MLB Trade Rumors That Should Absolutely Not Happen
As the MLB All-Star break quickly approaches, talk has heated up regarding the upcoming July 31 trade deadline.
Rumors featuring big names and small prospects alike have swirled on multiple media outlets for the past few weeks. Every year, there are trades that amaze baseball fans, as well as ones that leave fans scratching their heads.
Here are 10 MLB trade rumors that shouldn't turn fantasy into reality.
Ben Zobrist to the New York Mets
1 of 10
Zobrist has been hot for the Oakland Athletics lately, but recent injury problems and a slow start to 2015 have made him reported trade bait.
The New York Daily News' John Harper (h/t Fox Sports) reported that Zobrist has been a trade target of the New York Mets, who desperately need offense to go with the team’s impressive young pitching staff. However, it is clear that if the Mets want to win now, Zobrist isn’t the guy.
He is hitting just .250 this season with a .253 average on balls in play. Zobrist has been one of the many A’s who have had problems hitting the baseball this season.
He has improved his hitting lately, with a .286 batting average over his past 30 games, but the Mets shouldn't add his inconsistency to an already inconsistent lineup.
Jon Niese to the Chicago Cubs
2 of 10
The Cubs desperately need help at the back end of their starting rotation and believe New York Mets starter Jonathan Niese could be the answer.
However, Niese has underperformed greatly this season, especially recently, which could give the Cubs more problems than solutions.
ESPN.com's Adam Rubin reported that the Cubs expressed interest in Niese a few weeks ago and that trade talks have escalated since. The Dodgers have also expressed interest in Niese, but the Cubs seem like the front-runners to possibly land him.
Niese has struggled with a 4-8 record and a 3.58 ERA so far this season. He has also gone winless in nine of his last 10 starts, which could be a red flag for a struggling Cubs rotation.
Niese is also averaging just over six strikeouts a game per nine innings pitched, the lowest of his career.
Niese is a solid ground-ball pitcher but has struggled at times this season with his command. If the Cubs hope to bolster their rotation, they should go in a different direction.
Jeff Samardzija to the New York Yankees
3 of 10
The Chicago White Sox had high hopes for Samardzija this season after acquiring him from the crosstown rival Cubs this offseason, but things haven’t gone as planned. Now, the Yankees have reportedly expressed interest in the struggling pitcher, according to CBS New York (h/t Josh Heller of Pinstripe Alley).
Samardzija is averaging just 7.50 strikeouts per nine innings pitched this season, his lowest since 2010. While the White Sox have struggled this season overall, Samardzija has given up at least five earned runs in five different starts this season.
Another reason why the Yankees shouldn’t ponder this move is the fact that there are better, more reliable options on the market. Cincinnati Reds ace Johnny Cueto could be moved before the trade deadline, and the Yankees have both the hole to fill and the money to spend for the ace.
While Samardzija's struggles may be temporary, he shouldn’t be a highly coveted trade target until he proves he can turns things around. Until then, the Yankees should look elsewhere for rotational help.
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Scott Kazmir to the Houston Astros
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Kazmir has moved around quite a bit over the past few years of his career, and the journeyman has made quite the impression on the Oakland Athletics.
While he has performed at a high level, the American League West-leading Houston Astros are interested in trading for him, according to Peter Gammons (h/t Thomas Carannante of HNGN).
It's a move which the Athletics shouldn’t let happen.
Kazmir has posted a 5-5 record with a 2.49 ERA with the Athletics this season, which are impressive numbers. The concern surrounding Kazmir was a recent triceps injury he suffered in his last start, which could be a risky component for any team wanting to trade for Kazmir.
If the Athletics consider trading Kazmir, they shouldn’t trade him to the Astros. Trading a star pitcher within a division is a risky move which could limit Oakland’s chances to catch up in the divisional race.
Ryan Howard to the St. Louis Cardinals
5 of 10
The St. Louis Cardinals are arguably the best team in baseball right now but need to fill a void at first base after an injury to Matt Adams. Rumors have started regarding the team’s interest in Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard, according to SB Nation's Chris Cotillo, which would be the wrong move to make.
The 35-year-old Howard is clearly on the decline in his career and is hitting just .218 with a .265 on-base percentage this season for the lowly Phillies. While he is still putting up solid power numbers with 14 home runs and 41 RBI, he is clearly not the dominant force he once was.
The other unclear component of this trade would be what the Cardinals are willing to give up for Howard. The Phillies are more than likely searching for prospects for their rebuilding stages, but the Cardinals will not want to give up their core of young players for a short-term option.
L.J. Hoes to the Los Angeles Angels
6 of 10
The Houston Astros are looking to clear their outfield depth, while the Los Angeles Angels need outfield help. Now, the Astros are reportedly aggressively shopping Hoes, according to Cotillo, and the Angels are highly interested in a deal.
Hoes is hitting .335 at Triple-A Fresno and has proven that he is moving in the right direction. However, his limited MLB experience, combined with the uncertainty of his development, makes him a risky trade target for the Angels.
It is curious that the Angels are looking for a prospect player like Hoes rather than a ready-to-go option. There is no doubt that Hoes has potential and could be a solid player, but he’s more of a long-term prospect than a short-term solution.
Chris Johnson to the San Francisco Giants
7 of 10
Johnson was a batting title contender in 2013 but has taken a few steps back the past two seasons, and the Atlanta Braves are looking to move him. The Giants have reportedly expressed interest in Johnson, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal (h/t Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors) but he is not the type of player the team needs right now.
Johnson is hitting .252 through just 42 games played this season. He has also recorded a career-high .288 strikeout percentage this season and has failed to show positive growth with his plate discipline.
Johnson is also a pretty risky financial move for the Giants if they decide to use him for the short term. He is currently under a three-year, $23.3 million deal with the Braves, which could limit the team’s chances at making any blockbuster deals.
In this case, less would be more for the Giants, a team desperately looking for offensive production.
Clay Buchholz to the Pittsburgh Pirates
8 of 10
The Pirates are reportedly interested in trading for Buchholz to bolster the team’s starting rotation, according to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe (h/t Sporting News' Jordan Heck). However, the Red Sox need to hold on to Buchholz, thanks to the team’s erratic pitching this season.
The team dealt Jon Lester just before the trade deadline last year, along with John Lackey. Since last season’s trade deadline, the team has struggled mightily with its starting rotation and has slipped in this season's divisional race.
Buchholz has rebounded from a tough start to the season with a 7-6 record and a 3.27 ERA. He has also recorded 8.51 strikeouts per nine innings pitched, his highest average since 2008.
The Red Sox have struggled with their unstable starting rotation. If the team hopes to make any sort of run in the second half of the season, it'll need to hold on to its pitching centerpiece.
Cole Hamels to the Texas Rangers
9 of 10
The Phillies are clearly in a rebuilding stage and have reportedly taken the steps necessary to trade the team’s ace pitcher, Cole Hamels. According to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com (h/t Mark Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors), Hamels has received interest from a lot of different teams. Jon Morosi of Fox Sports has identified one of these interested clubs as the Texas Rangers, a team on which Hamels would not fit very well.
Hamels has posted a 5-6 record with a 3.02 ERA this season, decent numbers despite the Phillies’ plethora of woes. He has also limited a lot of big-hit opportunities with a .488 ground-ball percentage so far this season.
If the Rangers decide to make a serious move to get Hamels, he shouldn’t approve of the trade.
While the Rangers are in third place in a loaded American League West, the chances of the team's staying in the divisional race is unlikely. Hamels would also play in Arlington, Texas, in a hitter's ballpark, which wouldn’t help his performance for the rest of the season and beyond.
Ben Revere to the Seattle Mariners
10 of 10
The Seattle Mariners are having yet another mediocre season, thanks in part to the team’s struggling offense. Outside of All-Star designated hitter Nelson Cruz, the team has struggled with run production, especially with runners in scoring position.
According to the News Tribune's Bob Dutton (h/t Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors), the team has expressed interest in Phillies trade target Ben Revere, who has had a successful two years in Philadelphia.
Revere has recorded at least a .305 batting average in each of the past two seasons and has heated up of late with a .350 batting average over his past 30 games.
If the Mariners are going to look for more offensive production, adding an outfielder like Revere wouldn’t be a wise choice. The team already has the lead-off position locked up with outfielder Austin Jackson and already has a plethora of outfielders at its disposal.
While Revere should be an active trade target, he wouldn’t be a great fit with the Mariners.
All stats courtesy of FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.
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