2011 MLB Trade Rumors: Teams Interested in Danks, Floyd

Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports is reporting that teams in need of starting pitching help have been asking the Chicago White Sox about Gavin Floyd and John Danks.  Rosenthal hears the White Sox have received several calls for each player, which makes sense considering the current state of the starting pitching free agent market.

Danks is the more accomplished of the pair.  Though he struggled a bit in 2011, the 26-year-old has otherwise been one of the most consistent pitchers in baseball since joining the majors.  After a rocky rookie season, Danks maintained an ERA south of 3.70 and averaged more than 200 innings pitched per year from 2008-2010.

Rosenthal compares Danks to current lefty free agent starter C.J. Wilson, saying that when Danks hits the market after next season, he is likely to receive a larger deal.  For this reason, Rosenthal could see a team with money to spend trading for Danks and signing him to a contract extension.  This would single out two obvious suitors, the Red Sox and Yankees, a pair of clubs with high payrolls in need of pitching help.

While Floyd is two years older than Danks and lacks his solid track record, Rosenthal still thinks he could be a valuable piece to a club looking for a starter.  The right-hander, who would likely slide into the middle of most rotations, is set to make $7 million next season and his contract includes a $9 million team option for 2013.  Rosenthal sees this as an affordable price for smaller market teams who are looking to add pitching.

After starting his career with the Philadelphia Phillies, Floyd was dealt to the White Sox along with current Oakland starter Gio Gonzalez in return for Freddy Garcia.  Like Danks, Floyd has also been fairly consistent during his time in Chicago.  From 2008-2011, Floyd maintained an ERA hovering around four while logging at least 187 1/3 innings per season.  Last season, the 28-year-old turned in the best WHIP (1.162) and walk rate (2.1) of his major league career, but finished with an uninspiring ERA of 4.37.

The White Sox are not in a position where they have to move either pitcher, so Rosenthal says whether or not they make a trade is up to the offers the club receives this winter.

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