The calendar has turned to December, bringing about unbearably cold climates and a flaming MLB hot stove.
As baseball fans found out last week, anything can happen during the offseason. In a stunning twist of events, the Oakland Athletics dealt third baseman Josh Donaldson to the Toronto Blue Jays for Brett Lawrie, 18-year-old shortstop Franklin Barreto and two pitching prospects.
Wow, who saw that coming? Donaldson's name never frequented the rumor mill, and for good reason. Not only was he the Oakland Athletics' best player over the past two years, but only Mike Trout and Andrew McCutchen have netted a higher WAR since 2013.
After that blockbuster unfolded, let's not steer away from marquee names who could change scenery by Opening Day. Two of the three following players play on a team that already made a seismic move, and the other plays for an aging squad that really ought to shake things up.
Justin Upton "Marked Man" on Trade Market
Five years from now, anybody who foreboded Justin Upton getting shopped at age 27 would have been declared insane. He hasn't exactly lived up to the Ken Griffey Jr. comparison, but he remains a tremendous power bat after decking 29 homers in 2014.
The Atlanta Braves already sent Jason Heyward to the St. Louis Cardinals for Shelby Miller, but that hasn't locked down Upton's spot in Atlanta's outfield next season. According to CBS Sports' Jon Heyman, several teams are clamoring for Upton, whom the Braves remain willing to sell.
With about 12 teams looking for an outfielder, and at least that many seeking that rarest of commodities, right-handed power, Upton is a marked man these days.
Word is, the Braves have been hit hard with Upton trade interest, and he could wind up with one of about a dozen other teams, assuming he is dealt (and that appears to be a likelihood now).
Heyman cited the Seattle Mariners as a top threat, as they could dangle Taijuan Walker or James Paxton. He believes Seattle is more likely to deal Walker but added that the team is reluctant to move either valuable young pitcher.
Whiffs remain a problem for Upton, who brandished a career-high 26.7 strikeout percentage in 2014. That excessive number of punchouts has contributed to a career .274 batting average, yet he's managed to post a prolific .830 OPS. He has his limitations, and anyone about to give the moon for him should have pursued the younger, more defensively potent Heyward instead.
Yet power comes at a premium these days, and the righty's 133 weighted runs created plus (wRC+) rated 11th among all qualified outfielders. Suitors must beware valuing him as the superstar he was once expected to become and instead treat him as the three- to four-win asset he is.
Jeff Samardzija May Be Next Oakland Star on Move
Brad Pitt better get ready for Moneyball 2, where a scorned Billy Beane decides to watch Oakland burn after one disappointing postseason too many. After trading Donaldson, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that the A's general manager is not done.
"The Athletics, according to a major-league source, have at least one more significant trade brewing," Rosenthal wrote. "The source went on to say, 'This is Billy re-working the club.'"
It certainly looks like Jeff Samardzija is the next big name out. Heyman pinpointed the 29-year-old righty at the center of trade discussions.
A's star right-hander Jeff Samardzija is in the middle of trade talk, rivals executives confirm. And his "hometown" Chicago White Sox are one of the teams talking to the A's about Samardzija.
It's no surprise considering Samardzija's available since Oakland nine possesses no less than nine viable starters following the big trade late Friday night, and Samardzija is due to become a free agent after the season, with no hope of the A's re-signing him.
Without Donaldson and Yoenis Cespedes, the Athletics are in need of some serious offensive reinforcements. Even though they won't retain Jon Lester, their rotation remains deep with Sonny Gray, Scott Kazmir, Drew Pomeranz, Jesse Chavez, Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin, the last two returning from Tommy John surgery.
"Hey, what about Upton?" you ask. John Hickey of the Bay Area News Group shut that pairing down:
Plenty of teams would love to acquire a rebranded Samardzija, who registered a 2.99 ERA last season behind a career-low 1.76 walks per nine innings. Although the White Sox won 73 games last year, they remain committed to fielding a winner, having already given Adam LaRoche and Zach Duke sizable free-agent deals.
Trading significant pieces for a pitcher under contract for one year, however, makes little sense for a team more than one player away from a title push. The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo linked Samardzija to the Boston Red Sox, a much more logical fit given their surplus of position players and deep farm system.
Now that Beane is retooling, expect him to return the pitcher he rented in July.
Phillies Underwhelmed in Talks for Cole Hamels
Cole Hamels might exist as the anti-Donaldson, the star constantly mentioned in trade rumors who never gets moved anyway. According to ESPN's Jayson Stark, little is cooking on the Hamels front:
One of MLB's most reliable aces, Hamels weaved a 2.46 ERA through 204.2 innings last season. Since 2010, only five starters have pitched more frames. Among those guys, only Clayton Kershaw and Felix Hernandez hold lower ERAs over that stretch.
The Philadelphia Phillies are understandably setting the bar high on Hamels, who turns 31 later this month. GM Ruben Amaro Jr. has apparently expressed unwavering stubbornness to deal any of Philadelphia's veterans. Stark also said the New York Yankees balked on shortstop Jimmy Rollins when finding out the general manager's asking price.
If this sounds familiar, the Phillies reportedly wanted top prospect Aaron Judge from the Yankees in exchange for 37-year-old Marlon Byrd this past summer. One would think a last-place team saddled with overpriced players past their peak would eagerly desire a youth movement.
So far, Amaro remains content to wait out these tumultuous years. If he stands pat much longer, Hamels will become the only bargaining chip with any remaining trade value.
Note: All statistics courtesy of FanGraphs.
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