MLB Trade Rumors

The New York Mets still need improve this offseason if they want to compete for a playoff spot in 2014, and they can do so by trading for a shortstop.

The 2013 MLB offseason has already brought about some interesting movement around the league. Some big-name players such as Robinson Cano have signed lucrative contracts with another club. However, others are still testing the market.

The 2013 MLB offseason has been full of blockbuster signings and surprise moves, but the trade rumors have continued to fly over the last several weeks.

With huge names like Tampa Bay’s David Price, Boston’s Jake Peavy and Philadelphia’s Jimmy Rollins reportedly on the market, the rumor mill has become a major topic of conversation.

Here are the biggest rumors circulating after the conclusion of the winter meetings.

It has been a wild offseason for the Boston Red Sox following their 2013 World Series title.

Boston has already endured a slew of transactions that have taken place since the team walked off with the World Series trophy.

If the Hot Stove is your thing, it's been a fun offseason. Many of the premium free agents are off the board now, but the good news is several still remain. As you'll see in this piece, there's still a few big trade pieces who could further shake things up.

Matt Kemp, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers

If we learned anything from last year’s MLB offseason, it’s that blockbuster trades are more likely to happen when previously untouchable prospects are made available.

By this time last year, the Royals had already dealt Wil Myers and three other prospects to the Rays in exchange for right-handers James Shields and Wade Davis.

Similarly, the Blue Jays' last-minute decision to include top prospects Travis d’Arnaud and Noah Syndergaard in the trade for R.A. Dickey ultimately brought the deal together.

Trades went down left and right last week during Major League Baseball’s annual winter meetings.

Unfortunately, none of those deals involved notable prospects.

Well, that changed on Monday when the Chicago White Sox acquired third baseman Matt Davidson from the Arizona Diamondbacks in exchange for closer Addison Reed.

The very thought of trading Craig Kimbrel can't help but rile up Atlanta Braves fans.

Although it's not necessarily even an actual rumor, the concept of trading baseball's best closer—as suggested recently by Buster Olney of ESPN (subscription required) merely as speculation—is just the kind of proposition that is, in a word, divisive.

Olney writes:

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?

The MLB winter meetings came and went without any big blockbuster signings or trades, but that didn't put a stop to the baseball rumor mill, which is always churning out new rumblings at this time of year.