Alfonso Soriano and the Top Waiver Targets: Updating the No. 1 Suitor for Each

Over the course of August's 31 days, virtually all players in baseball will find themselves on waivers. Derek Jeter, Matt Kemp and the game's other biggest names are placed on trade waivers by their respective clubs as more of a formality than anything else—neither the Yankees nor Dodgers have any plans to trade their respective superstar.

For as many players that find themselves on the waiver wire who aren't available, there is a group equally large of players who are available. However, their contracts, declining performances or combinations of the two make it unlikely that they'll find themselves elsewhere.

But that doesn't mean that August trades involving some big names never happen, because they do.

Let's take a look at some of the more intriguing players who either are—or will—become available over the next two weeks and where they could be headed.

Mike Aviles, SS, Boston Red Sox

If the dictionary came out with updated definitions of words every year, next year's edition would state the following next to the word "inept": "Shortstops for the 2012 Oakland A's."

Four players—primarily Cliff Pennington—have manned the position this season, and they've combined to produce a .190/.256/.300 slash line with seven home runs and 28 RBI. Impressive, isn't it?

So it comes as no surprise that A's GM Billy Beane spent much of his time leading up to the trade deadline trying to acquire a replacement—and there's no reason to think his search has stopped.

Boston's Mike Aviles has cleared waivers and is eligible to be traded, but as Susan Slusser of the San Francisco Chronicle reports, the odds of the A's and Red Sox working out a deal seems remote at best.

Why? Boston's ridiculous asking price.

According to ESPN's Doug Mittler (Insider subscription required), the Red Sox have asked Oakland for this year's minor league strikeout king, 23-year-old righty Dan Straily, in return for Aviles.

Aviles is a solid veteran player, but there isn't a planet in the galaxy on which he is worth giving up a player of Straily's upside to acquire.

That being said, Oakland still seems to be a likely landing spot for Aviles. He doesn't fit into Boston's long-term plans, and holding onto him—though he would be a valuable player off of the bench in 2013—really doesn't make a whole lot of sense when there is a market for him today.

Assuming that Boston becomes more realistic in its asking price and the A's still pass on Aviles, he could be a fit on any contender's bench as an established utility player and solid guy in the clubhouse.

Scott Hairston, OF, New York Mets

He may not be a superstar or a sexy name, but Scott Hairston is a player who definitely has value around the league.

Of course, in order for him to be dealt, the Mets need to place him on waivers—something they have yet to do, according to the New York Post's Ken Davidoff.

Hairston is the type of blue-collar player whose contributions often go unnoticed, but his ability to play multiple positions and his reputation as an excellent influence in a clubhouse cannot be overvalued.

With very few exceptions, virtually any contending team could use a player like Hairston on its bench.

Justin Morneau, 1B, Minnesota Twins

While his days as a perennial All-Star and MVP candidate are behind him, 31-year-old first baseman Justin Morneau still has value around the league.

The problem, as is the case with many players, is salary.

Morneau is owed $19 million through the end of next season. There are only a handful of teams with the finances to absorb such a significant salary, and the majority of those teams already have established first basemen.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal laid out what the Twins were seeking in return for the former All-Star prior to the non-waiver trade deadline:

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To get Justin Morneau, a team would need to part with a major-league ready SP and work out remaining $19M in salary with Twins through '13.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2012

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While the Dodgers would seem to be an ideal fit, considering James Loney's continued slide into irrelevancy, Rosenthal doesn't think that's the case:

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#Dodgers no longer a fit for Morneau. They sent their only suitable young starter, Nate Eovaldi, to #Marlins in Hanley Ramirez trade.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 30, 2012

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While Eovaldi was unquestionably the team's most major league-ready pitching prospect, the Dodgers can take on all of Morneau's remaining salary—and that's just as valuable as a major league-ready pitcher at this point for the Twins.

To that end, prospects like John Ely and Stephen Fife aren't far away from being ready for prime time, and shipping one of them to the Twins could be enough to get a deal done. Names like Zach Lee and Allen Webster aren't going to enter the discussion.

If the Dodgers can't work out a deal, their archrivals, the Giants, could be an option as well—though they are unlikely to absorb all of Morneau's remaining salary.

Joe Saunders, LHP, Arizona Diamondbacks

Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe wonders whether the Diamondbacks would look to move left-hander Joe Saunders in a waiver trade before the end of the month if they don't think that they can make the playoffs—something I wrote on Sunday doesn't seem likely.

A free agent following the season, Saunders doesn't fit into Arizona's long-term plans, and the D-Backs could pick up an extra piece moving forward by unloading him.

Owed only a portion of his $6 million salary, Saunders would likely be claimed by a contending team looking to bolster its rotation down the stretch.

Dan Connolly of the The Baltimore Sun thinks the Orioles might be looking into such a move:

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Two other names I heard, but neither seem more than just another patch in the O's mismatched rotation quilt: Joe Saunders and Bud Norris

— Dan Connolly (@danconnollysun) July 31, 2012

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Saunders certainly makes a lot of sense for the Orioles. Although Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez have pitched well, they could absolutely use another experienced arm in their rotation.

Saunders has had success in the American League before, having spent six seasons with the Angels, and he isn't likely to cost much in the way of prospects to obtain—a key piece in any move that the Orioles make, as they will not entertain the notion of moving their top prospects.

Other teams with which Saunders could fit include the Atlanta Braves, Los Angeles Dodgers, New York Yankees and Texas Rangers.

Alfonso Soriano, LF, Chicago Cubs

Moving Alfonso Soriano has been a priority of the new regime in Chicago since it took office. Ownership decided early this season to spend lavishly in order to achieve that goal:

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Not surprisingly, Cubs are telling teams they will eat almost all of Soriano $$ (maybe all but $3 mill) if they can dump him.

— DKnobler (@DKnobler) May 31, 2012"

With Soriano's contract no longer a hindrance to a deal getting done, why does he remain with the Cubs, clearly not a part of the rebuilding process that the team is undergoing?

Soriano has 10-and-five rights, giving him the ability to veto any deal and essentially affording him the chance to pick and choose his next destination. To that end, he informed the Cubs as to which teams he would agree to be traded:

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Alfonso Soriano has informed the #Cubs which teams he would be traded to but no offer yet

— Bob Nightengale (@BNightengale) July 31, 2012"

While the teams on his list remain largely unknown (the Dodgers are thought to be on it, while the Giants are not), the 36-year-old seems to be an ideal candidate to return to the American League. There, he could serve as a designated hitter, perhaps prolonging his career.

For all of the criticism that he's received for his defense in left field—which has actually been solid this season—Soriano remains a productive hitter from the right side of the plate.

There has been virtually no trade chatter surrounding Soriano since the non-waiver trade deadline at the end of July, but he would be a fit with the Baltimore Orioles, who are without Jim Thome; the Tampa Bay Rays, who can always use another productive bat, even with Luke Scott returning to action; and the Cleveland Indians, who have sorely needed a solid right-handed bat in their lineup all season long.