Football is great and all, but we don't ignore baseball just because the season is over. Luckily for us, there's always something to talk about in Major League Baseball. Winter Meetings are over and a several big name free agents have signed, but there are still plenty of rumors going around the league. We're here to highlight the three most intriguing rumblings currently out there with the MLB Rumors You Need To Know For Dec. 16th:
Reds, Nationals, talking trade centered around 2B Brandon Phillips
The Cincinnati Reds are in full rebuilding trading away star third baseman Todd Frazier to the Chicago White Sox, and they've also placed second baseman Brandon Phillips on the trade block. According to FOX Sports' Ken Rosenthal, the Reds are talking with Washington about sending Phillips to the Nationals.
The trade would reunite Phillips with manager Dusty Baker, who managed the Reds from 2008-2013. Phillips is under contract for the next two seasons, but would have to waive his full no-trade protection.
Dodgers looking to deal Andre Either, Carl Crawford
Rosenthal is also reporting that the Los Angeles Dodgers are trying to deal Andre Either and/or Carl Crawford, and they may be willing to eat some of their salaries in order to make them more attractive options. Shredding that cap space would allow the Dodgers to try to make space for them to sign top-tier free agent like outfielder Alex Gordon, stealing him away from the Royals. However, Rosenthal thinks they could try to deal them to add more starting pitching after losing Zack Greinke:
Japanese right-hander Kenta Maeda, recently posted by the Hiroshima Carp, is one rotation option. Free agents Wei-Yin Chen, Mike Leake, Yovani Gallardo and Scott Kazmir are others. The Indians, Padres and Rays are still discussing starting pitchers in trades.
The additions of Maeda, Leake and Kazmir would not require the loss of a draft pick, so the Dodgers actually could end up plus-one in that department, forfeiting a pick for Iwakuma but gaining two for losing Greinke and second baseman Howie Kendrick.
Cardinals not making any big moves?
The St. Louis Cardinals missed out on big-fish free agents in David Price and Jason Heyward and the team might elect to not add any big names this offseason. The St. Louis Post-Dispatch spoke with general manager John Mozeliak, who said the Cardinals might just stand pat and avoid chasing big names.
"We still feel like from what we’ve been trying to do and been through this winter allows us ways to improve," Mozeliak said. "It’s clear now this offseason is not going to have that dynamic signing that we tried to do with (David) Price and Heyward. There isn’t anything now that we’re chasing with a nine-figure contract. We can take the time to see what we have in the players we control. Obviously, we’re always open to adjusting."
The Cardinals viewed Price and Heyward as the only two players they were going to reach for. That likely means no Mike Leake, Alex Gordon or players commanding similar contracts.
"When you look at how to approach an offseason you have that short view for the upcoming season but you have to factor in the longterm commitments that are going to go with some additions and how that works for the organization three, four years from now," Mozeliak said. "The answers you come up with for that speak to an organization’s philosophy. We have had a disciplined approach that we don’t want to change. But I understand it might not be what people want to hear when they’re looking for answers today."
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