MLB Trade Ideas Based on Latest Week 12 News, Rumors and Speculation
If you're still trying to understand the thinking behind the three-player swap between Arizona and Atlanta that went down this past weekend, you're not alone—it was a head-scratchier for sure. While it wasn't a blockbuster move, it serves as more proof that teams are ready, willing and able to trade.
That willingness to at least discuss potential moves is one reason that we've seen an uptick in chatter on the rumor mill involving a wide range of players, from those who would serve as role players and organizational depth to big names who could have big impacts on the playoff picture moving forward.
This week, we'll focus on the bigger names floating around the mill, and it just so happens that the vast majority of them are currently on one of two teams—the Cincinnati Reds or the Philadelphia Phillies.
It's important to remember that the teams we'd classify as buyers won't be the only clubs in the running to acquire a given player's services, so the packages proposed are not only geared toward being fair to both sides, but to ensure that the seller takes a buyer's offer over the competition's.
Additionally, keep in mind that these proposed deals are only ideas and pure speculation. Unless otherwise noted, there's no indication that any of them have actually been discussed.
Cole Hamels Gets Traded to the Red Sox
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Boston Gets: LHP Cole Hamels
Philadelphia Gets: OF Jackie Bradley Jr., LHP Brian Johnson, OF Manuel Margot, and 2B/SS Deven Marrero
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe recently made three excellent points as to why Boston should trade for Philadelphia's Cole Hamels—and none of them have to do with saving the 2015 season.
- The team's need for an ace isn't going away once the calendar flips to 2016.
- Asking 22-year-old Eduardo Rodriguez to fill that role is unfair, unrealistic and unwise.
- Financially, Hamels will be far less expensive than the top free-agent starters available (Johnny Cueto, David Price and Jordan Zimmermann).
Forget about Mookie Betts, Rodriguez and Blake Swihart. They aren't going anywhere. You know it, I know it, the Phillies know it. But Boston's farm system runs deep, and Philadelphia needs help pretty much everywhere.
There's plenty to work with to facilitate a deal.
Cafardo suggests that a package of Brian Johnson, Manuel Margot and either Jackie Bradley Jr., Bryce Brentz or Deven Marrero—all players the Phillies are known to like—would be enough to get a deal done.
But considering that we've been talking about Hamels winding up in Boston for more than a year, let's say it'll take four of those five youngsters to make something happen.
Bradley Jr. and Margot give the Phillies two-thirds of their future starting outfield, while Johnson is nearly major league ready and projects to become a fixture as a No. 2/No. 3 starter. Marrero has very limited experience at second base but is a superb defender and should have little issue sliding over.
It might take a few years, but the Phillies could eventually have one of baseball's most potent double-play combinations in Marrero and shortstop J.P. Crawford, the team's current top prospect.
As for the Red Sox, they get the reliable workhorse they desperately need atop the rotation, one who is essentially signed to a four-year, $94.5 million deal that begins in 2016—only $12 million more than the four-year extension the club handed to Rick Porcello.
Johnny Cueto and Aroldis Chapman Get Traded to the Dodgers
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Cincinnati Gets: RHP Chris Anderson, RHP Zachary Bird, OF Scott Schebler, 2B/OF Darnell Sweeney and a player to be named later
Los Angeles Gets: LHP Aroldis Chapman and RHP Johnny Cueto
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark opines that Cincinnati will wind up trading both Aroldis Chapman and Johnny Cueto to Los Angeles, moves that would bring a massive haul of talent back to the Reds while making the Dodgers the prohibitive favorites to win the National League pennant, if not the World Series.
One NL executive tells Stark that the Reds are seeking ""big-time, top-of-the-heap prospects" in exchange for Cueto, and we can assume the same asking price for Chapman, who is signed through the 2016 season.
While the Dodgers are surrendering a slew of highly rated prospects in this deal, the farm system is deep enough to withstand such a massive exodus of talent.
Only 20 years old, Zachary Bird is still developing as a pitcher and will need a few years before he reaches the big leagues. But he's got the potential to be an excellent No. 2 starter, with an electric fastball that can touch triple digits and developing secondary offerings that include a mid-80s slider.
Chris Anderson, 22, projects more as a solid mid-rotation arm, but he's nearly ready to contribute and could find himself in Cincinnati's rotation before the end of the season.
Scott Schebler isn't a great defender and has a weak arm, which puts him in left field, but all he's done is hit at every level he's played. Last season, he led the Southern League (Double-A) in home runs (28), triples (14) and slugging percentage (.556).
Darnell Sweeney is a solid defender up the middle, whether it be at second base or in center field. He offers little in the way of power, but he can hit for average, has the speed to cause issues when he gets on base and could be Cincinnati's long-term replacement for Brandon Phillips.
And of course, there's the ever-popular player to be named later, a lower-level prospect you likely wouldn't find on any top-prospects lists.
As for the Dodgers, they shore up a shaky rotation with the addition of Cueto, one of the game's elite starters. While he's a free agent after the season, the Dodgers have the financial wherewithal to re-sign him before he hits the open market.
Chapman, one of the most dominant late-inning relievers in baseball, would "form a scary, late-inning, swing-and-miss tag team with (Kenley) Jansen," as Stark writes.
Jonathan Papelbon Gets Traded to the Cubs
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Chicago (NL) Gets: RHP Jonathan Papelbon and $13 million
Philadelphia Gets: OF Mark Zagunis
There's mutual interest between Jonathan Papelbon and the Chicago Cubs, according to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, which isn't all that surprising given the prior relationship between the veteran closer and the team's decision-makers, president Theo Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, when they were all in Boston.
While the Cubs bullpen has been pretty good thus far, the group could use some reinforcements in save situations, where it's pitched to the eighth-highest ERA (3.57) in baseball and converted only 64 percent of save opportunities (16-of-25).
Papelbon might be a bit of a headcase and overpaid, but as Sherman points out, he's comparable to the closer on the other side of town, the White Sox's David Robertson.
"If you like Robertson because he has been durable and consistent, the same is true about Papelbon, who has appeared in at least 59 games every year since 2006 and never has had a bad season," Sherman wrote. "And this might be his best one (1.30 ERA)."
Since writing that, Papelbon's ERA has dropped to 1.01.
In order to ensure that they get back at least a halfway decent prospect, the Phillies agree to pick up the $13 million vesting option on Papelbon's deal for 2016. In exchange, they land catcher-turned-outfielder Mark Zagunis, a line-drive hitter with developing power and terrific plate discipline.
Chicago's third-round pick in last year's draft, Zagunis has the quickness and arm strength to stick in an outfield corner or slide back behind the plate, though he's caught only 19 games since beginning his professional career and might need time to reacclimate himself with the position.
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Mike Leake Gets Traded to Toronto
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Cincinnati Gets: LHP Matt Boyd and 2B/3B Lane Thomas
Toronto Gets: RHP Mike Leake
While a guest on MLB Network Radio, Toronto GM Alex Anthopoulos made it clear that bolstering the rotation is the team's top priority (audio link): “We could use both, but if I did have to prioritize it, I’d say rotation first, bullpen would be next.”
The problem the Blue Jays are running into is that money is tight, so adding a high-priced player probably isn't in the cards. While Leake is due the balance of his $9.775 million salary, he's a more realistic target than the likes of Johnny Cueto ($10 million), Cole Hamels ($23 million) and Scott Kazmir ($13 million)
Leake isn't a front-of-the-rotation arm, but he's a reliable No. 3 option who delivers a quality outing more often than not and keeps his team in games. With Toronto's high-octane offense behind him, Leake could thrive down the stretch for Toronto.
He's also not going to cost nearly as much in terms of prospects as the other aforementioned starters, another reason why he may be more attractive to a team like the Blue Jays.
That's not to say Toronto won't have to give up anything of value, however.
Lane Thomas, 19, is still raw, but he's shown a knack for getting on base consistently and making hard contact, and he is athletic enough to bounce around the diamond, whether it's the middle infield, third base or the outfield. That kind of versatility is always a welcome addition to any clubhouse.
Matt Boyd, 24, is armed with a four-pitch mix that includes a low-90s fastball that he's able to consistently keep down in the strike zone and a plus changeup. He could stick in the rotation as a back-end starter but could also move into the bullpen as a middle reliever or long man/sixth starter.
Unlike Thomas, who is still a few years away from contributing, Boyd could be a factor down the stretch for the Reds this year.
Ryan Howard Gets Traded to the Angels
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Los Angeles (AL) Gets: 1B Ryan Howard and $45 million
Philadelphia Gets: RHP Eduar Lopez
The Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo writes that Ryan Howard would be a perfect fit for the Los Angeles Angels, and he's not necessarily wrong. After all, no American League team has gotten less production from the designated hitter spot than the Angels have, no matter what statistic you want to measure production by.
Howard is, of course, incredibly streaky and an all-or-nothing type of player. He either goes deep or strikes out. But his left-handed bat would allow Angels manager Mike Scioscia to break up a slew of righties in the middle of the order, perhaps batting Howard fifth behind Albert Pujols.
The Phillies pick up a substantial portion of the money left on Howard's contract (including $10 million to buy out his 2017 option year) to help facilitate a deal and receive 20-year-old Eduar Lopez in return.
A hard-throwing right-hander, Lopez has substantial upside but is still very raw and lacks a good feel for pitching. Command and control are an issue and will ultimately decide whether he sticks in the rotation or winds up as a power arm in the bullpen.
Unless otherwise linked or noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs and are current through games of June 21. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts.
Hit me up on Twitter to talk all things baseball: @RickWeinerBR.
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