MLB Trade Ideas Based on Latest Week 16 News, Rumors and Speculation
Weeks and months of trade speculation have led us to this point, just over a week away from the arrival of baseball's July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.
The current climate could be described like a scene from your typical eighth-grade dance, with the boys on one side of the gym, the girls on the other and everyone standing around waiting for someone to make the first move, opening the floodgates for the rest of the crowd to get moving.
Will it be the Cincinnati Reds, who are fully stocked and ready to sell? Maybe the gatekeeper for the trade deadline resides north of the border in Toronto, where the Blue Jays have been looking to deal for months. How about the Detroit Tigers, the latest club looking to cash in on what is, unquestionably, a strong seller's market?
On the pages that follow, we'll look at potential trades involving each of those clubs, some more impactful on this year's playoff races than others.
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 also 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.
Royals Trade for Jay Bruce
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Cincinnati Gets: RF Jorge Bonifacio, LHP John Lamb and 2B/SS Ramon Torres
Kansas City Gets: RF Jay Bruce
Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star has heard from rival executives that Cincinnati right fielder Jay Bruce could find his way to Kansas City, noting that the Reds have been scouting the upper levels of the Royals farm system recently.
While adding another starting pitcher would seem to be at the top of Kansas City's list of things to do, Bruce helps to fill a hole—both in 2015 and next year as well.
This year, Bruce would help to fill the void created by Alex Gordon's injury and Alex Rios' inconsistency. Even with his penchant for striking out, this is a player who still managed to average 30 home runs and 94 RBI a year from 2010 to 2013.
Defensively, Bruce doesn't get nearly enough credit, as he's been an above-average defender in right field for quite some time. His struggles last season can be attributed to him having rushed back from in-season knee surgery.
Adding him to the mix would allow the Royals to slide Rios over to left field in Gordon's absence. With Bruce also under contract in 2016, he would provide the Royals with an impact bat to replace Gordon, who is expected to opt out of his contract after the season.
In exchange, the Reds land a trio of intriguing prospects.
Jorge Bonifacio is a 22-year-old slugger with a strong, accurate throwing arm in right field who could be ready for the majors at some point in 2016 and a long-term replacement for Bruce.
John Lamb, 25, is a former top pitching prospect who has rediscovered his mojo on the mound after his career was derailed by injury. He looks like he's just about ready for his shot in a big league rotation.
Last but not least, 22-year-old Ramon Torres is a slick-fielding middle infielder who makes consistent contact at the plate and has the speed to cause problems when he gets on base. He could be Cincinnati's long-term replacement for Brandon Phillips at second base.
Blue Jays Trade for Joaquin Benoit and Ian Kennedy
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San Diego Gets: SS Dawel Lugo and OF Dalton Pompey
Toronto Gets: RP Joaquin Benoit, SP Ian Kennedy and $10 million
While dealing away two of the team's 20 best prospects in Dawel Lugo and Dalton Pompey might seem extreme, it's the only way that Toronto is going to be able to convince another team to not only trade with the Blue Jays but also cover the remaining salaries of the players heading to Toronto.
San Diego is looking to sell, and the Blue Jays have interest in 30-year-old starter Ian Kennedy, according to a report from Peter Gammons on GammonsDaily.com. But there's no reason for the Blue Jays to stop at Kennedy, as the Padres have the experienced closer Toronto seeks in Joaquin Benoit, who could also be available, according to CBS Sports' John Heyman.
Kennedy's numbers on the year aren't pretty (4.78 ERA, 5.36 FIP), but he's been far better away from Petco Park (3.80 ERA) than he has been in San Diego's pitcher-friendly confines (6.18 ERA). Those splits suggest that the soon-to-be free agent would benefit substantially from a change of scenery.
Benoit, 37, hasn't worked as San Diego's closer this year but has experience in the ninth inning, solidifying wins for Detroit back in 2013 when he converted 24 of 26 save opportunities. He's delivered his typical strong performance as a setup man this year with a 2.43 ERA and 0.861 WHIP, and he could easily slide into the role of closer in Toronto.
With the Padres picking up the roughly $10 million that the pair is due through the end of the season, there's no additional strain on Toronto's already-stretched payroll.
Dawel Lugo could stick at shortstop or slide over to third base, both positions of need for the Padres moving forward. Still a few years away from making an impact, San Diego has time to figure out where he fits best, but he has a knack for making contact and, as he matures physically, could develop some pop as well.
Dalton Pompey would allow the Padres to end the failed experiment that is the currently injured Wil Myers in center field, shifting him either to a corner outfield spot (one will open up if the team trades Justin Upton) or first base, where his body would deal with far less wear and tear.
The 22-year-old looked overmatched against major league pitching earlier this year and hasn't fared well in his return to Triple-A, but he has all the tools—especially speed and instincts with the glove—to become a quality everyday center fielder in the majors.
Of course, there's always another option for the Blue Jays...
Blue Jays Trade for Mike Fiers and Francisco Rodriguez
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Milwaukee Gets: RHP Miguel Castro, OF D.J. Davis and 3B Mitch Nay
Toronto Gets: RHP Mike Fiers, CL Francisco Rodriguez and $5 million
Toronto has "strong interest" in Milwaukee's Mike Fiers, according to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, but the Brewers would need to be appropriately motivated to actually move him. A package that lands them two potential everyday players and a front-line starter (or shutdown closer) should do the trick.
Like the aforementioned Ian Kennedy, Fiers isn't an ace, but he's been a consistently solid contributor for Milwaukee despite playing half of his games in hitter-friendly Miller Park, pitching to a 3.62 ERA and 1.234 WHIP across parts of five seasons while averaging just about a strikeout per inning.
What makes him even more attractive (and valuable) is that he's not arbitration eligible until 2017 and is under team control through 2019. The same can't be said about Francisco Rodriguez, who is due roughly $12 million through 2016 (including a $4 million buyout of a $6 million team option for 2017).
Rodriguez has been on Toronto's radar for quite some time, having been linked to the Blue Jays in June by Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun. He would solidify the back end of the bullpen for the Blue Jays. He's having a phenomenal year for the Brewers, converting all 21 of his save opportunities while pitching to a 1.32 ERA and 0.824 WHIP while striking out more than a batter per inning.
D.J. Davis hasn't developed quite as quickly as the Blue Jays would have liked, but the 20-year-old has the power/speed combination that gets scouts excited about a prospect. While he's primarily played center field, a shift to left field is a possibility, especially with Tyrone Taylor already in Milwaukee's system.
Mitch Nay is still another year or two away from contributing, but the 21-year-old has a ton of untapped raw power and has shown the ability to make consistent contact. He could be Milwaukee's long-term answer at the hot corner.
But it's 20-year-old Miguel Castro who's the centerpiece of the deal. While he was rushed to the big leagues earlier this year and had his fair share of struggles, he did manage to strike out 12 batters over 12.1 innings of work and convert four of his six save opportunities—not bad for a guy in his first year of big league ball.
While he's in Triple-A, Castro is still developing—and the Brewers can slow things down for him and bring him along at a far slower pace than Toronto was willing to. Armed with an electric fastball and secondary pitches that have flashed plus, he's a potential ace in waiting. Should his secondary stuff not come along as expected, Castro has the tools to become a dominant closer.
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Pirates Trade for Alexei Ramirez
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Chicago Gets: C Taylor Gushue
Pittsburgh Gets: SS Alexei Ramirez and $6 million
With Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer both sidelined for the foreseeable future, Pittsburgh's infield depth has been stretched to its limits, and reinforcements are needed.
While Alexei Ramirez isn't having a good season by any measure, the 33-year-old does have a track record of success and offers a steadier glove at shortstop than the Bucs' other internal option, Jung-ho Kang, whose services are needed at third base.
Ramirez isn't part of the long-term future in Chicago, so the White Sox could pick up his remaining salary this year (roughly $5 million) and the $1 million buyout of a $10 million team option for next year in order to get a halfway decent prospect back in return.
Taylor Gushue isn't going to become a superstar, but the switch-hitting 21-year-old catcher has all the tools to become a steady, all-around catcher in the majors. While he's unlikely to contribute to the cause in Chicago until 2017 at the earliest, he could very well be the team's long-term answer behind the plate.
Cubs Trade for David Price
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Chicago Gets: LHP David Price
Detroit Gets: OF Billy McKinney, RHP Duane Underwood and 3B Christian Villanueva
Detroit is prepared to sell, according to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, and David Price is their most valuable trade chip. While the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros each have the prospects it would take to acquire Price, the Chicago Cubs do, too.
And Price just feels right in Chicago, where he'd be reunited with his longtime manager in Tampa Bay, Joe Maddon. While some will argue that the club can just sign him as a free agent after the season (and thus shouldn't give up anything to get him), does anyone really want to battle the Dodgers in a bidding war?
By adding Price and giving him a few months to get acclimated with the city and team, the Cubs would presumably have the inside advantage on signing him after the season. Heck, Price might like it so much that he never even reaches the open market.
In the meantime, he'd give the Cubs a boost for the stretch run, not to mention a potentially terrifying playoff rotation should they make it to the postseason. Is there a team out there that wants to face Price, Jake Arrieta and Jon Lester in a short series?
I think not.
Detroit picks up a trio of youngsters who are all close to the majors and could slide into full-time jobs with the club as early as next season.
Billy McKinney has an advanced approach at the plate and the bat speed to put the barrel on the ball consistently, though how much power he'll eventually hit for remains up for debate. He has solid defensive instincts but lacks the arm strength to play anywhere besides left field.
That works in Detroit, as Yoenis Cespedes figures to be on the move in the not-so-distant future himself.
Arguably Chicago's best pitching prospect, Duane Underwood is going to be a useful major league starter. Whether he reaches his ceiling as a front-line arm depends on how his secondary offerings continue to develop, but he has all the tools needed to get there.
Christian Villanueva may never become a superstar, but he's an outstanding defensive third baseman with enough power to become a solid contributor on offense. He'd give the Tigers the ability to move Nick Castellanos off third base and into left field if they so desire.
Unless otherwise linked or noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs and are current through games of July 20. All contract information courtesy of Baseball Prospectus.
Hit me up on Twitter to talk all things baseball: @RickWeinerBR.
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