MLB Trade Deadline: Players Who Would Be Better off Staying Put
With the MLB trade deadline approaching July 31, teams are deciding whether to declare themselves buyers or sellers.
While moving on from certain players to acquire more draft picks or promising prospects is a smart strategy for teams needing to rebuild, some teams currently going through a tough season are better off retaining their top players.
This is due, in large part, to certain teams that already possess several important players but need to get healthy or add some free agents to start competing for a pennant.
Some of the players being discussed in trade rumors or speculation would be better off staying put, allowing them to succeed both with their team and as an individual.
Here is a look at players who are better off not being traded in the next week based on how it would benefit the teams and the individual.
Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
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Aroldis Chapman’s name has been thrown around in the last month or so, as the Cincinnati Reds appear to be in sell-mode.
After making the playoffs in 2012 and 2013, the Reds have struggled in the last season and a half. With the team currently sitting at 42-51 and 8.5 games out of a playoff spot, players like Jay Bruce, Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake are available to trade, according to Fox Sports.
Chapman is 27 years old and has been an All-Star for four straight seasons. With Cueto almost assuredly on his way out, Chapman is the star of the Reds pitching staff.
With Joey Votto, Todd Frazier, Brandon Phillips and Billy Hamilton, Cincinnati has pieces in its lineup to build on as it moves forward. By keeping Chapman, the team would also have a centerpiece in the bullpen.
At the moment, the Reds are sorely lacking some young starting pitching. By trading players like Bruce, Cueto and Leake, the team can acquire some young arms and add a veteran in free agency. According to CBS Sports’ Dayn Perry, Chapman still has the potential to dabble as a starting pitcher, so he could also help fill this void himself.
This would free up salary, which the team could use in an offer for Chapman this offseason after his contract expires.
David Price, Detroit Tigers
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David Price is one of the best pitchers in the game and the current ace of the Tigers staff.
Yet Price is drawing interest at the deadline again, and according to Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi (h/t WEEI in Chicago), the Cubs recently sent scouts to one of his starts.
Despite injuries to key players like Miguel Cabrera and poor play from Justin Verlander, the Tigers are only four games out of the American League Wild Card. Price has also been great, sporting a 9-3 record and a 2.31 ERA.
There was a reason Detroit traded for Price a year ago, and the team is still built to win now. The lineup is dangerous with Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Jose Igelsias, J.D. Martinez, Ian Kinsler and Yoenis Cespedes, and the rotation just needs another steady starter.
If the Tigers can pull it together down the stretch and sneak into the playoffs, they can become serious contenders. Price could be a huge part of that, as he would be counted on to anchor the rotation.
Staying could mean a potential championship down the line for Price, which is why it would be best for him and the Tigers if he stays.
Carlos Gonzalez, Colorado Rockies
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The Rockies have been among baseball’s worst teams for the past few seasons, but better days may be on the horizon.
Carlos Gonzalez looked to be a future star before having a disappointing 2014 due to injury. He has rebounded slightly this season, but he could be a trade possibility, as Nick Groke of the Denver Post noted.
Colorado has one of the best young lineups in the league, and removing Gonzalez from that equation would be a mistake. Adding Gonzalez to a group including Troy Tulowitzki, DJ LeMahieu, Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon creates a fearful top of the batting order, especially in a hitter’s park like Coors Field.
Pitching has doomed the Rockies this season as nearly every starter has an ERA over 4.00. The team addressed this concern in the draft, and they also have a couple of decent young arms in Chad Bettis and Eddie Butler. Add in a solid free agent starter or two, and the Rockies will make some noise in the future.
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Cameron Maybin, Atlanta Braves
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Atlanta is going through a tough season, but Cameron Maybin has been a bright spot for the Braves thus far.
Already on his fourth MLB team, the 28-year-old is enjoying his best season yet. He is currently hitting .284 with eight home runs and 45 RBI, all of which are on pace to be career highs.
According to the Atlanta Journal Constitution, the Braves are open to moving anyone, presumably including Maybin, which would be a mistake.
Atlanta is currently in a minor rebuild, and trading one of its best young players is not the way to go. The team would be much better off trading veterans like Jonny Gomes and Nick Markakis to acquire more assets. This would allow the Braves to build around Maybin, Andrelton Simmons and Jace Peterson.
In addition, Maybin appears to be thriving after some stability in Atlanta. Moving him to another team would likely affect his play in a negative fashion.
Kevin Gausman, Baltimore Orioles
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At age 24, Gausman is the youngest player on this list, which also means he has the most room to improve.
A first-round pick in 2012, Gausman has not been great, but he has shown some promise in three seasons, racking up an 11-14 record and 4.36 ERA in that time. In 2015, he has struggled slightly with a 1-2 record and 5.18 ERA.
Nick Cicere of SB Nation wrote a great piece on how the Orioles cannot trade Gausman, and his points ring true here as well.
Baltimore is going through a down season, but it is set up well for the future with a solid pitching staff and lineup that features Adam Jones and Manny Machado. Gausman is part of the Orioles’ future, so instead of dealing him to embark on an uphill battle to make the playoffs this season, keep him and let him develop.
This allows the team to add another starter to the regular rotation for years to come as they try to return to the World Series. This also instills more confidence in Gausman, which should have good results for the Orioles.
Yoenis Cespedes, Detroit Tigers
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Cespedes is one of the better power hitters in the league, yet he is on his third team in two seasons.
According to MLB.com’s Alden Gonzalez, the 29-year-old Cuban has been in trade rumors again this year, but the Tigers should not move him.
As mentioned in the earlier slide about Price, the Tigers are built to be one of the best teams in the American League. The team does have an excess of similar hitters to Cespedes, but they would be better off trading Victor Martinez for a starting pitcher than moving Cespedes.
He is also much better off being surrounded by the Tigers lineup than being moved to a weaker-hitting team.
The Tigers would be wise to keep Cespedes for their pennant pushes in the coming seasons.
Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies
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Tulowitzki is the face of the Colorado Rockies, yet he is being mentioned in trade talk.
The Rockies are set to have one of the top infields in the National League with Tulowitzki, Arenado, LeMahieu and Wilin Rosario. Thus, the Rockies would be dumb to move their most valuable asset when the team is on the cusp of turning a corner.
Tulowitzki recently also made it clear he does not want to move, per MLB.com’s Tracy Ringolsby.
“I didn’t sign my contract because I wanted to be somewhere else,” Tulowitzki said, making reference to the 10-year, $157.75 million deal he signed with Rockies in 2010. “I signed my contract because I want to be with the Rockies.”
He also referenced wanting to remain with the Rockies for the rest of his career.
“My favorite player is Derek Jeter,” Tulowitzki said. “It always has been. One of the things about him was how he stayed with one team his whole career.”
It is obvious that Tulowitzki does not want to be traded. It is also apparent that the Rockies are building a winning lineup, so it makes no sense for the shortstop to leave.
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