Win-Win Trade Ideas for MLB Teams Heading into the 2015 Season
Despite Opening Day rapidly approaching, plenty of MLB teams are still scanning the market for last-minute pieces that can make an impact in the 2015 season. With plenty of action expected before Sunday's first pitch, let's see if we can play matchmaker and unite potential trade partners in win-win deals.
Many of the moves we could see between now and Opening Day involve players in limbo with their current clubs.
Players like Alex Guerrero, Mike Pelfrey, Carlos Quentin and Tyler Moore are capable of contributing at the major league level but find themselves as backups with their current teams. While their clubs would love to keep them for depth purposes, that quartet of players would be better suited being trade bait for interested organizations.
But which teams make the most sense for those aforementioned players?
Read on to find out!
Alex Guerrero to the Los Angeles Angels
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With a logjam of middle infielders, the Los Angeles Dodgers could be in the market to trade one of their Cuban imports over the next few weeks.
Guerrero inked a four-year, $28 million contract in 2013, and, due to a provision in his deal, can stop a move to the minor leagues. With his way to the big leagues blocked by the likes of Jimmy Rollins, Howie Kendrick and Juan Uribe, Guerrero has made it clear that he has no intention of returning to the minor leagues, according to MLB.com's Jesse Sanchez.
And why should he? The 28-year-old infielder hit .348 with 15 homers at Triple-A last season and is mashing again this spring to the tune of a .326 average. He's proved he belongs in the big leagues, and he is deserving of consistent playing time at that.
But the roadblocks in front of him on the depth chart aren't going to be supplanted in 2015, and the Dodgers' signing of fellow Cuban Hector Olivera makes one wonder if L.A. would flip Guerrero in the right deal.
Guerrero is still owed $21.5 million over the next three years, but a team with deep pockets like the Los Angeles Angels could take on such salary. It just so happens that the Angels are in need of a second baseman, and the two crosstown rivals have shown they can be compatible trade partners earlier this winter.
Since trading Kendrick to the Dodgers, the Angels have yet to fill their void at second base. Josh Rutledge, Grant Green, Taylor Featherston and Johnny Giavotella are all candidates to win the job come Opening Day, but Guerrero presents a significant upgrade over any in that quartet.
The Dodgers already have Guerrero in the form of Olivera, so flipping the former for a piece with immediate impact makes plenty of sense. The Angels have a handful of intriguing relievers to send back, such as Fernando Salas, Mike Morin, Cory Rasmus or Vinnie Pestano.
Sure, the Dodgers could keep Guerrero and use him as their utility man, but dealing him sometime this season could return a valuable bullpen piece that the club desperately needs.
Mike Pelfrey to the Texas Rangers
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The Minnesota Twins ended the competition for their fifth starter by announcing that Tommy Millone had beaten out Palfrey for the final spot in the rotation, according to a tweet from Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.
Despite not winning the job, Pelfrey has looked outstanding this spring. Since returning from two significant arm injuries, the right-hander allowed just four runs in over 17 innings of spring work. While Pelfrey seems destined for the bullpen, the $5.5 million remaining on his contract makes him a logical trade candidate.
A potential move definitely interests the longtime former New York Mets pitcher:
"Obviously if some team realizes I'm healthy for the first time in years, and this is probably the best I've felt and thinks I can help them, let's do it," he told Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press. "I think I showed that I could start. If it happens, great. Let's go."
While Pelfrey obviously comes with some risk, he has a history of being a solid back-of-the-rotation arm. In 2008 and 2010 with the Mets, Pelfrey logged over 200 innings and posted a sub-4.00 ERA.
The Texas Rangers need to add another pitcher with Yu Darvish out for the remainder of 2015, and Pelfrey is an interesting low-risk, high-reward candidate.
Outside of Yovani Gallardo, the Rangers have few hurlers who inspire any bit of confidence heading into the new season. Derek Holland has battled injury concerns himself, Colby Lewis is coming off a season with a plus-5.00 ERA and Ross Detwiler has spent the majority of his career as a long man in the bullpen.
Pelfrey would provide the Texas rotation with proven depth without having to part with too much talent. On the other hand, the Twins shouldn't pay him starter money if he's going to pitch out of the bullpen for most of the season. Pelfrey is obviously irritated with his new role, and a deal makes sense for both involved parties.
Carlos Quentin to the Baltimore Orioles
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Lost in the shuffle of the San Diego Padres outfield renovation is Carlos Quentin and his powerful bat. But with Matt Kemp, Justin Upton and Wil Myers now on board, the 32-year-old slugger seems destined for a part-time role.
Quentin was injured for most of 2014, but he's still a dangerous right-handed hitter when healthy.
The former first-round pick has gone deep over 150 times in his career, including six seasons with double-digit totals. Quentin's career totals in wRC+ (122) and isolated power (.232) prove he can still help a power-needy team.
There is a such a team in the American League, as the Baltimore Orioles will begin the 2015 campaign with a much different lineup than the one that socked the most home runs in baseball last season. Nelson Cruz and Nick Markakis are gone, and Matt Wieters is still dealing with alarming elbow issues after season-ending surgery.
The O's obviously still have Adam Jones patrolling center field, but Travis Snider and Alejandro De Aza aren't everyday players.
Snider enjoyed his best-ever major league season in 2014 with the Pittsburgh Pirates, but he had never played more than 111 games before he suited up for 140 last year. Meanwhile, De Aza is the definition of an average ballplayer, as his career wRC+ of 99 indicates he's right around the league average in terms of outfield options.
Quentin isn't an everyday player anymore at this point in his career either, but he could really make in impact at Camden Yards. His right-handed bat would provide manager Buck Showalter with an alternative to the left-handed swinging pair of De Aza and Snider.
In return, the Padres could add a veteran arm like Brian Matusz to the fold.
Matusz has pitched well for the O's in the last two seasons and has sported more good work in camp. He may be able to win a spot at the back end of a loaded San Diego rotation, but his ability to float between both starter and late-inning arm would provide the Padres with some valuable versatility.
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Tyler Moore to the San Francisco Giants
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Although the Washington Nationals have been decimated by outfield injuries this spring, Moore remains an intriguing trade chip.
Moore has slugged his way to the top of Washington's spring statistics with a .327 average in 55 at-bats. 10 of his 18 hits have gone for extra bases and he's driven in 10 runs, proving he's got the potential to be a legitimate major league run producer.
In limited playing time in Washington, Moore has homered 18 times in 180 games. Yet Bryce Harper, Denard Span and Jayson Werth aren't going to be replaced by Moore—hence the interest in his services.
Moore is out of minor league options, and Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal has reported that despite their outfield injuries, the Nationals would move him "if a deal made sense."
Rosenthal goes on to name the San Francisco Giants as potential suitors for Moore's services, and a trade between last season's NLDS opponents could very well happen.
The Giants have lost Hunter Pence for at least the first month of the season, and Angel Pagan is dealing with back issues of his own. San Fran did sign Nori Aoki over the winter, but he and Gregor Blanco aren't enough for the defending World Series champs to compete.
While Moore would provide cover in the outfield, his versatility would be a welcome addition even if Pence and Pagan both return to full health. He's capable of playing some first base, and he has proven he's a serviceable bench piece and pinch-hitter.
Rosenthal notes that the Nats view Moore as an "average to above-average major leaguer" and that they wouldn't give him away for nothing. A player like Hunter Strickland, who was recently optioned to Triple-A, could entice Washington into making a deal.
Advanced stats are courtesy of FanGraphs.
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