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Not even the holidays can completely halt MLB trade talk.

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

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

Troy Tulowitzki to the New York…Yankees?

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Baltimore Eyeing San Diego Outfielders

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Dan Haren Wants Out of Miami

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Cole Hamels

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Troy Tulowitzki

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn

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Much of the chatter in the MLB has died down as the winter chill has set in across the nation, with the majority of big-name free agents inked to lucrative contracts and a variety of blockbuster trades—including of course the high-risk, high-reward moves pulled off by the San Diego Padres—already stamped as done deals.

Of course, baseball organizations have a great many moving parts, whether it’s building a contender at the MLB level, bolstering the farm system for (hopefully) a future playoff run or finding the right balance among pitching, hitting, defense and speed. 

The latest rumors floating around the Web involve the futures of high-caliber players capable of turning downtrodden franchises into potential contenders or at the very least shoring up areas of weakness on the roster. 

Let’s break down the buzz surrounding three MLBers who could be looking at new homes in the 2015 season.

Troy Tulowitzki

No matter how well a baseball player plies his trade, there is always a chance that injuries derail their career and make them expendable. Such is the case with Colorado Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki, who was well on his way to putting together an MVP-caliber season in 2014 before a hip surgery cut his campaign short in July.

Tulo has missed a grand total of 222 games over the past three seasons, but that reportedly hasn’t stopped the New York Mets from taking an interest in him.

According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the two teams are still quite far apart in trade talks, and the New York Yankees have now made inquiries regarding Tulo. Heyman broke down where the teams might be coming to an impasse:

The sides have been discussing packages centered around top Mets pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard, but some have suggested that at least at some point the Rockies were also requesting Zack Wheeler be included in the package, though talks are fluid, so that may not be the case now. Just about every young Mets pitcher and player has been mentioned at some point, including right-hander Dillon Gee and shortstops Ruben Tejada and presumably Wilmer Flores, though those players are drawing limited interest and would be considered as perhaps third and/or fourth pieces in a potential deal.

With his injury history and age, Tulowitzki carries a significant risk, but it’s one the Mets should be willing to take considering the sorry state of their franchise over the past few seasons—although a second-place NL East finish in 2014 gives them hope going forward.

Should starting pitcher Matt Harvey recover well from his Tommy John surgery, the Mets could have two cornerstone players in the fold, although everyone at Citi Field would have a panic attack anytime one of these two players so much as took a scratch.

The Mets could desperately use help in the middle of the infield and would have made good candidates for Korean shortstop Jung-Ho Kang, but the Pittsburgh Pirates are the ones set to negotiate with the potential star slugger.

The Yankees could easily come to financial terms with Tulowitzki, and if there is any player up to the challenge of replacing Derek Jeter, one of the most beloved players in team history, it’s the Rockies’ four-time All-Star. MLB even sent out this interesting tweet regarding Tulowitzki‘s admiration for the legendary Yankee:

The Rockies would likely have trouble explaining this move to their fanbase and could be in for a long season considering the aggressive moves made by division rivals such as the Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, not to mention the dynastic presence of the San Francisco Giants.

If they do trade Tulo, it’s quite possible they go for a full rebuild and ship off star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez, as the 29-year-old might not be worth holding onto for what could be a very lean period in the franchise’s history.

Dan Haren

The Los Angeles Dodgers have had an extremely busy offseason, including a frenzied few days that saw the team complete a number of notable trades. Swept up in the whirlwind of roster moves was starting pitcher Dan Haren, who found himself shipped across the country along with shortstop/second baseman Dee Gordon to the Miami Marlins in a seven-player deal. 

According to Heyman, this development doesn’t appear to sit well with Haren, who hopes for a return to the West Coast:

Prior to the trade, Haren made it abundantly clear that he wouldn’t be partial to playing away from his family.

“My signing with the Dodgers last year and my decision to exercise my player option were based on my desire to play in Southern California near my family,” he said, via email, per ESPNLosAngeles.com’s Mark Saxon. “I had other opportunities, but at this point in my career, I have no interest in playing in a city away from my family.”

The 34-year-old righty put together a solid season in 2014 for the NL West champion Dodgers, but a strong start and finish to the season disguise Haren’s implosion during the summer stretch.

It’s nice that Haren was able to pull things together after an awful July, but if he’s not happy in Florida, the Marlins might be better off without an aging, handle-with-care starter.

When Haren pitched for the Washington Nationals in 2013, he posted an ERA+ of 81, his worst mark since his rookie year, per Baseball-Reference.com. It’s quite possible scenery means more to Haren’s performance than it does some other players, so the Marlins might not have much to work with even if he does decide to play for them in 2015.

The Los Angeles Angels don’t figure likely to welcome Haren back with open arms considering he went 12-13 with a 4.33 ERA in his last season (2012) with the team.

The San Diego Padres could use a veteran on their pitching staff, and the Dodgers are paying his $10 million salary for 2015, per Spotrac, but it makes little sense to take on Haren when they have a number of intriguing young options for use the rotation, including Robbie Erlin and Odrisamer Despaigne.

That being said, Fox Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi passed along a salient point from a fan on Twitter regarding a potential Padres ploy:

The Marlins could bolster their team by adding a backup outfielder for Haren—with Carlos Quentin being one possible option, although he is an injury risk—but they won’t be in dire straits if Haren decides to forego another long season and retire.

James Shields

James Shields isn’t the top free-agent pitcher still out on the open market—that title belongs to Max Scherzer—but he appears set to ink quite a lucrative contract, according to The Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo: 

The final Shields numbers are expected to be close to the five years and $110 million remaining (if the option is picked up) on the Cole Hamels deal, according to one major league source who was privy to Shields’s demands. The Giants and Red Sox are in the picture, and the Yankees may be another suitor.

A deal with similar numbers to Cole Hamels would be quite a coup for Shields, as he has put up comparable numbers to the Phillies star but is three years older.

Still, the market forces are at play here, and with Scherzer reportedly looking for a whopping salary, Shields looks like a great value as a starting pitcher in comparison.

ESPN.com Insider Jim Bowden (subscription required) gave the Giants the best odds of signing Shields and noted their tough offseason could motivate them to make a big offer:

The world champions have had a difficult offseason after losing third baseman Pablo Sandoval to the Boston Red Sox (for basically the same offer they made) and then falling short on their bids for free agents Jon Lester, Melky Cabrera andChase Headley. (They were able to retain reliever Sergio Romo, who signed for less to stay home.) However, they’re still hard at work, and Shields is atop their wish list. They would love to be able to slot him behind Madison Bumgarner and Matt Cain and ahead of Tim Hudson and Jake Peavy in their rotation. 

Indeed, Shields would be tough to deal with pitching on the heels of Madison Bumgarner and/or Matt Cain and would provide the Giants with a nice right-lefty balance in the rotation.

However, the Yankees are always a threat to snatch up premier talent, as are the Red Sox, and the New York club could be compelled to make a grand offer considering they aren’t ones to get comfortable with missing out on the postseason more often than once in a blue moon. 

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The winter meetings may be over, but there are still plenty of MLB transactions to be made.  One of the most intriguing trade possibilities remains Troy Tulowitzki to the Mets. 

This move makes about as much sense as any trade can.  The Rockies have been trying for the last decade, albeit unsuccessfully, to improve their pitching, and the Mets’ only major need is at shortstop.

The Rockies don’t have the necessary talent on their current roster to be a contender, so it would be prudent to unload Tulowitzki and his massive contract in an effort to build for the future.  The Mets, on the other hand, have been in rebuilding mode since 2006 and are seemingly one piece away from making a playoff push in 2015.

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com recently reported that the two teams have been talking for months now about a possible trade involving Tulowitzki, and even though he says that the sides are still pretty far apart in the negotiations, the fact that they are still talking is a positive.

The Mets have been stockpiling young pitchers for the past few years, and they now have an overabundance of hard-throwing starters.  Unloading one or two of them in a trade is not going to kill the rotation. 

The current starting rotation looks like this: Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Zack Wheeler, Jon Niese and then either Bartolo Colon or Dillon Gee.  They also have Rafael Montero and Jenrry Mejia, who are former starters but will pitch out of the bullpen due to the number of competent pitchers in the organization. 

Also, the Mets have a pitcher still in the minor leagues who might be the most talented on the team. Noah Syndergaard is only 22 years old, but he is expected to make his debut this year and be a star soon after.

Jeurys Familia and Vic Black both had terrific seasons last year out of the ‘pen, and Bobby Parnell will return as the closer, according to what Mets manager Terry Collins told the New York Post in a recent article.

In other words, the Mets have a plethora of pitching.  They are not going to miss one or two pitchers if they are traded away.  It is almost a foregone conclusion that the Rockies are going to need Syndergaard in the trade package, and even if they ask for Wheeler, the Mets should definitely oblige.

Tulowitzki is one of the premier players in the league despite his history of injuries.  He hit .340 with 21 homers in 2014 while only playing 91 games.  He plays a position that has very few power hitters, making him one of the most valuable players in the MLB when he is on the field.

There are also questions about how Tulo’s game will transfer should he leave the hitter-friendly thin air of Coors Field.  He has hit 78 points higher with eight more home runs at home than away over the past three years, so that argument may have some merit, but at the same time, the Colorado climate is one of the biggest reasons for Tulowitzki’s past injuries.

However, the Mets should ignore any doubts in their pursuit of Tulo.  Sandy Alderson has assembled a solid nucleus of skilled players, pitchers as well as hitters, and a solid shortstop might be the last piece of the puzzle.

Tulowitzki is still owed about $118 million over the next six years, and the clubs have not discussed money in their trade talks. 

While that contract might be a bit pricey, the Mets have not made the playoffs since 2006, and the time is now.  It is extremely hard to win on baseball’s biggest stage, and the Mets cannot let their conservative nature get in the way of success.  New York is arguably the biggest market in America, so if they do indeed get to be championship contenders, they will get boatloads of publicity and national exposure.  Tulo would immediately infuse a sense of excitement into an organization that has been a bit dormant recently.

Tulowitzki does not have a no-trade clause in his contract, but the Colorado ownership has made it clear that it is not going to make any decisions without its star shortstop’s input.  But even if the Mets have to part ways with a few players in order to make a trade package too good for the Rockies to refuse, they should do it.

The addition of Tulo immediately makes New York a playoff team.  The pitching is unquestionably going to be dominant, but a lineup with Tulowitzki in the middle of it will be surprisingly potent.

Daniel Murphy has quietly been one of the best offensive second baseman in the majors the past four years and would only benefit from hitting in front of Tulo.  David Wright is arguably the best third baseman in the National League when healthy, and he should rebound from a mediocre year last season to have a stellar 2015.  Lucas Duda hit 30 homers in 2014 and will likely hit even more next year thanks to the shorter fences in Citi Field.

Travis d’Arnaud continues to develop as a big league catcher.  He caught fire in September, hitting .313, and the Mets hope he carries that production over to the upcoming year.  Juan Lagares and Curtis Granderson will be consistent everyday players in the outfield, and newly-acquired Michael Cuddyer could thrive in his new environment.

The Mets have a chance to compete in the NL East in 2015 without Tulowitzki, but with the best shortstop in the league on the roster, they would be solid contenders.  It is impossible to know if this move will happen, but if the Mets have any opportunity to acquire Tulowitzki, they should pursue it with unprecedented vigor.

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Still months away from pitchers and catchers reporting, the MLB rumors surrounding some of the biggest trade targets are hotter than ever.

The hot stove has been set ablaze with rumors swirling about both Cole Hamels and Troy Tulowitzki. Even recent acquisitions by teams might be up for discussion with the San Diego Padres looking to deal one of their biggest assets.

Meanwhile, the Atlanta Braves might actually be keeping one of their most coveted players heading into the season. Prior to the start of the new year, here’s a look at the latest rumors surrounding the MLB.

Cole Hamels

This offseason, the hotbed for trade rumors has been in San Diego. The Padres have been dealing for several huge bats, but they might now be looking to acquire a true ace for their rotation.

San Diego’s latest inquiry has reportedly been on Hamels, who is coming off a career year with the Philadelphia Phillies. Ryan Lawrence of the Philadelphia Daily News passes along the latest on Hamels: 

“The Padres have had discussions about trading for the lefthanded ace, who happens to be a San Diego native,” Lawrence writes. “With newly acquired outfielder Wil Myers as potential bait, according to a baseball source.”

Hamels, 30, posted a career-low 2.46 ERA last season with 198 strikeouts and finished sixth in the Cy Young voting, per Baseball-Reference. Even on a team that finished 16 games under .500, Hamels was sensational on the rubber.

He might also be a great fit for San Diego due to his contract, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

While the Padres have made great strides with the additions of outfielders Matt Kemp and Justin Upton, they still need to upgrade the rotation. In a division that includes the Los Angeles Dodgers and the San Francisco Giants—each of which have true aces—Hamels would immediately add that presence for San Diego.

Even if it gives up Wil Myers, the return in Hamels seems worth it. This is a deal the Padres need to make to not only compete in the NL West but also in the postseason.

Troy Tulowitzki

Unlike the Padres and the Phillies, the Colorado Rockies have been mostly reluctant to deal their biggest names.

In Colorado, Tulowitzki remains the best potential trade target for any team looking for a power bat. Now, the Rockies are talking about a move involving Tulo with a familiar team, as Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports:

The Mets and Rockies have been quietly discussing a potential Troy Tulowitzki blockbuster for weeks, though it isn’t known yet whether New York will have a decent chance to complete such a deal.

Prized Mets pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard is said to be the centerpiece of discussions revolving around a potential package of young players in a possible deal for Tulo, though it seems like there is still quite a ways to go to have a chance to complete such a monster trade.

In the early portion of last season, Tulowitzki looked like a MVP candidate for Colorado. Through 91 games, the 30-year-old finished with a .340/.432/.603 slash line and 21 home runs, but injuries cut his season short.

The New York Mets have already signed Michael Cuddyer and could be looking to pair him with a familiar face at shortstop; however, injury concerns for Tulo should eventually outweigh the Mets’ need to acquire his offense in their lineup.

Evan Gattis

This offseason has been similar to a fire sale for in Atlanta. Already dealing away the likes of Jason Heyward and the aforementioned Upton, the Braves might actually be keeping one of their best young remaining bats.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post offered the latest rumor about Evan Gattis:

Given the way the offseason has gone for Atlanta, moving Gattis might seem like a good idea to continue the rebuild; however, he is just 28 years old and hit 22 home runs last year while improving his batting average, OBP and slugging percentage.

Having Nick Markakis in right field and Gattis in left, Atlanta would still have a supply of power in the lineup. If Christian Bethancourt can grab the reins behind the plate, this might be a young team that can still compete—even in a rebuilding year.

Follow @RCorySmith on Twitter.

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This is going to be an offseason Major League Baseball fans look back on with a smile. With the exception of a few teams, virtually every franchise seems to believe that contention in 2015 is possible. It’s why trades and signings have been happening more rapidly than we are used to. 

Despite all of the action that’s occurred up to this point, there are no signs that things will slow down. There may not be as many deals involving top-tier stars because there are only so many of those players to go around. But a lot of valuable role players will find new homes. 

The trade winds have been blowing for the last few weeks. There are going to be one or two big gusts left, so don’t be surprised by anything that happens anymore. As for what’s on the hot stove right now, here’s what’s cooking. 

Rockies Have One Suitor for Troy Tulowitzki

Despite his popularity and ability when he’s healthy, trading Troy Tulowitzki is the best thing that could happen to the Colorado Rockies this offseason. That franchise is wasting money on a player who has a rare ability but has demonstrated throughout his career an inability to stay on the field. 

Plus, the Rockies are in such a terrible state right now with their pitching staff that Tulowitzki’s salary sticks out like a sore thumb. 

While there doesn’t appear to be a big market for Tulo, Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com is reporting one team is still engaged in conversations for the All-Star shortstop:

The Mets and Rockies have been quietly discussing a potential Troy Tulowitzki blockbuster for weeks, though it isn’t known yet whether New York will have a decent chance to complete such a deal.

…

New York and Colorado have been stealthily talking names for weeks, and while there’s said to be some progress, it still feels like they are almost in the early stages with several hurdles to go, including ultimately whether the Rockies-owning Monfort brothers would sign off on such a deal for their beloved superstar shortstop.

There’s no doubt the Mets need to upgrade their shortstop situation. That group hit a collective .236/.317/.312 last year, per Baseball-Reference.com. 

By comparison, Tulowitzki hit .340/.432/.603 in 91 games last season. He had 13 more home runs (21) than New York’s shortstops in 71 fewer games. The Mets’ 629 runs scored were tied with Houston for 21st in the league.

The Mets added Michael Cuddyer to their lineup earlier this offseason, but he’s hardly a difference-maker given his age (35), bad outfield defense and inability to stay healthy.

While one could argue the Mets would be better with Tulowitzki, is he really worth the cost? Heyman says in his report the talks have centered on star pitching prospect Noah Syndergaard going back to Colorado. 

In addition to possibly losing their best prospect in the deal, the Mets would also be on the hook for a contract that pays Tulowitzki $114 million through 2020 with a $15 million team option or $4 million buyout in 2021, per Baseball-Reference.com. 

That’s a lot of money to pay a shortstop through his age-35 season, especially when you consider Tulowitzki has only played 140 games three times in his career and less than 100 twice in the last three years. 

Unless the Rockies are willing to chip in a lot of the money owed to Tulowitzki, it’s hard to justify a scenario where the Mets pull the trigger on this deal. 

Braves Might Keep One Player

This has been an offseason of great change for the Atlanta Braves, though their fans are not likely to be thrilled about it. The only regular left from last year’s outfield is B.J. Upton, whose .208/.287/.333 slash line in 141 games pretty much makes him immovable. 

It’s clear the Braves have their eye on the future, but they also need someone to generate offense in 2014. Freddie Freeman is the only returning player who had an on-base percentage over .350 and slugging percentage over .450. 

The addition of Nick Markakis might add a few points to the on-base percentage at the top of the order but does nothing to help in the power department. 

One player the Braves know well who does have power is Evan Gattis. According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Atlanta’s plan is to keep the 28-year-old and hit him behind Freeman:

The Braves have a fascination with Gattis that doesn’t make much sense. He’s a nice story as a guy who was out of baseball in college and worked his way back, breaking into the big leagues at 26 and providing nice power with 43 home runs over the last two years. 

There are limitations to Gattis’ game, however. He has a career on-base percentage of .304 and has 43 walks in 723 at-bats. His defense in the outfield is atrocious, costing the Braves 10 runs in just 342.1 innings last year, per FanGraphs.com. 

That’s why it’s not particularly surprising to see the Braves are underwhelmed by offers for Gattis. As precious as right-handed power is in the game, he’s one year away from a salary increase when arbitration kicks in. 

Is Seth Smith the Odd Man out in San Diego?

It’s an exciting time to be a fan of the San Diego Padres, which isn’t something that has been said lately. But all the roster shuffling does mean that other moves will likely have to be made. 

After all, when you stockpile outfielders in trades, it’s hard to justify keeping the ones that were already on the roster. According to ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick, the Padres may be inclined to move Seth Smith, and a potential landing spot has emerged:

Since the Mariners have missed out on acquiring the one big outfield bat—Nelson Cruz should only be used as a designated hitter—they need to get more creative. They already acquired Justin Ruggiano from the Cubs earlier in the week.

Ruggiano is a right-handed hitter who has hit left-handed pitching well throughout his career (.836 OPS). Smith is the counter to that, being a left-handed hitter who has an .839 OPS against right-handed pitching in his career. 

Bob Nightengale of USA Today speculated that one downside to all of San Diego’s moves is it makes the lineup overloaded with right-handed bats, adding to Smith’s value for the Padres:

Smith’s name keeps coming up in trade talks because he’s the most attractive chip the Padres have to offer. Cameron Maybin and Will Venable can’t hit, while Carlos Quentin can never stay healthy long enough to show he’s still capable of hitting. 

Eventually, the Padres will have to move someone just to have the roster space to keep players other than outfielders on their bench. Smith may be hard to move because of his value as a left-handed hitter, but he is also the most likely player to net something of value in return.

Stats and contract info via Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted

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In many ways, for many reasons, the New York Yankees trading for Troy Tulowitzki makes sense. After all, they’re the major-market, deep-pocketed, All-Star-obtaining Yankees, and in 2015, they’ll be embarking on their first season sans shortstop, captain and future Hall of Famer Derek Jeter.

How to fill a hole that has been occupied by the face of Major League Baseball and hasn’t needed filling in 20 years? If you’re the Yankees, it’s simple, really: Get the best available player to replace Jeter, of course.

Because make no mistake, for as many concerns and risks that come with Tulowitzki—and we’ll get to those—the Colorado Rockies star is undoubtedly the best shortstop in baseball, which is why this idea keeps popping up in rumor mills and on message boards.

Except doing just that not only isn’t simple, it’s rather complicated, perhaps in even more ways, and for even more reasons, than acquiring Tulowitzki would be.

The go-get-Tulo sentiment that has swelled among Yankees fans has only been bolstered by the recent news that the Rockies might actually entertain the idea of trading Tulowitzki, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

That’s an about-face from years past, when owner Dick Monfort had repeatedly held firm in his stance that Tulowitzki was too valuable to the franchise to be moved.

Really, these Tulowitzki rumors started back in July when he visited Yankee Stadium to catch Jeter, his baseball idol growing up, in action one final time before the Yankees captain hung ’em up. Relax: Tulowitzki already was in the area for a second opinion on—what else?—an injury.

“It’s a short drive from (my doctor in) Philly,” he told The Denver Post at the time (via Peter Botte and Stephen Lorenzo of the New York Daily News). “I wanted to see Jeter play one more time.”

Still, that was only a couple weeks after Tulowitzki had made it clear that he was open to the idea of moving on from Colorado if the team doesn’t turn things around soon, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. The club just finished its fourth consecutive losing season.

So if Tulowitzki is open to the idea and the Rockies seem to be, too, why is it such a bad one for the Yankees to consider?

For starters, there’s the money. After making $16 million in 2014, Tulowitzki’s salary jumps to $20 million per over the next five years through 2019—the highest per-year amount he’s owed over the life of the contract. The price settles back down to $14 million in 2020 and $15 million in 2021 (with a $4 million buyout that final year).

Tack on a $2 million bonus if he changes teams, and the total cost is at least $120 million through 2020. And here’s a little-known—and entirely terrifying—fact about Tulowitzki’s contract: He may only be traded one time without his permission.

Other factors, like age, performance, injury history and, primarily, salary, would make it nigh impossible to swap Tulowitzki if something goes south. But if the Rockies trade him, the next team actually is stuck with him. Like, contractually.

The money—$20 million a year—actually isn’t outrageous for a player like Tulowitzki. After all, there were reports earlier in the offseason that the Yankees might be interested in Elvis Andrus, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post. By comparison, the 26-year-old Texas Rangers shortstop—a much less impactful player than Tulowitzki—is owed $15 million a season on his eight-year, $120 million extension that begins in 2015.

Plus, it’s not like the Yankees couldn’t afford to pay Tulowitzki’s contract.

Where it becomes a problem, however, is a combination of Tulowitzki’s age and injury history, two things that have plagued the Yankees in recent years, as the roster has been loaded with aging, injury-prone, overpriced former stars (read: Alex Rodriguez, Mark Teixeira, CC Sabathia, etc.).

Tulowitzki, who turned 30 in October, would just add to the pile.

Speaking of that injury history, here’s a rundown of the various ailments that have put Tulowitzki on the disabled list in his career and how many games he missed with each:

Add it all up, and Tulowitzki has averaged just 117 games a season starting with his 2007 rookie campaign. He has played more than 126 games exactly three times in those nine years.

His latest injury, the one that ended a 2014 campaign that was shaping up to be his best yet, was a torn labrum in his left hip—a rather concerning issue given his position. He had surgery in August and is on track to be ready for the start of 2015, if you believe new Rockies general manager Jeff Bridich.

The last reason why Tulowitzki-to-the-Yankees doesn’t make sense? What does New York have to trade to obtain him?

The Rockies continue to insist there is no discount for injury because he’s a premium, in-his-prime player at an up-the-middle position. So they want a full return for Tulowitzki, per ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick, even though his trade value went from its peak to the pits with his latest season-ending surgery.

Bridich indicated his top priority is to acquire starting pitching—which is more or less a “no duh” when it comes to Colorado—but the Yankees don’t have much to give the Rockies to actually entice them.

The best options might be young right-hander Shane Greene, former top prospect Manny Banuelos and current top prospect Luis Severino. Is that enough to get a deal done? Probably not, from the Rockies’ point of view.

The bottom line is there’s no reason for the Yankees to take a huge risk by trading for Tulowitzki before he proves he’s healthy, and the Rockies have no motivation to move him until he plays, produces and pumps up his value first.

And even then, the risk would be almost all on the Yankees’ side. And it would be huge, considering the massive amount of money he’s owed, and constant concerns over if (when?) he gets hurt again (and again).

The reward could be huge also, but only if everything goes just right for the first few seasons of what’s left of Tulowitzki’s contract. Given New York’s other onerous deals, tacking on another just isn’t a smart approach.

General manager Brian Cashman appears to get this, having reinforced the likelihood, via Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News, that the Yankees won’t be targeting any big-money players this offseason, whether in free agency or trade.

For those Yankees fans who want Tulowitzki in pinstripes, that sounds like bad news. Really, though, it’s just the opposite.

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

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

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Troy Tulowitzki is one of the best players in the game today. He not only hits for average but also has extraordinary power for a shortstop. Any team looking to acquire him by the trade deadline would have to be willing give up a hefty sum in return. A few teams are said to be interested in making a trade for Tulowitzki.

Of the teams rumored to be interested in his services, which do you think makes the most sense?

Watch as Bleacher Report National MLB columnist Scott Miller breaks down which teams are the best fits for Troy Tulowitzki.

All stats accurate as of July 28.

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With the MLB trade deadline approaching in two days, speculation surrounding the biggest names on the market figures to reach a fever pitch shortly. With tight races in five of the six divisions, the plethora of teams in contention should create a seller’s market for the organizations that have decided to build for the future.

Though the trade deadline has brought duds in recent years, this summer offers the promise of marquee All-Stars potentially on the move. Of course, not all the noise will result in tangible action. But as the Oakland Athletics showed when they acquired Jeff Samardzija, a team willing to pay for immediate dividends can drastically alter the complexion of the pennant race.

So which teams could follow Oakland’s footsteps and forge a consequential move of their own? Digging through the noise, here are a few rumors surrounding former All-Stars that could come to fruition over the next 48 hours.

Tulo in Beantown?

Rockies shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has been the biggest name available for the past few weeks, but seemingly nothing imminent has emerged. However, The Boston Globe‘s Pete Abraham reported of a source indicating Tulowitzki’s willingness to move north:

As splashy as that move sounds, Tulowitzki would be a bizarre acquisition for the Red Sox. Boston general manager Ben Cherington recently waved the white flag on his team’s title defense after a five-game losing streak against AL East opponents. Moreover, with Xander Bogaerts openly pining to return to shortstop, acquiring Tulowitzki would likely alienate the Sox’s brightest young star.

There’s also the matter of Tulowitzki being currently on the disabled list with a hip flexor strain. For all his talents, the shortstop has a checkered injury history, and the Red Sox demonstrated a refusal to commit big money to a similar player when they allowed Jacoby Ellsbury to walk in the offseason.

Tulowitzki seems highly unlikely to move anywhere at all. It’s unclear whether or not the Rockies will return to contender status while Tulo remains in his prime, but Colorado does not appear inclined to move the face of their franchise.

Price Staying or Going?

Even with a recent winning streak, the Tampa Bay Rays remain 7.5 games out of first place in the AL East and have five teams ahead of them in the race for the second wild-card berth. Thus, ace starter David Price remains firmly on the market.

The winning streak would seemingly have diminished the chances of Price moving, considering the day-to-day snap judgments front offices must make about buying or selling. However, The Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo relayed an opinion from one anonymous scout who believed that Price would still move:

‘I still think when push comes to shove, the Rays will deal him,’ opined one National League special adviser. ‘They’ve come a long way to get to this point and they’re still five or six games under .500. How much longer can they sustain that? So it’s a tough call and you don’t want to be perceived as waving the white flag, but there’s demand for him.’

It’s unclear who would pay the exorbitant price (no pun intended) the Rays have demanded. The Los Angeles Dodgers have long been linked to Price, and Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi piggybacked on the speculation of Price moving to the NL West:

But the Dodgers could find themselves pursuing Lester. Given the Red Sox’s clearer intentions to sell, as well as Lester likely coming with a lower price tag, the Dodgers could very well abandon their pursuit of Price. 

A darkhorse team like the Seattle Mariners or Chicago Cubs could still swipe Price away. However, given how difficult it is for the Rays to contend on their shoestring budget, retaining a modicum of postseason hope might be the wisest route.

Papelbon’s Ultimatum

The Philadelphia Phillies appear on the verge of removing themselves from delusions of contending and selling off their veteran roster. Veteran closer Jonathan Papelbon would seem like a prime candidate to go, but according to the New York Post‘s Joel Sherman, the 33-year-old is also ready to exercise his no-trade clause:

The Phillies’ hurdles in trading Jonathan Papelbon only grow higher and higher.

And then there is this: Papelbon has a no-trade clause and has let the Phillies know he will not accept a trade to a place where he will be a setup man or in a shared closer situation. It is closing or nothing.

The Los Angeles Angels and Detroit Tigers loomed as two contenders in need of bullpen relief, but both have ameliorated those issues with Huston Street and Joakim Soria, respectively. Moreover, with four earned runs allowed in his past five appearances, Papelbon is not making himself particularly enticing to scouts:

The Dodgers (again) have been connected to Papelbon in the past according to Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles (h/t NJ.com’s Randy Miller), and the desire for bullpen help remains in Los Angeles. CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported that the Phillies would be willing to eat some of the $18 million remaining on Papelbon’s contract to facilitate a deal. However, given the Dodgers’ bottomless pockets, that is simply chump change that would do little to pique their interest.

If the Phillies are genuine about rebuilding, Cole Hamels, Cliff Lee and Chase Utley would probably return enough to jumpstart their uninspiring farm system. Unfortunately, all three have no-trade clauses, making significant change an unlikely proposition for the last-place Phillies.

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The Colorado Rockies are not having the 2014 season they envisioned, and things took a turn for the worse Saturday with Troy Tulowitzki.

Will Graves of The Associated Press filled fans in on the details:

The Rockies’ public relations team eventually provided an encouraging update:

Tulowitzki has been one of the few bright spots for the Rockies this year. The squad sits in last place in the National League West and at this point is just playing out the string.

That takes nothing away from his performance, though. He is raking at the plate with a .342 batting average, 21 home runs and 52 RBI. His OPS is an impressive 1.041, and his 5.7 wins above replacement rate, per ESPN, has helped the Rockies avoid an even worse record.

The question now becomes how serious this injury will be looking forward. Even if it is not terribly bad, it would probably be in the best interest of both the shortstop and team to keep him out for a few days.

It’s not as if Colorado is going anywhere this season. The long-term health of its primary star is far more important.

Stay tuned for updates as they develop.

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