Updating Top Suitors for MLB Trade Deadline's Impact Targets
The MLB's July 31 trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and already we've seen a flurry of action on the trade market around the league.
Among the names that have already been on the move include Cole Hamels, Johnny Cueto, Troy Tulowitzki, Scott Kazmir, Ben Zobrist, Jonathan Papelbon, Tyler Clippard and Mat Latos.
MLB.com's T.R. Sullivan reported Hamels has been traded to the Rangers last night.
That said, there are still plenty of impact players on the market, as the next couple of days figure to be equally busy with teams looking to shore up their rosters for the stretch run.
For now, here is a quick run through the top impact players still thought to be available and the latest rumors surrounding where they could possibly land over the next two days.
RF Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds
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Player Overview
Jay Bruce struggled mightily in 2014 while dealing with a nagging knee injury, posting a .654 OPS with 18 home runs and 66 RBI in 493 at-bats.
He's bounced back nicely this year, though, raising that OPS to .826 with 22 doubles, 17 home runs and 56 RBI through his first 346 at-bats.
The 28-year-old is an attractive option for teams looking for more than just a rental, as he's signed for next season at $12.5 million with a $13.5 million option ($1 million buyout) for 2017.
Rumors/Speculation
- The New York Mets were said to be "heavily scouting" Bruce, according to Anthony DiComo of MLB.com.
- Expanding on that, earlier this week Andy Martino of the New York Daily News noted that the Mets had discussed sending Zack Wheeler to the Reds, but talks didn't go anywhere. Those could be revisited as the Mets get more desperate to add a bat.
LF Yoenis Cespedes, Detroit Tigers
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Player Overview
For the second trade deadline in a row and the third time in the past calendar year, it looks like Yoenis Cespedes could be on the move.
The 29-year-old has once again been a steady run producer this season, posting an .817 OPS with 28 doubles, 17 home runs and 58 RBI in the middle of the Detroit lineup.
Rumors/Speculation
- Jayson Stark of ESPN reported on Wednesday that the Tigers have informed teams that they are "rebooting" and willing to listen on all upcoming free agents, with Cespedes and David Price topping that list.
- With the New York Mets deal for Carlos Gomez falling through (more on that in a bit), they are an obvious potential suitor. The Baltimore Orioles have also been patrolling the corner outfield market and are worth keeping an eye on.
CF Carlos Gomez, Milwaukee Brewers
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Player Overview
Though he's not quite putting up the same elite numbers we've seen the past two seasons, Carlos Gomez remains one of the most dynamic all-around players in baseball.
Good for a 13.3 WAR in 2013 and 2014, Gomez has hit .262/.328/.423 with 29 doubles and eight home runs so far this season for a 1.6 WAR.
The 29-year-old has an incredibly team-friendly $9 million salary for next season in what is the final year of his current contract, so that additional team control certainly adds to his value.
Rumors/Speculation
- A trade sending Gomez to the New York Mets in exchange for Zack Wheeler and Wilmer Flores was announced as all but finalized last night. The deal eventually broke down due to concerns on the Mets' end over Gomez's hip, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.
- Any thoughts that the two sides could resurrect the deal were put to bed when Mets general manager Sandy Alderson said a deal for Gomez "will not transpire," via DiComo.
- Bob Nightengale of USA Today reports that despite the Mets deal falling apart, the Brewers still intend to trade Gomez before the Friday deadline.
- Once again, the Baltimore Orioles look like the most likely candidates outside of the Mets to make an impact addition in the outfield. Rosenthal listed Gomez among the players they have shown interest in earlier this week.
OF Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies
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Player Overview
There's not a hotter hitter in baseball right now than Carlos Gonzalez, as he's hit .426/.473/.985 with five doubles, 11 home runs and 24 RBI in 68 at-bats over his last 17 games.
As a result, he's now hitting .275/.332/.521 with 17 doubles, 21 home runs and 52 RBI on the year, finally looking 100 percent after missing significant time due to injury the past two years.
Acquiring the 29-year-old would have significant financial implications beyond this season, as he's owed $17 million next year and $20 million in 2017 before reaching free agency.
Rumors/Speculation
- "They expect to trade him," one rival executive said of the Rockies and Gonzalez after the Troy Tulowitzki trade, via Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.
- The Baltimore Orioles' interest in Gonzalez was described as "mild," according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.
- It's becoming redundant at this point, but the Mets have to be looked at as a potential landing spot in their continued search for a bat.
1B Adam Lind, Milwaukee Brewers
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Player Overview
In a rare swap of big league talent that benefits both sides, the Toronto Blue Jays sent Adam Lind to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for right-hander Marco Estrada (7-6, 3.55 ERA, 1.182 WHIP) last November.
The 32-year-old Lind has been hugely productive in the middle of an inconsistent Brewers lineup, posting an .856 OPS with 20 doubles, 16 home runs and 60 RBI.
He's still best used as a platoon player due to his .212/.258/.328 career line against southpaws, but with roughly $2.8 million left on his contract this year and an $8 million option for next season, he's a relatively cheap source of power and run production.
Rumors/Speculation
- The Brewers and Cardinals have discussed Lind, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. With Matt Holliday forced to leave last night's game after apparently reaggravating the quad injury that previously sidelined him, the Cards could be even more motivated to add Lind's bat.
- Stark listed Lind, Adam LaRoche (White Sox) and James Loney (Rays) as first base options the Pittsburgh Pirates have checked in on, but he notes the team is now likely to stand pat at the position.
- The Angels also showed some interest in the past, per Rosenthal. However, they have since acquired Shane Victorino, David Murphy and David DeJesus in their search for some left-handed production.
LF Justin Upton, San Diego Padres
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Player Overview
The San Diego Padres gave up a good deal to acquire Justin Upton from the Braves during the offseason, sending Max Fried, Jace Peterson, Mallex Smith and Dustin Peterson to Atlanta.
Now they could look to recoup some of that young talent by flipping the upcoming free agent before the deadline.
Somehow still only 27 years old, Upton has hit .252/.328/.435 with 17 home runs and 53 RBI while also getting back into the running game with 17 steals in 18 attempts.
Rumors/Speculation
- The Mets and Padres were "at impasse over the quality of prospect, or prospects" when discussing Upton, according to Heyman.
- Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune wrote that there is at least a chance the Padres simply hold on to Upton and extend him a qualifying offer in the offseason if they don't get the return they're seeking.
- The Orioles are still in the market for Upton, per Morosi.
Other Position Players to Watch
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- 1B Mike Napoli, Boston Red Sox
Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review tweeted last week that the Pirates were kicking the tires on Napoli. However, his .210/.307/.387 line makes him a less-than-appealing target.
- OF Gerardo Parra, Milwaukee Brewers
The Angels, Mets, Orioles and the ever-popular "mystery team" are all-in on Parra, according to Heyman. Following their recent wave of outfield acquisitions, the Angels are likely out, though.
- INF Martin Prado, Miami Marlins
The Marlins would "contemplate" moving Prado, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post. He goes on to list the Yankees and Mets as potential suitors after they missed out on Ben Zobrist.
RP Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
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Player Overview
A case can be made that other closers have been better over the past few seasons, but no one in baseball is as overpowering on the mound as Aroldis Chapman.
His 2.22 ERA and 15.4 strikeouts per nine innings over the course of his career speak for themselves, and he's actually been slightly better this season with a 1.65 ERA and 15.9 K/9 while nailing down 21 of 22 save chances.
He makes $8.05 million this season, and that will likely eclipse $10 million in his final year of arbitration next year, so he's by no means cheap. That extra year of team control and his utter dominance make him an attractive chip nonetheless.
Rumors/Speculation
- Buster Olney of ESPN reported that the Reds are currently "examining offers" for Chapman, but he went on to say there is no sense of whether the team is "devoted to finishing a deal" at this point.
- Earlier this week, Arizona Diamondbacks GM Dave Stewart acknowledged that the team is exploring the idea of acquiring Chapman, per Steve Gilbert of MLB.com.
- The San Francisco Giants have also inquired, per Morosi.
SP David Price, Detroit Tigers
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Player Overview
Despite the Detroit Tigers' struggles as a whole in the starting rotation, David Price is having a great season. The left-hander has gone 9-4 with a career-best 2.53 ERA and 138 strikeouts in 146 innings.
With Cole Hamels and Johnny Cueto both off the market, Price is undoubtedly the top remaining available starter, and that should drive up the potential return for the Tigers.
That said, Price is still just a rental player, as the 29-year-old is set to hit free agency for the first time in his career this coming offseason.
Rumors/Speculation
- The four main teams pursuing Price are the Dodgers, Giants, Blue Jays and Yankees, according to Heyman.
- Morosi also lists the Houston Astros in the running, but it's hard to see them mortgaging young talent for another left-handed rental pitcher after previously acquiring Scott Kazmir.
- The Dodgers have the pieces to land Price, even without moving Corey Seager or Julio Urias, and there is no team more "desperate" to win right now, so I have a hard time envisioning Price landing anywhere else. We shall see, though.
SP Jeff Samardzija, Chicago White Sox
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Player Overview
It cost the Chicago White Sox four young players to acquire Jeff Samardzija from the Oakland Athletics during the offseason, and it cost the A's their top prospect, Addison Russell, to land Samardzija at last year's deadline.
Now the right-hander may be on the move again.
Samardzija has gone 8-5 with a 3.94 ERA in 21 starts this season, and he's pitched particularly well of late, going at least seven innings in each of his last 10 starts and posting a 3.23 ERA during that span.
Rumors/Speculation
- The White Sox are playing as well as any team in baseball right now, going 7-0 on their current road trip as they look to finish off a four-game sweep of the Boston Red Sox on Thursday. As a result, they are now just 2.5 games back for the second AL wild card spot, so that could change their deadline approach.
- Furthering that point, Morosi tweeted that there is a better chance of the Tigers trading David Price than the White Sox trading Samardzija, and that was prior to the Tigers announcing themselves as sellers.
- The Toronto Blue Jays have shown the most interest in Samardzija, with the San Francisco Giants also checking in, per Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago.
San Diego Padres Starting Pitchers
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Player(s) Overview
The San Diego Padres are stocked with quality starting pitching, and they appear willing to listen on anyone and everyone at this point.
Ian Kennedy (6-9, 4.58 ERA) is probably the most likely arm to be moved, as he's set to reach free agency at the end of the season. His 5.25 FIP and 1.318 WHIP are not great, but he's a quality back-end arm nonetheless.
Meanwhile, Tyson Ross (7-8, 3.38 ERA) has two years of team control left beyond this season and Andrew Cashner (4-10, 3.93 ERA) has one, so each would likely command a significant return as a controllable arm.
Then there's veteran James Shields (8-4, 3.77 ERA), who signed a four-year, $75 million deal in the offseason. He struggled last October, but he's the most proven arm of the group by far.
Rumors/Speculation
- Stark first noted that the Padres are listening on controllable arms Shields, Ross and Cashner, as well as Kennedy.
- The Chicago Cubs inquired about the Padres' many arms, dangling shortstop Starlin Castro as a potential return piece, per Morosi.
- Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram reported that the Texas Rangers checked in on both Ross and Cashner in their search for controllable arms, but their interest has likely changed after picking up Hamels.
- Ross has garnered the most interest of the group, with the Blue Jays, Astros, Dodgers and Rangers all kicking the tires, according to Heyman.
Other Pitchers to Watch
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- RP Joaquin Benoit, San Diego Padres
Olney reported that the industry perception is that the Padres will "definitely" trade Benoit before the deadline. There will be no shortage of teams interested in a proven setup arm, so nailing down a landing spot for him is tough.
- SP Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
Despite acquiring Hamels, the Rangers could still look to flip Gallardo if they don't view themselves as contenders here in 2015. The Dodgers view him as a "Plan B" if they are unable to land David Price, per Sherman.
- SP Craig Kimbrel, San Diego Padres
The odds of Kimbrel being dealt appear to be shrinking. According to Heyman, the Yankees rejected a deal for shortstop prospect Jorge Mateo, and the Padres actually viewed the Nationals as the best trade partner prior to their acquisition of Papelbon.
- SP Mike Leake, Cincinnati Reds
The Chicago Cubs and San Francisco Giants have both shown some level of interest in Leake, per Heyman. The Toronto Blue Jays are also in on Leake, tweeted Rosenthal, though he's not exactly the ace-caliber arm they need.
- RP Joakim Soria, Detroit Tigers
Despite picking up LaTroy Hawkins in the Troy Tulowitzki deal, the Blue Jays are still expected to look for bullpen help. They'll be in on Soria, according to Anthony French of the Detroit News.
- Designated for Assignment
YES Network's Jack Curry and Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet respectively reported Chris Capuano (Yankees) and Felix Doubront (Blue Jays) had been designated by their teams. The Rangers also announced Wandy Rodriguez has been designated. These players could be low-cost depth options for a contender looking for a cheap arm.
All standard and advanced stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, and current through Wednesday, July 29.
