ESPN MLB

NASHVILLE -- Trades in Major League Baseball always seem to leave fans on one side unsatisfied. It’s not because bad trades are taking place -- it’s really about motive. Name a recent trade between two teams that made both teams better immediately. It just doesn’t happen. Deals get done to shed salary, provide flexibility, clear a personality from the clubhouse, deepen the prospect pool -- you name it. I understand, because I’ve had to make these deals. But it’s a legit complaint: Where is what GMs might call “a good baseball trade?”

They don’t exist anymore. Maybe only in your fantasy league, which is part of the reason people love to play.

That said, I can think of a good baseball trade that improves the immediate prospects for two franchises, and makes sense right now. The Arizona Diamondbacks should send Justin Upton to the Texas Rangers for Elvis Andrus. Let’s look at how this works from both sides.

The Rangers' standpoint

Texas manager Ron Washington has no reason to worry about his future at shortstop. Even in the absence of Andrus, Jurickson Profar truly is ready to handle the shortstop job every day. This is a player with an exceptional glove, great range, and the ability to adjust in the face of failures at the plate. As Washington has told me, Profar is the kind of young talent who will “play himself into ready” -- meaning he has the makeup to bounce back, quickly adjust, and fight through failure. And you’re still talking about a kid that had an .820 OPS in Double-A last year and doesn't turn 20 until February. The immediate health of the Rangers at shortstop minus Andrus is fine.

Given that Profar needs to be up, Texas would face the issue of moving either an established star in Ian Kinsler, a very good shortstop in Andrus, or a prospect in Profar to the outfield or possibly first base (Kinsler). Where’s the good option? Kinsler is inked for four more years, isn’t really tradable, and doesn’t want to switch positions. Andrus is a Gold Glove-quality shortstop, but Profar has more upside. One of these three has to go, and it won’t be Kinsler or Profar.

Andrus, 24, has two years left on his deal at just over $11 million total, and he won’t be back. It just won’t work, not with Profar and Kinsler around, and the Rangers need to have the mindset of moving him when he’s at peak value.

Enter Upton.

For one, Texas could use the outfield bat. Upton has three years left on his deal at a total of $38.5 million, so you get a degree of certainty and a chance to further develop the 25-year-old. He make a bit more than Andrus, but you get an extra year and Texas has a bit more payroll to play with. Upton provides another very good bat in a deep lineup and is capable of hitting .300-plus with 30-plus home runs. His bat could thrive in Texas. But that’s just the baseball potential. As a young player, he could thrive under Washington, whose enthusiastic style might work better with Upton's makeup than Gibson's hard-nosed approach.

And if Texas retains Josh Hamilton, you could have a lineup that starts Kinsler, Profar, Adrian Beltre, Hamilton and Upton. Is that terrifying or what? Great power, some speed, and total balance. The deal makes Texas a better team, immediately, and with a better look for the future.

But it helps Arizona, too.

The D-backs' standpoint

Almost two years ago, Diamondbacks GM Kevin Towers publicly floated the idea of dealing Upton. He listened, and when the right package couldn’t be put together, he opted not to pull the trigger. Arizona came back, Upton played well, and the team went on to win its division in 2011. By once again publicly floating Upton as a player teams can be bidding on, he’s admitting his desire to move the player. You can’t float the guy a second time, not pull off a deal, then bring him back to spring training and act like it’s business as usual.

Andrus would make the Diamondbacks better, and especially so when you consider the market. The market for shortstops with star potential is obscene. Just look at what Jose Reyes got. If you don’t have an internal solution at shortstop and aren’t playing with Monopoly money, you have to draft or trade for one. With nobody in the pipeline that’s ready to fill their void at shortstop, Andrus is that trade.

In Andrus, the D-backs get a guy that is special in the field, and is just 24, so he’ll continue to get better. He moves well to both sides, and will save runs in that fast infield in Arizona. His bat has improved in each of the last two seasons, and he has a .727 OPS last year -- and again, this is still a young player by any standard. He’s well-liked, and has experienced winning. He’ll be a good fit in the clubhouse.

What the D-backs need to remember is it’s a lot easier to find 20-plus home runs at a corner outfield position than it will be to find a very good solution at shortstop. Upton has a high ceiling with his bat, but it’s rare to be able to move any kind of player for a very good major league shortstop.

This is a good baseball trade. Two young players, one 24, one 25; two teams that fill needs; two teams that get out of the trade cycle of perpetual trade whispers surrounding a key member of the team. Texas and Arizona should find a way to get it done.

As early as two years ago the Arizona Diamondbacks had already made it public they were open to listening to offers for outfielder Justin Upton. They never got an offer they liked, so they held on to him. That decision paid off in 2011 when Upton hit .289 with 39 doubles, 31 home runs and helped lead the D-backs to an NL West championship while finishing fourth in the NL MVP voting.

However, that was then, this is now.

A year later, after Upton hit .280 with just 17 home runs, the club is back listening to offers. Although the team says it’ll listen on all players, the fact this has become as public as it has is no coincidence. The team has been aggressively trying to trade its 24-year-old talent and will surely be seeking a long-term solution at shortstop, third base and/or pitching help. While Arizona's ownership is now trying to downplay the likelihood of an Upton trade, we know the club is shopping him, and a deal should not surprise anyone.

Here is a look at five teams that might have the players that fit the Diamondbacks’ long-term needs. D-backs general manager Kevin Towers certainly should target them for an Upton trade.

Texas Rangers | Two trades

Trade option No. 1: SS Elvis Andrus or SS Jurickson Profar

This is one scenario that is already making the rounds, although the Rangers have told the Diamondbacks that they will not move either Andrus or Profar in a deal for Upton. Towers will be patient and meticulously work on persuading Rangers GM Jon Daniels, because the only way the Rangers get Upton is to swap him for one of the talented middle infielders. If Josh Hamilton signs elsewhere, that might force Daniels to change his mind. However, my intel says the Rangers aren't going to change their minds.

Option No. 2: 3B Mike Olt and LHP Martin Perez

If the Rangers really want Upton, they can try to convince Arizona to accept a package of Olt and Perez for Upton. This trade would work well for Texas because Adrian Beltre is signed long-term and with Matt Harrison, Derek Holland, Alexi Ogando and Yu Darvish, Perez is expendable. The problem is although Towers is a fan of Olt, he might not be good enough to be the centerpiece of an Upton deal. While it seems like Upton has been around forever, he is only a year older than Olt.

Detroit Tigers | Trade targets: 3B Nick Castellanos and RF Avisail Garcia

This is probably the best fit for Towers. Castellanos has the potential to be an impact bat who should develop into an average defender at third base, but he is blocked in the big leagues by the AL MVP, which is why the Tigers have tried him in the outfield, where he has less value. Garcia is a good athlete with bat control who should be an asset as a big league regular down the line.

The move would make the Diamondbacks younger and a high-ceiling player like Castellanos would fit their long-term plans. The Tigers, on the other hand, would have three above-average defenders in Torii Hunter, Austin Jackson and Upton and would have arguably the best lineup one through six in the American League with Jackson, Hunter, Miguel Cabrera, Prince Fielder, Upton and Victor Martinez.

Tampa Bay Rays | Trade targets: RHP Jeremy Hellickson and OF Drew Vettleson

The Diamondbacks would like to get another proven starter and Hellickson is one of the better young pitchers in baseball. Hellickson, 25, has a career ERA of 3.06 and a 1.19 WHIP. Vettleson, 21, is a pure hitter with great plate discipline and the ability to use the whole field. His power finally showed up this year at low Class A Bowling Green when the 2010 supplemental first-rounder belted 24 doubles and 15 homers in 132 games.

Cleveland Indians | Trade targets: SS Asdrubal Cabrera, RHP Vinnie Pestano

The Indians need a complete makeover after they went 68-94 last year. They took a step in the right direction with the hiring of two-time world champion manager Terry Francona. However, the next step is to rebuild the starting rotation and the middle of the lineup. The team’s best prospect is 18-year old Francisco Lindor, who the Indians feel will be their long-term solution at shortstop.

This might allow them to think about moving Cabrera in the right deal. The Diamondbacks, desperate for a long-term solution of their own at shortstop, would have to at least entertain the thought of an Upton-Cabrera move. Upton would give the Indians a much-needed cleanup hitter and middle-of-the-order bat that could anchor the lineup for years. And with Shin-Soo Choo set to be a free agent next winter, Upton could occupy right field for Cleveland. Knowing that Towers hates making deals without getting a bullpen arm in return, he might as well also ask for Pestano in this major trade.

Atlanta Braves | Trade targets: RHP Julio Teheran, SS Nick Ahmed

The Braves are set at shortstop for years to come with the exciting Andrelton Simmons. He is about as untouchable as any prospect in the organization, and that makes Ahmed expendable. (Word is the Rangers tried to use Olt to get Simmons in hopes of flipping him, Andrus or Profar for Upton, but the Braves wouldn't do it.)

Ahmed, 22, was the Braves' second-round selection in the 2011 draft and had a solid year at high Class A Lynchburg, both offensively and defensively while swiping 40 bases. Teheran remains the Braves’ top pitching prospect and once his command and control arrive, he should be a solid No. 2 or No. 3 starter for years. For the Braves, Upton would fit nicely in left field while Martin Prado could be moved to third base to replace Chipper Jones. While the Braves are known for sticking to a strict payroll, they are taking Jones off the books this year, and Upton's contract would replace Jones' in the budget.

If I was in Towers' shoes I wouldn’t trade Justin Upton. I would rather spend time trying to sign his brother, B.J., who could play center field next to him, and use Adam Eaton and A.J. Pollock as trade pieces and find lesser upgrades on the left side of the infield. I think both Uptons have the potential of playing at even a higher level than we’ve seen, especially if they are able to play together. Why not in Arizona?