MLB Trade Ideas Based on Latest Week 17 News, Rumors and Speculation
The MLB non-waiver trade deadline is officially in the rearview mirror, but that doesn't mean that big leaguers like James Shields are off the market just yet.
Between now and the end of the month, a player can be traded to any team if he clears waivers. If the given major leaguer does get claimed, he can be traded to the club that put in the claim.
Usually, a player has to have a flaw to make it through waivers. For Shields, that flaw is that he's pitching on an outsized contract.
In the list of trade ideas that follows, there are several other players who are in a similar situation as the veteran starter. They are guys who won't be cheap but who have the talent to help a contender that wasn't able to check off all the bullet points on its trade-season to-do list before August arrived.
Plus, there's also room on the list for one former star whose season has so far been wrecked by an injury but who could be returning to the diamond soon.
The Los Angeles Angels Acquire James Shields from the San Diego Padres
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Why This Move Makes Sense
Even with the news that C.J. Wilson needs elbow surgery and is unlikely to pitch again in 2015, the Los Angeles Angels don't have to make a trade.
As Jeff Fletcher of the Orange County Register pointed out, the club could simply replace the lefty with Jered Weaver, who is on the verge of returning from a stint on the disabled list with a bum hip.
But with the Angels battling with the Houston Astros for the top spot in the American League West, counting on the 32-year-old isn't the shrewdest decision. In 15 starts, Weaver has been battered to the tune of a 4.75 ERA while serving up 16 bombs.
James Shields is one pitcher who should be available to the Angels this month. As ESPN's Buster Olney noted via Twitter, "rival execs" think that the righty starter will make it through waivers. It's easy enough to understand why that would be the case. Just check out Shields' contract situation:
- 2015: Owed the balance of his $10 million salary
- 2016: Owed $21 million
- 2017: Owed $21 million
- 2018: Owed $21 million
- 2019: Has a $16 million team option with a $2 million buyout
There's no question that trading for Shields would be an expensive gamble for the Halos. But based on the way the vet has been pitching as of late, it could prove to be just what the club needs. In his last seven starts, Shields has ripped off a 2.57 ERA for the San Diego Padres.
The Chicago White Sox Acquire Marlon Byrd from the Cincinnati Reds
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Why This Move Makes Sense
After a glacial start to the season, the Chicago White Sox have quietly climbed into the wild-card chase. Chicago is still in fourth place in its own division, but the team is now only 3.5 games out of a playoff spot.
One of the fundamental problems facing the South Siders this season has been that the club just hasn't been able to hit. The White Sox rank No. 25 in home runs and No. 28 in runs. One player who could immediately help out the AL Central squad in both of those departments is Marlon Byrd.
According to ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick, the 37-year-old is just the type of player who could make it through waivers. Byrd is set to make the balance of his $8 million salary in 2015 and has a vesting option for the same amount for next season. The option only goes into effect if Byrd totals 550 plate appearances. Currently, he's at 330.
If he ended up landing in Chicago, Byrd would be a logical candidate to take over as the team's designated hitter. That's Adam LaRoche's gig right now, but the 35-year-old is sporting a .219 average in his first season at U.S. Cellular Field.
The Houston Astros Acquire Joaquin Benoit from the San Diego Padres
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Why This Move Makes Sense
With a haul that included Scott Kazmir and Carlos Gomez, the Houston Astros cleaned up at the deadline.
While there was a lot to like about the Astros' trade season, there could be one more swap on tap for the upstart club.
"I'm very happy with the moves we made as an organization," general manager Jeff Luhnow said, via Evan Drellich and Jose de Jesus Ortiz of the Houston Chronicle. "There is August, and there might be other chances to do things, but I think right now we have a really good roster, and a roster that's ready to compete for this division."
The bullpen is the one spot on the roster that could still use an upgrade. According to Drellich and de Jesus Ortiz, Luhnow tried to acquire ace relievers like Aroldis Chapman of the Cincinnati Reds and Craig Kimbrel of the San Diego Padres. One lower-profile arm who the Astros could look to acquire before the end of the month is Kimbrel's teammate Joaquin Benoit.
The veteran reliever has been highly effective for the Pads in 2015, recording a 2.17 ERA in 47 outings. With an $8 million salary this season and a team option for the same amount in 2016, there's a realistic chance that Benoit would make it through waivers if San Diego chose to make him available.
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The Los Angeles Dodgers Acquire Francisco Rodriguez from the Milwaukee Brewers
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Why This Move Makes Sense
The Los Angeles Dodgers picked up a couple of relievers in Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan right before the non-waiver trade deadline, but it sure wouldn't hurt to add even more help in August.
As Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted, the Dodgers bullpen racked up a 6.29 ERA in July, which was the worst mark in baseball. If the front office decides to make a move for another arm, Francisco Rodriguez is definitely a name to consider.
The 14-year veteran has been lights-out for the Milwaukee Brewers in 2015, compiling a 1.46 ERA in 37 outings. Rodriguez's back-loaded contract means that it's not out of the question to think he could go through waivers unclaimed. The right-hander earns the balance of his $3.5 million salary this year, has a $5.5 million paycheck in 2016 and has a team option for $6 million (with a $4 million buyout) in 2017.
The Chicago Cubs Acquire Chase Utley from the Philadelphia Phillies
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Why This Move Makes Sense
A bat is still on Theo Epstein's shopping list.
“That might be more of an August thing for us,” the Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations said, via Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times. “If the need is there and the opportunity presents itself, we’re always open to a position player.”
According to Wittenmyer, Chase Utley is one of the bats that the Cubs front office has been checking in on. The veteran second baseman is owed the remainder of his $15 million salary this season, and he also has a vesting option for the same amount in 2016. However, that only goes into effect if Utley totals 500 plate appearances. Right now, he's sitting at 249.
The main reason why Utley has a chance of making it through waivers is that he just hasn't been any good in 2015. Before hitting the DL with an ankle injury, the 36-year-old put up a .179 average in 65 games. As Wittenmyer notes, Utley is nearing 100 percent health and should be ready to return to action soon. If his ankle cooperates, Utley could prove to be a valuable addition for a contender like the Cubs.
Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.
If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.
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