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Trades that should and shouldn’t be done this off-season

By Andrew Armida, FCP Correspondent

As the winter meetings approach, the rumors are spreading like crazy and we find ourselves saying “I hope we can land him,” “No way that should be done” and “I can’t believe they’re even considering trading him!” Here’s a breakdown on some trades that might or might not happen.

Offer:

Yankees send RHP Phil Hughes, OF Melky Cabrera, and OF prospect Austin Jackson to the Twins for LHP Johan Santana.

There have been many different offers from all of Santana’s suitors but this is the one that has been coming up most often recently. Santana has already given the thumbs up to be traded. I think this is a deal that should be done. It seems like a fair deal for both teams. When you look at it, the Yankees have pretty good depth in the outfield so losing Melky won’t hurt them too much. Phil Hughes is going to be a solid pitcher for years to come but he’s not Joba, and he is not going to post dominant numbers year in and year out. And although those traded prospects sometimes come back to haunt you (look at the Twins who have gotten Liriano and Nathan for nobody) the Yankees can probably afford to lose Jackson. Also, the Yankees would be getting a dominant pitcher for at least two or three years until Johan starts to decline (Yes, I think he’s going to start to decline pretty soon). I think the Twins would be getting a great package even if they don’t hold out for Cano, which would be pretty interesting. Getting Melky would add a spark to the Twins lineup, and would give them somebody with great defense and a great arm in the outfield. Phil Hughes would be a great fit for the Twins and if he could team up with Liriano and maybe even Baker, they would have pretty a solid staff for years to come. And Austin Jackson, who is only 20, is a solid prospect and could join Melky in the outfield in a while. So all in all, this might not happen, but I think it would be a good deal for both teams.

Offer:

Angels Send 2B Howie Kendrick, C Jeff Mathis, Prospect RHP Nick Adenhat, and OF Reggie Willits to the Marlins for 3B Miguel Cabrera.

Again, there have been many offers between the Angels and the Marlins along with many other teams but this has been the most recent. I think this is a deal that should and will happen. This trade may not consist of these people (I’ve heard Dan Uggla, Brandon Wood, and Ervin Santana a lot too), but it should be done. The Angels need another big bat to protect Vlad, and Cabrera would be a good fit for them. Adding a young, powerful bat would help the somewhat punch-less lineup. And if the Angels do land Uggla as well, they would get another power bat. When you look at the Marlin’s side, they may not receive all of these people, but they are all good fits for the young Marlins team. Howie Kendrick can play a lot of positions and has a pretty good bat. Reggie Willits would be perfect for the Marlins to join Hermida and Willingham in the outfield now that he doesn’t have a starting job in LA. Prospects Brandon Wood and Nick Adenhart have posted good minor league numbers and could be in the majors soon. Ervin Santana could be a solid pitcher if he could control his pitches. Last, but not least, Jeff Mathis would be a solid, but not spectacular, catcher. I think this is one of the more likely deals to happen.

Offer:

Orioles send SS Miguel Tejada to the Giants for prospect LHP Jonathan Sanchez, RHP Brad Hennessey, and Prospect SS Manny Burriss.

Tejada is also a player with many teams pursuing him but you hear the Giants the most. Frankly, I think this is a trade that shouldn’t be done. I have a gut feeling that this wouldn’t be a good deal. Besides their pitching staff, the Giants are a fairly old team. No offense to Tejada, but the Giants should go more for rebuilding than getting a player who would give them a couple good years and get them nowhere. Also, they just re-signed Vizquel, which would maybe push Tejada to third in place of Feliz who is a decent player. The Orioles have the right idea going for prospects. I think a better fit for Tejada would be the Angels if they don’t get Cabrera. He would be helping make an already good team better, because face it, Tejada or no Tejada the Giants are probably not making the playoffs. Tejada may go to the Giants, but I have a bad feeling about it.

Offer:

A’s send RHP Dan Haren to the Mets for OF Lastings Milledge Prospect OF Fernando Martinez, and RHP Aaron Heilman

I think this is a deal that should happen and probably will. The Mets can afford to lose

Milledge and Martinez because right now their outfield is good and they always have Carlos Gomez (who is a great prospect and they’re probably glad the A’s aren’t asking for him). The A’s would have the right idea trying to rebuild a little. Heilman could definitely help the bullpen for pitching in the 7 ^th or 8^th in front of Street. Milledge could probably be in the outfield right away and could give the A’s some solid numbers, and Martinez is a pretty good player; plus, he’s only 19. On the Mets’ side, they would be receiving probably the second best pitcher on the market when it comes to stats and skills. I think he is a bargain for the money. I think this deal should be done this off season.

Offer:

Pirates send OF Jason Bay to the Indians for OF Franklin Gutierrez, prospect RHP Adam Miller, and C Kelly Shoppach.

I think that the Indians are the strongest candidates for Bay if the Pirates are really shopping him. And if they are, I think this would be another good deal. Bay would be a good fit for the Indians and would add some pop to their lineup. Kelly

Shoppach doesn’t have a starting job in Cleveland so he would be better off in Pittsburgh. Franklin Gutierrez is a pretty good player and could fill in for Bay with the Pirates. Finally, Adam Miller is a pretty solid pitching prospect that would help the Pirates. I think the chances of this deal happening are more likely than you think.

Offer:

Giants send LHP Noah Lowry to the Mariners for prospect C Jeff Clement or prospect OF Wladimir Balentien.

I don’t think this would necessarily be a bad deal for either team, but I don’t think it should happen. I think the Giants should keep Lowry so he, Cain, and Lincecum can give them a solid starting three. Clement and Balentien are both very good prospects, but I think the Mariners should hold on to them just in case. Again, this wouldn’t be a bad deal at all, but I don’t think it should happen.

Offer:

Marlins send LHP Dontrelle Willis to the Tigers for RHP Euligo De La Cruz, INF Michael Holliman, and OF Brent Clevlen.

This is another case where it would be a good deal for both teams, but it shouldn’t happen. Dontrelle, who seems like a veteran, is only 25 and can still help this young Marlins team. And again, the Tigers’ prospects are a solid bunch and would be great for the Marlins, but I really think they should stick with the Tigers for now. This would be a pretty good deal, but I don’t think it should be done.

So there you have it, my opinion on a couple of trades that might happen. Thanks for reading and let me know what you think.