The MLB offseason is already getting interesting.
It's only been a little over a week since the season ended, but it feels like a month's worth of rumors has been crammed into the last 11-plus days.
More importantly, there are some potential trades that are gathering some steam involving some notable names.
Let's take a look at some of the latest from the rumor mill.
Mets inquired about Andrelton Simmons
When two teams within the same division are involved in trade rumors, you'd expect the price tag to be very steep.
The New York Mets have contacted the Atlanta Braves in regards to Gold Glove shortstop Andrelton Simmons, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, but the Braves are essentially asking for the whole farm if the Mets want Simmons:
That's a moment where you want to yell, "Check, please."
Kudos to the Mets for wanting to pry one of the best defensive players in the game from a division rival, but surely they had to expect the Braves would want any one of their young aces in return. Atlanta definitely needs the pitching, but the Mets won't be so willing to give anyone up from their rotation.
Simmons batted .265 in 2015, which is far and away his best average since his rookie year in 2012. The 26-year-old shortstop won back-to-back Gold Gloves in 2013 and 2014, establishing himself as one of the best defensive infielders in all of baseball.
Anyone trading for Simmons is going to get a great defensive player, but he's average at best with a bat in his hands.
Mariners interested in Jackie Bradley Jr.
Multiple teams have contacted the Boston Red Sox in regards to young outfielder Jackie Bradley Jr., most notably the Chicago Cubs and Kansas City Royals, per Rob Bradford of WEEI 93.7 FM in Boston.
But a third team is also interested in taking Bradley off the Red Sox's hands, and that happens to be the Seattle Mariners, according to Fox Sports' Jon Morosi:
Bradley is another instance where he brings athleticism and youth to his position, but not much from the batter's box. Bradley did bat a career-best .249 in 2015 with a career-high 43 RBIs in only 74 games, but that's not what jumps off the page.
What has teams wanting Bradley is his .994 fielding percentage in three years, playing left, center and right field.
Give him a few more years, and Bradley may be a worthy candidate for a Gold Glove award, so it's understandable why teams are interested. The question is, how much are the Red Sox asking for teams to take Bradley off their hands?
Aroldis Chapman could be dealt this weekend
Cincinnati Reds closer Aroldis Chapman is one of the most dominant relievers in baseball, and the Reds are looking to move him.
It turns out that Chapman could actually be moved by this weekend, per MLB Network's Peter Gammons.
This would be a huge development if Chapman was moved to a contender. Teams are seeing the blueprint that the Kansas City Royals have implemented by winning with a dominant bullpen. What better way to bolster a roster's bullpen than with someone who has struck out 546 batters in six seasons?
One of those teams that's looking to get better at the tail end of its bullpen is the Boston Red Sox, per Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal:
The Reds are currently undergoing a huge transitional period, which also includes a fire sale. Moving Chapman is surely one out of respect to what he's done and to get him to a new situation, or a contender.
Boston is looking to improve heavily after finishing last in the American League East in 2015. Getting Chapman would surely be one way to do that.
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