likely to generate interest from just about every team looking for ways to manufacture more runs in 2014.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports mentions several possible landing spots for Choo. He lists the Texas Rangers, the Chicago Cubs and the New York Mets among the teams that could join the sweepstakes. He also states that the Reds would be interested in bringing the veteran back.

The report singles out the Houston Astros as an interesting option, too. The Astros spent a microscopic amount of money on players in 2013 compared to other teams, which makes a major free-agent splash like Choo seem like a long shot, but they are apparently in play for the talented outfielder.

The Houston Astros, whose lowest-in-baseball payroll of $25 million or thereabouts was a mere fraction of most teams, may consider making a run at star outfielder Shin-Soo Choo, who is believed to be seeking five times that figure on a multiyear deal on the free-agent market, according to sources.

One other club mentioned in connection with the impending free agent is the New York Yankees. Heyman reports Choo was talked about during the team’s organizational meetings, and there is legitimate interest in bringing him in to help the top of the order.

Multiple sources say the Yankees do like Choo very much. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman declined comment about Choo specifically but noted that outfield isn’t their top priority for a team that has many needs. The Yankees have quite the puzzle, as a team that had a $230-million payroll but has several big salaries coming off the books and a stated desire to get below $189 million on the payroll.

If Choo landed in New York or another big market, he would finally start receiving the attention he deserves as a key offensive contributor. But the offers are likely to come from every level of franchise since he’ll probably be one of the winter’s most coveted free agents.

Choo should still have several productive seasons ahead of him, which will only bolster the interest from around the league. A player with 20-20 upside would attract interest in any era, but in the age of advanced statistics, he rates just as highly.

It’s only a matter of time before that success translates into a big deal for the outfielder.

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How a player performs when the games matter most could have an affect on his overall value, which is of greater importance to those who are eligible for free agency at season’s end. 

While a majority of these players will not stand out in a good or bad way, there are a handful of them who will. As a result, the price tag could rise or fall, at least slightly. A pair of 2012 postseason stars, Marco Scutaro and Anibal Sanchez, each cashed in after boosting their value greatly with strong playoff performances. 

Here are six players off to either a great start or a very poor start, or in one case, already done for the season after a wild-card loss. 

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