After looking at what is out there in free agency, the next step in the fifth starter search is looking at possible trades. Now this post is more or less going to be looking at players who are rumored to be possibly coming back in a Milton Bradley swap, since that is the only trade I see bringing back starting pitching this offseason (barring a major blockbuster of course). There are plenty of different rumors though, and with some of the names there is even a certain intrigue. I warn you though, almost all of these names are guys with big, bad contracts who haven't been very good recently.

1. Jeremy Bonderman, Tigers
Bonderman has one season left on his deal that will pay him $12.5 million. He is coming off a number of injury ridden seasons with the Tigers and they would love to get out from under his contract. He pitched only 10 innings this season and managed to be horrible the entire time (8.71). The good news is he is just 27 and is a talented guy. Perhaps a switch to the NL combined with a clean bill of health will make him serviceable. Certainly the better seasons in his career suggest that he is more than capable of posting a good season, but is it worth paying an extra $3.5 million in 2010 for a pitcher who has the upside of being "serviceable"?

2. Carlos Silva, Mariners
Silva has two years and $23 million left on his deal with Seattle and is more or less useless to them. He managed to only pitch 30 innings this season and like Bonderman was horrid in almost all of them. I've read some speculation that perhaps his appearance in the World Baseball Waste of Time Classic might have led to this bad season because he didn't pitch well after the last one either. He has been an effective innings eater in the past, and I suppose the NL switch could benefit him, add in that his last healthy season 2008 he got horribly unlucky in both BABIP and FIP. Normally a team wouldn't touch this guy, but given the circumstances I think this is an okay idea.

3. Dontrelle Willis, Tigers
This is perhaps the second dumbest idea of the offseason (Trading for Vernon Wells is the unquestionable worst idea) because Willis has hardly pitched since he got to Detroit, and is yet to throw a strike there. That 10.1 BB/9 average in Detroit makes Carlos Marmol look like Greg Maddux. Willis is owed $12 million next season and probably won't throw a pitch. This is straight up stupid.

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4. Derek Lowe, Braves
The Braves have one of the most favorable starting pitching situations in baseball. They signed Lowe to a big deal last offseason and he wasn't very good for them, but suffered a bit of bad luck. They have too many starters though and Lowe is the oldest and most expensive. His deal is probably too expensive for the Cubs (3 years, $45 million) but perhaps taking him for just one season and then moving him again wouldn't be a bad idea. Of course you risk being stuck paying a guy into his age 40 season, but really Lowe isn't a bad pitcher. If the budget allowed I would do this in an instant.

5. Oliver Perez, Mets
Perez is the Carlos Silva of the NL. He has two years and $24 million left on his deal and the Mets would probably love to get rid of him. He will be just 28 next season, and if he were able to replicate his 2008 numbers (194 IP, 4.68 FIP) then I can deal with that. The problem right now is Perez will be coming off an injury, and he was horrible in 2009. His walk problems (Z and Marmol looking like Maddux again) will probably drive Lou up a wall. I would stay away from Perez, but again we have circumstances that somewhat justify taking Perez.

6. Barry Zito, Giants
Remember when I said Dontrelle was the second dumbest idea of the offseason? Nevermind, this is just as dumb as the Vernon Wells idea. Zito costs a pretty $83 million over the next four years. The Cubs would be insane to take his contract.

The trade market for a fifth starter looks like a straight up disaster. Some of these guys fit the part, but look like bad ideas still. If Milton Bradley's situation didn't exist we wouldn't even be thinking about getting any of these guys. Next is a look at the internal options which are a bit more promising.

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