Stock Up, Stock Down on MLB's Top 2015 Trade Targets, Week 15

The clock is officially ticking.

With baseball's non-waiver trade deadline only 18 days away, you can be sure that the general managers in attendance at this year's All-Star Game festivities in Cincinnati will be spending as much time talking to their counterparts around the game as they do watching the action on the field.

For contenders looking to ensure that they're still playing meaningful baseball in late October, outmaneuvering the competition to add one (or more) of the already established stars who could be available is critical to those chances, and the groundwork for some deals is about to be laid.

Of course, what one team is willing to pay for, say, a Jeff Samardzija can differ greatly from another, much less from what Samardzija's current club, the Chicago White Sox, might value the 30-year-old starter at.

Which of those stars raised—or diminished—their trade value heading into the Midsummer Classic?

Let's take a look.

Stock Even: OF Jay Bruce, Cincinnati Reds

John Minchillo/Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

7 G, 6-for-30 (.200), HR, 5 RBI, 2 BB, 5 K

Overview 

It wasn't a banner week for Jay Bruce, but in a market that's potentially going to be devoid of available impact bats, he could be just as valuable a trade chip for Cincinnati to play as ace Johnny Cueto. 

Due $12.5 million in 2016, the final year of his deal, Bruce is more than a rental option, and that he's in his age-28 season makes him a team's potential long-term answer in right field. That and his history of steady production up until an injury-filled 2014 campaign make Bruce a very appealing target.

With team sources telling Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal that Bruce "is as good a bet as anyone to be traded" and others telling ESPN's Jerry Crasnick that "there's at least a 50-50 chance" that Bruce gets moved before the deadline, we might just find out how valuable a trade chip he really is.

Season Stats

84 GP, .251/.341/.465, 35 XBH (13 HR), 42 RBI, 42 BB, 76 K, 6-of-10 SB

Stock Even: CL Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds

John Minchillo/Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

2 GP, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 2 IP, H, BB, 4 K, 2-of-2 SV

Overview

It's been more than a month since Aroldis Chapman allowed an earned run, and what a run the flame-throwing closer has been on. He's allowed a total of seven batters to reach base over his last 11 innings of work, striking out 21 while limiting the opposition to a—wait for it—embarrassingly low .276 OPS.

He was dealing again last week, shutting the door in both of his outings, and while the consensus remains that Cincinnati probably won't trade him, the Reds would be wise to at least listen to what other teams have to offer.

With another year of team control remaining and his continued dominance on the mound, it's not hard to imagine a contender offering a package of young talent that the Reds simply couldn't turn down.

2015 Stats 

38 G, 3-3, 1.69 ERA, 1.18 WHIP, 37.1 IP, 24 H, 20 BB, 65 K, 18-of-19 SV

Stock Even: RP Tyler Clippard, Oakland Athletics

Ben Margot/Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

2 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 2.1 IP, 2 BB, 2 K, 2-for-2 SV

Overview

He's still walking batters at a higher rate than anyone would like, but Tyler Clippard continues to prove that he can be a shutdown closer despite his shaky command, successfully converting both of the save chances he was presented with last week.

That makes it eight consecutive saves for the 30-year-old, who has issued more walks (five) than hits allowed (three) over the 11 games he's appeared in since last blowing it in the ninth for Oakland.

It's no wonder then that trade winds are starting to swirl around him, with Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal wondering whether his former employer, the Washington Nationals, might try to reacquire him at the deadline.

2015 Stats 

35 G, 1-3, 2.43 ERA, 1.11 WHIP, 37 IP, 23 H, 18 BB, 35 K, 17-of-19 SV

Stock Even: SP Johnny Cueto, Cincinnati Reds

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

2 GS, 1-1, 1.93 ERA, 0.79 WHIP, 14 IP, 9 H, 3 ER, 2 BB, 13 K

Overview

Even when Johnny Cueto delivers a start that isn't so hot, as he did Sunday against Miami (5 IP, 3 ER, 2 K), there's another vintage Cueto performance waiting to boost his weekly numbers and keep him at the top of nearly every team's wish list heading into the trade deadline.

Cueto was on fire against Washington last Tuesday, tossing nine innings of two-hit, shutout baseball, walking only one while striking out 11. According to the New York Post's Joel Sherman, that was the night that scouts from the Baltimore Orioles, New York Yankees and Toronto Blue Jays were in attendance.

At this point, only a catastrophic injury could knock Cueto off the throne as the most sought-after starting pitcher on the market over the next 18 days.

2015 Stats

18 GS, 6-6, 2.73 ERA, 0.90 WHIP, 118.2 IP, 85 H, 22 BB, 113 K

Stock Up: Carlos Gomez, Milwaukee Brewers

Morry Gash/Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

6 G, 7-for-22 (.318), 3 2B, 2 HR, 10 RBI, 3 BB, 10 K

Overview 

Carlos Gomez is saying all the right things about his future with the Milwaukee Brewers, according to Todd Rosiak of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, but the hotter he gets at the plate, the harder it's going to become for the club to hold on to him at the trade deadline.

One of the game's best center fielders just so happens to be playing out one of the game's most team-friendly extensions, one that pays him $9 million in 2016, the final year of the deal. That's a bargain when you consider the kind of production that he provides at a premium position, and it makes him all the more appealing to contenders looking for an upgrade.

If he can stay healthy and keep swinging the bat as he did last week, he may become too valuable of a trade chip for the Brewers to hold on to. After all, with Scott Boras as his agent, the odds of his re-signing with the club are slim, even with his stated desire to stay.

Season Stats

62 GP, .273/.322/.450, 27 XBH (8 HR), 41 RBI, 13 BB, 59 K, 7-of-12 SB

Stock Up: Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies

Joe Mahoney/Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

6 G, 10-for-24 (.417), 4 2B, 2 HR, 6 RBI, BB, 6 K

Overview 

The days of Carlos Gonzalez hitting .300 or being a 20-20 threat might be in the past, but the 29-year-old has managed to stay relatively healthy this year and, after a brutally slow start to the season, is once again showing that he can still be a productive hitter in the heart of a team's lineup.

Since the beginning of June, CarGo is hitting .305 with a .939 OPS, picking up 20 of his 30 extra-base hits on the season. While some will argue that he's no longer worth the roughly $45 million left on his deal, which runs through 2017, there's sure to be at least a few teams that disagree with that assessment.

He'd be a great fit with an American League club, where the wear and tear on his body could be limited by giving him some time as a designated hitter. It's all speculation, but a team such as Baltimore, which could use a corner outfielder, would be a perfect destination for him—if the Rockies decide to move him, of course.

Season Stats

82 GP, .259/.314/.452, 30 XBH (13 HR), 35 RBI, 25 BB, 64 K, 2-of-2 SB

Stock Down: SP Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies

Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Weekly Stats 

1 GS, 0-1, 24.32 ERA, 4.20 WHIP, 3.1 IP, 12 H, 9 ER, 2 BB, 4 K

Overview

Realistically, one horrendous start against the San Francisco Giants isn't going to damage Cole Hamels' trade value. Even the game's best starting pitchers are apt to deliver a stinker on the mound every so often.

But a horrendous start—the third time in his last six starts that he's allowed at least five earned runs (he's pitched to a 5.35 ERA over that span)—coupled with a report from CBS Sports' Jon Heyman that Philadelphia is "not bending" on its asking price for Hamels does.

That's a problem, because it's become clear over the past year or so that there isn't a team in baseball willing to meet it. Heading into what is shaping up to be a free-agent market flush with impact starters, still peddling Hamels as a cheaper-yet-older alternative is the last thing the Phillies can afford to do.

2015 Stats 

18 GS, 5-7, 3.63 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 116.2 IP, 105 H, 37 BB, 123 K

Stock Down: SP Scott Kazmir, Oakland Athletics

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

1 GS, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 3 IP, 2 H, BB, 4 K

Overview

After leaving his last start with tightness in his left triceps, Scott Kazmir seems to have dodged another bullet and will make his first scheduled start after the All-Star break next Saturday, according to the San Francisco Chronicle's Susan Slusser.

Kazmir has dealt with a handful of minor setbacks throughout the season's first half and emerged unscathed shortly thereafter, so there's little reason to believe that he'll be showing any ill effects from this latest bump when he steps back on the mound.

That said, these minor issues do add up, and a contender looking to bolster its rotation down the stretch may have doubts about Kazmir's durability and availability for the rest of the season.

2015 Stats 

16 GS, 5-5, 2.56 ERA, 1.12 WHIP, 98.1 IP, 77 H, 33 BB, 92 K

Stock Even: CL Craig Kimbrel, San Diego Padres

Eric Risberg/Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

2 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 2.1 IP, 3 H, ER, 4 K, 2-of-2 SV

Overview

While it seems less likely by the day that San Diego is going to unload any of its assets who are controllable past this season, that's not going to stop teams from calling and inquiring on the availability of closer Craig Kimbrel.

Acquired from Atlanta earlier this season, Kimbrel has consistently shut the door in the ninth inning for the Padres, though his peripherals aren't nearly as impressive as what we'd become accustomed to during his five-year run with the Braves.

That said, should the Padres decide to make Kimbrel available, he'd arguably be the most valuable reliever for contenders to bid against each other for, depending on whether Cincinnati's Aroldis Chapman hits the market as well.

2015 Stats 

35 G, 1-2, 3.24 ERA, 1.23 WHIP, 33.1 IP, 29 H, 14 BB, 48 K, 23-of-24 SV

Stock Up: SP Mike Leake, Cincinnati Reds

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.50 WHIP, 8 IP, 3 H, BB, 10 K

Overview

Dominant outings such as the eight-inning masterpiece he spun against Miami last Friday might not be the norm for Mike Leake, but they serve as a reminder that while he's a mid-rotation arm, he's capable of delivering more.

While Leake's immediate future likely won't be decided upon until after the likes of his teammate Johnny Cueto, Scott Kazmir and Jeff Samardzija are settled, Leake could prove to be one of the shrewder additions a contending team makes as the trade deadline draws near.

2015 Stats 

18 GS, 6-5, 4.08 ERA, 1.24 WHIP, 114.2 IP, 111 H, 31 BB, 79 K

Stock Even: CL Jonathan Papelbon, Philadelphia Phillies

Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports

Weekly Stats

1 G, 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.00 WHIP, 1 IP, 1 K

Overview

When Jonathan Papelbon gets a chance to pitch, he delivers more often than not. The problem, of course, is that on a horrible Philadelphia team, the need for Papelbon's services, whether it be in a save opportunity or not, is severely limited.

Teams might balk at Papelbon's contract, which is why the Philadelphia Inquirer's Jake Kaplan opines that it might be easier for the club to move him during the offseason, when he'll essentially have a one-year, $13 million deal that won't look as onerous as it does now.

But there's no question that Papelbon can help a contender down the stretch, and with the limited action that he's seen this season, he might very well be the most well-equipped of any available closer to carry a heavy workload for a team the rest of the season and into the playoffs. 

2015 Stats

32 GP, 1-1, 1.60 ERA, 0.98 WHIP, 33.2 IP, 26 H, 7 BB, 35 K, 14-of-14 SV

Stock Up: SP Jeff Samardzija, Chicago White Sox

Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports

Weekly Stats 

1 GS, 1-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.56 WHIP, 9 IP, 4 H, BB, 5 K

Overview

Lo and behold, the hot streak we talked about Jeff Samardzija getting on last week has materialized, as the 30-year-old delivered his best start of the year against Toronto's high-octane offense last Thursday, tossing a complete-game shutout.

Sure, his strikeout total wasn't as high as some would like, but there's no arguing with The Shark's numbers over his past two outings (16.2 IP, 7 H, 3 BB, 14 K, 1 ER). While it's only two games, he is quickly changing the way other teams view him.

If he can continue this momentum after the All-Star break, it's feasible that Samardzija could join Johnny Cueto as the two most sought-after arms on the market.

2015 Stats 

18 GS, 6-4, 4.02 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 125.1 IP, 130 H, 23 BB, 102 K

Stock Up: SS Jean Segura, Milwaukee Brewers

Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

6 G, 9-for-24 (.375), 4 K, 1-of-1 SB

Overview 

Milwaukee seems willing to discuss a potential trade of Jean Segura with interested parties, as Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi reports that the club had spoken with the New York Mets about both Segura and third baseman Aramis Ramirez, though there was no indication that talks had gotten serious.

Segura, who was hitting .249 at the end of July, has been on a tear in July, hitting .425 (17-for-40) and raising his batting average nearly 30 points in the process. If there's one concern, it's that Segura has gone more than a month without an extra-base hit, though he's never been viewed as much of a run producer.

Despite his penchant for singles, Segura's age (25) and that he's under team control through 2018 might make him the most attractive middle infielder available for teams in need of a long-term solution at shortstop.

Season Stats

73 GP, .273/.304/.346, 12 XBH (3 HR), 24 RBI, 9 BB, 43 K, 12-of-15 SB

Stock Even: SS Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

David Zalubowski/Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

5 G, 5-for-21 (.238), HR, 5 RBI, 3 BB, 7 K

Overview

It still doesn't seem convincing that there's a team out there that would meet Colorado's asking price and pick up all of the salary left on Troy Tulowitzki's contract, but the Rockies are open to trading him, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, and even if they weren't, he'd surely be a fixture on the rumor mill anyway.

While he didn't put up gaudy numbers last week and saw his 21-game hitting streak come to an end this past Saturday, Tulo has reached base safely in 38 consecutive games, an equally impressive feat.

Tulo might not be quite the player he once was, and his shaky injury history is always going to be a concern. But, like his teammate Carlos Gonzalez, he continues to prove that, when healthy, he can still be a major force in the heart of a team's lineup.

Season Stats

79 GP, .313/.351/.480, 29 XBH (10 HR), 49 RBI, 20 BB, 65 K

Stock Down: OF Justin Upton, San Diego Padres

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

5 G, 2-for-19 (.105), 2 RBI, BB, 4 K

Overview

Justin Upton's prolonged power outage continued this week as the 27-year-old extended his homerless streak to 10 games (41 plate appearances). While that might not seem like a big deal, consider this: After hitting 12 home runs through the season's first two months, Upton has gone deep only twice since.

And with an absence of power has come an absence of production, with Upton hitting a woeful .180 (23-for-128) with only five extra-base hits since June 1.

While there won't be a shortage of interested teams should the Padres make him available—CBS Sports' Jon Heyman speculates that the New York Mets, a team San Diego has been scouting recently, could be a potential landing spot—the Padres may not be able to extract nearly as much in a trade as they hoped.

Season Stats

87 GP, .253/.331/.422, 25 XBH (14 HR), 48 RBI, 37 BB, 95 K, 17-of-18 SB

Stock Even: IF/OF Ben Zobrist, Oakland Athletics

Tony Dejak/Associated Press

Weekly Stats 

6 G, 5-for-23 (.217), 2 2B, 2 BB, 4 K

Overview

Ben Zobrist didn't have a great week at the plate, but that hasn't stopped the rumor mill from picking up speed when it comes to baseball's Mr. Versatility, as the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo writes:

"

Despite not having the best of years, Zobrist remains sought-after, including by the Mets, Yankees, Giants, and Nationals. Zobrist, 34, has played three positions this season — 25 games in left field, 25 at second base, and three in right field. Zobrist has played only four career games at third base but could play there if needed.

"

With no other player on the market who can fill a multitude of holes like Zobrist can, a rough stretch at the plate is going to have far less of an impact on his trade value than it would for nearly any other position player.

2015 Stats 

58 GP, .261/.346/.429, 23 XBH (5 HR), 31 RBI, 28 BB, 22 K

Unless otherwise linked/noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference and FanGraphs and are current through July 12. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts.

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