MLB Trade Ideas Based on Latest GM Meetings News, Rumors and Speculation (2024)

The baseball universe has descended on sunny Boca Raton, Florida, for the annual general manager meetings and official start of the hot stove league. Agents, general managers and, quite likely, a smattering of players are making the rounds and laying the groundwork for deals down the road.

While none of these talks revolve around landing a condo at the exclusive Del Boca Vista, the chatter coming out of Florida has been focused on pitching—including a number of high-profile, All-Star-caliber arms—which is a bit surprising when you consider how deep the free-agent pitching market is.

Keep in mind these proposed deals are only ideas and pure speculation. Unless otherwise noted, there's no indication any of them have actually been discussed.

Baltimore Gets: 1B James Loney

Tampa Bay Gets:RHP Oliver Drake

The Rumor

Marc Topkin of theTampa Bay Times believes the Rays will look to trade veteran first baseman James Loney, who has become expendable for the fiscally conservative club.

Why It Works for the Orioles

While prospect Christian Walker might be ready to replace free agent Chris Davis at first base in Baltimore, the Orioles would be wise to have a veteran option available, preferably a left-handed bat that, at the very least, could platoon with him. Loney fits that description.

Sure, he's overpaid ($8 million) and coming off a poor season, both at the plate and in the field. But a move to a more hitter-friendly park should help to get his offense back on track, and it's not like the free-agent market is teeming with superior options.

Considering how negligible the cost to add Loney is, it's a deal the Orioles can take a chance on.

Why It Works for the Rays

Moving Loney not only affords the team some financial relief, but it opens playing time for prospect Richie Shaffer, who is blocked at third base by Evan Longoria and at designated hitter by the newly acquired Logan Morrison.

Entering his age-29 season, Oliver Drake isn't a prospect, and there's no guarantee that he'd even break camp with the Rays. He made his MLB debut for the Orioles last season and provided mediocre results, finishing with a 2.87 ERA and 1.60 WHIP over 15.2 innings of work, walking 12 and fanning 17.

If he can get his control under, well, control, Drake could be a useful addition to Tampa Bay's relief corps.

Cleveland Gets:LHP Mike Dunn andOF Marcell Ozuna

Miami Gets:RHP Carlos Carrasco

The Rumors

Cleveland has long been expected to shop one of its starting pitchers for a bat, and with the news that All-Star left fielder Michael Brantley could miss the start of the regular season after undergoing right shoulder surgery, according to Cleveland.com'sPaul Hoynes,doing so just took on a new level of importance.

With CBS Sports' Jon Heyman reporting that the Indians have interest in Miami's Marcell Ozuna—whoowner Jeffrey Loria wants to trade, per a report fromtheMiami Herald'sBarry Jackson—andFox Sports' Ken Rosenthal noting Miami's interest in adding a No. 2 starter, there's a deal to be made.

Why It Works for the Indians

While he's coming off a forgettable season that included amidseason demotionwhich upset the clubhouse and his agent, Scott Boras, Ozuna still has tremendous upside as he enters his age-25 season. A plus defender in either center field or left, it's Ozuna's potential as a run producer that makes him a fit.

It was only two years ago that Ozuna hit .269 with 23 home runs, 85 RBI, a .772 OPS and 115 wRC+, the latter placing him in the top 30 of all outfielders. A fresh start with a new team could easily see him replicate, if not exceed those numbers next season.

The Indians also land veteran reliever Mike Dunn, who, like Ozuna, wasn't great in 2015 (4.50 ERA, 1.39 WHIP), but has proved to be a solid reliever over the course of his seven-year career and gives manager Terry Francona the experienced left-handed bullpen option he badly needs.

Why It Works for the Marlins

Carlos Carrasco's name doesn't come up often when we rattle off the names of baseball's best pitchers, but the 28-year-old firmly established himself as a legitimate front-line starter in 2015. Consider the following:

That's pretty darn impressive—and pairing Carrasco with Jose Fernandez would give Miami an equally impressive one-two punch atop its rotation.

Kansas City Gets:LHP Jon Niese

New York Gets:RHP Louis Coleman

The Rumor

With Rafael Montero and Zack Wheeler expected back from injury and the Mets having interest in re-signing Bartolo Colon, theNew York Post's Mike Puma says the team could look to deal Jon Niese.

Why It Works for the Mets

New York saves a bit of cash in the deal, but more importantly, it opens up a spot for Colon, Montero or, eventually, Wheeler in the rotation. They also land a controllable reliever in Louis Coleman to bolster the bullpen.

Coleman, 29, has pitched to a 3.20 ERA and 1.25 WHIP over parts of five major league seasons, but spent most of 2015 at Triple-A, averaging nearly a strikeout per inning while posting a 1.69 ERA and 1.11 WHIP in 38 relief appearances.

Why It Works for the Royals

With Johnny Cueto and Jeremy Guthrie likely headed elsewhere via free agency and Jason Vargas not expected back until late 2016, Kansas City needs to add another starter. Niese is an ideal candidate in that the 29-year-old is essentially signed to three one-year deals.

Due $9 million in 2016, the Royals would hold options on him for 2017 ($10 million) and 2018 ($11 million), with each option coming with a $500,000 buyout. He's pitched to a 3.91 ERA and 1.36 WHIP over his eight-year career.

New York Gets:RHP Drew Storen, RHP Stephen Strasburg

Washington Gets:OF Brett Gardner, RHP Andrew Miller

The Rumor

CBS Sports'Jon Heymanreports thatAll-Star closer Andrew Miller is available—albeit at a very high price—andspeculates that a Miller-for-Stephen Strasburg swap could potentially work for both New York and Washington.But why stop there?

Why It Works for the Nationals

Strasburg is entering the final year of his deal and, as Heyman notes, may not be easy to extend. With top prospect Lucas Giolito nearlyready to take his place in the big league rotation and a deep free-agent class of starters, the Nationals have options to add another high-end arm.

Gardner essentially replaces Denard Span, both in center field and as the team's leadoff hitter. Hampered by a second-half wrist injury that limited his production, Gardner's presence allows Michael Taylor, who was a mess at the plate as a rookie, to work things out with no pressure at Triple-A.

Miller solidifies the ninth inning and removes a potential distraction in Storen, who can no longer trust the team to do right by himafter watching the Nationals take his closing job away in each of the past two seasons.

As for Jonathan Papelbon, Miller's presence allows the Nationals to do whatever they want with the hot-headed, outspoken reliever. Cut him, trade him, sell his contract to a team in Japan. He's a distraction that needs to be removed from the clubhouse.

Why It Works for the Yankees

All-Star reliever Dellin Betances can slide into Miller's ninth-inning spot while Storen takes over in the eighth. And this isn't a deal that would prohibit the Yankees from pursuing Aroldis Chapman or Craig Kimbrel in trades, as they didn't move any prospects to land Storen and Strasburg.

The Yankees would likely bid for Strasburg's services if he did hit free agency, so they get to test drive him for a year to see if he's a fit and would have the inside track on working out a new deal. A rotation featuring Strasburg, Masahiro Tanaka and Michael Pineda at the top could be special.

Moving Gardner gives the Yankees some flexibility and offers an opportunity for the likes of Slade Heathcott, Mason Williams or even Aaron Judge to perhaps break camp with the team in a starting role—or find the team a player with a big outfield bat in free agency.

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