MLB Hot Stove: 5 big names who could get dealt this offseason
CHRIS KNEPLEY
(This is Chris’ first article with Juiced)
Every winter during Major League Baseball’s “hot stove” there is always a trade or two that sends shockwaves through the league. Here are five players that could have a huge impact on the offseason headlines.
1. Cole Hamels
SP / Philadelphia Phillies
Skinny: Hamels is in the last year of his contract and is set up for a huge payday next winter. With both Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay under contract, it would be hard to see Philly dropping 15-20mil a season on Hamels. I could easily see the Phillies trading away Hamels for a team looking to make a one year push to the World Series before Hamels gets paid next off-season.
2. Joey Votto
1B / Cincinnati Reds
Skinny: Votto, the 2010 National League MVP is coming off a solid 2011 but failed to match his production from two years ago. The Reds have Votto under contract for two more seasons and will never have a chance to get more for him than they do this off-season. If Cincinnati can’t sign him to a club friendly, long term deal, the Reds would be hard pressed to afford Votto after 2013.
3. James Shields
SP / Tampa Bay Rays
Skinny: Shields finished 3rd this season for the American League Cy Young Award and helped carry the Rays to the playoffs once again. The Rays are stacked with pitching depth and Shields could be their most tradeable piece as they look to upgrade their offense going into 2012.
4. Hanley Ramirez
SS / Miami Marlins
Skinny: The Marlins reportedly are in hot pursuit of Jose Reyes this off-season and if they do happen to land the former Mets shortstop in Miami, Ramirez could be on his way out. Hanley’s agent has already claimed that he does not wish to change positions and an unhappy franchise player at a need position for most MLB teams could lead to Hanley changing zip codes by opening day.
5. Clayton Kershaw
SP / LA Dodgers
Skinny: With the Dodgers in a historic financial mess and the team in the midst of a sale, it wouldn’t be completely out of the question to see the Dodgers attempt to dump salary in order to make the team more appealing to potential buyers. Kershaw is a legitimate number one starter and although I think it would be more likely for the Dodgers to try to move either Chad Billingsley or Andre Ethier to dump payroll, I wouldn’t be all that surprised to see Kershaw in a new uniform in 2012.
Photo: Getty
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