The MLB offseason finally had its first blockbuster trade on Monday, but many more are likely coming before the season begins.
Jason Heyward was dealt from the Atlanta Braves to the St. Louis Cardinals, via the Braves' Twitter account. Reliever Jason Walden was also included by Atlanta in exchange for Shelby Miller and Tyrell Jenkins.
Both fanbases have reacted accordingly, but every other team continues to move forward. In fact, another player is already rumored to be on the move in Atlanta after the Heyward trade.
Here's a look at the latest trade rumors from around the MLB, starting with a current Braves slugger.
Heyward was the first big name, but he might not be the only notable player on the Braves' trade block.
Justin Upton was a better offensive player than Heyward last season, but is apparently a movable piece for Atlanta. Following the Heyward trade, Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted that Upton might be next:
Over the last two seasons in Atlanta, Upton's bat has been one of the most powerful in the lineup on a consistent basis. Since coming over from the Arizona Diamondbacks, Upton has 56 home runs, 172 RBI and a .478 slugging percentage.
That power also makes him a hot commodity on the trade market. Buster Olney of ESPN offered his take on a potential move:
It's clear that the that team is looking to build for the future after trading Heyward for Miller, but this would shred any offense from the lineup outside of Freddie Freeman. Still, Upton has just one year left on his contract, per Spotrac, so now might be the right time to get valuable assets in return.
If a player like Taijuan Walker truly is coming back, Atlanta would have two valuable young pitchers to add to the starting rotation. However, a seriously depleted lineup would put all the pressure firmly on those young pitchers to step up.
Cole Hamels
Speaking of NL East teams looking to rebuild, the Philadelphia Phillies might finally be ready to try that idea. But will they really make the trades necessary to go into full rebuild mode?
One name out on the market during the offseason has been Cole Hamels. Not much has come out about the starter recently, but Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe believes his name will resurface.
"Look for the Phillies to reopen trade talks with the Red Sox on Cole Hamels," Cafardo writes. "The Sox have shot down a couple of proposals already."
Now, this clearly isn't anything definitive, but it's a deal that might make sense for both sides.
The Boston Red Sox have been an up-and-down team over the last three seasons, going from worst to first back to worst in the AL East. Along the way, they also won the 2013 World Series and traded away Jon Lester last season.
It's been a bumpy ride, but they still have several pieces to make another run. One of the biggest areas of weakness, however, is the starting rotation, as Jon Morosi of Fox Sports points out:
There's no telling what the Phillies might be requesting in return for Hamels, but he will likely come at a steep price. For a pitcher coming off a brilliant season, with a 2.46 ERA and almost 200 strikeouts for the third straight year, Hamels would be a huge get for the Red Sox.
Howie Kendrick
Moving away from the East Coast, one AL West team might be looking at moving a veteran infielder.
Howie Kendrick was one of the stalwarts in a powerful Los Angeles Angels lineup last season. Given the current star power on the roster, moving Kendrick appears to be under consideration for the Angels.
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported the latest on Kendrick possibly being moved:
The Angels aren't necessarily looking to trade Howie Kendrick or David Freese, but they are getting calls on both of them, and if they can acquire the right pitcher for either, they'd still consider it.
The Yankees and Blue Jays are among teams that have called about Kendrick, who is believed to have received more interest than Freese. The Nats and A's are among other teams that may address second base.
Kendrick's power saw a dip last season, but he remained a big reason for the Angels' success. His .293/.347/.397 slash line along with 75 RBI were crucial as the team climbed to the top of the division.
Already having sluggers like Albert Pujols, Mike Trout and Josh Hamilton, Los Angeles can begin focusing on the pitching staff. While Kendrick might not be on the move, the current team can take the hit with Gordon Beckham taking over the role.
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