MLB Trade Ideas Based on Latest Week 10 News, Rumors and Speculation
With the summer fully upon us, trade whispers will begin to turn into shouts and hollers around MLB.
With that being said, rumors are already beginning to circulate regarding the players most likely to be moved at the deadline.
Every team's circumstance is different, but teams like the Philadelphia Phillies and the Oakland A's seem destined to be sellers at the trade deadline. Therefore, assets like Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, Scott Kazmir and Ben Zobrist figure to be at the forefront of this summer's trade discussions.
But where will they end up? Let's take a look at some of the latest rumors around the league and see if we can put together some sensible deals for both parties involved.
Martin Prado to the New York Mets
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The Rumor
"Now Prado is on the Mets' radar," said David Lennon of Newsday. "With the assumption that Wright could be back, versatility is key."
The Trade
The New York Mets acquire infielder Martin Prado from the Miami Marlins for right-handed pitching prospect Marcos Molina.
Why It Makes Sense
The New York Mets have the pitching to win the National League East in 2015. The offense? That's another story.
The Mets' bugaboo always figured to be the offense, which has proven to be the case. New York ranks 25th in baseball in runs scored and 22nd in wRC+.
Those offensive worries have only intensified with the uncertainty surrounding David Wright. Due to a spinal condition, Wright hasn't been able to give a definitive timeline for his return. While he'll likely be back at some point this season, the Mets are too good to not acquire a contingency plan.
Enter Miami's Martin Prado.
Prado is signed through the 2016 season, and the money he's owed is diminishing by the day. The infielder will make $11 million next season, but the New York Yankees will pay $3 million of that total.
The versatile infielder is hitting .283 with 23 RBI so far this season, and his ability to play multiple positions makes him a nice fit with the Mets. If Wright does come back, Prado can fill in all over the field with above-average production at the plate.
Miami is 24-34 and should be in sell mode as the trade deadline approaches. Prado could likely be had for right-handed pitching prospect Marcos Molina.
Molina is the seventh-best prospect in the Mets organization, according to MLB.com. The 20-year-old is currently sporting a 4.41 ERA in High-A, but he has the makings of a power arm. Molina has potential, but the Mets would be trading from a position of strength to improve their offense.
Ben Zobrist to the Washington Nationals
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The Rumor
"Nationals have contacted Athletics about Zobrist," said Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports. "Talks preliminary. Zobrist could play in LF until Werth returns, then both IF/OF."
The Trade
The Washington Nationals acquire infielder/outfielder Ben Zobrist from the Oakland A's for infield prospect Wilmer Difo.
Why It Makes Sense
The Washington Nationals have battled the Mets atop the NL East all season despite multiple injuries that have hindered their start.
The Nats have dealt with injuries to Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and Denard Span, while Ryan Zimmerman and Yunel Escobar have battled ailments of their own. Washington remains the favorite to win the division, but it's been difficult to get a grip on just how good this team can be.
For depth purposes, Ben Zobrist makes all the sense in the world for Washington.
Zobrist is a free agent at the end of the season, and the A's are going to be sellers at the trade deadline. It's not a matter of if Zobrist will be traded, but when.
The 34-year-old hasn't produced at his customary level this season, hitting just .205 on the campaign. But his track record and defensive versatility would be perfect for the injury-riddled Nats. Zobrist won't need to be a star in Washington; he'll just need to plug in where he's needed.
No team likes to trade prospects for rentals, but there's no organization in win-now mode more than Washington. With shortstop Trea Turner becoming a National on June 14, the Nats can afford to send speedy infielder Wilmer Difo back to Oakland for Zobrist's services.
Difo is Washington's seventh-rated prospect and is close to being major league-ready. His best asset is his ability to swipe bags, as he stole 49 bases in 2014.
Scott Kazmir to the Boston Red Sox
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The Rumor
"If the Red Sox don’t want to dish out three or four top prospects for Cole Hamels or Johnny Cueto, maybe Scott Kazmir, the Oakland left-hander they faced Monday night, could be an alternative," said Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe.
The Trade
The Boston Red Sox acquire pitcher Scott Kazmir from the Oakland A's for infielder Sam Travis.
Why It Makes Sense
The Red Sox are hovering around .500 but remain firmly in the race for the AL East thanks to fairly mediocre division-mates.
That puts Boston in an interesting situation, which will make it hard to justify them becoming sellers barring a collapse over the next month. Cole Hamels has been linked to Boston for a while now, according to Cafardo, but Oakland's Scott Kazmir would give the club a much cheaper rotation upgrade.
Kazmir, like his teammate Zobrist, will be a free agent after the season, making it a foregone conclusion he'll be dealt by the struggling A's.
The left-hander has has completely revitalized his career in Oakland. He's posted a 3.14 ERA in 11 starts this season and has struck out 22.7 percent of the batters he's faced.
For the Red Sox, that type of production would be a welcome sight. Boston starters rank 26th in ERA, with Clay Buchholz's 4.07 ERA being the best of the bunch.
Yuck.
This is another rental situation, so Boston will be careful with what it sends back to Oakland. But one less glamorous prospect like infielder Sam Travis probably beats multiple top-tier talents for the likes of Hamels. Hamels is great, but it doesn't seem like Boston is ready to blow up its top-notch farm system to get him just yet.
Travis is the 15th-rated prospect in the Boston organization. He's a talented hitter, and his power is still developing.
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Ryan Howard to the St. Louis Cardinals
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The Rumor
Jon Heyman of CBS Sports wrote:
"[The Cardinals] are the hot speculation following the severe quad injury that will keep their first baseman Matt Adams out three to four months. St. Louis has dealt amazingly well with the loss of ace Adam Wainwright, and there's likely no need or inclination to panic over a solid hitter who was toting a .656 OPS. St. Louis is Howard's hometown so that may or may not appeal to him (there was a documented family dispute over finances last year).
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The Trade
The St. Louis Cardinals acquire first baseman Ryan Howard and financial relief from the Philadelphia Phillies for pitching prospect Tim Cooney.
Why It Makes Sense
With Matt Adams on the shelf for multiple months, the St. Louis Cardinals will likely address the hole he'll leave behind in the lineup.
Who would have thought at the beginning of the season that Ryan Howard could be a potential season-saver for a team in need of some offense?
Howard is back to smashing the baseball, as he's gone deep 11 times and has 28 RBI. He's raised his slugging percentage over 100 points from last season as well.
The Phillies have been interested in moving on from Howard for a few years now, but his contract has hindered any potential move. Howard is owed $25 million next season, with $23 million owed in 2017 if a team doesn't pay the $10 million buyout.
But with a lucrative TV deal, the Phillies have made it clear they'll eat the majority of Howard's contract in a potential deal. If that's the case, Howard could become a bargain for a team in need of a bat.
Finally shedding Howard would be the most important part of a trade, but adding a prospect for Howard won't hurt, either. Tim Cooney is 24 and nearly ready to crack a major league roster. He'd be able to do that playing in Philly.
Cole Hamels to the Houston Astros
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The Rumor
"The Astros are targeting a top-of-the-rotation starter, and while Cole Hamels probably remains something of a long shot for them, executives familiar with their thinking suggest Hamels remains on their radar, with Astros great Nolan Ryan said to be a big fan of his," said Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
The Trade
The Houston Astros acquire LHP Cole Hamels from the Philadelphia Phillies for OF Preston Tucker, LHP Josh Hader and OF Teoscar Hernandez.
Why It Makes Sense
Cole Hamels has been linked to plenty of large-market teams, but the Houston Astros would make an unexpected trade partner.
Hamels would have to waive his no-trade clause, but the left-hander would provide the Astros with a front-line starter who could make them legitimate World Series contenders. After a slow start, Hamels has lowered his ERA to a 3.19 mark in 13 starts.
Of all the teams in MLB, Houston has the assets to entice Philadelphia. When you consider how well the Astros cleaned up in the first day of the 2015 draft, that elite farm system has only improved.
Carlos Correa and right-hander Vincent Velasquez will be off-limits, but Houston could include names like Mark Appel, Domingo Santana and Colin Moran in its negotiations. Centering talks around a player who's already in the majors, such as Preston Tucker, would be a fabulous start to a potential trade.
Throw in quality minor leaguers like Hernandez and Hader, Houston's eighth- and ninth-rated prospects respectively, and you have the framework of a blockbuster.
Advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs. Stats accurate as of 6/9.
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