 Trades Vital Signs
Juan Cruz. Jorge Sosa. Jorge Julio. Those are some of the biggest names to be traded during Spring Training in recent years. Will 2008 be any different? Here are ten who might be dealt.
- Brian Roberts: The Cubs have been on Roberts' trail for months. Will it get done? My hunch is yes. It's debatable whether the Cubs have a strong need for the second baseman, but a package of Sean Gallagher, Ronny Cedeno, and Matt Murton seems strong.
- Joe Blanton: Though it's all relative, Blanton currently holds the "best available starter" crown. He's under team control for three more years, and Billy Beane seems to be valuing Blanton as a #2 starter. The Reds and Dodgers seem the most likely suitors, and Cincy needs him more.
- Joe Crede: The Crede to San Francisco rumor has been lingering for quite a while. Seems that Aaron Rowand is campaigning for it. If Crede has a back pain-free spring, the Giants may send a decent reliever over for him. Not much buzz around other interested teams, but Kenny Williams would do well to involve more.
- Coco Crisp: Crisp and his agent are understandably less than thrilled with a center field timeshare with Jacoby Ellsbury. Crisp has become a defensive whiz in center, at the expense of his offense. That he's signed through '09 with a '10 option might be working against Theo Epstein. No serious suitor has emerged, and Epstein may have to sit on his surplus for now.
- Vicente Padilla: Pitching always seems scarce, but this year there may be potential free agent bargains lingering. That hurts the market value of Padilla, who already carries all sorts of baggage. He's another player signed through '09 with an option for '10. The Rangers might have to eat half of the $24.75MM owed to him, or else swap him for another bad contract.
- Chris Capuano: Most folks expect to see the Brewers trade one of Capuano, Dave Bush, and Claudio Vargas before the season begins. Milwaukee is one of few teams with a legitimate starting pitching surplus. But if these guys don't cut it in the American League and the NL Central is off-limits, what options are left? Perhaps the Dodgers or Mets.
- Jason Botts: The Rangers have a situation where one of Botts, Nelson Cruz, and David Murphy may have to go before the season begins. Murphy probably stays since he can handle center. Cruz, as a right fielder, may have more trade value than Botts right now.
- Dan Johnson: A first baseman with a career line of .249/.344/.420 doesn't get the phone lines burning. If Mike Sweeney has a healthy spring, Johnson may get a fresh start elsewhere. Would San Francisco work?
- Nick Johnson: Most expect this trade to occur during the season rather than spring. But if Johnson comes out 100% and mashes in Spring Training, maybe a club will aggressively pursue the first baseman. Not many players can get on base like Johnson, but not many have his fragility.
- Xavier Nady: When will Neal Huntington emerge from his slumber and make a move? That there were even rumors of non-tendering Nady suggests the Bucs may not be keen on him. He'll make $3.35MM in '08, and teams like the Mets or Padres may have interest.
Tim Dierkes covers every baseball rumor on his site MLB Trade Rumors and fantasy baseball on Roto Authority.Click here for a breakdown of the key Spring Training battles.
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 Spring Training Photos
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If you're planning a trip to your favorite team's Spring Training, and you snap a good picture, send it to us and we'll post it in the slideshow to the right. Click here to submit your photos, video, or stories from Spring Training '08.
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