Kuzul

The Boston Red Sox are among the most aggressive teams in baseball so far this offseason.  They signed a pair of big-name free-agent bats in Pablo Sandoval and Hanley Ramirez.  The Red Sox also revamped their starting rotation with Rick Porcello, Wade Miley and Justin Masterson.

But despite these acquisitions, there are still issues Boston must resolve heading into 2015.  Here are three of the most glaring offseason questions the Red Sox have yet to answer.

Who Will be the Opening Day Starting Pitcher?

It’s the hope of Red Sox fans that Boston’s No. 1 starter next year is someone not presently with the ballclub.  The Red Sox projected rotation of Porcello, Miley, Masterson, Clay Buchholz and Joe Kelly posted a combined ERA of 4.55 last season.  There’s clearly still room for improvement, and nobody in the group is considered an “ace” by any means.

Both Max Scherzer and James Shields remain available on the open market.  As Peter Gammons recently discussed on GammonsDaily.com, trade rumors continue to swirl regarding Cole Hamels coming to Boston.

Jason Mastrodonato of Mass Live writes:

Two former general managers believe the Red Sox are the favorites to trade for Hamels and the second-most likely team to sign Shields. Writing for MLB.com, former New York Mets GM Jim Duquette predicted the Red Sox would be 3-to-1 favorites to land Hamels, while former Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals GM Jim Bowden gave the Red Sox 5-to-1 odds to sign Shields (the San Francisco Giants are the favorites at 3-to-1).

Would the Red Sox really spend $183 million on Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval yet enter the season with a five-man rotation that has averaged a total of 827 innings over the last three seasons?

If Boston does fail to bring in a top arm, either Buchholz or Porcello is most likely to be handed the ball on Opening Day.

Of the Red Sox’s five starters, Porcello put up the best numbers last season, posting a 3.43 ERA and 1.23 WHIP over 204.2 innings with the Detroit Tigers.  On the other hand, Buchholz is easily the most tenured member of the staff and is just one year removed from an All-Star season in which he went 12-1 with a 1.74 ERA and 1.02 WHIP.

What Will Happen with the Extra Outfielders?

Current Red Sox Rusney Castillo, Mookie Betts, Shane Victorino, Daniel Nava, Allen Craig, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Brock Holt all spent time in the outfield in 2014.

Ramirez is poised to take over for Yoenis Cespedes (traded to Detroit) in left field.  Castillo and Betts look to be the front-runners for center field and right field.  Holt may serve as a utility infielder, and Craig can back up first base and third base as well.

However, that still leaves Victorino, Nava and Bradley Jr. battling for the fourth outfielder position.  After hitting just .198 in 384 at-bats last year, Bradley Jr. could begin 2015 in the minor leagues.

Nava was eligible for salary arbitration this offseason, with the Red Sox tendering him a contract expected to be worth $1.9 million, according to Mastrodonato.  Victorino is entering the final season of a three-year, $39 million contract and has $13 million still coming his way.  Clearly, Nava is the better bargain of the two, which will come into play if Boston looks to deal one of its excess outfielders.

Can Dustin Pedroia Get Healthy?

This question is one that is out of the Red Sox’s control, but it’s also something that should have a major impact on Boston’s success next season.

On Opening Day of 2013, Pedroia tore the ulnar collateral ligament in his left thumb.  He played through it all year, having surgery the following November.  Pedroia batted .301 that season, but he hit just nine home runs, his lowest power output since his rookie year.

In the Red Sox’s home opener in 2014, Pedroia reaggravated the same hand.  Again he played through it, this time hitting only .278 with seven home runs.  With Boston out of the playoff race, Pedroia elected to have another surgery this past September.

According to Red Sox manager John Farrell, Boston’s second baseman is in line to be back to his old self by spring training.  Via the Providence Journal‘s Tim Britton, Farrell recently said:

He’s doing great, he really is. He’s able to swing the bat a little bit off the tee. Physically the strength and the range of motion continue to improve. And I think one of the more exciting things as we go into and begin to get closer to spring training is getting Pedroia back to 100 percent health and strength.

If Pedroia can be fully healthy for the first time since 2012, the Red Sox’s 2015 postseason outlook dramatically improves—add in a bona fide ace, and Boston might have to be considered a World Series favorite.

Statistics via RedSox.com with contract information from Spotrac.com

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The new year is almost upon us, which means so are New Year’s resolutions.

It is a tradition for people to come up with changes they want to make in their lives, whether it be eating healthier, going to the gym more or quitting a bad habit like smoking. We all have areas in which we would love to improve.

So do the New York Yankees.

After not making the playoffs for two straight seasons, the Bronx Bombers need to make some resolutions of their own in 2015. If they do, perhaps this coming year will be better than the last.

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When the Toronto Blue Jays first acquired Kyle Drabek in 2009 as part of a package of prospects from the Philadelphia Phillies in exchange for ace Roy Halladay, the team’s hope was that Drabek would eventually develop into a frontline starter in the major leagues.

Since then, the now-27-year-old Drabek’s career hasn’t exactly panned out as planned. After making his debut with the Blue Jays in 2010, the right-hander posted an ugly 6.06 ERA in 18 games (14 starts) during the 2011 season and was optioned to the minor leagues.

The 2012 season wasn’t much kinder to Drabek, as he made Toronto’s Opening Day roster and went on to post a 4.67 ERA in 13 starts before going down with an elbow injury that required Tommy John surgery. This was the second Tommy John surgery of Drabek‘s career.

The injury aside, Drabek’s biggest issue on the mound has always been his erratic control. In 172.1 career innings pitched in the major leagues, Drabek has issued a whopping 111 base on balls.

After he spent most of the 2014 season in Triple-A Buffalo working as both a starter and reliever, the Blue Jays called up Drabek late in the campaign and used him out of the bullpen. Drabek pitched just three innings for Toronto before the season ended, striking out five and not giving up a run.

While that small sample size looks promising, it’s worth noting Drabek’s 2014 numbers in Buffalo were rather pedestrian. He posted a 4.18 ERA in 99 innings pitched, giving up 116 hits and 30 walks during that span.

Drabek’s latest Tommy John surgery has also taken its toll and his stuff is not as sharp as it once was. According to Fangraphs.com, the average velocity of Drabek’s fastball went from 93.6 mph in 2010 to just 91.3 mph last season.

With other young starting pitchers such as Marcus Stroman, Aaron Sanchez and Daniel Norris passing him on the depth chart, it seems unlikely Drabek will ever be a part of Toronto’s starting rotation again.

Considering he is out of options and can be claimed by another team if he doesn’t make Toronto’s Opening Day roster in 2015, the Blue Jays should give Drabek a long look during spring training and give him every chance to make the team.

While his days as a starter are likely behind him, Drabek might still have a future with the Blue Jays in the bullpen next season if he can show he can be an effective relief pitcher. But, the former top prospect is quickly running out of time and chances.

*All stats are from Fangraphs.com and MiLB.com.

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There’s usually a lull in the MLB offseason during the holidays, but expect the peace and quiet to come to an end once the calendar turns to 2015. There’s still wheeling and dealing to be done.

For now, it seems as if even the MLB trade rumors have taken a backseat to eggnog and caroling. The few we do have focus on players with the ability to play the outfield.

The free-agent market for outfielders is mostly depleted, with options like Nori Aoki, Colby Rasmus and Mike Carp representing the best players left available for teams to bid on. Naturally, it’s not a surprise that teams searching for outfield help have turned their attention to the trade market.

Teams still have some time to make upgrades before spring training, but they better act fast. If they wait, then the best options will be gone.

Below are the latest rumors on some of the more intriguing outfielders available.

Ben Zobrist

Traditionally a second baseman or shortstop, Ben Zobrist has played over 400 career games in the outfield. He can play any position on the field except catcher, and that makes him one of the more invaluable players in the sport.

So how can the Tampa Bay Rays justify dealing him away?

Nothing is imminent yet, but Peter Gammons reports that several general managers have told him that the San Francisco Giants will eventually trade a package of prospects for the versatile veteran.

Should the Giants acquire Zobrist, they’d likely pencil him in as the team’s everyday left fielder. Joe Panik and Brandon Crawford have second and short locked down, respectively, and Casey McGehee will most likely assume third-base duties after the position was vacated by Pablo Sandoval.

Even if it’s not the Giants who acquire Zobrist, Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi writes that “there’s a decent chance” Zobrist will be moved before Opening Day.

The 34-year-old may be worth more to the Rays in a trade than he would be on a team looking like it will enter a mini-rebuild next season. A free agent after 2015, he’s owed just $7.5 million next year. That’s extremely affordable considering his value. He has produced a WAR of at least 5.4 each of the past four seasons, per FanGraphs.

A switch-hitter who can deliver a line of .270/.350/.420 with 15 homers and 70 RBI can be a difference-maker for a lineup in need of more depth. The Giants certainly do after losing Sandoval and Mike Morse to free agency.

Couple his bat with his versatility, and Zobrist is easily one of the most valuable players in baseball. The Giants better be ready to deal top prospects if they want to add him to the team.

Nick Swisher

Fresh off the worst season of his successful 11-year career, Nick Swisher has become the subject of trade rumors this offseason.

He hit just .208/.278/.331 with eight homers and 42 RBI in 401 plate appearances in his second year with the Cleveland Indians. While he still has two more years left on his contract, the Indians already appear to be moving on.

They acquired Brandon Moss earlier this offseason, a player with the exact same set of skills as Swisher. He’s a first baseman who can also play the outfield but should really be the designated hitter—just like Swish.

Naturally, Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe reports that the Indians “would like to trade him.” It won’t be easy to trade someone coming off such a bad season. Indians general manager Chris Antonelli has to sell him to other teams as a big bounce-back candidate, but even that might not work.

Cafardo lists the Chicago Cubs as a possible trade partner. On paper, that seems like a fit. The Cubs have a talented young roster but need to infuse some more veteran leadership in the final months of the offseason. Jon Lester is there to command the pitching staff, but there isn’t someone to help groom the young hitters.

With Anthony Rizzo firmly entrenched at first base, Swisher could play a semi-regular role as a corner outfielder. He’d have to yield time to Jorge Soler and others, of course.

Perhaps a one-for-one deal could work if the Indians are interested in taking Edwin Jackson from the Cubs. Sometimes a change of scenery is good for struggling veterans. At the very least, the Indians would be getting another arm who can be used in the back of the rotation.

We’ll have to wait to hear more information on a potential Swisher trade, as Terry Pluto of the Plain Dealer writes that “the Indians consider Jason Kipnis, Bourn and Swisher three of the keys to 2015.”

Conflicting reports are nothing new this time of the year, so we’ll just keep waiting.

Other Outfielders

Plenty of teams have outfield depth from which to deal. Morosi lists nine teams and several players who could be involved at some point, with Zobrist and Swisher both named on the list.

He writes that we should see “heavy activity” when it comes to outfield bats following the holidays. Among the list of names are a few intriguing ones.

Carlos Gonzalez of the Colorado Rockies, Josh Hamilton of the Los Angeles Angels, Jay Bruce of the Cincinnati Reds and Mark Trumbo of the Arizona Diamondbacks are among those names probably on the unlikely-to-be-dealt list; however, the craziness of this offseason should leave our minds open for anything.

Trumbo is a player who would certainly garner interest if made available, but Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic tweeted back on Dec. 10 that nobody has been able to gauge Arizona’s interest in moving him:

Piecoro tweeted a few days earlier a quote from Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart regarding the idea of moving the slugger:

It would be hard to justify moving Trumbo. Sure, he only slashed .235/.293/.415 in 362 plate appearances, but you have to remember that he was troubled by a foot injury for most of the season. Even still, he hit 14 homers and drove in 61 in 88 games.

That’s nearly 30 home runs and over 100 RBI projected over a full season, and one would have to assume that his slash line would have approached his four-year average with the Angels—.250/.299/.469—had he been fully healthy.

Trumbo is a valuable bat for an Arizona team that might surprise next season. He, Paul Goldschmidt and Yasmany Tomas form a tough trio for pitchers to work through, and their are plenty of other young hitters ready to take the next step.

Arizona should only move Trumbo if it is blown away by an offer. Given his performance last year, it probably won’t be.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

In one of the busiest MLB offseasons in recent memory, teams have wasted little time crossing items off of their winter to-do list.

However, as we get set to flip the calendar over to 2015, all 30 teams still have at least a couple of areas to focus on between now and the start of spring training.

Whether it is plugging a roster hole with a free-agent signing, trading off an expensive or unnecessary roster piece or extending a player ahead of free agency, every team has something left to cross off this offseason.

So with that in mind, here is a look at all 30 MLB teams’ updated to-do list heading into the new year.

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Most of the offseason’s biggest trades come prior to the flipping of the calendar, but there could still be a blockbuster or two in the works as the MLB offseason continues on through January.

Despite the calm associated with the holidays, there are still a few MLB trade rumors to analyze. The rumor mill is done churning out bit after bit like it did during the winter meetings. That said, the buzz that comes out now can still have an impact.

Take the recent string of rumors, for example. They can have a major impact on the rest of the league if they come to fruition. Find out more about them below.

David Price

Acquired at last year’s trade deadline to aid the playoff push of the Detroit Tigers, left-handed ace David Price shouldn’t get too comfortable in the Motor City this winter.

Tweets from Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi on Sunday evening suggest that Price could be dealt yet again in order for the team to re-sign free agent Max Scherzer:

A free agent after the season, Price was just OK for the Tigers. He was 4-4 in 11 starts with a 3.59 ERA, though his 2.44 FIP suggests that he was actually a bit better, per Baseball-Reference.com. Price also lost his only start of the playoffs, although it was a successful outing (two earned runs in eight innings against the Baltimore Orioles).

It seems strange that the Tigers would consider trading Price so quickly, but it makes a lot of sense when you consider that he is only under contract for another season. Moving him now to re-sign Scherzer would guarantee that the team at least gets to keep one of its starters.

Detroit can’t afford to let Scherzer walk and then risk Price walking as well at the end of the season. The team needs at least one of them in the fold to be successful, especially if Justin Verlander doesn’t bounce back in 2015.

In an ideal world, the Tigers would be able to both re-sign Scherzer and keep Price next season. By not giving Price an extension now, that would free up the necessary funds to ink the right-hander.

Scherzer‘s market has been slow to develop, despite him being head-and-shoulders the best pitcher left on the market. It could take a major move for the dominoes to start falling.

Trading Price qualifies as a major move.

Not that many teams would have the necessary prospects to get something done. The Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins and Chicago Cubs do, so they would likely be players.

Of course, we know that Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski generally seeks major leaguers in trades who can help immediately. Even fewer teams can supply enough of that talent to pique his interest.

Detroit is completely in the driver’s seat with Price. There’s no immediate need to deal the ace. Locking him up to a long-term extension comes down to a matter of preference—it’s Scherzer or Price.

Toronto Blue Jays

In the midst of a busy offseason that has seen the Toronto Blue Jays acquire Josh Donaldson, Russell Martin and Michael Saunders to boost the lineup, CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman tweets that the organization will now shift all of its attention to the vacancy at the back end of the bullpen:

Casey Janssen closed games last year, saving 25 of 30 ballgames. He’s a free agent, though.

It makes sense that the Blue Jays could look to pass on him given the value of other relievers like Andrew Miller and David Robertson. They locked down massive contracts. Janssen would likely fetch half their value, but that’s still a lot for a reliever who is merely average.

That’s why it makes sense to approach other organizations with a wealth of relievers. Two teams come to mind immediately—the Kansas City Royals and Washington Nationals.

The 2014 postseason proved to the nation that the Royals have a plethora of incredible arms finishing off games. The unit was headlined by Greg Holland, who has been one of the best closers in baseball the past three seasons.

Despite K.C.’s success with the current formula, Fox Sports’ CJ Nitkowski thinks the team must trade its closer this offseason:

One of those players who should be on the move is closer Greg Holland. Holland has been magnificent in his Royals career, particularly in the last two seasons. In those 144 games, post season included, Holland has posted a 1.28 ERA, earned 100 saves, and struck out 208 batters in 140 innings. Incredible numbers.

[…]

In a a trade, the return of a well-regarded prospect or two is likely. He has an incredible streak of 151 straight games of throwing one inning or less. The Royals aren’t a team that should pay $8 million for that kind of reliever.

Toronto has prospects that could pique Kansas City’s interest.

The Nationals are a more likely trade partner because the target, Tyler Clippard, won’t come with the value of a closer. He has the pedigree to possibly blossom into a shutdown closer, but the Nationals have yet to show the willingness to entrust him with the job.

He’ll likely pitch the eighth inning in Washington in 2015, but GM Mike Rizzo hasn’t ruled out trading him (or any of his players) just yet, via James Wagner of The Washington Post: “We’ll listen to any deal for any player we got. If it’s the right deal, increases productivity and helps the ballclub, we’re all in.”

Clippard is exactly the type of pitcher Toronto must target. He’s cheap given his lack of recent closing experience (just one save the past two seasons), and if he pans out, the team can look to re-sign him following the season.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @kennydejohn

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For any team looking for a summer rental, there are two clear properties that stand out above all other options.

Johnny Cueto and Jordan Zimmermann are aces being made available for trade because their teams have one year of control before they can hit the open market as free agents. The Cincinnati Reds and Washington Nationals, respectively, do not believe they can sign their pitchers for market value, so they are attempting to get more than a compensatory draft pick for them before they can bolt, although both teams have engaged the pitchers on extension talks this month.

The market for both aces seems to have been tentatively set by Jon Lester, who signed a six-year, $155 million deal with the Chicago Cubs earlier this month, and it might go higher depending on what Max Scherzer gets later this offseason. While Cueto and Zimmermann have expressed a desire to stay with the teams that drafted them, they will do so only “if the numbers are right,” as Cueto’s agent, Bryce Dixon, told MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon. Both players have informed their teams they will not negotiate extensions once the regular season starts. 

“If it’s a fair value, like I have said all along, I would gladly sign,” Zimmermann said about a contract extension with the Nationals, via Chase Hughes of NatsInsider.com. “But at the end of the day, it’s gotta be something that’s fair and if it’s not, then I’ll be moving on.”

Assuming the Detroit Tigers will opt to keep David Price and that Cueto and Zimmermann are more desirable in trade than the Nationals’ Doug Fister, the question becomes which No. 1 starter is worth the price and risk of the one-year rental.

The first and biggest concerns are the prices. And, man, are they high.

The Reds have some hope to contend in 2015 despite a loaded National League Central to wade through, and they have already traded pitchers Mat Latos and Alfredo Simon. That means they are likely to hang on to Cueto and try to get him to re-up in Cincinnati, although they have open ears. 

Sources: Clubs keep asking about Cueto. #Reds steer talk to Latos, Leake, Simon. Listening on Cueto, though. Would bring biggest return.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) December 9, 2014

It also means that if the Reds do agree to trade their ace, they will have to get the kind of package in return that makes them the unanimous winner in the deal. Or, as Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com put it last month, the Reds would have to be “absolutely overwhelmed” to trade Cueto.

The price for Zimmermann is no cheaper. There are two key clues to support that. First, Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo told The Washington Post‘s James Wagner, “We’re planning on having all three of them [at spring training].” He was referring to soon-to-be free agents Zimmermann, right-hander Fister and shortstop Ian Desmond.

Second, Rizzo appears intent on getting back high-profile, major league-ready prospects in return for Zimmermann, as he has targeted the Boston Red Sox and Seattle Mariners as possible trade partners, Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal reported. Both organizations have deep pools of young and controllable talent.

Rosenthal’s report also claimed Rizzo offered Zimmermann and Desmond to Seattle for hot prospects Taijuan Walker and Brad Miller but was rebuffed for obvious reasons—cost of the veterans ($27.5 million) and Seattle didn’t want to lose cheap control of Walker and Miller for rentals.

Assuming a team is willing to dig deep enough into their farm system to acquire Cueto or Zimmerman, each ace’s monetary cost is another issue. Zimmermann will make $16.5 million in 2015, more than twice the $7.5 million he made last season. Cueto will earn $10 million next year, clearly making him the more attractive target, especially since both will essentially pitch as 29-year-olds next season—Cueto turns 29 in February, Zimmermann in May.

Durability is a bit of a concern, since Cueto missed significant time in 2011 and 2013. He was limited to 11 starts in 2013 because of a lat muscle injury, but in his full years of 2012 and 2014, he ended up leading the National League in starts, pitched more than 200 innings, and finished in the top four of Cy Young Award voting both years.

For comparison’s sake, Zimmermann has made 32 starts in each of the last three seasons, although he topped 200 innings only once.

There is also the fact that Cueto has done the majority of his work in the launching pad that is Great American Ball Park, a stadium that surrenders home runs at the fourth-highest rate in the majors. Washington’s Nationals Park gives them up at the second-lowest rate, making Cueto’s home run numbers a bit more attractive. However, the Reds had a much better defense than the Nationals in 2014, which makes Zimmermann’s line last season more impressive.

The fact is both players will likely cost a fortune to acquire and will more than likely explore free agency rather than re-signing with a new team. Those risks are built in. Considering that plus the 2015 cost of each, Cueto may be the less risky acquisition simply based on what it would take to land him. Plus he has been better for longer and was arguably better than Zimmerman in the 2014 vacuum.

It does not seem likely either ace will be traded before they report to spring training unless their respective clubs significantly lower their asking prices. But if it happens, either pitcher could turn into the most impactful trade acquisition of the offseason.

Anthony Witrado covers Major League Baseball for Bleacher Report. He spent the previous three seasons as the national baseball columnist at Sporting News, and four years before that as the Brewers beat writer for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. Follow Anthony on Twitter @awitrado and talk baseball here.

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The calendar’s about to turn—another baseball season and spin ’round the sun in the books—and still James Shields sits, unsigned.

That’s not an utter surprise; this offseason was ridiculously pitching-rich.

To put it in focus: Max Scherzer, the marquee arm on the market, is also unemployed heading into 2015.

Sometime soon, though, someone will ink Shields. When they do, they’ll land a pitcher who posted a 3.21 ERA in 227 innings with the American League champion Kansas City Royals, a guy who would slot nicely into the top end of any rotation.

And they’ll pay accordingly. The 33-year-old Shields is seeking a five-year deal in the neighborhood of $110 million and will likely get it, according to The Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo. 

So who’s going to give it to him? Which clubs combine the need and financial flexibility to pluck Shields off the shelf?

Let’s take a look.

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The Washington Nationals are almost three months into the offseason and general manager Mike Rizzo’s finger is still resting on the trigger of nearly all of the team’s biggest potential maneuvers. 

Washington had a fairly short to-do list entering its idle months after being bounced from the postseason in the divisional series by the San Francisco Giants. As disappointing as it was for the team with the National League‘s best record to fall short in the first round, there were only two glaring issues to address in the aftermath. 

But, as of late December, both of those questions remain unanswered.

Washington has three members of its nucleus that it must either sign to an extension, trade away or risk losing in free agency in 2015. That’s the situation for the trio of shortstop Ian Desmond and starting pitchers Jordan Zimmermann and Doug Fister.

The other pressing matter is at second base. Whether the Nationals use an in-house promotion to fill the position or bring in a fresh face, there will be a different everyday second baseman than last year in D.C.

Those began as, and continue to be, priorities 1A and 1B for the team. And the moves Washington makes to answer those questions could serve as the fireworks that ring in the new year at Nats Park. 

Will Desmond, Zimmermann and/or Fister be leaving the Nationals this winter?

You never want to let an asset go in free agency and get virtually nothing in return when you could trade the player and address other needs. 

We saw the Boston Red Sox avoid that scenario last summer when they traded Jon Lester to the Oakland A’s. Lester was set to enter free agency following the season, just like the three Nats in question will do after the 2015 campaign.

That is, if Washington can’t sign them to extensions. 

But to suggest the Nationals can just pay all three players would move beyond optimistic into unrealistic territory now that they’ve gone this far with little progress. 

At the start of last season, principal owner Mark Lerner suggested Washington’s payroll was already stretched too thin, according to a report from The Washington Post‘s Adam Kilgore.

“We’re not going to do something where we’re losing tens of millions of dollars a year,” Lerner said back in April. “Anybody can understand that. We’re going to be smart.”

This offseason, smart has equaled patience for the Nationals while they take a wait-and-see approach to the rest of the league’s dealings. As marquee free agents like Lester and shortstop Hanley Ramirez come off the board, the trade value of Washington’s pieces at the same position goes up.

As The Post‘s Thomas Boswell suggests, this patience will continue to serve Washington well in the long run.

So the question now isn’t whether or not news will come this winter regarding the Desmond-Zimmermann-Fister triad, but rather the nature of the story. 

News could break tomorrow, or the next day, or the day after that any one of the three has been traded or signed to a lucrative extension. 

But according to The Post‘s James Wagner, Zimmermann is the only one to reopen negotiations regarding a contract extension so far. While they are both still under team control for another year, Desmond and Fister are still in a sort of limbo. 

“I wouldn’t respect Mike (Rizzo) the way I do, like I said, if he just sat on his hands and did nothing,” Desmond told The Post‘s Chelsea Janes. “That’s not how this organization got here, and it’s not how it’s going to continue to move forward. Hopefully I’m a part of it, but if not, I’m still going to be rooting for them.”

Who will play second base for the Nationals in 2015?

For the second half of last season, Asdrubal Cabrera was an above-average everyday second baseman for Washington.

But with a number of other players to pay with priority over Cabrera, the Nationals seem less and less inclined to bring the free-agent second baseman back this year. 

With the free-agent and trade market drying up, Washington could find itself plugging that hole on a temporary basis in 2015.

Danny Espinosa is the likeliest name on the current roster to take over at second base. The 27-year-old has spent his entire major league career with the Nats and hit a respectable .219 mostly off the bench last year. 

Utility man Kevin Frandsen is another option, albeit a self-proclaimed one. Frandsen showed some initiative at the team’s annual fan fest in early December when he suggested Washington should consider him for the vacancy at second base. 

But according to MLB.com’s Bill Ladson’s report on the subject, the idea was met with skepticism by manager Matt Williams.

“He is having fun today, isn’t he,” Williams said. “I’m sure at some point during the season, Franny will play second base.”

It’s also worth noting that Frandsen saw his greatest struggles at the plate when he was listed as a second baseman last year. According to his position splits on ESPN.com from 2014, Frandsen hit .279, .288 and .348 as a left fielder, third baseman and first baseman, respectively. 

He hit just .162 coming from second base. 

During this offseason Washington could end up signing a free-agent middle infielder to bolster the position—Stephen Drew is still floating around looking for a team. Or, if the Nats do trade away one of their starting pitchers, they’ll almost certainly want a major league-ready infielder in return. 

But assuming the team sticks with an in-house second baseman for this season, Washington does have some options down the line.

Dominican shortstop/second baseman Wilmer Difo looks like a bona fide stud. The 22-year-old is the Nationals’ seventh-ranked prospect according to Baseball America’s Aaron Fitt, and he could be close to a breakthrough into the bigs. 

“He’s a very talented, exciting, athletic middle infielder that can hit for power and steal bases,” Rizzo said in Wagner’s latest update on the prospect. “He has an extremely high ceiling, and he’s going to help the Nationals in the near future.”

Washington also recently signed former Marlins and Braves second baseman Dan Uggla to a minor league deal. The 34-year-old will get an invite to Nats spring training, and fans of a true comeback story will invite him into their hearts. 

From 2007-2011, Uggla hit at least 30 home runs each year. So if that guy shows up with the change of scenery, and not the Uggla who hit .162 in 48 games with Atlanta last year, he could get a shot with Washington’s big league club. 

After sneaking into the headlines with a number of recent trades and free-agent pickups, we can no longer say the Nationals have been totally silent this offseason.

But all of the minor wheeling and dealing still leaves the major questions regarding Washington’s notable soon-to-be free agents and its need at second base unanswered.

And when it comes to decisions like these that could set the long-term course of the franchise, we’ll have to wait until Rizzo is good and ready before we have any more clarity.

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Troy Tulowitzki sure draws a lot of trade interest for a player who has an extremely difficult time staying on the field. 

Over the past three seasons, the 30-year-old has missed out on 222 games due to an assortment of injuries. When he has remained on the diamond, the Colorado Rockies veteran has been one of the most dynamic players in the big leagues.

In 2014, Tulowitzki posted a 1.035 OPS and clubbed 21 home runs in just 91 contests. It’s that unreal production that has resulted in so many teams calling to check in on the availability of the four-time All-Star.

Earlier in December, Rockies manager Walt Weiss told MLB Network Radio that the club is definitely picking up the phone when other clubs call.

Weiss “We take all the calls on Troy(Tulowitzki) and listen to what they have to say, but we are not trying to move a guy like Troy.”

— MLB Network Radio (@MLBNetworkRadio) December 10, 2014

Let’s take a look around the league at which teams can offer the Rockies the best trade packages and which ones can provide Tulowitzki with the best landing spot.

New York Mets

No team in baseball has been the subject of more Tulowitzki trade rumors than the New York Mets. 

The rampant speculation makes sense considering that the shortstop position has been a black hole in Queens. The Mets have the young arms to work out a trade with the Rockies, and Noah Syndergaard is right at the top of the list. 

TBS MLB analyst Ron Darling recently suggested a trade offer on MLB Network centered on the 22-year-old right-hander, per Amazin’ Army.

Ron Darling’s proposed Troy Tulowitzki trade package: pic.twitter.com/dtooSQA5qz

— Amazin’ Army (@WE_ARE_MET_FANS) December 22, 2014

That offer would look significantly more compelling to the Rockies if Zack Wheeler was also added to the mix. According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the 24-year-old’s name has been brought up during trade discussions. 

While there have been plenty of links between the National League East club and the shortstop, the Mets aren’t the only New York team that could try to make a blockbuster move for Tulowitzki.

New York Yankees

Admittedly, the New York Yankees just can’t offer the same kind of trade chips that the Mets can. 

However, the Yankees appear to be higher up on Tulowitzki’s list of potential new employers. Last summer, while the right-handed hitter was on the disabled list, he popped up in the box seats during a game at Yankee Stadium. 

When asked about his appearance, Tulowitzki told Nick Groke of The Denver Post, “I wanted to see (Derek) Jeter play one more time.”

Troy Tulowitzki causes stir with surprise Yankee Stadium visit http://t.co/dDBwGeyPhC pic.twitter.com/qBJEM3ObSb

— New York Post Sports (@nypostsports) July 28, 2014

That cameo sparked an avalanche of trade speculation, and months later the idea of a swap isn’t entirely out of the question. 

According to Heyman, the Yankees “have checked in recently on Tulowitzki.” If New York did manage to bring him in, the team could then shift Didi Gregorius to second base, where he could battle for playing with Rob Refsnyder. 

Working out a deal between Colorado and New York would be no easy task. The Yankees’ minor league system claims the No. 21 spot in Bleacher Report’s farm system rankings. 

Per MLB.com, the club’s top two prospects are right-handed starter Luis Severino and catcher Gary Sanchez. Both players ended the 2014 season in Double-A. 

Seattle Mariners

It’s difficult to imagine a more dangerous middle-infield combination than Tulowitzki and Robinson Cano. 

The Seattle Mariners have the pieces to make just such a scenario a reality. In Taijuan Walker and James Paxton, the M’s have two of the most promising young starters in baseball on the club’s roster.

According to Bob Dutton of The Tacoma News Tribune, during the winter meetings, “multiple club officials flatly dismiss[ed] the idea of trading either Walker or Paxton” for a player with just one season of club control remaining. 

It’s possible that the Mariners would be more willing to part with one of those starters for a player with Tulowitzki’s contract situation. The shortstop is under team control for up to seven more seasons. 

Oakland Athletics

The Oakland Athletics are definitely the dark horse on this list. 

Then again, it’s never wise to rule out anything when it comes to general manager Billy Beane. After all, the executive has shipped out five All-Stars since the trade deadline. In the process, Beane has racked up a surplus of pitching—a surplus that MLB.com’s Jane Lee suggests could be used to pull off a monster move.

Can’t imagine the A’s will keep all this pitching. Have to think they’re prepping for a bigger move, like an Upton or Tulowitzki.

— Jane Lee (@JaneMLB) December 19, 2014

That tweet is right out of the pure-speculation department, but Lee isn’t the one to link Oakland with Tulowitzki, who happens to be from the Bay Area. Tracy Ringolsby of MLB.com reports that the team has “kicked the tires” on Tulowitzki. 

Note: All stats courtesy of MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com. 

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck. 

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