Ranking the 5 Best Trade Values on the Waiver Market

Many players get placed on waivers in August for teams to gauge the interest that the rest of the league has in acquiring them. A number of these players have big contracts that their team is just looking to dump.

However, there are a few hidden gems that are not that expensive who are on the waiver wire. Teams could be looking to trade soon-to-be free agents in the hopes that they will get something of value in return for them.

Each of the players on this list will have a reasonable contract and come cheap for teams looking to acquire them for the stretch run. 

5. Joe Saunders

Joe Saunders has put up decent numbers for the Arizona Diamondbacks this season, and a team could look to acquire him for the back of its rotation.

Saunders is expendable because Arizona could use one of its top prospects to replace him.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has reported that the Diamondbacks have placed Saunders on waivers. After dealing Stephen Drew, it would not be surprising if the Diamondbacks traded Saunders as well.

4. Kevin Millwood

Kevin Millwood has not been put on waivers yet, but it is certainly a move that the Seattle Mariners could consider. They thought about trading Millwood prior to the trade deadline, but their price tag was too high, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

As Millwood gets closer and closer to becoming a free agent after this season, the Mariners might be inclined to deal him. Even if he costs a decent prospect, Millwood would be a good value because he is making just $1 million this year.

3. Brandon McCarthy

Over the past two seasons, Brandon McCarthy has put up some outstanding numbers when he has been healthy. However, the Oakland Athletics have a number of other capable starters.

McCarthy is set to become a free agent after the year, and he could be dealt if he were able to bring the Oakland Athletics an MLB-caliber shortstop (h/t Jack Moore of FanGraphs). While the cost may seem high, McCarthy has shown that he can be a valuable pitcher.

However, given that Bartolo Colon was suspended for 50 games after testing positive for testosterone, the Athletics might not be willing to deal McCarthy.

2. Scott Hairston

Scott Hairston has been the most consistent piece of the New York Mets outfield this season, and the team is paying him just $1.1 million this year. He has hit for good power and has been a fairly good run-producer.

While the Mets could try to engage in extension talks with Hairston this season, they have yet to do so, according to Adam Rubin of ESPN New York). This means that he will continued to be mentioned as a possible waiver deadline trade target (h/t Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports).

1. Juan Pierre

The Philadelphia Phillies got a bargain when they signed Juan Pierre to a one-year, $800,000 contract this offseason. He has been very productive for them this season.

Pierre is one of the fastest players in baseball, and he knows how to put that speed to good use, as he is amongst the National League leaders in stolen bases. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports notes that Pierre's name came up in pre-deadline discussions and that it could come up again in August.