Top Buy Low, Sell High Candidates of the 2013 MLB Trade Market

Monday saw perhaps the biggest trade chip on the market in Matt Garza dealt to the Texas Rangers, and in a year when the overall crop of talent is thin to begin with, buyers may have to turn their attention to some buy-low candidates and hope for a big payoff.

On the opposite side of things, sellers may be able to net a bigger return than normal on players who are exceeding expectations so far, as they look to sell high on certain players and add prospects in the process.

So with that, here is a look at the top five buy low and the top five sell high candidates of the 2013 MLB trade deadline. 

Buy Low: CF Justin Ruggiano, Miami Marlins

2013 Stats: .202/.281/.369, 12 HR, 32 RBI, 12 SB

Last season, a 30-year-old Justin Ruggiano came out of nowhere to post a .909 OPS with 13 home runs and 14 steals in 288 at-bats in his first season with the Marlins.

The power/speed combination has been there once again this season, but he has struggled to hit above .200, and with an OPS of just .650, it's safe to say his value is down from where it was last year.

Still, he could help a contender looking for some added punch off the bench or in a platoon role, and he has the added value of being under team control through the 2016 season. It's just a matter of whether the Marlins are willing to sell low on him.

Sell High: 1B Justin Morneau, Minnesota Twins

2013 Stats: .270/.329/.400, 7 HR, 52 RBI, 39 R

After battling concussion issues and playing in a combined 150 games between 2010 and 2011, Justin Morneau finally managed to stay healthy last season and posted a .773 OPS with 19 home runs and 77 RBI.

A lifelong member of the Twins dating back to being selected by them in the third round of the 1999 draft, the decision whether or not to deal Morneau will no doubt be a tough one for the team to make.

However, seeing as he is a free agent at the end of the season and the team is clearly headed for a rebuild of sorts, moving him makes sense. In a market thin on impact bats, he could be a valuable pickup for someone looking to add some punch. 

Buy Low: 1B Carlos Pena, Houston Astros

2013 Stats: .209/.324/.350, 8 HR, 25 RBI, 38 R

The Astros signed Carlos Pena to a one-year, $2.9 million deal in the offseason to serve as the DH in their inaugural season in the American League.

For the fifth straight season he's hitting below .230, and his power numbers are down significantly. However, he is still capable of drawing a walk and has some pop from the left-hand side of the plate.

He was designated for assignment on Sunday, giving the team 10 days to trade or release him, and he could be a nice pickup for nothing for a team looking to fill out their bench with a good veteran leader.

Sell High: DH/OF Raul Ibanez, Seattle Mariners

2013 Stats: .262/.316/.562, 24 HR, 56 RBI, 39 R

Despite putting up decent numbers for the Yankees last season, when he hit .240/.308/.453 with 19 home runs and 62 RBI, Raul Ibanez received little interest on the free-agent market.

He wound up signing a one-year, $2.75 million deal with the Mariners, a move that was dwarfed by the team's acquisitions of Michael Morse and Kendrys Morales. 

Who would have guessed that he would enter the All-Star break with just one less home run than those two guys combined and the most home runs of any free-agent signing? Now he's one of the market's best bats and should be able to net the Mariners a solid return.

Buy Low: LF Alfonso Soriano, Chicago Cubs

2013 Stats: .256/.286/.471, 17 HR, 51 RBI, 46 R

In the midst of an eight-year, $136 million deal that has been filled with ups and downs, the Cubs have been looking to move Alfonso Soriano for some time now.

After hitting .262/.322/.499 with 32 home runs and 108 RBI last season, the Cubs were reportedly willing to eat $26 million of the $36 million remaining on the 37-year-old's contract in the offseason but were unable to find any takers.

He started off slow this season but has hit .296/.326/.741 with 10 home runs and 21 RBI since June 28 and has no doubt boosted his stock as a result. Considering how much money the Cubs are willing to eat and how eager they are to move him, it won't take much to acquire him, so he seems like the ideal buy-low candidate.

Sell High: Marlon Byrd, New York Mets

2013 Stats: .276/.321/.522, 17 HR, 56 RBI, 43 R

After hitting just .210/.243/.245 last season and being released by Boston following a 50-game PED suspension, it looked like Marlon Byrd's career was coming to an end.

The Mets signed him to a minor league contract in the offseason and their lack of viable outfielders soon led to extended playing time for the 35-year-old.

He's turned out to be an absolute steal for the Mets, and while they reportedly would need to "overwhelmed" to trade him, according to NJ.com, the team would be wise to make the most of his tremendous value and flip him.

Buy Low: Erik Bedard, Houston Astros

2013 Stats: 20 G, 18 GS, 3-7, 4.41 ERA, 89 K, 98 IP

After finishing last season 7-14 with a 5.01 ERA and being released by the Pirates in late August, the Astros signed Erik Bedard to a one-year, $1.15 million deal to fill out their starting rotation.

He was 0-2 with a 7.36 ERA through his first seven games (five starts) and failed to pitch beyond four innings in any of those appearances. However, he's gone 3-5 with a 3.55 ERA in 13 starts since, and his last time out he threw an absolute gem.

He threw 6.1 no-hit innings with 10 strikeouts but walked five and allowed three runs (one earned) and came out of the game having thrown 109 pitches. Still, for what his asking price is likely to be, he could be an steal for a contender looking for some starting pitching depth.

Sell High: SP Ervin Santana, Kansas City Royals

2013 Stats: 19 GS, 6-6, 3.18 ERA, 104 K, 130.1 IP

After going 9-13 with a 5.16 ERA for the Angels last season, Ervin Santana was shipped to the Royals in what was essentially a cost-cutting move.

Alongside James Shields, he has helped turn around a Royals rotation that struggled mightily, but even with that improvement the team remains on the fringe of contention at best.

In a market relatively weak on front-line starters, he could net the Royals a big return if they opted to move him, and seeing as he's a free agent at the end of the season, it would certainly make sense for them to sell high on him.

Buy Low: RP John Axford, Milwaukee Brewers

2013 Stats: 48 G, 0-of-4 SV, 4-3, 3.46 ERA, 3.7 BB/9, 9.1 K/9

Winner of the 2011 NL Rolaids Relief Man award when he converted 46-of-48 save chances and posted a 1.95 ERA, John Axford has failed to duplicate that success since.

He was 35-of-44 on saves with a 4.67 ERA last season, and he opened 2013 with two losses and a blown save in his first five appearances, as he had a 24.30 ERA.

That was enough for him to lose the closer's job, but he's been great as a setup man since, with a 1.64 ERA and 15 holds in 44 appearances. He may not be a closer candidate for a contender, but he'd be a nice addition to the back end of a pen and should come at a relatively low price.

Sell High: RP Kevin Gregg, Chicago Cubs

2013 Stats: 36 G, 19-of-21 SV, 2-2, 2.80 ERA, 3.6 BB/9, 8.9 K/9

Plucked off the scrap heap in April after he was released by the Dodgers, Kevin Gregg quickly returned to the closer's role the he filled for the Cubs when he saved 23 games back in 2009.

The 35-year-old went 14 games and 13.1 innings before allowing his first run of the season, and he saved 12 straight before blowing his first save.

The market for closers is thin, especially if Glen Perkins stays put in Minnesota, and with the Tigers and Diamondbacks both in need of a closer, Gregg could play a big part in someone's postseason push.