Nightengale: MLB trade talk will soon turn to action
PHOENIX - They parted company Thursday, promised to keep in touch, and by the time they get together again next month in San Diego, the baseball landscape could look different.
The four-day Major League Baseball general managers meetings concluded with two free agent signings and a couple of small trades, but the GMs predicted a potential tidal wave of trade activity over these next few weeks.
"I think it's going to be an active trade market," Washington Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo says. "There's a lot of aggressive conversations going on. It seems like there's a lot of teams looking to change their clubs."
Considering the woefully thin free agent market, which lost one of the biggest prizes when DH Victor Martinez agreed Wednesday to a four-year, $68 million contract with the Detroit Tigers, teams have little choice but to interact with one another.
"I expect it will be a pretty busy trade season," Texas Rangers GM Jon Daniels says, "because the free agent market has areas that are really lacking. It pushes teams toward the trade table."
Follow every MLB game: Latest MLB scores, stats, schedules and standings.
The marquee position players on the market are San Francisco Giants third baseman Pablo Sandoval, Baltimore Orioles DH Nelson Cruz and Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Russell Martin.
The Giants want Sandoval back, and the Boston Red Sox are trying to lure him into a visit next week. Yet with the Giants showing a sense of urgency, there might be no need for Sandoval to make that Boston flight. The Orioles are doing the same with Cruz, visiting with him Tuesday in Phoenix.
The Chicago Cubs and Toronto Blue Jays might have cornered the market on Martin. And considering the Pirates traded for New York Yankees catcher Francisco Cervelli, they realize it might be time to drop out of this high-priced poker game.
The market has been quiet for the three premium free agent starting pitchers. Oakland Athletics ace Jon Lester is being heavily courted by the Cubs and Red Sox, with the loser likely sent back into the trade market where the Philadelphia Phillies have Cole Hamels waiting. Max Scherzer and James Shields also are awaiting mega-offers, which could impact the trade market.
And, once again, the Yankees are being stealthy, refusing to tip their hand on whether they're willing to write a $100 million check after spending $480 million in last year's market.
They already have committed $170 million to 10 players on next year's payroll after spending $232 million a year ago, according to the 40-man rosters submitted by teams to Major League Baseball's central office and obtained by USA TODAY Sports.
"It will be high, I can tell you that," Yankees GM Brian Cashman says. "It will be impressive.
"I'm just hopeful the roster will be as impressive."
The Yankees, who are hoping to get out of the $61 million they owe Alex Rodriguez, might simply try to keep their team from a year ago intact, trying to retain closer David Robertson and starter Brandon McCarthy.
Yet agent Scott Boras says the Yankees might have no choice but to call his Newport Beach, Calif., office and enter the Scherzer sweepstakes after missing the playoffs in successive seasons for the first time in 20 years.
"The Steinbrenner history has always been we're going to win," Boras says. "It serves their brand. It serves their model to do everything they can to win.
"This guy is a No.1 pitcher. There aren't that many of them. It's the difference between a good team and a World Series team."
The game is so flush with money these days even the Miami Marlins are willing to write the biggest check in franchise history to retain Giancarlo Stanton, who's eligible for free agency in two years. They've had serious conversations about a long-term contract, ranging from six to 10 years in length.
"We're trying to get away from having to trade everybody because they get expensive," Marlins President Mike Hill says. "Enough of that. We want to win."
The Marlins will keep Stanton through at least this season, no matter whether he signs an extension, Hill says. They have let teams know they won't listen to trade proposals, so teams stopped asking.
"We've been upfront since last offseason that we weren't trading him," Hill said. "I think that message has been received."
While Stanton will remain in Miami, there are plenty of All-Star outfielders on the trade market. The Red Sox are listening on Yoenis Cespedes and Allen Craig. The Colorado Rockies look willing, if not ready, to deal Carlos Gonzalez, along with shortstop Troy Tulowitzki.
And the Los Angeles Dodgers have let teams know they are willing to trade Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford or even Matt Kemp.
Just not Yasiel Puig.
"I think that's most likely the best course of action," said Andrew Friedman, Dodgers president of baseball operations. "Things play out in different ways, but I'll be surprised if it's not in a way to move an outfielder to address an area not as deep."
The Atlanta Braves also have two of the finest young outfielders available on the market in Justin Upton and Jason Heyward and are shopping catcher Evan Gattis, too.
"We obviously have all options open," said John Hart, the Braves' president of baseball operations. "Nothing is settled here."
Or anywhere else. It's that time of year.
Let the trades begin.
