Ideal Trade Target for Every MLB Team
The perfect match is out there for everyone, but few are fortunate enough to find them.
As July 31's non-waiver trade deadline nears, most MLB teams have one player they'd love to acquire. Along with filling a glaring need, he resides in their price range as a summer rental or instrumental add beyond 2017.
Of course, that doesn't mean they will unite. Competitors will challenge that dream match, as with the New York Yankees' poaching of Todd Frazier from the Boston Red Sox. In some high-profile cases, multiple contenders will covet the same player as their No. 1 target.
For rebuilding squads, the goal is usually as simple as accumulating the most value possible.
While some pairings may be improbable, only trades in the realm of possibility received consideration. The Los Angeles Dodgers would probably love to welcome Mike Trout, but nothing beyond years of theoretical speculation suggests it's feasible.
This also means Manny Machado, Marcell Ozuna, Chris Archer and Gerrit Cole—often the focus of pie-in-the-sky trade scenarios—won't be anyone's match due to the microscopically low likelihood of changing places. A couple of exceptions were made where a doubtful blockbuster makes too much sense not to consider.
Let's identify each squad's ideal acquisition, even if a few have already taken care of business.
Editor's note: This article was published before the Milwaukee Brewers reportedly acquired Anthony Swarzak from the Chicago White Sox, per FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman, and before the Red Sox reportedly acquired Eduardo Nunez from the San Francisco Giants, per Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal.
Arizona Diamondbacks: RP Anthony Swarzak
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The Arizona Diamondbacks already landed their ideal trade candidate when acquiring J.D. Martinez from the Detroit Tigers. Despite a barren farm system stifling the potential for any major moves, they filled their lineup's only area of need with a star outfielder boasting a higher slugging percentage and weighted runs created plus (wRC+) than Paul Goldschmidt.
It's hard to imagine them making another high-impact move. Martinez gives them a stacked lineup, and their starting rotation leads baseball in adjusted ERA. They will at most add an extra bench bat or bullpen insurance to bolster an already strong group.
With a lack of trade chips, Arizona need only seek a relief rental, preferably one whose value isn't artificially inflated by saves. Based on that criteria, Anthony Swarzak presents a great match.
The Chicago White Sox already unloaded David Robertson and Tommy Kahnle from their bullpen. Yet that shouldn't stop general manager Rick Hahn from also moving Swarzak, a 31-year-old enjoying a career season right before embarking on free agency.
The righty has posted a 2.23 ERA and 1.03 WHIP over 48.1 stellar innings with 52 strikeouts and 13 walks. He has excelled against opposite-handed hitters, limiting lefties to one extra-base hit.
His contract and under-the-radar success give the Diamondbacks another opportunity to snag a major addition at a low cost.
Atlanta Braves: SP Sonny Gray
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Despite hoarding their farm system with elite talent, the Atlanta Braves do not appear interested in a long-term rebuild.
On July 14, Yahoo Sports' Jeff Passan wrote that the Braves, after sniffing around on Jose Quintana, remain interested in maneuvering their treasure trove of prospects for a "frontline, under-control" starting pitcher. Sonny Gray is the top choice meeting that description.
Atlanta must outbid top contenders for the 27-year-old starter's services. The Oakland Athletics righty has intensified league-wide appeal by posting a 1.62 ERA over his past five starts.
Yet if Braves general manager John Coppolella is motivated to attain an ace in hopes of rejoining the playoff picture next year, he certainly has the assets to make the move. Possessing nine of Baseball America's top 100 prospects, he can assemble a formidable offer without including No. 10 prospect Ronald Acuna, a 19-year-old outfielder who has already worked his way to Triple-A.
Coppolella can also preserve his minor league inventory by shopping veterans R.A. Dickey, Jim Johnson and Brandon Phillips. Acquiring Gray this summer would be bold—and tough to pull off with so much competition—but it'd show the Braves mean business.
Baltimore Orioles: RHP Walker Buehler or Yadier Alvarez
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The Baltimore Orioles have hemorrhaged runs all seasons, and their American League-worst pitching staff is the culprit for their sub-.500 record and minus-69 run differential. Although they remain in the wild-card hunt, it would cost too many prospects they don't have to construct a feasible playoff threat.
Last Tuesday, before Baltimore swept the Texas Rangers in four games, Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported that general manager Dan Duquette received permission from owner Peter Angelos to seek trades for outfielder Seth Smith and their top relievers. That presumably includes closer Zach Britton, who recorded 47 saves and allowed four earned runs last season.
The 29-year-old has one more full year under team control, so it makes sense for a struggling club to shop him now. Last year's monumental returns for Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller should fuel their search and validate requests for elite prospects.
They have a possible trade partner in the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have built a double-digit division lead in the National League West. Bullpen shortcomings have derailed past playoff appearances, so they may leverage a deep farm system into a star reliever,
Even closer Kenley Jansen told FanRag Sports' Jon Heyman that acquiring Britton "would be awesome."
The Orioles need young pitching, and the Dodgers possess two front-line prospects in Walker Buehler and Yadier Alvarez, respectively ranked No. 17 and 60 in Baseball America's midseason rankings. Either would comfortably become the best hurler in Baltimore's farm system, and asking for one (more likely Alvarez) is a reasonable request after Britton's historically dominant 2016 campaign.
Trading Britton this summer is not a necessity, so the Orioles should seek the moon despite his pitching just 17 innings this season. A package headlined by Buehler or Alvarez would compel Duquette to complete a blockbuster.
Boston Red Sox: RP Pat Neshek
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The Red Sox need a third baseman, but the Yankees cost them their chance at Todd Frazier, who would have fit perfectly as a power rental. While they can still find an acceptable fallback, Yunel Escobar, David Freese, Jed Lowrie and Asdrubal Cabrera won't spark much excitement. And none stand out as someone team president Dave Dombrowski needs to target above the rest. In addition, top prospect Rafael Devers is scheduled to make his debut Tuesday and could run away with the job if he gets hot.
They also watched the Yankees pass them in the arms race for relievers, grabbing David Robertson and Tommy Kanhle from the White Sox alongside Frazier. Even if Robertson was also a target, plenty of bullpen alternatives remain.
Like the Yankees, they have a dominant closer leading a strong unit. Yet the herd has thinned out leading up to Craig Kimbrel, especially with Joe Kelly landing on the disabled list right after getting labeled the setup man.
They have also exchanged too many prospects to pay a premium for Zach Britton, Brad Hand or Justin Wilson. Pat Neshek, however, shouldn't cost an elite minor leaguer. Despite his glistening 1.12 ERA, the Philadelphia Phillies sidearmer is 36 years old and at the end of his contract.
If they're lucky, maybe the Kansas City Royals will limp into the deadline and consider moving Mike Moustakas. Convincing a division foe to sell Manny Machado or Josh Donaldson—both free agents after the 2018 season—is a pipe dream not worth entertaining in a full blurb.
For now, the Red Sox are more likely to acquire an average third baseman and a significant setup man to keep pace with the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays.
Chicago Cubs: C Alex Avila and RP Justin Wilson
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Listing two players may be cheating, but the Chicago Cubs can solve two low-priority needs by calling the Tigers.
They have also already acquired their ideal candidate in Jose Quintana, who boosts a veteran rotation for the stretch run and future. Although they reportedly inquired about ace Yu Darvish, per Fox Sports' Jon Morosi, he's an unnecessary luxury after Kyle Hendricks returned from the disabled list.
These aren't pressing issues, either, but the Cubs need a veteran catcher to ease Willson Contreras' workload. Another left-handed reliever would also help Joe Maddon manage meaningful games.
Detroit, who opened for business by trading J.D. Martinez, has answers for both areas in Alex Avila and closer Justin Wilson. While the Cubs certainly don't need a catcher leading MLB in wRC+, Avila could still come at a reasonable cost due to his expiring contract. Contreras doesn't deserve to lose his regular role, but the duo would form an elite lefty-righty platoon.
Wilson wields better splits against righties, but he has proved tough on all opponents with a 2.75 ERA and 55 strikeouts in 39.1 innings. CBS Chicago's Bruce Levine said the 29-year-old southpaw is "on Chicago's wish list."
Darvish or another ace would be the flashy move, but Avila and/or Wilson are more prudent acquisitions for an organization now devoid of blue-chip prospects after shipping Eloy Jimenez and Dylan Cease across town.
Chicago White Sox: More Young Talent
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The White Sox have cashed out their top trade chips for top-tier prospects. They're done igniting major fireworks, but a few veterans could round out a top-heavy farm system.
Melky Cabrera, Derek Holland, Mike Pelfrey and the recently acquired Tyler Clippard won't appear as any contender's ideal target. They're instead consolation prices for stingy clubs rummaging the clearance racks for an extra piece.
Unless he's playing his franchise mode with "forced trades" turned on, Hahn won't receive a significant player for any of those veteran on terminating contracts. But there's no need to keep any around through the season.
Swarzak, however, should net a meaningful return. He doesn't possess Robertson's closer pedigree or Kahnle's years of team control, but only six relievers have registered a higher WAR than his 1.6.
Hahn's goal remains to sell for the best young talent possible.
Cincinnati Reds: Best Assets They Can Get for Zack Cozart
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Out of the postseason hunt, the Cincinnati Reds have one prominent trade asset in Zack Cozart. With Rosenthal reporting an extension is "highly unlikely," there's an added impetus to move the All-Star shortstop this week.
Hitting .318/.404/.570 with a well-respected glove and the position's third-best WAR behind Carlos Correa and Corey Seager, he's a highly valuable commodity. Most contenders, however, don't need a shortstop.
Perhaps the Washington Nationals pursue Cozart to replace the injured Trea Turner. The Colorado Rockies could upgrade their offense and defense by benching the slumping Trevor Story, so the Reds should find a willing trade partner.
Now it's a matter of what they can fetch for an impact rental. The J.D. Martinez return isn't a promising precedent, and the Reds should seek something of higher substance.
Their farm system boasts two premier prospects in Nick Senzel and 2017 second overall pick Hunter Greene, but they would benefit from adding a few young players or one significant minor leaguer.
Cleveland Indians: 3B/SS/OF Eduardo Nunez
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The Cleveland Indians' deadline needs depend on their health. Successful recoveries from Jason Kipnis, Lonnie Chisenhall and Danny Salazar would mitigate interest in adding an extra hitter and starting pitcher.
Then again, they can't take a chance on Josh Tomlin again offering serviceable postseason innings, and opponents have a .955 OPS against Trevor Bauer in three July starts. Carlos Carrasco's checkered injury history must also be taken into account. Cleveland can use another arm to avoid Tomlin and Ryan Merritt making playoff starts again.
Unfortunately for them, two of their division rivals each plucked a starter off the market Monday. Minnesota added Jaime Garcia while Trevor Cahill, who joined the Royals along with relievers Ryan Buchter and Brandon Maurer, would have especially looked good at the end of Cleveland's rotation.
Left with no solid, affordable options, the Indians turn their attention to position players. While Salazar made his best start of the season Saturday, his first outing since June 3, Kipnis and Chisenhall remain sidelined. According to Cleveland.com, manager Terry Francona said both are "still weeks away, not days."
Eduardo Nunez can either fill the right-field void or play third with Jose Ramirez at second. He may be relegated to bench duty if both return for a playoff run, but the Indians first must worry about securing a postseason ticket.
The versatile San Francisco Giants speedster won't make Cleveland a major deadline winner, but he works as a low-cost insurance policy.
Colorado Rockies: SP Yu Darvish
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Colorado should seek bullpen help and check the price tag on Zack Cozart, but Texas' slow second-half start may create a major opportunity.
No other starting-pitching rental makes sense for the Rockies; Lance Lynn or another low-grade addition won't represent an upgrade when relocated to Coors Field. Yu Darvish, on the other hand, is a front-line ace who will induce whiffs anywhere.
FanGraphs gives them a 69 percent probability of preserving one of two wild-card spots, which would likely send them to a winner-take-all bout against the Diamondbacks. Whether it's Coors or Chase Field, they would currently rely on Kyle Freeland, German Marquez, Tyler Chatwood, Jeff Hoffman or Jonathan Gray to counter Zack Greinke in a hitting-friendly venue.
Darvish substantially boosts their odds of advancing to the divisional series. While a young club may be reluctant to roll the dice on a win-now move, the franchise also hasn't won a playoff series since advancing to the NLCS 10 years ago.
As long as he doesn't cost them Brendan Rodgers or Riley Pint, the Rockies should pursue Darvish to legitimatize their playoff credibility.
Detroit Tigers: Young Hitters
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According to ESPN.com, the Tigers' major league roster has an average age of 29.1, baseball's sixth-oldest club. Making matters worse, all of their highly compensated veterans are north of 30 besides Justin Upton, who turns 30 in August.
This veteran core can no longer headline a title contender. At 45-53 with J.D. Martinez shipped to Arizona, they must start planning for the future.
Their farm at least contains promising power arms in Matt Manning, Beau Burrows and Alex Faedo, but the lineup has no blueprint for life after Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez. They must start retooling, even if it means moving Kinsler and/or Justin Verlander in addition to Alex Avila and Justin Wilson.
According to ESPN's Buster Olney, the Milwaukee Brewers are "digging in" on Kinsler. Even if Lewis Brinson is unattainable, they have other hitting prospects (Corey Ray, Isan Diaz, Lucas Erceg, Mauricio Dubon) to replenish Detroit's pipeline.
In order to receive a top prospect for Verlander, the Tigers would likely need to absorb part of his sizable salary. It beats being trapped under a mountain of bloated contracts.
Houston Astros: RP Brad Hand
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A near certainty to win the AL West, the Houston Astros should acquire a major arm with October in mind. Yet a debate has started to percolate over whether they should seek a star starter or reliever.
Neither is much of a problem. Their rotation has led the AL in ERA, and it's not all Lance McCullers and Dallas Keuchel. Brad Peacock looks like a legitimate No. 3 starter with a 2.51 ERA and 97 strikeouts over 71.2 innings. As noted by the Houston Chronicle's Jake Kaplan, Mike Fiers has a 2.36 ERA in 10 starts after adjusting his arm angle and pitch sequencing. While neither is likely to start a playoff game, Charlie Morton and Collin McHugh have recently returned to offer solid innings down the stretch.
Sonny Gray seemed like the perfect fit until Peacock and Fiers caught fire. According to Heyman, Houston is now "looking elsewhere."
While their bullpen has allowed runs at a near-average level, it also has manifested baseball's highest strikeout percentage. Yet until Michael Feliz and James Hoyt get the results to reflect their dominant peripherals, the relief corps is currently the weakest link of a juggernaut with no true weakness.
There's also a livelier market for high-impact relievers, all of whom should cost less than Gray or Yu Darvish. A dominant and durable lefty joining Chris Devenski and Ken Giles would make them an even more formidable playoff adversary.
Houston is also in the best position to pay the high asking price for Brad Hand, a 27-year-old southpaw with two more years of arbitration. Since joining San Diego in 2016, he has accrued 177 strikeouts in 140.1 innings. Having recorded five more outs, Devenski is the only reliever to work more during that time frame.
Pairing the duo would give Astros manager A.J. Hinch the versatility to deploy one or both old-fashioned relief aces as early as necessary. And then again, nothing is stopping them from acquiring a reliever and starter before the deadline.
Kansas City Royals: 3B/SS/OF Eduardo Nunez
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The Kansas City Royals appear to have no intentions of selling their core stars dangerously close to leaving in free agency. Although their roster isn't good enough to recreate 2015's championship glory, they'd also be foolish to make any major purchases beyond their deal with the Padres.
An offense with MLB's fifth-worst wRC+ needs more than one fringe player, but the Royals still must consider an uncertain future rather than waste resources on a squad with a minus-19 run differential. Although Eduardo Nunez wouldn't provide a major boost anywhere, he could fill one or two holes.
Despite rebounding from an atrocious start, shortstop Alcides Escobar still has the lowest wRC+ of any AL hitter. Left fielder Alex Gordon isn't far behind with the Junior Circuit's third-worst clip.
Nunez at least makes ample contact and wreaks havoc on the basepaths. It shouldn't take much to wrestle the impending free agent away from San Francisco, who could get eliminated from playoff contention in August.
Perhaps trading any of their upcoming free agents for a top prospect is the true ideal, but Nunez is a sensible fit if the Royals instead fuel their possible last hurrah with another low-level buy.
Los Angeles Angels: 2B Dee Gordon
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The Los Angeles Angels are in a weird place. They're close enough to a wild-card spot to seek some cheap upgrades. While they shouldn't see themselves as serious contenders, they don't have any major pieces to augment a feeble farm system.
Albert Pujols' contract would scuttle rebuilding efforts for an organization seemingly allergic to the concept. And they also don't want to waste Mike Trout's prime. Perhaps buying a mid-tier player for 2018 represents the perfect compromise.
Heyman listed the Angels as one of three teams interested in Dee Gordon. Despite his nonexistent power and subpar batting eye, the high-contact hitter would mark a monumental improvement for a club whose second basemen have collectively batted .179.
The speedster would receive a permanent green light on the Angels, who lead MLB in both successful and failed stolen-base attempts.
Even if the 29-year-old's legs deteriorate, he will make a reasonable $38 million from 2018 to 2020. The frugal Miami Marlins may nonetheless want to unload that contract without seeking the type of blue-chip prospect the Angels don't possess.
Los Angeles Dodgers: SP Yu Darvish
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A Dodgers' hot pursuit of Zach Britton is ideal for the Orioles. But they’re better served seeking cheaper bullpen help elsewhere to save their bullets for Yu Darvish.
Addison Reed was originally slated for this spot before Clayton Kershaw exited Sunday’s start with back tightness. As long as he’s back for the playoffs—he's expected to miss four to six weeks, per ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick—there’s no need to panic. They have plenty of pitching depth to preserve a massive division lead without their ace.
Yet their ace’s injury—a problem which also derailed him last year—will remind the Dodgers of their rotation’s frailty. Rich Hill battled blisters before finding his rhythm. Alex Wood, Kenta Maeda, Brandon McCarthy and Hyun-Jin Ryu have also all spent some time on the disabled list this season.
They have no need to scour the market for a warm body; Ryu returned the day after Kershaw went down. Yet Darvish is a major October difference-maker.
Acquiring Texas’ power pitcher would give the Dodgers a lethal four-man playoff rotation in Kershaw, Darvish, Wood and Hill. Kershaw for once wouldn’t have to routinely pitch on short rest to keep the Dodgers alive.
Darvish would be an expensive rental, but one who noticeably improves their odds of winning the Fall Classic.
Miami Marlins: Any Top Prospect for Giancarlo Stanton
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The world is finally witnessing a healthy Giancarlo Stanton destroy baseballs. After pelting 11 home runs in his last 15 games, the Marlins masher has 32 long balls and a .596 slugging percentage this season.
Stanton is reminding everyone that he is a superstar slugger when injuries do not interfere. So now might be the time to move him.
An eventual trade is inevitable for an organization once again rebuilding. Unless new owners with cavernous pockets and an exponentially larger willingness to spend than Jeffrey Loria buy the team, it's highly unlikely Stanton plays out the final 10 years and $295 million of his backloaded mega contract in Miami.
Are the Marlins daring enough to wait? If more injuries strike and his Herculean power naturally regresses, not even a deep-pocketed contender would want him in 2020. Now presents the best opportunity to sell the 27-year-old without merely dumping his salary.
While multiple teams are interested, Heyman said any deal is unlikely before the deadline. Waiting until the offseason makes sense, but only if the club is confident in Stanton staying on the field and easily surpassing his personal best of 37 long balls in a season.
The Marlins should seriously entertain any offers where they receive more than salary relief in return.
Milwaukee Brewers: SP Sonny Gray
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Just as they built credibility as a legitimate contender, a six-game losing streak vaporized the Milwaukee Brewers' NL Central lead. They need pitching help if they want their Cinderella season to have a happy ending.
A young squad competing quicker than anticipated also won't want to mortgage the future for a temporary fix. After watching the Cubs fortify their rotation for 2017 and beyond with Jose Quintana, the Brewers should try to counter by acquiring Sonny Gray.
They have players to move without trading Lewis Brinson, but Oakland may demand the prized outfielder after viewing the White Sox's haul for Quintana. Brewers general manager David Stearns would likely walk away if that's the case, but no other minor leaguer should be untouchable for a team-controlled starter who would headline the rotation alongside Jimmy Nelson.
Facing NL pitchers would offset the unfavorable change in home parks for Gray, who can also combat Miller Park with his 55.7 ground-ball rate. He would keep the Brewers in the playoff hunt, but they wouldn't toss away valuable pieces to their rebuild for one chance at glory.
Brewers pitching coach Derek Johnson also instructed Gray at Vanderbilt, so everything falls into place for an amicable pairing.
Minnesota Twins: RP AJ Ramos
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A minus-68 run differential says the overachieving Minnesota Twins should sell, but they remain within arm's reach of both the AL Central and wild-card spots.
They already showed their hand as buyers by acquiring Jaime Garcia from the Braves, as first reported Monday by Rosenthal. Although not an ace, he's a solid mid-level rental and upgrade for a team which has relinquished baseball's third-most runs while garnering the league's lowest strikeout percentage.
That addresses, albeit doesn't solve, the Twins' biggest need. While they should beware spending too much, they could still use more mound reinforcements.
Let's now turn to a bullpen in severe need of a power arm. AJ Ramos, who has registered 378 strikeouts in 326 career innings, fits the bill.
Unlike Garcia, the Marlins closer has another year under team control before bolting for free agency. If Brandon Kintzler's pitch-to-contact success doesn't continue, Ramos could usurp him in the ninth inning.
The 30-year-old Ramos is also far from perfect, sporting a 3.76 ERA and 21 walks in 38.1 frames. That could make him affordable, which often isn't the case for high-strikeout arms who logged a sub-3.00 ERA in three consecutive seasons.
New York Mets: Any Young Talent
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While the Mets would undoubtedly prefer another World Series run, a disappointing season gives them an opportunity to unload several veterans on expiring contracts.
With a limited market for corner outfielders, Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson probably won't garner substantial returns. Nevertheless, they have an outfield logjam to clear with those two, Michael Conforto and Yoenis Cespedes currently rotating out of the lineup. No longer able to competently handle shortstop's defensive demands, Asdrubal Cabrera could be out of a starting job when Neil Walker—another upcoming free agent—returns from the disabled list.
Yet those are all big league bats worthy of a respectable return, and Addison Reed should yield the best exchange. Mets general manager Sandy Alderson doesn't have the leverage to be picky, but he can quickly inject an aging squad with youth.
During a disastrous year for their pitching core besides Jacob deGrom, who shouldn't go anywhere barring an incredible offer they can't refuse, they can use some young hurlers. As a team wanting to reset for 2018 rather than rebuild, it would make sense to replace Reed with a young, cost-controlled reliever.
New York Yankees: SP Sonny Gray
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Whereas recent surges could take Houston off the starting-pitching trail, developing struggles should itensify the Yankees' interest in Sonny Gray.
Michael Pineda underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery on a torn UCL. An AL Rookie of the Year candidate if not for teammate Aaron Judge, Jordan Montgomgery has relinquished 25 hits and 14 runs in four July starts spanning 19.2 innings.
After seemingly turning the corner on an atrocious start, Masahiro Tanaka has served up five home runs in his last three outings. Since they're aiming for long-term stability, Gray is the best solution.
Their farm system remains stacked after trading a package led by Blake Rutherford to the White Sox. Yankees general manager Brian Cashman can keep Gleyber Torres, Clint Frazier and Chance Adams and still field a competitive offer led by shortstop Jorge Mateo and/or outfielder Estevan Florial.
While talking to Oakland, Cashman can also seek Yonder Alonso to stop the revolving door at first base in the wake of Greg Bird's ankle issues. Such a deal would make the Yankees AL East favorites and a formidable adversary to the Astros and Indians.
Oakland Athletics: 2B/SS Ozzie Albies
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For all the Sonny Gray chatter, the A's have no mandate to move him. Since he's 27 and not free-agency bound until after the 2019 season, he should only switch teams for a grand offer led by a marquee prospect.
The Braves, Brewers and Yankees have all been identified as teams who should aggressively pursue his services. That means Oakland should inquire about Ronald Acuna, Lewis Brinson and Gleyber Torres, but let's assume each team's premier prospect is off limits.
The same can't be said about Ozzie Albies. When confirming Atlanta's interest in a top-flight starter, Passan said it offered the 20-year-old middle infielder to the White Sox for Jose Quintana. While it's certainly possible the organization likes the stabler southpaw more than Gray, it's feasible the club will trade him for another young ace under team control.
In response to the rumors, per the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Gabriel Burns, Albies offered sage advice.
“I don’t hear a lot of that, so I’m good,” he said. “It doesn’t come to my ears. I don’t go to social media for that stuff. I don’t even check it.”
Trading Albies would be a peculiar choice for the Braves, but a great get for Oakland. A move would allow the strong defender to transition back to shortstop. Franklin Barretto and Marcus Semien are both better suited for another position anyway.
Albies looks ready to join the big leagues, where he has a long career ahead as a high-contact hitter with game-changing speed and Gold Glove upside. Although he doesn't fit the old Moneyball model, Baseball America's No. 25 prospect would make a great building block for Oakland's rebuild.
Philadelphia Phillies: More Future Assets
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The Phillies have already turned their attention to next season. While they could push for controllable big league talent, their main focus is trading Pat Neshek and other veterans playing out expiring contracts.
Jeremy Hellickson and Joaquin Benoit won't attract much interest, but Neshek has the attention of most contenders. ESPN's Crasnick listed five teams who sent scouts to Philadelphia over the weekend.
Howie Kendrick, who has a .350 batting average across 150 plate appearances after two long stints on the DL, would add depth to any competitive club.
Phillies general manager Matt Klentak may feel the urge to make a major splash, but he should continue the Philadelphia tradition of Trusting the Process. Stay patient, and opportunities will eventually arise. They're in no rush to build a contender, so keep bulking up the farm system until the time is right to buy.
Pittsburgh Pirates: OF Jay Bruce
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All Pittsburgh Pirates trade chatter around the All-Star break focused on Andrew McCutchen and Gerrit Cole's availability. Then they took two out of three from both the Cubs and St. Louis Cardinals before sweeping the Brewers to suddenly join the NL Central hunt.
According to Rosenthal, the Pirates have not committed to buying or selling, but McCutchen and Josh Harrison are not available. Instead of trading one of those top hitters, they may feel inclined to add another outfielder after placing Gregory Polanco on the disabled list.
Brandishing MLB's third-worst slugging percentage and second-fewest home runs, they need some power to fuel an unexpected playoff chase. The Mets have two options in Jay Bruce and Curtis Granderson.
Entering the intermission on fire, Granderson has yet to record a hit in nine second-half games. Having belted 25 long balls with a .523 slugging percentage, Bruce is the better pure power choice anyway.
Despite struggling as a midseason acquisition last year, the 30-year-old outfielder is enjoying his best campaign since 2013. The Mets didn't pay much to get him from the Reds last year, and the Pirates won't have to break the bank for a rental yet to garner much trade buzz.
Even with a healthy Polanco, the Pirates would need Bruce to replace the ineligible Starling Marte in the playoffs.
San Diego Padres: A.J. Preller's Asking Price for Brad Hand
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The Padres will be huge deadline winners if any buyer meets their reportedly gargantuan asking price for Brad Hand. As an executive told Passan (h/t Dennis Lin of the San Diego Union-Tribune), Padres general manager A.J. Preller still seeks a windfall return for the valuable lefty.
“I don’t think the Dodgers would ask more for Kershaw than A.J. is for Brad Hand.”
Preller certainly shouldn't trade Hand for the sake of making a deal. With "half the league or more" interested, according to MLB.com's AJ Cassavell, he has all the leverage in marketing the star reliever under team control.
The fact that he's not a closer should no longer matter. It didn't when Cleveland sacrificed blue-chip prospects for Andrew Miller last July. Although he operates on a lower tier, Hand is also a dominant southpaw who could shift an October series.
If someone ponies up the premier prospects Preller craves, great. If not, he's under no pressure to take the best offer. Continued success, perhaps in the ninth inning with Brandon Maurer dealt, would only augment his trade value.
San Francisco Giants: A Decent Return for Johnny Cueto
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Dealing an injured veteran during a down year will probably prove an impossible task for the Giants, who have few trade pieces that can give a lost season meaning.
A sidelined Johnny Cueto probably won't return by July 31, meaning he may need to prove his health and clear waivers for an August trade to materialize. The 31-year-old ace can opt out of his contract this winter or earn $21 million in each of the next four seasons.
Neither scenario is promising for the Giants.
He hasn't earned his hefty salary this season, posting a 4.78 ERA and allowing 13 home runs away from the pitcher-friendly AT&T Park. It will take a strong finish for Cueto to cast aside guaranteed money and re-enter free agency.
If that happens, the Giants risk losing him for no more than a compensatory draft pick. That's why a midseason trade made sense before blisters froze his market. Now it's a long shot, and they'd otherwise have little to accomplish besides flipping Nunez for a fringe prospect or two.
Seattle Mariners: 1B Lucas Duda
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Danny Valencia is a solid first baseman, but he inflicts most of his damage against left-handed pitchers. If the Seattle Mariners are intent on buying—they have already depleted their farm by acquiring David Phelps and Marco Gonzales—they should form a platoon by adding a left-handed slugger.
Alonso and Lucas Duda are the clear candidates. The M's should go for Alonso if both batters have similar price tags, but Duda is likely a cheaper option and will fit their needs.
The underrated veteran has popped 14 of his 17 home runs with a .923 OPS against righties. While Oakland's All-Star has faded, Duda has already gone deep three times in 10 second-half contests.
As a rental with a checkered health history, he shouldn't command an excessive return. Though they also need rotation help, a small offensive upgrade could go a long way in a wide-open playoff battle.
St. Louis Cardinals: 3B Josh Donaldson
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Despite the Cardinals' plus-26 run differential, their 48-51 record leaves them looking up at three teams in the NL Central standings. Any purchases would hinge on landing a big bat under contract beyond 2017.
Donaldson is the most interesting candidate. It's unlikely the Toronto Blue Jays move the 2015 AL MVP this summer, but it's plausible. They have fallen out of the playoff mix with the league's third-worst record, and the 31-year-old third baseman will join a stacked free-agent crop after the 2018 season.
Donaldson would jolt the Cardinals' summer run, but more importantly set them up for next year. The Blue Jays, in return, could boost their future rotation by snagging Luke Weaver or Jack Flaherty in a package.
They could also land a big league contributors (Randal Grichuk, Jose Martinez, perhaps even Kolten Wong or Michael Wacha) to avoid bottoming out while hedging their bets against Donaldson's following Edwin Encarnacion's path out the door.
Toronto's championship window has closed. If the organization realizes this, it could lead to an unexpected blockbuster, but one that will more likely wait until the offseason or next summer.
Tampa Bay Rays: RP Pat Neshek
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Tampa Bay made its first move to address a leaky bullpen by acquiring Sergio Romo from the Dodgers. Someone with a 6.12 ERA, however, won't stop the search for relievers.
As MLB.com's Mark Feinsand wrote before the Romo deal, the Rays have interest in "every reliever that has any slim chance or more of being available." Rosenthal said they will keep shopping for bullpen upgrades after taking a flier on the 34-year-old righty.
The small-market organization is also unlikely to cede a significant haul, which diminishes the probability of procuring Hand or Wilson. Renting Neshek or Reed better fits their spending prowess.
While Neshek, 36, has performed better this year, he's also older and without a closer's allure. Neither short-term upgrade would be cheap, but the Phillies righty is a significant upgrade who shouldn't break the bank.
If a bidding war ensues, expect the Rays to look elsewhere. But they need to improve somehow after getting swept by the Rangers over the weekend.
Texas Rangers: A Blue-Chip Prospect for Yu Darvish
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The Rangers remain in the wild-card discussion, but so does most of the American League. Although they're the most talented of the sub-.500 playoff contenders, flipping two months of Darvish for a meaty exchange may prove too intriguing to resist.
His contract will dilute any return, but not substantially. The Dodgers and Astros, powerhouses with deep farm systems, could see him as the final piece to a championship. If Chicago's rental of Chapman put Torres in pinstripes, leasing a front-line ace should still garner a grand package.
This could mean Buehler, Alvarez, Alex Verdugo or Willie Calhoun from the Dodgers. The Astros could throw a marquee pitching prospect (Franklin Perez, Francis Martes, David Paulino or Forrest Whitley) to Texas.
Those young arms, particularly Buehler and Martes, are appealing if the Rangers want to recalibrate their sagging rotation. If they choose to keep Darvish, they should instead pursue Marco Estrada or Lance Lynn to make an honest effort at snatching a wild-card ticket.
Although the Rangers can objectively believe they're better than the Twins, Royals, Angels, Mariners and Rays, they're multiple steps behind the Astros, Indians, Red Sox and Yankees. The tame chances of clawing their way to a winner-take-all game doesn't outweigh the benefit of dealing Darvish.
Toronto Blue Jays: Any Young Talent
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ESPN.com puts the Blue Jays as MLB's oldest team. This is especially troublesome on the offensive end, where center fielder Kevin Pillar is the only regular starter under 30.
Having fallen to last place in the AL East, they'd be delusional to picture a playoff run. Yet they may hope better health guides them to 2018 success in Donaldson's walk year, even if he and out-of-nowhere star Justin Smoak are the only premier hitters left with Encarnacion gone and Jose Bautista fading.
They need youth wherever they can find it. If Donaldson is not for sale, they should explore offers for Bautista and pawn Estrada for whatever value remains. J.A. Happ would fetch a prettier return.
Toronto will only dig a bigger hole by delaying an inevitable rebuild. It needs to at least take a baby step toward that outcome.
Washington Nationals: SS Zack Cozart
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Many words have been written about Washington's bullpen woes. Far fewer have been allotted to its defensive shortcomings.
Only four sellers (Mets, Padres, Giants and Athletics) have hemorrhaged more runs with a worse defensive runs saved than the Nationals' minus-28. Most of the blame belongs to Daniel Murphy, whose minus-14 DRS doubles Brad Miller's, the second baseman with the second-worst clip.
He could use a temporary double-play partner with Trea Turner sidelined. And unless Washington instead replaces Adam Eaton, Jayson Werth and Michael Taylor, the young shortstop could return as an outfielder if healthy.
Even after lightening their bullpen troubles by acquiring Oakland relievers Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle, the Nationals have ample motivation to buy. Winning the frail NL East is a near formality, and Bryce Harper could close their championship window on the way out as a free agent after next year.
Enter Cozart, a major offensive and defensive upgrade over Wilmer Difo at shortstop. Even if he reverts to a league-average hitter over the final two months, he's fine as the fifth-best batter behind Harper, Murphy, Anthony Rendon and Ryan Zimmerman. Third among shortstops in DRS since 2012 behind perennial Gold Glove winners Andrelton Simmons and Brandon Crawford, Cozart and his glove will provide plenty of value even without the All-Star offense.
This doesn't mean Washington also shouldn't place a bow on its bullpen with one more upgrade. Yet it would only take an untimely cold spell from one or two of its star sluggers for a potent lineup to falter in October. Cozart can help score and prevent runs during the postseason.
Note: All advanced stats courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted. Salary information obtained from Cot's Baseball Contracts.
