The MLB offseason hot stove is already starting to heat up and some of the top names are players that many teams would love to have, including names like David Price, Dan Uggla, Max Scherzer, Howie Kendrick, Jeff Samardzija, Chase Headley, Dexter Fowler, Andre Ethier and Gordon Beckham.
This time of year is always prime for trade rumors, as some teams and general managers start to try and gauge what players are worth and what teams are looking for ahead of the winter meetings. David Price is the most likely player to get moved at the deadline and that is no real fault of his own, as the Rays usually do not go for high priced players, even when it's one of their own apart from Evan Longoria and the star pitcher has already said as much to reporters and mentioned that he knows he could be traded down the line this season. Price could be one of a number of pitchers to move, including Scherzer and Samardzija, while names like Brandon Phillips and Dan Uggla will dominate the infield.
Price would be just the latest pitcher to get dealt from the Rays, as they previously have let Matt Garza and James Shields go and now Price is looking like another target, as he will be eligible for arbitration and his salary could rise again this offseason. Teams like the Phillies and the Yankees could be options and Price said to reporters that he knows it is a possibility and that baseball is a business. Price went 10-8 with a 3-3 ERA last season in 27 games started and he was great down the stretch and now he could be a top target after winning a Cy Young.
Phillips looks like he definitely will be dealt from the Reds and the Braves, Tigers and Yankees could be options, while Max Scherzer could make it two Cy Young winners traded in the past two seasons, as he likely will be the Cy Young winner this year and comes after RA Dickey was dealt last season after winning it for the Mets.
Ken Rosenthal from Fox Sports has reported on a number of possible deals, including with the St. Louis Cardinals, Colorado Rockies and Los Angeles Dodgers. Rosenthal writes that the Cardinals could be in the market for a second baseman and with a number of those players possibly on the block, they could have some solid options, including Brandon Phillips, Dan Uggla and Ian Kinsler, as all have been mentioned as potential players that could get dealt. Carlos Gonzalez and Troy Tulowitzki could be options to move despite the Colorado Rockies saying they don't want to deal them, while Matt Kemp and Carl Crawford could be options for the Dodgers, as they will try to upgrade at second base
Some reports have had Dan Uggla and Phillips getting traded for each other, but either way both will be targets this offseason for anyone that needs some strength at 2B. Phillips had another solid season last year and after having some disputes with the Reds, he could get moved. Scherzer had an excellent season last year after winning 16 games in the previous season and the Tigers may not want to pay too much for him after his amazing season in 2013.
