MLB Trade Ideas Based on Week 7 News, Rumors and Speculation
We've seen a handful of May trades completed in baseball, but the players involved—Jason Bourgeois, Jhoulys Chacin, Anthony Recker and Brendan Ryan—elicit about as much excitement from fans as a Jered Weaver fastball.
Thankfully, the rumor mill has figured out a way to add a few extra ticks to its heater, with far more impressive names making the rounds, including a former Most Valuable Player and perhaps the most dangerous late-inning weapon in all the land.
Keep in mind these proposed deals are only ideas and pure speculation. Unless otherwise noted, there's no indication any of them have actually been discussed.
Carlos Ruiz Gets Traded to the Tampa Bay Rays
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Philadelphia Phillies Get: C Hank Conger and OF Desmond Jennings
Tampa Bay Rays Get: C Carlos Ruiz and $9 million
The Rumor
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe noted that with his rejuvenated bat, veteran catcher Carlos Ruiz has regained some trade value and could be moved as Philadelphia continues its rebuild.
Why It Makes Sense for Philadelphia
At 22-17, the Phillies have been one of the biggest surprises of the season's first six weeks. But opponents have outscored them by 32 runs, and they clearly don't have the offense to hang in contention.
Rather than lose Ruiz for nothing at season's end, the Phillies agree to pick up all the money left on Ruiz's deal—whatever's left on his $8.5 million salary this year and his $4.5 million team option for 2017—in exchange for two underachieving but arbitration-eligible veterans who have had past success.
A change of scenery—into the hitter-friendly confines of Citizens Bank Park—could be all Hank Conger and Desmond Jennings need to inject some life into their bats.
Conger, 28, replaces Ruiz as Cameron Rupp's primary backup, while Jennings, 29, can take over in either outfield corner, where he'd probably be an upgrade over Peter Bourjos and Tyler Goeddel. Making a combined $5 million this year, neither one would be prohibitively expensive to keep next year as well.
Why It Makes Sense for Tampa Bay
The Rays need two things if they hope to contend: more offense and payroll flexibility. This is a deal that gives them both.
Ruiz's arrival pushes Curt Casali back into a backup role, giving the lineup a needed boost from behind the plate. That alone would make this a worthwhile deal for the Rays. But they also get a seasoned game-caller—someone who's going to make an already-impressive pitching staff even better.
“He doesn’t have the arm he once had, so that aspect of his game won’t come back, but young pitchers love throwing to him," a National League scout told Cafardo. "He’s a cheaper alternative to someone like Jonathan Lucroy.”
That might be more valuable than his bat.
And let's not forget the nearly $5 million in current payroll that just opened up for Tampa Bay. With that money having already been budgeted, the fiscally challenged franchise could actually take on some salary and give general manager Matt Silverman some room to work as he explores other possible moves.
Jose Reyes Gets Traded to the Atlanta Braves
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Atlanta Braves Get: SS Jose Reyes, $20 million and the 38th overall pick in the 2016 MLB draft
Colorado Rockies Get: RHP Max Povse
The Rumor(s)
ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney tweeted that there are some teams with interest in Jose Reyes, who is suspended through the end of May for violating MLB's domestic violence policy. ESPN's Jim Bowden hears differently, saying all 12 teams he's asked would pass on Reyes, even if Colorado picked up the rest of his deal.
In late April, Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan tweeted that Atlanta "desperately" wants to acquire tradable draft picks and is willing to take on a bad contract to facilitate a deal. Per MLB.com, Colorado has the fourth pick in Lottery Round A—the 38th overall selection.
Why It Makes Sense for Atlanta
Well aware of the public relations hit they'll take for bringing Reyes on board, the Braves don't hesitate to pick up the draft pick they covet while adding a veteran who, despite his flaws, can still be a productive player.
Not only would the switch-hitter be an upgrade over Erick Aybar at shortstop, but he'd allow manager Fredi Gonzalez to break up the trio of left-handed bats he has atop the order.
If he produces, the Braves could look to flip him at the deadline. If not, they could choose to cut ties with him after the season, as they did earlier this year with Michael Bourn and Nick Swisher. With Colorado picking up half of his contract, doing so won't be as painful as it could have been.
Of course, the Braves could choose to keep him around for 2017 until top prospects Ozzie Albies and Dansby Swanson are ready, at which point he'd become an expensive reserve.
But the Braves get the draft pick they covet, and that makes it all worthwhile.
Why It Makes Sense for Colorado
Colorado has no leverage in trade discussions surrounding Reyes, and other teams know it. One executive told ESPN's Jayson Stark last week that the Rockies "want no part of him," leading Stark to believe that Reyes will never play for Colorado again.
If that's the case—and there's no reason to believe it's not—interested teams could simply wait for the Rockies to release him before signing him to a far less expensive deal, while the Rockies would still be on the hook for the balance of the $41 million he was due, minus whatever his new deal is for.
Surrendering the draft pick and the money stings, but the Rockies will still have a pair of picks in the top 50—No. 4 and No. 45—and land a potentially useful rotation piece in 22-year-old Max Povse.
The 6'8" right-hander attacks the bottom half of the strike zone with his downhill trajectory, inducing his fair share of ground balls. That's always a welcome ability on the mound at Coors Field.
*Reyes was due $48 million through 2017—$22 million salaries in 2016 and 2017 plus a $4 million buyout of his $22 million team option for 2018—but lost roughly $7 million as a result of his suspension. That leaves him due approximately $41 million through the end of next season.
Ryan Braun Gets Traded to the Chicago White Sox
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Chicago White Sox Get: LF Ryan Braun and $31 million
Milwaukee Brewers Get: RHP Spencer Adams, 3B Matt Davidson and 1B Corey Zangari
The Rumor
Multiple people, including Olney and MLB.com's Mike Petriello, believe the time has come for Milwaukee to capitalize on Ryan Braun's good health and hot start—and trade him.
Why It Makes Sense for Chicago
Built to win now, in need of another bat and sitting with $13 million of budgeted-for-yet-unspent payroll thanks to Adam LaRoche's retirement, adding Ryan Braun makes a whole lot of sense for the White Sox.
Not only would he be a substantial upgrade over Avisail Garcia as the team's designated hitter, but he can spell Melky Cabrera and Adam Eaton in the outfield corners once a week while they either take the day off or serve as the DH, which will help to keep them fresh.
Chicago will have to guarantee the $15 million team option in Braun's contract for 2021 to compel him to approve the trade, but the Brewers pick up the cost of that option—as well as what's left on the $19 million he's making this year (roughly $16 million).
That leaves the White Sox on the hook for $75 million, covering 2017 through 2020. Braun, from his age-33 to age-36 seasons, at $18.75 million, isn't really that bad, especially when you consider a qualifying offer landed players like Colby Rasmus more than $15 million over the winter.
Why It Makes Sense for Milwaukee
The Brewers accomplish three things with this deal: They unload Braun before he earns his 10-and-5 rights next year, remove some of his deal from the current (and future) payroll and bring back three prospects who could play significant roles in their rebuild.
Between Braun's recent injury history and performance-enhancing-drugs-tainted past, Milwaukee has no choice but to pick up some of the money left on his deal, regardless of how well he's playing. But in doing so, the Brewers increase the quality of prospects they get back.
Spencer Adams, 20, has pitched to a 3.33 ERA and 1.27 WHIP with an impressive 6.37 strikeout-to-walk ratio over parts of three minor league seasons. Though he's yet to pitch above High-A, he projects as a solid No. 2 starter down the line.
Matt Davidson, 25, debuted with Arizona in 2013, hitting .237 with nine extra-base hits (3 HR), 12 RBI and a .768 OPS over 31 games. He's always going to struggle to hit for average with a lot of swing-and-miss in his game, but he has power and could be the long-term answer at third base in Milwaukee.
Only 19, Corey Zangari is the the furthest away from the big leagues and even further away from being a sure thing. But he could wind up being the best player the Brewers wind up with in this deal.
"Zangari might be two years away from really establishing himself as a serious prospect," ESPN.com's Keith Law wrote in his look at Chicago's farm system, "but he has the huge upside and just enough present skills to make the big leap."
He's exactly the kind of player a rebuilding team like the Brewers can afford to take a chance on.
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Aroldis Chapman Gets Traded to the Washington Nationals
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New York Yankees Get: 3B Anderson Franco, RHP Koda Glover and RHP Austin Voth
Washington Nationals Get: LHP Aroldis Chapman
The Rumor(s)
Word around the league is that Aroldis Chapman could be among the players the Yankees make available in late June if they're struggling to remain in contention, according to the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo, who listed the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros as potential landing spots.
But Washington has been linked to Chapman multiple times, and most recently earlier this month, when Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported the Nationals were "chasing relievers" and pointed to Chapman and his bullpen mate Andrew Miller as potential targets.
Why It Makes Sense for Washington
Such a move isn't likely to sit well with Jonathan Papelbon, but there's no denying that Chapman would be an upgrade over the eternally cranky veteran, who while successfully converting 11 of 13 save opportunities, hasn't been particularly sharp.
Washington could opt to use Chapman in the eighth inning and shorten the game for its rotation, taking pressure off the team's middle relief corps, which outside of Shawn Kelley has been nothing special.
As for the cost, it's a negligible one for the Nationals.
With Lucas Giolito, A.J. Cole, Erick Fedde and Reynaldo Lopez all working their way through the upper levels of Washington's farm system, the Nationals have plenty of pitching depth and won't miss any of the prospects they send to New York.
Why It Makes Sense for New York
If late June rolls around and it looks like the New York Mets are going to be the only playoff team in town, it makes sense for the Yankees to sell. And contenders desperate for bullpen help will line up with offers.
In exchange for a few months of Chapman, the Yankees land a trio of youngsters, two of whom—Koda Glover and Austin Voth—could contribute in the Bronx before the season ends.
The 23-year-old Voth projects as a durable, reliable innings-eater in the middle of a team's rotation. Over parts of four minor league seasons, he's pitched to a 2.66 ERA and 1.02 WHIP with a K/BB ratio of 4.18.
Glover, also 23, is a hard-throwing right-handed reliever who attacks the strike zone with a nasty fastball-slider combination. He figures to start in middle relief but could easily slide into a setup role.
Anderson Franco, 18, is a complete wild card. He's got the skills needed to stick at third base and should continue to develop power as he fills out his 6'3", 190-pound frame. His glove is ahead of his bat at the moment, but he could develop into the Yankees' long-term answer at the hot corner.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs and are current through games of May 16. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts (via Baseball Prospectus).
Hit me up on Twitter to talk all things baseball: @RickWeinerBR.
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