MLB Trade Rumors

The New Year is underway, and the baseball hot stove is still going strong. There are plenty of rumors going around to quench your hot-stove thirst.

With all the rumors out there, it can be hard to identify which ones are legit and which ones have no chance of happening.

We simplify things for you and tell you which of the latest trade rumors you should buy and which ones you shouldn't. 

Jason Kubel for Alexei Ramirez

With fewer than 100 days remaining until opening day 2013, the Seattle Mariners still seem to be looking for ways to improve their team.

After trading for Kendrys Morales just before Christmas, rumors began swirling about whether the Mariners would deal their young first baseman Justin Smoak.

With an offseason that has already rocketed the Toronto Blue Jays to the top of the baseball world, would anyone really be surprised if general manager Alex Anthopoulos was to pull off another move?

The big news this week on the Justin Upton front is that the Arizona Diamondbacks agreed to a three-year, $26 million deal with Cody Ross (details at ESPN). The addition of Ross could spur the Diamondbacks into moving the 25-year-old outfielder.

MLB fans of every team witnessed big moves during this past year in the form of signings, firings, contract extensions and trades. Expect more of the same in 2013.

This list identifies inevitable player and management decisions. Some could be completed on New Year's Day, while others involving the upcoming free-agent crop won't occur until after the World Series.

Whatever your allegiance, there's something to look forward to.

According to MLBTradeRumors.com, there are seven remaining free agents on the open market from their top 50 free agents with predictions list.

The big dogs are finally off the market.

That means the rest of the hot stove dominoes will begin to fall. That could be as remaining free-agent signings or via trade for many teams.

While we have already witnessed some large trades take place this winter, there is nothing that says the trade market is anywhere near cooling off.

Josh Johnson, Jose Reyes and Mark Buehrle are all acclimating to life north of the boarder, having been part of a drastic trade that took place between the Miami Marlins and Toronto Blue Jays earlier this offseason.

Six months after signing a five-year, $85 million contract extension (h/t Sporting News) to stay in Los Angeles through the 2017 season, the Dodgers are shopping right fielder Andre Ethier, as reported by Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News (

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