MLB Trade Ideas: 10 Moves to Fill Holes Left by Spring Injuries
Opening Day is right around the corner for Major League Baseball.
While many teams are eager to take the field and start playing games for real, some are still scrambling to fill roster spots vacated by players destined for the disabled list at the start of the season.
While it’s inevitable that players get injured, it’s especially disheartening when it occurs during spring training, when teams are giddy about their prospects.
Experts have already doled out their preseason favorites based on current rosters.
However, in the case of the St. Louis Cardinals, when your ace (Adam Wainwright) goes down with an ulnar collateral ligament tear that requires Tommy John surgery before he has even thrown a pitch of any significance, the landscape is drastically altered.
The Cards are now left to fill the void, either by choosing an internal candidate (Kyle McClellan), searching the waiver wire or making inquiries as to who might be available via trade.
While McClellan appears to be on the fast track to replace Wainwright in the Cards’ starting rotation (0.75 ERA in 12 innings during spring training), the same can’t be said for several other teams looking to fill key positions within the next eight days before Opening Day.
Here is a look at 10 players who could be traded to fill holes left by injured players during spring training.
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10. Rodrigo Lopez: Starting Pitcher, Atlanta Braves
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The Atlanta Braves signed the oft-traveled Rodrigo Lopez to a minor-league contract during the offseason to add depth.
After watching Brandon Beachy and Mike Minor battling for the fifth spot in the starting rotation, Lopez is expendable.
Lopez logged 200 innings last season for the Arizona Diamondbacks, posting a 7-16 record with a 5.00 ERA.
While the numbers may seem woeful, Lopez is an innings eater and he has thrown the ball well in 13.2 innings this spring.
The Milwaukee Brewers could be suitors, as Zack Greinke may not be available until late April, and Shawn Marcum is fighting through shoulder stiffness.
GM Doug Melvin has already made some calls and Lopez would be a very inexpensive option for the short term.
9. John Maine: Starting Pitcher, Colorado Rockies
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When the Colorado Rockies signed John Maine to a minor-league contract and gave him the opportunity to win the fifth spot in the starting rotation, Maine jumped at the chance.
Coming back from shoulder surgery, Maine was eager to show that he was completely healthy and able to help out a team in need.
However, barring any unforeseen occurrences, Esmil Rogers appears to have nailed down the last spot in the rotation over Maine.
The Rockies could very well be interested in making a deal for a modest return.
Possible suitors for the services of Maine are: the Cleveland Indians, which have virtually no experience in their rotation aside from Fausto Carmona; the aforementioned Milwaukee Brewers, looking for temporary help in the absence of Zack Greinke and possibly Shawn Marcum; and possibly the New York Yankees, which have been looking for starting pitching depth since the end of last season.
8. Ryan Doumit: Catcher, Pittsburgh Pirates
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When the Houston Astros learned that they lost the services of starting catcher Jason Castro for the season after he tore his anterior cruciate ligament on March 2, they knew they would be in trouble.
Last year’s backup catcher, Humberto Quintero, is just that—a backup—and their other three options in camp (J.R. Towles, Carlos Corporan, Brian Esposito) are not much better.
Twenty-nine-year-old switch-hitting catcher Ryan Doumit just might be a perfect option for the Astros.
Doumit has spent his entire six-year career in the majors with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but at $5.6 million, the Pirates would have no problem dealing him for the right package of prospects.
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7. Mike Cameron: Center Fielder, Boston Red Sox
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Call me crazy, but it just doesn’t make a whole lot of sense for the Boston Red Sox to keep Mike Cameron on the bench with a $7.25 million salary, playing behind Carl Crawford, Jacoby Ellsbury and J.D. Drew.
Granted, it’s a great option to have, especially given recent injury histories for both Ellsbury and Drew.
However, Darnell McDonald more than proved that he is very capable of handling utility duties for the Sox, and Cameron can bring value.
The Cleveland Indians could be suitors, given Grady Sizemore’s timetable for return (mid-to-late April), although the Indians would no doubt look for Sox GM Theo Epstein to eat part of Cameron’s contract.
6. Chris Davis: First Baseman, Texas Rangers
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Chris Davis has been the talk of the Cactus League thus far in spring training, hitting .409 with four home runs and 15 runs batted in.
Although he hit just .192 in 45 games last year, Texas Rangers manager Ron Washington has seen a big change in Davis’ approach at the plate.
"There is a difference," Washington said. "We can see a difference in his approach and there's a difference in the way he's going about his business. He's maturing."
Still, Davis is tearing the cover off the ball and he has no place to play.
With Mitch Moreland at first and free-agent acquisition Adrian Beltre manning third, Davis has nowhere to go on the current roster.
General manager Jon Daniels has received inquiries about the availability of Davis. With the possibility of closer Neftali Feliz being moved to the starting rotation, Davis could certainly bring some needed help back for the Rangers bullpen.
5. Carlos Beltran: Right Fielder, New York Mets
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For the right team, Carlos Beltran could be had.
Beltran, entering the final year of his $119 million contract with the New York Mets, has played less than a full season in his last two years with the Mets, and he is coming off a knee operation.
At 33 years old, he is just a skeleton of the player he was when originally signed by the Mets in 2005.
However, given the fact that the Mets just unloaded Oliver Perez and his $12 million salary, they would have no issue parting with Beltran and eating at least part of his salary, considering it’s only one year.
New Mets GM Sandy Alderson is making it known that he will run things his way.
If dealing Beltran and getting back some value while he still can is doable, Alderson will find a way to get it done.
Could the Colorado Rockies come calling? Current right fielder Seth Smith has struggled against left-handers, so Beltran could be had with the right deal.
The Detroit Tigers could be an option as well, especially considering veteran Carlos Guillen is still rehabbing and likely won't return for at least the first six weeks of the season.
4. Heath Bell: Closer, San Diego Padres
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Let’s face it: Closer Heath Bell has absolutely no future with the San Diego Padres.
Arguably the best closer of the past two seasons, Bell most certainly won’t be retained by the Padres when his contract expires. At $4 million, he is certainly affordable for many teams.
The Padres may well be best served to deal him now while the iron is hot and the value is still high.
Teams like the Seattle Mariners (David Aardsma injury), Los Angeles Angels (Fernando Rodney misgivings) and Colorado Rockies (oft-injured Huston Street) would be more than willing to add Bell before Opening Day.
3. Jed Lowrie: Shortstop, Boston Red Sox
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Jed Lowrie returned for 55 games toward the end of last season after a spate of injuries felled him for the better part of two years.
He put up solid numbers, hitting .287 with nine home runs and 24 runs batted in, with a .524 slugging percentage.
With his ability to play all infield positions—and with Boston Red Sox manager Terry Francona’s penchant to stick with veterans (Marco Scutaro)—Lowrie is destined for bench time with the Sox.
And with their high hopes for shortstop prospect Jose Iglesias, Lowrie doesn’t project to have much of a future in Boston.
Lowrie's versatility makes him a valuable commodity for any number of teams, with the Philadelphia Phillies high on that list.
Yes, the Phillies just signed Luis Castillo, but Lowrie would be a much better option, especially if Utley’s injury is long term and if Placido Polanco continues along his injury-laden path.
2. Bobby Wilson: Catcher, Los Angeles Angels
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Thus far in spring training, Los Angeles Angels catcher Bobby Wilson has been very impressive, both at the plate and physically.
Having lost 33 pounds during the offseason, Wilson is literally looking and playing like a new man.
With Jeff Mathis most likely to be named the Opening Day catcher and prospect Hank Conger waiting in the wings, Wilson could certainly be used as potential trade bait, especially with the recent injuries to both Scott Downs and Joel Pineiro.
The Washington Nationals could be interested, given the age of current catcher Ivan Rodriguez and the lack of promising prospects behind him.
The Houston Astros could be a destination as well, with Jason Castro on the shelf for the season with a torn ACL.
1. Barry Zito: Starting Pitcher, San Francisco Giants
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Yes, I know, Barry Zito was probably the biggest free-agent bust this side of Oscar Gamble.
However, there are plenty of teams in need of fresh bodies, and Zito at least has that going for him, considering he was left off the Giants’ postseason roster.
With all of the injuries to pitchers thus far on various teams, Zito could at least pitch better healthy than they could hurt, don't you think?
Maybe the Big Apple is a better place for Zito than the Bay Area? Just wondering out loud here…
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