Good question. I've not seen much indication that they view Yeli as a CF, but I guess that's hypothetically plausible. I don't see Cespedes or Heyward as reasonable, though, and it doesn't help that neither is really a center fielder (though I'd be more inclined to trust the latter there than the former). There are some buy-low options (Denard Span, Austin Jackson) who could theoretically make sense, but they'll still cost some real money.

Not sure the Nats really need Taylor at this point, now that they have Trea Turner and also Wilmer Difo reaching MLB readiness. Remember, also, that Storen has only got one year of control left and won't be cheap, so it'll be hard to pull that kind of value. I can also see the Nats targeting another short-term piece (as they did with Clippard last year) or otherwise asking for further-away prospects.

I think he will be, because they aren't going to have an easy time moving him and he still has plenty of upside. Hard guy to just give up on at this point by selling low.

I don't think that gets it done, no. But I do like the idea of Miami picking up a CF replacement in a trade if they move Ozuna.

We've been talking about a similar idea with the Cubs, who could add a guy like Kyle Hendricks - who could fill in a trade partner's rotation - if they were to deal for a starter.

Betting MLB pen for him. He was good there, of course, for an extended stretch. They obviously felt like Sanchez was more prepared to move into the big league rotation, so he seems a better bet to move back there among the two.

Lucroy is a hard guy to value after a really rough season, but there's no way Milwaukee will just get what they can for him. I think new GM David Stearns will set his price tag and won't move unless it's met. Lucroy might have a better chance of being dealt this summer.

MIN could certainly be a player if Lucroy is marketed. He won't be cheap, but they have the prospect depth to get it done. I bet the Brewers would want pitching in return.

I suggest you listen in to today's podcast when it hits the site (won't be too long from now). Steve Adams and I spent way too long talking through all the marginal QO candidates last night.

He's a guy we discussed. As Steve put it, you can talk yourself into either approach. He seems like a player who could be uniquely inclined to take it - b/c Houston was a good fit for him after two bad experiences - despite his young age. Do they want him back? Maybe. I could see just having two plans in place, one for if he takes it, one for if he declines. In latter scenario, perhaps they'd feel more compelled to move salary - guys like Chris Carter, Luis Valbuena/Jed Lowrie could be moved, in theory.

Not much, if any. Steve and I also discussed this, off the air, last night. Value doesn't swing nearly as drastically as some media members (and, perhaps, some of their over-eager sources) make it out to. I really don't think that general managers are going to dock him $30MM in valuation after watching a handful of games.

I don't know! Vibes from the Cubs' press are that they have no interest in dealing Schwarber, so I feel like they wouldn't. But at first glance these guys are in the same value range I suppose. I guess it depends on how teams feel about these guys. Carrasco really just got unlucky last year, too, because his peripherals are kind of ace-ish and his contract is super cheap. And Schwarber has the positional questions still.

Definitely maybe. He'd get a good bit of interest. Not a guy you're giving up top prospects for just to control for one season at a not-super-cheap price, but you'd definitely have teams lining up for a chance to fill in a solid player in a weak third base market. Could be more an opportunity for MIN to use him to fill another need at the MLB level rather than picking up some hotshot young player.

Scherzer-ish money, maybe more (though I doubt he'll blow that contract out of the water). I really couldn't offer a prediction, but teams like the Red Sox and Cubs should be in on him so it's hard to see his market falling too far.

Other than it being imaginable, in the way most things are, I just don't see this as a plausible scenario.

Turn it over to Cozart and Suarez, trade Phillips. He'd definitely draw interest: good defender, improved bat last year, contract no longer looks terrible with just two years left (though they'd probably end up paying some of it down). He makes more sense on another team, in my view.

That's just not remotely close to fair value for those pitchers, though Montero and Coghlan are both nice players. And neither the Pads nor the Indians need a catcher.

Sure: last year's Simon and Latos deals worked out swimmingly, the club got lots of arms over the summer for guys who were going to be FAs anyway, and some of their remaining trade pieces (Phillips/Chapman/Votto) had really nice years. We all know the issues, but I'm not ready to say they are completely up the creek.

Very.

No, he would've been an addition more in the Shapiro mold.

He's more of a NT candidate than a guy with any trade value.

I don't know, you certainly look cuddly.

A's. I love Schwarber, but Gray is an in-prime, controllable ace.

I keep seeing questions like this on Atlanta. Just not seeing that kind of addition. I know they went and got Markakis, and I do think they'll be willing to add players, but those are guys who they'd have to chase the market on. I expect they want to see more of Jace Peterson as well as Ozhaino Albies before locking into another older infielder (after getting Olivera).

Simmons is the kind of player you'd have to pry loose. I'm not seeing what San Diego possesses that would entice Atlanta to do that.

Cardinals.

Okay, since I'm now covering Atlanta in detail ... I guess I can see more merit to a guy like Wieters than most other FAs. (If, at least, they are ready to give up on Bethancourt.) He's the type of guy you might say, "at worst he'll be a solid contributor and will help bring young arms around, and maybe it's just an opportune time to get him." So maybe, but they probably wouldn't be my first choice to land him.

Cardinals.

Lots of teams, yeah. His salary is reasonable, he can play center. Off the top of my head, I could imagine clubs like the Cubs, Nationals, Tigers, Mariners ...

The Cards don't really waste time on guys in FA. They target the guys they want, and move on if they don't get them. I don't expect they'll let a really lengthy bidding war on Heyward prevent them from doing other things. If they think he's going to get more than they are comfortable giving, Mozeliak and co. will probably move on even before he's made a decision. (This is all complete supposition, btw.)

He had a decent year at High-A. A hot streak in the AFL doesn't really move up his timeline. Duda is only under contract for two years.

All of which is to say: he's not forcing any plans right now. If he turns into a stud, he'll just line up nicely with Duda's own departure. But I'd expect that if they feel Duda is a long-term answer, they'd still try to lock him up. (I expect they'll go year to year or maybe do a two-year arb-only extension with him.)

I think he'd draw a good bit of interest, in part b/c teams know that the Dodgers would be willing to eat salary. He's got what, $38MM left over two years? I think he could get a 3-year deal if he were a FA after a 136 OPS+ season, so it's not like his deal is that out of whack for his actual value.

Nope, they aren't. Free agents aren't eligible to be traded until June 15 of the new season.

Sorry, but this drastically overvalues Reyes. The TJ ins't great for Wheeler, but no way you give him up for an expensive, aging, underperforming player. Remember, he was going to go with Wilmer Flores to the Brewers for Carlos Gomez, who had (and has) way more trade value than Reyes.

Price. I'd call Heyward more of a luxury. They will want to see where Soler and Schwarber go, and remember that Almora and McKinney are coming. It's easier to find good platoon partners and otherwise mix and match in the outfield than it is to get big innings down the stretch and in the postseason.

I don't know, but he's a guy who has some upside from a contractual perspective since you can control him via arb if he works out. And he's hit well against righties, so you could do worse than using him in a corner OF platoon (though his defense is hard to watch).

That doesn't strike me as being realistic, for many reasons. First and foremost, I don't see him being traded. If he were to be moved, it would almost certainly be for a young, talented player who is already in the big leagues. Do you see the Bucs giving up someone like that to upgrade with a player on a shorter-term contract?

I guess you could think of him like a key 6th man in the NBA - a guy who might get even more minutes than some starters. He might not be signed with expectations of simply filling one single position over the course of a year, but he's going to have sufficient market demand to go to a team that will credibly promise to play him basically every day.

I have a compulsive dislike for people named Michael. Choose a new name and try again.

Now that would be fun. As a DC-area native, I often needle Steve (a Minny native) about the original deal. But Ramos was pretty disappointing last year. The value is obviously down, but I still have a hard time seeing the Nats just sort of giving up on him. Don't see that getting done without another exchange that makes Steve upset.

I'd view the Dbacks as a dark horse on Zimmermann, especially if his market doesn't develop as hoped. I'd say they have no shot (and won't try to pursue) the other two.

I expect both will be gone, yes. The outfield is more or less covered, unless they trade Lagares or something. Without having analyzed it in detail (yet), I think they'll feel good at second (Flores, Herrera) and will look for a short-term upgrade at shortstop to keep the seat warm for Rosario/Cecchini. It's not inconceivable, I guess, that they rely on Reynolds and Tejada (plus the occasional Flores) at the position, but I do think they'll feel the need to add to their team in some way.

Yeah as long as you shorten it, we're good.

For the love of all that is holy, please keep going and don't have a heart attack.

No idea, but well played.

No idea, I'm not an insider and wouldn't call myself that. And most people that call themselves "insiders" are not insiders, fwiw.

This is the 20th time this trade proposal has been posted into the chat. So, consider it broadcast to the baseball-loving world.

(Last report I saw said Benintendi was a guy they were going to hold, so not sure he'd be moved for two one-year assets.)

Incredibly useful, informative, fun. I think that most people who criticize sabermetrics don't understand it. I think most people who analyze statistical data are well aware of the limitations of their conclusions and only want to contribute to general knowledge development and enjoy the game.

I'm of the cumbaya camp here: it makes sense to consider all angles together. "Sabermetrics" helps deepen and contextualize traditional scouting, etc. And vice versa.

The one thing I'd say that has been revealed to have little value: some of the traditional stats. I find it kind of funny when people cling to them and accuse the stats people of being computer nerds. Pitcher wins (for example) are a stat, too, just not a very good one.