The offseason is already starting as teams are putting in qualifying offers on their free agents and players are accepting or rejecting the offer. As the offseason gets into full swing and the winter meetings begin General Managers of every team will start fielding offers on players, whether they are actually contemplating trading them or not. Every team, though, has at least one player that they should consider trading. It may be because they have underperformed, are one the downslide of their career or even over performed and it is time to sell high, but every team has at least one person they should consider trading. First up is the American League teams.
Baltimore Orioles - J.J. Hardy
The Orioles have a serious lack of quality starting pitching. They tried to address that issue during the season when they made a trade for Houston Astros ace Bud Norris, but the rotation could still use another solid arm. They could get that arm by selling high on Hardy who is coming off of a year where he won both the Gold Glove and Silver Slugger awards and is heading into a contract year. If the Orioles get an offer for Hardy that can bring back a quality starting pitcher they need to make it and don’t think twice about it.
Boston Red Sox - Will Middlebrooks
It is painfully obvious that Xander Bogaerts is the future at third base for the Sox and while Middlebrooks value has diminished after a down season they may be able to get something in return of the young right hander. While he didn’t perform like the Sox were hoping when they traded away long time corner infielder and Greek God of Walks, Kevin Youkilis, but he is young and still has a lot of power and there will be a team out there that thinks they can turn him into the next Chris Davis. The Sox could possibly lose a couple of key offensive pieces this offseason in Stephen Drew and Jacoby Ellsbury and a trade of Middlebrooks could bring back a piece or two that could fill those needs in the near future.
Chicago White Sox - Adam Dunn
Honestly, these Sox should think about trading almost anyone not named Chris Sale, but it is pretty obvious that they will be fielding offers for the Big Donkey. In his three seasons in Chicago Dunn has been, well, less than stellar. Yes, he hit 41 and 34 home runs in the past two seasons, but hovering right over .200 isn’t what they expected when they signed him away from Washington after two 38 home run seasons where he hit over .260. They have a lot of holes to fill in Chicago, and there will be a team out there who has a need at designated hitter or first base who will be willing to take a chance on Dunn for his 40 home run capability.
Cleveland Indians - Trevor Bauer
Just get rid of him. The kid seems to be a bad egg and the team made a run at the playoffs with solid chemistry and while they may need him to fill the spot that will be vacated if Ubaldo Jimenez exits via free agency the team may be better off to just let the kid go.
Detroit Tigers - Austin Jackson
Jackson has been the starting center fielder for the Tigers for four seasons since the trade that sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees and he has two more seasons before becoming a free agent, but it may be time to part with the free swinger. He has been an excellent leadoff man for the Tigers in his time, scoring 90 runs or more in each of his seasons, but hitting in front of Miguel Cabrera anyone could score 90 runs right? The Tigers could go out and sign a center fielder in free agency, a free agent class that includes Granderson, and send Jackson to a team that could bring some bullpen help back to the team. The Tigers have a serious issue in the pen, and any help at all at this point could help them get to the next level.
Houston Astros - Paul Clemens
In all honesty the Astros have no one left to trade, but if they were to trade anyone that would bring back a solid return it would be Clemens. He is young. only 25-years-old, and will not be a free agent till 2020, so it is highly unlikely they would trade him, but if they sent him packing they’d get a huge return for Clemens just based on his last name and stuff alone.
Kansas City Royals - Billy Butler
Like the Astros the Royals really shouldn’t trade anyone, but if they were to trade someone Butler would be the perfect person to trade. Butler is going into the final year of his contract and is limited to only designated hitter duties. While Butler is a fan favorite and had a career year just one season ago a designated hitter who averages only 18 home runs a year is not the kind of player that takes a team to the next level. Trading Butler might not bring back a lot in terms, but with players like Delmon Young and Kendrys Morales on the free agent market who could replace Butler getting anything back for him could be worth it.
Los Angeles Angels - Howie Kendrick
The Angels have a huge need at both starting pitcher and in the bullpen. The pen could be helped by picking up one of the many closers out there on the market, but the need goes deeper than the back end of the pen so if they can get anything to help the pen or the starting rotation for Kendrick it would be huge. Kendrick is solid, and anyone would love to have him holding down second base, but the Angels needs in the pen and the rotation are far greater and they now have Grant Green who seems ready to take over everyday duties at second.
Minnesota Twins - Josh Willingham
The Twins have been rumored for the last two season to be floating Willingham out there and now he is heading into the last season of his contract. If the offer is right then Hammer could be gone in a second. The Twins have a lot of solid young talent right now and trading away a guy like him could bring back even more. After three straight seasons near the bottom of the division they need as much young talent as they can get and as good at Hammer can be, a 35-year-old limited outfielder in the last season of his contract isn’t the key to the future.
New York Yankees - Mark Teixeira
It was hard to narrow this down because the Yankees have three players it would benefit them to get rid of, but no one is going to touch Alex Rodriguez amid the steroid scandal he is involved in, and CC Sabathia’s position in the rotation is a greater need than Teixeira's at first base. Teixeira is on the downside of his career and struggled with injury for the entire 2013 season, which makes this a trade to add by subtracting. At this point in his career the Yankees won’t get a whole lot back for him, but there still may be someone out there who is willing to take a risk on a guy who has hit 20 plus home runs in every year of his career until the injury plagued 2013. In reality the Yankees probably don’t trade him and they take the risk themselves.
Oakland Athletics - Josh Reddick
The Athletics would have a hard time explaining to the fans why they are trading away a fan favorite that doesn’t have an expiring contract, but this may be the best move for the team. Red is best defensive player on the team and has shown that he can hit for the kind of power that any team would love to have, but his inability to control his emotions affects his offensive play and with Michael Choice breathing down his neck it may shorten his time. The Athletics don’t have a whole lot of need that would cause them to even trade Red, but that has never stopped them from making a trade before.
Seattle Mariners - Jesus Montero
The trade for Montero seemed like a win for both teams at the time. The Yankees were getting a stud starting pitcher and the M’s were getting a power hitting catcher for the future, but neither side of the trade has really worked out for either team. Montero has not lived up to the hype that they had hoped he would when the trade was made, and now Mike Zunino has taken over as the starting catcher for this team. Catcher is a prime position in MLB and anything the M’s get back for Montero that could help right now, like a veteran who can be a designated hitter, would pay huge dividends for the team.
Tampa Bay Rays - David Price
I honestly think it’s a bad idea, but it makes the most sense given the recent history of the team. Price is in the last year of his contract, and the recent history of the team indicates that the team would have no problem sending Price away, and with Matt Moore and Chris Archer ready to take over at the top of the rotation if the Rays can swing a deal like they did for James Shields it could be well worth it.
It is hard to believe that trading away a former Cy Young award winner could be worth it, but the Rays management has a way of making these things work out.
Texas Rangers - Ian Kinsler
The problem with the Rangers is they have too many really good infielders and nowhere to put them all. They should probably look at trading Elvis Andrus more than they should look at trading Kinsler, but Kinsler is more likely to pull back a decent haul that could actually help the team. If the Rangers don’t move one of them they are going to have to get very creative, but moving Kinsler and filling other needs like designated hitter or starting pitching could be the answer to everything because every team wants a 20-20 threat who hits at the top of the order and plays a prime position like second.
Toronto Blue Jays - Sergio Santos
While Santos has been recovering from his injury, the Blue Jays have set up quite a nice back end of the bullpen with Brett Cecil, Steve Delabar and Casey Janssen leaving little need for Santos at the back end of the bullpen. If the Jays can convince someone that Santos is healthy and can pitch like the man who saved 30 games for the White Sox in 2011 it is possible then maybe they can find someone who misses out on one of the big time closers on the free agent market who is willing to give up young starting pitching.