An Early Look at the Top 10 MLB Trade Deadline Chips

Johnny Cueto and Troy Tulowitzki are not only both great at their jobs, but they are also set to become highly sought-after targets at the MLB trade deadline. 

Simply put, both vets fit the bill. Tulowitzki is a dynamic player on a squad that has limited expectations in 2015. Cueto boasts a premier arm, but he could be expendable as he's a free-agent-to-be. With a couple of exceptions, those are the two types of players who crack a spot in the top-10 trade-chip list.

In the ranking process, the most important factor taken into consideration is value that a given player would offer to a prospective club. The contract details of a respective player and his price tag in terms of prospects are also part of the equation. 

Some of the ball players in this top 10 will never make it to the block. After all, the trade deadline is still more than three months away, which means there's plenty of time for certain clubs to exceed expectations and avoid the fate of becoming a seller. 

But from this early juncture, an array of big-name chips could be game-changers in the playoff race.

Honorable Mention

Ross D. Franklin/Associated Press

A lot of players were considered for the following top 10, but not everybody earned the nod. Here are a few of the major leaguers who nearly made the grade:

• Shane Victorino, RF, Boston Red Sox
• Dioner Navarro, C, Toronto Blue Jays
• Mark Trumbo, RF, Arizona Diamondbacks
• Andre Ethier, OF, Los Angeles Dodgers
• Marlon Byrd, LF, Cincinnati Reds
• Jonathan Papelbon, CL, Philadelphia Phillies
• Dillon Gee, SP, New York Mets
• Welington Castillo, C, Chicago Cubs

10. Allen Craig, 1B/OF, Boston Red Sox

The Contract

• 2015: $5.5 million
• 2016: $9 million
• 2017: $11 million
• 2018: $13 million team option ($1 million buyout)

The Chip

As Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe explains, Allen Craig and the Boston Red Sox are in a tricky spot: "Nobody’s really knocking down Boston’s door to get Craig. It’s a catch-22. If Craig doesn’t play much, he’s not going to get enough at-bats to look good. He seems like a good fit for the Giants, but not just yet. Craig is in limbo."

The 30-year-old hasn't been doing much hitting in limbo. In his first 10 games, the right-handed hitter owns a .133 (2-for-15) average. Then again, his career .281 clip and .779 OPS could just invite a knock or two as the season wears on. For now, the outfielder and first baseman, who is owed a minimum of $26 million, remains anchored in the No. 10 spot. 

9. Justin Morneau, 1B, Colorado Rockies

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

The Contract

• 2015: $6.75 million
• 2016: $9 million mutual option ($750,000 buyout)

The Chip

Justin Morneau has yet to find his swing in the opening weeks of the campaign.

After 13 games, the first baseman checks in at .229 (11-for-48). His track record suggests it's only a matter of time before Morneau starts racking up hits. Now in his 13th season, he is a .281 hitter. He also snagged the 2014 National League batting title with a .319 mark. 

Back in the spring, Morneau told Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post that he knows he could be on the move before the end of the season: "I've been traded before. I was with three different teams in a calendar year, so I'll deal with it." 

At the moment, the 7-7 Colorado Rockies are still in the mix in the NL West. Considering that the team's starting staff ranks No. 20 in ERA, it won't be easy for the Rockies to keep playing .500 baseball.

8. Yovani Gallardo, SP, Texas Rangers

The Contract

• 2015: $14 million ($4 million paid by Milwaukee Brewers)

The Chip

The Texas Rangers have the look of a club that could be shipping out assets this summer.

They are rebounding from an injury-riddled 95-loss season and are already down their top two starters in Yu Darvish and Derek Holland. Yovani Gallardo, who landed with the American League West squad in an offseason swap with the Milwaukee Brewers, is one of those assets.

The right-hander, who is embarking on his ninth season in the bigs, is a proven commodity. During his career, Gallardo has posted a 3.69 ERA. He's also attached to a reasonable price tag. The 29-year-old makes $14 million in 2014, but the Milwaukee Brewers are on the hook for $4 million of that, per the terms of his trade.

7. Carlos Gonzalez, RF, Colorado Rockies

The Contract

• 2015: $16 million
• 2016: $17 million
• 2017: $20 million

The Chip

For Carlos Gonzalez, the problem has never been producing. The problem has always been staying on the field. Last year, a knee injury wrecked his campaign. Thanks to a slew of injuries, he's accumulated at least 500 at-bats on just two occasions since breaking into the majors in 2008.

Two conditions will have to be met for the right fielder to end up on the trade block this summer. First, the 29-year-old will have to stay off the disabled list. Second, the Colorado Rockies will have to tumble out of the playoff race.

6. Doug Fister, SP, Washington Nationals

Michael Perez/Associated Press

The Contract

• 2015: $11.4 million

The Chip

Doug Fister has been dealing in 2015.

In his first two starts, the right-hander has allowed just a single earned run, which is good for a 0.69 ERA. The reason why Fister lands a spot on this list is that the starter is set to become a free agent at the end of 2015. And he's not the only member of the Washington Nationals who falls into that camp. Denard Span, Ian Desmond and Jordan Zimmermann can all walk at the end of the year as well.

Fister looks like a logical chip to try to cash in on before he checks out for free. With deposed starter Tanner Roark working out of the bullpen, the Nats have a viable replacement if they want to flip Fister for an extra bat. 

5. Cole Hamels, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

Chris Szagola/Associated Press

The Contract

• 2015: $23.5 million
• 2016: $23.5 million
• 2017: $23.5 million
• 2018: $23.5 million
• 2019: $20 million team option ($24 million vesting option, $6 million buyout)

The Chip

Cole Hamels has been hittable in 2015.

Through his first three outings, the lefty has put up an 0-2 record and a 5.00 ERA while serving up seven bombs. There's no reason to read too much into a wobbly start, but at the same time Hamels hasn't exactly boosted his price tag on the trade block.

As one general manager explained via Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe, the Philadelphia Phillies aren't budging. When asked by Cafardo if the price on the ace has dropped, the exec replied, "Not one bit."

4. Adrian Beltre, 3B, Texas Rangers

The Contract

• 2015: $16 million
• 2016: $18 million

The Chip

With a .158 (9-for-57) average in the first 14 games, Adrian Beltre has endured a glacial start to 2015.

But as Evan Scribner of the Oakland Athletics learned on April 8, the 36-year-old still has pop. In the seventh inning of that contest, Beltre fell to his knee and still managed to deposit Scribner's offering beyond the wall in left.

Power is an elusive commodity on the trade front. For that reason, Beltre will become a popular target if the season goes sideways for the Texas Rangers.

3. Carlos Gomez, CF, Milwaukee Brewers

The Contract

• 2015: $8 million
• 2016: $9 million

The Chip

With a 2-12 record, the Milwaukee Brewers have been flat-out awful in 2015.

If the NL Central team doesn't manage to turn it around, general manager Doug Melvin and the rest of the club's brass will have to seriously contemplate orchestrating a rebuild. Right now, there isn't a lot of help on the way in the minor leagues. Per Bleacher Report, the Brew Crew has the third-worst farm in baseball.

One way to immediately fix that problem would be to make Carlos Gomez available in a trade. The 29-year-old is a game-changer at the plate, in the field and on the bases. Of course, he's not healthy at the moment. According to Adam McCalvy of MLB.com, Gomez is hoping to return from a hamstring injury on May 1.

2. Troy Tulowitzki, SS, Colorado Rockies

The Contract

• 2015: $20 million
• 2016: $20 million
• 2017: $20 million
• 2018: $20 million
• 2019: $20 million
• 2020: $14 million
• 2021: $15 million team option ($4 million buyout)

The Chip

Troy Tulowitzki heard the trade buzz over the winter. The Colorado Rockies shortstop admitted as much at the end of February, per Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post: "I do pay attention, and yeah, I saw my name being thrown all over."

If the Rockies stumble in the upcoming months and Tulowitzki stays healthy, the hype machine is sure to fire up again. So far, it's been a smooth start for the 30-year-old, who is hitting .327 (16-for-49) in 13 games. There's no avoiding the fact that injuries have been a major problem for the four-time All-Star. Here's a look at his game totals over the past four seasons:

For potentially interested clubs, money is certainly a factor too. Tulowitzki is owed a minimum of $118 million as he plays out his six-year deal. The combination of his dicey health record and his monster contract keeps Tulowitzki anchored in the No. 2 spot on this list.

1. Johnny Cueto, SP, Cincinnati Reds

Micheal E. Keating/Associated Press

The Contract

• 2015: $10 million

The Chip

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Johnny Cueto is looking for a mint. As Heyman reports, the right-hander "is believed to be seeking $200 million, or thereabouts" when he hits the free-agent market this winter.

That's a lot of coin.

He's certainly earned the right to make such a lofty demand after placing as the NL Cy Young Award runner-up in 2014. At this point, the Reds, 7-7, are right in the middle of the crazy competitive NL Central race.

If that changes between now and July 31, selling him to the highest bidder would bring back a tremendous return.

Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and MLB.com. All videos courtesy of MLB.com. All salary information courtesy of Cot's Baseball Contracts on BaseballProspectus.com.

If you want to talk baseball, find me on Twitter @KarlBuscheck.