1. Adrian Gonzalez- While the Padres will most likely want to start the season with him don't be surprised when you his name in trade rumors all off-season. GM Jed Hoyer will most likely will be asking for the moon and why shouldn't he Gonzalez has been one of the better hitting first basemen in the league and is still young at 28. He hit 298 with 31 home runs in a stadium that has drawn comparisons to the grand canyon. He also makes a team friendly 5.5 Million this upcoming season.
2. Prince Fielder- Fielder is similar to Gonzalez on the offensive side of the ball but he has had people question his defense since the moment he set foot in the MLB. He is coming off of a year in which he only managed 83 Rbi's after the following numbers of 141, 102, 119. Fielder at 27 is even younger than Gonzalez and has just as much to offer at the plate. Milwaukee's front office have made it clear that they are only willing to accept top tier pitching prospects for Fielder in hopes of rebuilding their rotation. Fielder from a contract stand point is made 11million in 2010 and will be entering his last year of arbitration this winter.
3. Zach Greinke- Coming off of his Cy Young campaign Greinke fell victim to being a member of one of the worst teams in baseball and ended up with a 10-14 record. He is only 60-67 in his career but anyone who has watched this guy can put that mostly on his surroundings and the people who are playing behind him. He has expressed his displeasure with playing for a losing franchise but bigger market teams are afraid of taking the leap but of his "anxiety issues" he has been dealing with. If he can somehow prove that he doesn't crack under big market pressure teams would pay through the nose to get him. Greinke is making 13.5 Million until 2013 when he will then become a free agent.
4. Carlos Beltran- The oft-injured Met can still hit when healthy but his last full season was three seasons ago when he played 161 games and hit 284 with 27 homers and 112 RBIs. Compare this to 81 games in 2009 and 64 games in 2010. While some say that Beltran is finally fully recovered from all of his ailing injuries and is poised for a break out season in 2011. This however is something that new GM Sandy Alderson will have to figure out and convince teams in the league that the above is true. Also if Beltran was dealt now it would go against the classic rule of never selling someone when their value is low. Beltran has one year left on his deal and will make 18.5 Million in 2011.
5. Dan Uggla- Some teams consider the Marlins the most difficult team in the league to deal with because all of their players are young and up and comers so they always want high priced prospects in return and they want them to come in bunches. On the other hand Uggla did just turn down a 4 year 48 Million dollar extension offer from the Marlins so they may be willing to just unload him due to the fact that they wont be able to keep him. Uggla has had over 30 home runs in the last four seasons and has increased his batting average from the low 200s as a younger player to 287 last season. Uggla's defense is shotty but he has shown the willingness to change from second base to third or even the outfield. Uggla made 7.8 Million this past season and is arbitration eligible until 2012.
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