Slowly but surely, MLB's hot stove is starting to cool down.
Max Scherzer has arrived in the nation's capital to play for the Nationals, according to ESPN.com, which leaves James Shields as the biggest unsigned name by about six country miles. After Shields, you're basically deciding who you like better between Casey Janssen and Rafael Soriano.
Not exactly great shakes.
But what the free-agent market lacks, the trade market has begun picking up. The Houston Astros officially sent Dexter Fowler to the Chicago Cubs on Monday for pitcher Dan Straily and third baseman Luis Valbuena, and Scherzer's signing in Washington leaves everyone wondering what's next for the Nationals.
Couple that with the Texas Rangers' impending acquisition of Yovani Gallardo, per Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com, and stuff is happening. Tons and tons of stuff.
Which, of course, means people are talking about stuff. Talking about a lot of stuff. Most of it won't happen, and very little will look the way it's being speculated upon now, but these recent deals indicate we're far from finished on the trade market.
With that in mind, let's take a look around baseball and see what the good folks are saying.
Which Nationals Pitcher Is Headed Bye-Bye? (Is Anyone?)
Washington's Publisher's Clearing House-sized check to Scherzer came with one assumption: If Scherzer is in, someone else is heading out. The Nationals' rotation as currently constituted would feature Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, Gio Gonzalez, Doug Fister and Jordan Zimmermann. That's five starters who would be top-two guys in most rotations.
Cue the trade rumors.
Zimmermann, heading into his last year of team control, was the most obvious candidate. He's been considered a potential trade piece even before Scherzer landed in Washington, and the latter's signing will only ratchet up the speculation. Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reported the Milwaukee Brewers covet the home-state Zimmermann and may push hard to trade for him after the Gallardo deal is finalized with Texas.
Milwaukee's payroll structure makes keeping Zimmermann long-term seem unlikely, and dealing Gallardo arguably indicates the Brewers are prepared for a rebuild in 2015. But Morosi smartly points out the Brewers aren't as cash-strapped as they seem after this coming season; a number of veteran players could be coming off the payroll.
Of course, this all assumes Washington wants to trade Zimmermann. Joel Sherman of the New York Post has indicated the Nationals are currently considering standing pat for next season and going all-in on their eye-popping rotation.
That wouldn't necessarily mean losing Zimmermann for nothing next offseason; Washington can tender him and get trade/pick compensation. Given their skyrocketing payroll, the Nationals may prefer the cost-controlled option in the long run.
Both mildly surprising and more interesting is a potential third option. It also involves keeping Zimmermann around but dealing ostensible franchise face Stephen Strasburg. Yes, that Stephen Strasburg. John Perrotto of USA Today reported the flamethrower is "very much" available and that both sides would like to move on.
This is confusing on a number of levels. Why would the Nationals throw gobs of money at a 30-year-old right-handed power pitcher but trade away their 26-year-old power pitcher with a reasonably similar skill set? That, it would seem, is what some folks would call hustling backwards. If there are behind-the-scenes squabbles about money, would it not make more sense to earmark the hundreds of millions for a dude four years younger?
There's more to this story. But if Strasburg winds up leaving as a result of Scherzer's arrival, fans would be right to start asking questions.
Braves Open to Moving Kimbrel If They're Bad?
That sentence should probably just be cut off after "Kimbrel." Based on their moves this offseason, the Braves are preparing to be mighty bad in 2015. Trading Evan Gattis, Jason Heyward and Justin Upton all in one fell swoop is a pretty strong indicator that a team has no plans on contending in the near future.
Doing that and signing Nick Markakis to a long-term deal? Let's just say I've had trouble deciphering what in the world this Braves front office is doing. All I do know is this team is significantly worse than the 79-win outfit from a year ago.
And if that's the case, the next high-profile veteran probably headed elsewhere is closer Craig Kimbrel. Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reported general manager John Hart would consider moving his All-Star arm if the Braves are on their way out of contention near the deadline.
Kimbrel is under team control through the 2018 season, so one would assume the asking price would be pretty high. Then again, one would've assumed the same for Gattis, Heyward and Upton—each of whom was dealt at below market value (or at least slightly below).
Kimbrel is one of the rare exceptions to the closer-fungibility rule, striking out 14.82 batters per nine innings for his career and blowing no more than four saves each of the last four years.
Given the fact he turns 27 in May, it wouldn't appear he's anywhere near the downslope. Kimbrel has appeared in 60-plus games each of the last four season and hasn't had any real injury issues. Perhaps Hart here would be relying on the general rule of relievers burning fast and bright before their flaming out, which isn't an unfair assumption.
Is it a given that Kimbrel is still spectacular when the Braves are good again? Probably not. Even under the most optimistic scenario, Atlanta probably isn't competing for a World Series again until 2017—pretty gosh darn convenient given that's when the club's new ballpark opens. Kimbrel by then will be nearing his 29th birthday.
That's still not old by any stretch, but it's also exceedingly rare for a reliever to be this good for that long. If the Braves can get a nice haul, they should probably look long and hard at pulling the trigger.
Around the Diamond
Nationals Thinking About Dealing Ian Desmond?
Without a contract extension in place—or one even close—the Nationals have begun considering moving on from shortstop Ian Desmond, per MLB.com’s Bill Ladson. The three-time Silver Slugger winner hit .255/.313/.430 last season and is in his last year of team control. Washington wouldn't have to look far for potential suitors. Desmond is one of MLB's best offensive shortstops and is a more than adequate defender.
Whether general manager Mike Rizzo will pull the trigger is another question. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports quoted Rizzo as saying teams would have to offer a "pretty elaborate" trade for the Nationals to consider it. Given their all-in push, it'd probably be smart to bet against Desmond's departure.
Phillies Want Blake Swihart in Hamels-to-Boston Deal?
Boston has long been the most likely destination for Phillies ace Cole Hamels. The Red Sox have a sizable need in the rotation, a solid farm system and are in the midst of a win-now push. Their ability to absorb Hamels' massive salary doesn't hurt, either.
One potential snag to the deal is Philadelphia's desire to land catcher Blake Swihart. Swihart is considered a better all-around talent than Christian Vazquez—especially with the bat—and has a real shot to make the big league roster with a strong spring training.
The 24-year-old defensive wizard is slotted as Boston's Opening Day catcher and is an early sleeper candidate for a Gold Glove. But Cafardo notes the Red Sox may be willing to add Vazquez to an offer in hopes of keeping Swihart. We'll probably have to wait until spring training for this to sort itself out.
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