Since the dawn of free agency, it has been rare for MLB players to play for the same team their entire careers like Derek Jeter, Todd Helton, or Chipper Jones did. Usually, there is a better offer (i.e. money) around the bend somewhere, if not the same opportunity to make the postseason or bask in the adoration of longtime fans.

Then again, baseball is a business, the game’s stars say publicly, so there is little reason to consider players more than commodities on a volatile market. Owners and management sometimes have to move beloved, expensive stars in order to pick up young players for the future and shed salaries owed in the present. Small-market teams are always more likely to pull the trigger. Good luck trying to trade Jeter at any point in his career....

4. Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies...

While Tulowitzki wasn’t demanding a trade, he reportedly has been upset about the team’s perennial dives, especially the most recent one in 2014. Colorado leads the league in scoring yet sits 12 games out of first place (14 games below .500) in the NL West. The return of Carlos Gonzalez won’t be able to turn the tide for the Rockies. (They need pitching.) Tulo has put it out there, but Rockies management denied even considering the move. If they hope to get competitive in the near future, potential deals are worth exploring....

2. Giancalo Stanton, Miami Marlins...

Marlins GM Dan Jennings recently said he wouldn’t trade Stanton, which leaves the franchise with a clear explanation as to why they average 21,500 fans per game in attendance — one of the worst in Major League Baseball. Pay him or trade him. In other news, Stanton is leading the NL in home runs and RBI. He one of the Marlins’ two representatives on the All-Star team in 2014.