Oh, to be an outfielder with some open market or trade value in MLB right now. Or maybe it’s more appropriate to say it’s a great time to be a team with a surplus of outfielders when demand for them is currently so high throughout the game.
Starting pitchers will draw much of the rumor spotlight, especially if Jon Lester signs with a team and opens up the pitching market. Trades involving Jeff Samardzija or Cole Hamels could follow from there. But with the decrease in offense throughout MLB and so many teams in need of outfield bats, this is where the most action could be seen as baseball begins its annual winter meetings in San Diego.
How high is the demand for outfielders? Last week, Fox Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi posted the following tweet, summing up the market.
Orioles, Blue Jays, Tigers, Mariners, Rangers, Braves, Reds, Giants, Padres, Royals, Indians trying to add an outfielder now, execs say.
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) December 3, 2014
The tweet was almost comical, listing 11 clubs — or one-third of the teams in MLB. Under those circumstances, any team with three to four outfielders filling out the lineup has to consider itself lucky.
Of course, a few of the teams mentioned above are in need of outfielders because they lost players to free agency. The Orioles, notably, are now without Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis, leaving two big holes in their lineup. Cruz went to Seattle, but figures to play more at designated hitter with the Mariners preferring a better glove (Melky Cabrera?) in right field. The Tigers lost Torii Hunter, though let him go willingly. The Braves traded Jason Heyward and are reportedly shopping Justin Upton and Evan Gattis, but signed Markakis to fill one of their outfield spots.
According to reports, Cleveland is ready to acquire slugger Brandon Moss from the A’s. Moss may not end up playing the outfield for the Tribe, but that’s where he was in Oakland late last season. Perhaps Moss is better suited for DH, but this could precipitate another deal for the Indians. Nick Swisher or Michael Bourn could be dealt off to another club seeking a bat or defensive whiz. Ryan Raburn and/or David Murphy could soon find themselves elsewhere as well.
#Indians guardedly optimistic that trade for Oakland’s Brandon Moss will get done. Timetable to be determined. — paul hoynes (@hoynsie) December 4, 2014
UPDATE (12:45 p.m. ET): Yahoo! Sports’ Jeff Passan reports that a trade sending Moss to Cleveland is done. The Indians send Double-A second baseman Joey Wendle to Oakland in exchange.
Could the hometown Padres make a splash at the winter meetings? Under new general manager A.J. Preller, San Diego has been looking to make an impact addition, pursuing free agents Pablo Sandoval and Yasmany Tomas. The Padres have starting pitching to spare, which could make them a nice match with the Red Sox, whose roster runneth over with outfielders. Trading Yoenis Cespedes to San Diego for Ian Kennedy is a straight-up deal that makes sense.
Source: #RedSox, #Tigers discussed Cespedes/Porcello but not hot currently. Cespedes also linked to Kennedy (Padres) h/t @Ken_Rosenthal
— Michael Silverman (@MikeSilvermanBB) December 7, 2014
Since Boston signed Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez, Cespedes has also been linked to the Tigers in a possible trade involving Rick Porcello. Other outfielders that Red Sox GM Ben Cherington will put on his table at the winter meetings include Shane Victorino, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Daniel Nava. Boston insists that Mookie Betts isn’t available, but looking at its roster, you have to wonder where he would play. Cherington might just be looking for a package he can’t refuse.
Joe Lucia already covered the Dodgers’ overload of outfielders in a separate post, and nothing has changed there during the past week. Matt Kemp is a man in demand, having been linked to the Padres and Orioles in rumors. The remaining five years and $107 million on his contract is one big enchilada to move, but compared to what hitters are currently getting on the free agent market, those numbers are arguably a bargain.
Kemp showed he can still be a significant run-producer, batting .309 with a .971 OPS, 17 home runs and 54 RBI during the second half of the season. Though his contract is an obstacle, the Dodgers figure to get a lot more in exchange for that kind of production than whatever Andre Ethier or Carl Crawford might yield. Team president Andrew Friedman and GM Farhan Zaidi would be fortunate to get any notable minor leaguers in return.
However, maybe that’s selling Ethier short. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported that the Dodgers and Diamondbacks had a deal in place that would’ve sent Ethier to Arizona in exchange for catcher Miguel Montero. D-Backs’ ownership ultimately nixed that trade. But this does give us an idea of what it might take to move a player (and contract) like Ethier. He’ll likely have to be traded for another relatively large contract that a team wants to shed from its payroll.
The D-Backs could also be one of the outfield sellers this week after signing Tomas. Mark Trumbo, who was miscast as an outfielder last season in Arizona, is a powerful right-handed bat that should interest any club seeking a DH or first baseman. GM Dave Stewart may also try to sell high on David Peralta, who hit .286 with a .770 OPS, nine triples and eight homers in 88 games.
Other teams that could shed some outfielders include the Rays with Matt Joyce, David DeJesus and perhaps even Desmond Jennings. The Nationals appear set with their outfield, but may see if they can move Denard Span or a minor leaguer like Steven Souza, Michael Taylor or Brian Goodwin (though either of those players is a likely replacement for Span in 2015). The Cardinals have Jon Jay, Peter Bourjos, Randal Grichuk and Stephen Piscotty ready for any potential deal.
Could the Rockies see what kind of interest Carlos Gonzalez attracts around MLB? Colorado also has Drew Stubbs, Charlie Culberson and Kyle Parker to spare. Wilin Rosario is a potential outfielder, first baseman or DH for a team in need of a right-handed slugger as well. The Brewers are shopping around Manny Parra, who’s set for a big raise in arbitration. And the Astros may look to move center fielder Dexter Fowler.
Those are a lot of potential moves that could be made this week in San Diego. Naturally, not all of these players will be moved. Not every team in need of an outfielder (or two) will get their man this week. But the market is wide open, setting baseball up for what could be a hugely exciting week of activity and potential deals to occur well into February and March. Outfielders set for a big raise or whose roster spot is uncertain probably want to keep their cell phones handy this week. And maybe checking leases and mortgages is a good idea too.
