Full Preview, Final Predictions for the 2015 MLB Trade Deadline
It's so close now, you can almost touch it. When the clock strikes 4 p.m. ET on Friday, July 31, MLB's non-waiver trade deadline will have arrived.
Here's what you can expect in the final two days before then: utter madness.
With the likes of Scott Kazmir, Johnny Cueto, Troy Tulowitzki, Ben Zobrist and Jonathan Papelbon moving, the trade market has already seen its share of action. But there are plenty of notable players who could still be moved, and plenty of places they could move to.ย
If you want to get caught up on who's available and which teams are fixing to do what, gather 'round. We're going to take a look at the top hitters, starting pitchers and relief pitchers on the market, and then go division by division and ponder each team's approach to the deadline.
Step into the box whenever you're ready.
The Top Hitters Available
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In alphabetical order, here are the big hitters on the block with the deadline fast approaching.
Jay Bruce, RF, Cincinnati Reds
The Reds got a pretty good package for Cueto, but they could get an even better one for Jay Bruce. Plenty of teams need offense, and he's providing a lot of that this season with an .821 OPS and 16 homers. And if you count his club option, he's controllable for two more years at $25.5 million.
Trade likelihood: Low, as Bruce's controllability is an excuse for the Reds to keep him if their high demands aren't met.
Yoenis Cespedes, LF, Detroit Tigers
The Tigers had been indicating that they planned on buying at the deadline, but not anymore. As Jason Beck of MLB.com reports, general manager Dave Dombrowski admitted on Wednesday that the club is ready for a "rebooting" phase. That's a cue for teams to assault him with calls about Cespedes, who's a free-agent-to-be who went into Wednesday with an .821 OPS and 17 homers.
Trade likelihood:ย High, as plenty of teams need Cespedes' bat and the Tigers have no excuse to hold on to him.
Carlos Gomez, CF, Milwaukee Brewers
The Brewers appear open for business, and Carlos Gomez is their top trade asset. A recent hot stretch has pushed his OPS to a solid .761, and it has allowed him to resemble the all-around dynamo that he was in 2013 and 2014. He's also no rental, as he's under control through 2016 at a reasonable $9 million.
Trade likelihood: Low, as his price tag is likely too high for a market that seems short on serious buyers.
Carlos Gonzalez, RF, Colorado Rockies
After shocking everyone by trading Tulowitzki, the Rockies will shock nobody if they also trade Carlos Gonzalez. A red-hot stretch over the last few weeks has pushed his OPS to .844 and his home run count to 20. And albeit at a steep $37 million, CarGo's value is also bolstered by two extra years of control.
Trade likelihood: Fair, as there seems to be enough emphasis on controllable assets for teams to go the extra mile (read: take on his contract) for Gonzalez.
Adam Lind, 1B, Milwaukee Brewers
He doesn't have Gomez's appeal, but Adam Lind is an attractive option for teams looking for a platoon weapon. His .862 OPS and 16 homers have come almost exclusively against right-handers, making him one of the league's leading hitters against righties. As a bonus, his contract has an $8 million option for 2016.
Trade likelihood: Low, as Lind's status as a platoon-hitting first baseman limits the Brewers' options, and his 2016 option gives them an excuse to hold on to him.
Gerardo Parra, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Gerardo Parra is yet another offensive asset the Brewers have to dangle, as he's shaken off a rough 2014 to hit .324 with an .883 OPS this year. This has also come in a platoon role, but Parra makes up for that with his ability to play all three outfield positions. He's also a rental, making him relatively affordable.
Trade likelihood: High, as plenty of contenders could use and can afford to rent a hot-hitting fourth outfielder.
Yasiel Puig, RF, Los Angeles Dodgers
There have been mixed signals on Yasiel Puig, but the latest from Nightengaleย is that the Dodgers are willing to move himโas they should be. Puig has had a rough 2015, but he's still a 24-year-old with an .862 career OPS and three more years of club control at under $25 million. That's a valuable asset.
Trade likelihood: Low, as Puig probably can't help the Dodgers get the pitching they need as much as top prospects Corey Seager and Julio Urias can.
Justin Upton, LF, San Diego Padres
Heymanย writes the Padres are pushing hard to trade their big-name players, and Justin Upton is one of them. He's been slumping lately, but he still owns a .752 OPS with 16 homers and 17 steals. And with free agency looming, he's only a rental.
Trade likelihood:ย High, as the Padres have no excuse to withhold Upton from a market that wants bats.
The Top Starting Pitchers Available
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With hitters in the bag, here's a look at the best starting pitchers we know are on the block.
Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres
Along with Upton, Andrew Cashner is another big name the Padres could move. He's been just OK with a 3.93 ERA in 19 starts this year, but he has the appeal of owning a big-time arm and having another year of club control beyond 2015.
Trade likelihood: Low, as Cashner's results not matching his talent doesn't help his value, and the Padres can always try to trade him later.
Yovani Gallardo, Texas Rangers
The Rangers may not be traditional sellers at the deadline, but Yovani Gallardo is one guy they probably will move. He has padded his value with a 3.19 ERA this year, and he looks like an affordable rental with free agency due up at the end of the year.
Trade likelihood: High, as the Rangers should benefit from pitching-needy teams turning to Gallardo as a Plan B after missing out on what aces are left on the market.
Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies
Cole Hamels' availability will only shock you if your name is Rip Van Winkle. He's helping his cause this year with a 3.64 ERA that undersells how good he's been, and he's also under contract for at least three more years. The complicated part, of course, is that he's still owed a minimum of $76.5 million.
Trade likelihood: Fair, as whether anyone wants to sell the farm for Hamels remains a good question.
Hisashi Iwakuma, Seattle Mariners
It's unclear where the Mariners stand these days, but Jon Morosi of Fox Sportsย writes the interest in Hisashi Iwakuma is there. He was one of the AL's top starters between 2012 and 2014, and he has built some momentum with a strong three-start stretch. With free agency due up, he's a solid rental option.
Trade likelihood: Low, as the Mariners don't seem likely to give up on making a playoff run.
Mike Leake, Cincinnati Reds
Mike Leake isn't one of the sexiest names on the trading block, but he's a solid pitcher. He owns a 3.56 ERA in 136.2 innings this year, putting him on track to once again finish with a sub-4.00 ERA over 200 or so innings. With free agency looming, he looks like an affordable rental.
Trade likelihood:ย High, as anyone can afford Leake, and Heyman recently indicated that everyoneย wants him.
David Price, Detroit Tigers
If Cespedes is a hot commodity now that the Tigers are officially selling, David Price is an even hotter commodity. He once again looks like a premier pitcher with a 2.53 ERA in 146 innings, and there still seems to be a big market for big-ticket rentals, even after the Kazmir and Cueto trades.
Trade likelihood: High, for the same reason as Cespedes.
Tyson Ross, San Diego Padres
Tyson Ross is another big-name Padre who's up for grabs, and he might also be the most desirable. He's a 28-year-old who's quietly put together a 3.09 ERA since 2013, and he's under club control for two more seasons at arbitration prices. That's a very valuable asset.
Trade likelihood: Low, as clubs don't figure to meet a high asking price for Ross with so many other pitching options around.
Jeff Samardzija, Chicago White Sox
The White Sox could keep Jeff Samardzija around after playing their way into the AL wild-card race, but there will be plenty of interest if they make him available. He's rebounded nicely after a slow start with a 2.78 ERA in his last nine outings, and his looming free agency makes him yet another rental option.
Trade likelihood: Fair, as the White Sox may be even more inclined to contend if teams rebuff what figures to be a high asking price in the wake of the Kazmir and Cueto deals.
James Shields, San Diego Padres
ESPN.com's Jayson Stark hears the Padres badly want to move James Shields, which obviously has something to do with the $65 million he's owed beyond 2015. That's a lot of money for a 33-year-old whose declining stuffย has contributed to a modest 3.77 ERA.
Trade likelihood: Low, as the Padres figure to have trouble attracting serious buyers, even if they're willing to eat some of Shields' remaining contract.
The Top Relief Pitchers Available
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And finally, here's a look at the top relief pitchers on the market.
Joaquin Benoit, San Diego Padres
If the Padres are going to rebuild, they don't have much use for impact relievers like Joaquin Benoit. And what an impact reliever he is, as his 2.27 ERA this year gives him a 1.91 ERA dating back to 2013. And with an $8 million club option for 2016, he's controllable beyond 2015 at a reasonable rate.
Trade likelihood: High, as Benoit matches the description of a controllable and talented reliever who won't cost an arm and a leg.
Aroldis Chapman, Cincinnati Reds
After Cueto, Aroldis Chapman is the biggest name the Reds could move ahead of the deadline. He hasn't quit being one of baseball's elite closers in 2015, using his triple-digit gas to post a 1.69 ERA and strike out 16 batters per nine innings. And with another year on his contract, he's no rental.
Trade likelihood: Low, as there are probably too many relief options available for the Reds to get teams to match an asking price that Stark says is "exorbitant."
Craig Kimbrel, San Diego Padres
Craig Kimbrel is in the same boat as Shields in that he has a contract that's too pricey for the Padres at a minimum of $25 million over the next two years. But at least Kimbrel is still good enough to attract attention, as his 2.75 ERA and 12.6 K/9 undersell how overpowering he's been in 2015.
Trade likelihood: Fair, as interest in Kimbrel seems high, and the Padres seem to (and should) be motivated to ditch his contract.
Francisco Rodriguez, Milwaukee Brewers
After their top hitters, Francisco Rodriguez might be Milwaukee's most attractive trade chip. He has dominated with a 1.50 ERA this year while striking out 10 batters per nine innings. He's also an affordable non-rental, with just $11.5 million headed his way in 2016 and 2017 if you count his option for the latter year.
Trade likelihood: Fair, as the Brewers may be inclined to keep him and try again next season if they can't get teams to meet a high asking price.
Joakim Soria, Detroit Tigers
His name isn't being mentioned as much, but Joakim Soria is just as likely to be dangled as Cespedes and Price. He's another free agent-to-be who's quietly done well as Detroit's closer with a 2.93 ERA in 42 outings. He's not an elite closer, but he's at least a solid closer.
Trade likelihood: High, for the same reason as Cespedes and Price.
Koji Uehara, Boston Red Sox
The trade of Shane Victorino seemed to be Boston's white flag, and Koji Uehara could be next. He's having another strong year with a 2.52 ERA backed by a studly 6.7 strikeout-to-walk ratio, and he's also signed for another year on top of 2015 at a reasonable $9 million.
Trade likelihood: Low, as the Red Sox probably won't be blown away by an offer and could keep Uehara and look to contend in 2016.
The AL East
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New York Yankees (57-42)
The Yankees need upgrades in their rotation and at second base, and their interest in Kimbrel (h/tย Heyman) suggests they're not opposed to making their bullpen even stronger.
However, word is (see above) the Yankees don't want to trade top prospects Aaron Judge, Luis Severino, Greg Bird or Jorge Mateo. That's believable, as they have a seven-game lead in the AL East to work with, and those guys are part of a farm system that's finally gaining steam.
True, the Yankees could be motivated by Toronto's acquisition of Tulowitzki to do something. But even if so, something small is more likely than something big.
Baltimore Orioles (50-49)
We've heard from Morosiย that the Orioles could consider selling, which would mean dangling free agents-to-be Matt Wieters, Chris Davis, Wei-Yin Chen, Darren O'Day and Tommy Hunter. However, we've also heard from O's boss Dan Duquette that the teamย means to buy.
Right now, Duquette's position holds more water. Baltimore's position in the wild-card race is too strong to abandon, and the O's are unlikely to punt it with their immediate future looking so uncertain.
They could do so by targetingย a much-neededย corner outfield bat, where their options include Carlos Gonzalez, Upton and Bruce. They're a threat to push for any one of them and go all-in on what could be a last hurrah.
Tampa Bay Rays (51-51)
With Tuesday's trade of David DeJesus, the Rays indicated that they mean to sell at the deadline rather than chase down a wild-card dream that's been fading in recent weeks.
And rest assured, they do have more pieces to sell. The best ones are in their bullpen, andย Marc Topkin of theย Tampa Bay Timesย reported the Rays know this. Brad Boxberger, Jake McGee and Kevin Jepsen all look like attractive trade chips.
Mind you, it's unclear whether any of those three guys is actually available. But if the Rays are going to do more selling, those are three logical names to turn to.
Toronto Blue Jays (50-51)
The Blue Jays have already made a big splash in landing Tulowitzki, but the question on everyone's mind is the same: What of their pitching?
The Blue Jays definitely still need help in that department, and that could lead them to revive their rumored interest in guys like Samardzija (h/t Morosi) and Mike Fiers (h/t Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal). But after giving up Miguel Castro and Jeff Hoffman to get Tulo, a complication is that they're suddenly short on top prospects.
So, the Blue Jays could mimic the Yankees. Their strong position in the AL wild-card race could convince them to stand pat, or they could make do with a smaller move or two.
Boston Red Sox (44-57)
The Red Sox have already traded Victorino. And given their place in the standings, now the question is who else could go. To that end, Uehara and Junichi Tazawa may be both the beginning and the end of the list, as Boston really doesn't have much to offer outside of them.
But rather than another bummer, the Red Sox might turn the deadline into a welcome bright spot. Starkย writes they're still in on Hamels, which signals they're already thinking about 2016.
If that is indeed the case, they could get their offseason shopping done early by pursuing other controllable targets. The Red Sox may look like a seller, but don't be shocked if they choose to buy instead.
The AL Central
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Kansas City Royals (61-38)
When the Royals traded for Cueto last week, they fulfilled their need for an ace starting pitcher. When they traded for Zobrist on Tuesday, they fulfilled their need for a talented utility man.
So, what's left?
"Nothing" seems like a good answer. The Royals fulfilled their only pressing needs in acquiring Cueto and Zobrist and made themselves arguably World Series favorites in the process. Given that and their big lead in the AL Central, further moves at this point would be in the realm of overkill.
Minnesota Twins (52-47)
The Twins aren't catching the Royals, but they're in a position to nab a wild-card berth. So, you better believe they're buying.
"There are a lot of things weโre looking at, and the possibilities are out there,โ said general manager Terry Ryan this weekend, via the Star Tribune. โThereโs a chance we might be able to do a few things.โ
As for what the Twins could do, Mike Berardino of theย St. Paul Pioneer Pressย writes they're most likely to fill their need for a power reliever. It's hard to imagine them getting in on Chapman or Kimbrel, but guys like Rodriguez, Benoit or McGee are in their price range. One of them could soon be headed to the Twin Cities.
Chicago White Sox (48-50)
Everyone's waiting on the White Sox to trade Samardzija, but Nightengaleย writes they haven't yet committed to doing so. A related story, of course, is that Chicago is suddenly hot and within range of the AL's second wild-card spot.
But the White Sox as buyers? That's hard to see. They're short on both prospects and payroll space, and they've gotten hot because of the guys they already have. They could be comfortable sticking with them.
If the White Soxย doย sell, however, expect it to be just Samardzija. He's the only pending free agent they have who's worth a darn, and there doesn't appear to be much demand for their controllable pieces. Not enough for them to be convinced to part with them, anyway.
Detroit Tigers (48-52)
As we mentioned earlier, the Tigers have given up on the idea of buying and have gone into sell mode. That means they're about to get a lot of calls on Cespedes, Price and Soria.
Odds are all three of those players will be traded, but they may not be the only ones. Other pending free agents on the Tigers include catcher Alex Avila, outfielder Rajai Davis and starter Alfredo Simon. The three of them won't fetch much, but they hold appeal for clubs looking for some extra depth.
Given all this, the Tigers are making the right choice. They're set to tear down the team they have now, but the parts they get in return could help ensure their window stays open beyond 2015.
Cleveland Indians (45-54)
The Indians could be a major seller if they choose to go that route. Controllable starting pitchers are all the rage on this summer's market. The Indians have a pile of those and, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports, are willing to listen to offers for them.
It may be at least as likely, however, that Cleveland chooses to buy rather than sell.ย
After all, the Indians do have a decent amount of talent lined up for 2016. According to Rosenthal, they might add to it by dealing for Carlos Gomez. Or they could aim a bit lower and go for Marcell Ozuna, whom Clark Spencer of the Miami Heraldย writes has attracted Cleveland's interest.
But the best bet? That's probably on the Indians doing nothing. Without much to sell and proper motivation to buy, they're in a position to stand pat.
The AL West
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Los Angeles Angels (55-44)
In the last few days, the Angels have acquired Conor Gillaspie to fill in for the injured David Freese at third base, and Victorino, David Murphy and DeJesus to pad their outfield depth.
With these moves out of the way, the Angels must now turn their attention to...uh, standing pat? I guess?
In seriousness, there's not much else the Angels need to do. They could use a second-base upgrade and maybe another bullpen arm, but neither need is too pressing. They're probably done.
Houston Astros (56-45)
The Astros have already added Kazmir, but they may not be done there. They're also reportedly interested in Kimbrel (h/t Heyman) and Gomez (h/t Rosenthal), and ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnickย reports they're making "a big push" for Hamels.
Don't be so surprised. The Astros have a hold on the top spot in the AL wild-card race, and they are still battling the Angels for the AL West title. They're in a position to go for the kill.
And even after the Kazmir trade, they still have the pieces to do it. Whether it's for any of the names listed above or somebody else, the Astros are a real threat to pull off another big move.
Texas Rangers (47-52)
The Rangers have fallen off since a strong run in the middle of the first half, but that doesn't mean their only option is to sell at the deadline. They're a team that could buy and sell.
As part of the sell initiative, Gallardo is a likely goner. But as part of the buy initiative, word is they're a heavy favorite for Hamels (h/t Passan). According to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram,ย they've also talked to the Padres about Ross and Cashner.
The Rangers have the prospects and the payroll space to make such deals, and any controllable starter they add would look nice next to Yu Darvish next season. So, don't write these rumors off as just talk.
Seattle Mariners (46-55)
The Mariners are certainly in a position to sell, and they have decent pieces to deal in guys like Iwakuma, Austin Jackson, Logan Morrison and Seth Smith.
However,ย Joel Sherman of theย New York Post hears that Seattle GM Jack Zduriencik doesn't want to sell. With him likely on the hot seat to produce a winner, that's believable. You don't sell when your job might be on the line.
But this doesn't necessarily mean the Mariners will be buyers. They have many needs and probably not enough trade chips to fill those needs. There's a real chance the M's will stand pat with what they have and then hope the baseball gods throw them a bone in the season's final two months.
Oakland A's (45-56)
In the last week, the A's have traded away Kazmir, Zobrist and Tyler Clippard. In doing so, they've jettisoned all three of their top pending free agents.
And now that they're gone, A's GM Billy Beane may be all out of moves. Susan Slusser of theย San Franciscoย Chronicleย reported Monday that Beane isn't working on deals for anyone who will be back in 2016, a list that includes Josh Reddick, Jesse Chavez and other potential trade chips.
But then again, Beane also teased an Astros-style rebuild to Jane Lee of MLB.com. If he's seriously interested in one of those, his comments to Slusser may be a smoke screen.
So, stay tuned. The A's may not be as finished as they're letting on.
The NL East
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Washington Nationals (52-46)
On Tuesday, the Nationals acquired Papelbon from the Phillies. And though their choice to use him as their closer is questionable, there's no denying their bullpen has been upgraded regardless.ย
And now that the deed is done, the Nats are likely done making moves.
That was really the only need they had to fill with a trade. The others they still have will be filled by players returning from injury. To that end, Anthony Rendon, Jayson Werth and Ryan Zimmerman are already back, and Stephen Strasburg and Denard Span will follow. Once the band is back together again, the Nats will have everything they need to chase a championship.
New York Mets (52-48)
The Mets have been busy making deals, having recently acquired Juan Uribe, Kelly Johnson and Clippard. However, they still have more to do if they want to catch the Nationals.
Jenrry Mejia wasย suspended for the rest of the year (and beyond) on Tuesday, and GM Sandy Alderson told Adam Rubin of ESPN.com that the Mets learned of thatย after they had completed the Clippard trade. As such, they may now be back on the market for relief help.
But the Mets' primary need remains offense. To this end, Anthony DiComo of MLB.com has linked them to Cespedes and Bruce, and they've also kicked the tires on Upton, according to Heyman.
It's probably not a good idea for Mets fans to get their hopes up, though. The Mets have established a pattern of not paying the price for big upgrades. Assuming they stick to that, they're more likely to land somebody from the market's B list of bats (Parra, Austin Jackson, et al).
Atlanta Braves (46-54)
The Braves look like a classic seller, save for one complication: They don't have much to sell.ย
The one free agent-to-be who should be on the move soon is Jim Johnson. But aside from him, the only player the Braves seem willing to move is Chris Johnson. Andrelton Simmons, per ESPN.com's Buster Olney, and Julio Teheran, per David O'Brien of theย Atlanta Journal Constitution, are off the table, and Cameron Maybin may be, too. Mark Bowman of MLB.com reports the Braves have shifted gears on the idea of selling high on him.
All told, it's shaping up to be a quiet couple of days in Atlanta. Not much to see here, really.
Miami Marlins (42-58)
Unlike the Braves, the Marlins have plenty of pieces to sell in the next couple of days. And not just free agents-to-be like Dan Haren, either.
The Marlins also have Martin Prado, who could become a popular item for teams in need of a good utility player now that Zobrist is off the block. MLB.com's Joe Frisaroย reports the Marlins don't want to move him, but the market could change their minds.
Apart from him, the Marlins could entertain offers for Ozuna, whom we noted before is drawing plenty of interest. All told, the Marlins could make more noise in the next two days than you might be expecting.
Philadelphia Phillies (38-63)
Well, you can cross Papelbon off the Phillies' list. Now all they need to do is trade Hamels.
On that front, the word from Stark is that they want teams' best offers for Hamels inย today. If teams follow that order, the Phillies could soon be looking at offers from prospect-rich teams like the Rangers, Dodgers, Cubs, Astros and Red Sox.
Even still, don't be shocked if the Phillies hold on to their ace lefty. As they've continued to insist he's worth a big bucket of prospects, the market has continued to insist otherwise. If that remains the case, the Phillies could always keep him and try their luck again this winter or next summer.
For your penny, here's my two cents: That's what ends up happening.
The NL Central
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St. Louis Cardinals (64-36)
The Cardinals are nearly 30 games over .500 and comfortably ahead in the NL Central. What could a team like that possibly ask for?
Not much. The Cardinals recently upgraded their bullpen with Steve Cishek. With that deed done, the only thing they could use now is a lefty-hitting first baseman. Their best option is Adam Lind, and Derrick Goold of theย St. Louis Post-Dispatchย reports the Cardinals have talked to the Brewers about him.
The way things sound, it'll either be Lind or nobody. If the Cardinals can't snag the best they can get at that area of need, they may very well leave good enough alone.
Pittsburgh Pirates (58-41)
The Pirates filled a major need last week when they acquired Aramis Ramirez. With that taken care of, they find themselves in a similar position as the Cardinals in that they have no more major needs to fill.
The Pirates might go find a right-handed first baseman (i.e. Mike Napoli) to platoon with Pedro Alvarez, but they could probably live without one. They could also snag another reliever, as Rosenthal has suggested, but they could live without one of those, too.
You could argue that the Pirates should be more aggressive with the Cardinals still within sight. But with the top wild-card spot pretty well in hand, odds are they'll take their chances with what they have.
Chicago Cubs (52-47)
As much as any team, the Cubs look like they're in need of a big move.ย But anticipating one may not be a good idea. Jesse Rogers of ESPN.com insists the Cubs' front office isn't desperate enough for a big move, as it is acting more with the big picture in mind than merely the 2015 season.
One thing the Cubs could do, though, is try to turn Starlin Castro into a pitcher. For example, Morosi has said the Cubs have discussed Castro with the Padres, and a good match there would be Cashner.
The other option would be for the Cubs to dip into their farm system for a target like Hamels, Price or Ross. That's something they could do; but if they truly have the big picture in mind, it's not something anyone should count on. If the Cubs don't deal Castro, they may not deal at all.
Cincinnati Reds (44-54)
John Fay of theย Cincinnati Enquirer warned that the Reds were about to start a fire sale, and the trade of Cueto was the first spark. Up next could be Chapman, Bruce and/or Leake.
Of the three, Leake is the best bet to be moved. He's a guy who can fit in any rotation and also a rental player whom any contender can afford. It'll be an upset if he's not moved.
But the other two? Maybe not as much. We already noted that the Reds have put a high price on Chapman, and it can be assumed there's one on Bruce, too. With the two of them controlled beyond 2015, the Reds could well choose to keep both if their demands aren't met.
Milwaukee Brewers (44-57)
The Brewers have already moved Ramirez, and they now have a couple of days to move Lind, Parra, Gomez, Rodriguez, Fiers, Kyle Lohse and/or Matt Garza as well.
Of the bunch, the only one who's all but guaranteed to move is Parra, as he's a free agent-to-be who could upgrade quite a few contenders. But Lohse is the only other rental among those names, and he's more likely to find a home in the August waiver period.
As for the rest, there may not be enough interest in Lind or Garza for them to be moved. That puts the focus on Gomez, K-Rod and Fiers, whose extra years of club control allow the Brewers to set the bar pretty high. Clubs may be willing to reach it for Gomez, but maybe not high enough to meet a price that Rosenthal hears is "VERY high."
In all: The Brewers could be extremely loud in the next couple of days, but they could also be really quiet.
The NL West
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Los Angeles Dodgers (56-45)
The Dodgers have lots of money, lots of young talent and a powerful drive to win now. More than any other team, they have what they need to go big.
And they seem determined to do just that. Shermanย writes their priority is Hamels, and we also know they're interested in Price, according to Morosi, and seemingly every other option on down the chain. They have their eyes on big fish, but they're casting a wide net.
One complication is Heyman's reportย that the Dodgers don't want to part with top prospects Seager or Urias. But that may only be a minor complication. The Dodgers' system is plenty deep beyond those two, and they also have two established bats to dangle in Puig and Alex Guerrero.
Regardless of what they surrender or whom they get, one thing seems for certain: The Dodgers are not going to let the deadline pass without a bang.
San Francisco Giants (55-45)
The Giants are a lot closer to the Dodgers than many seem to realize. And from the sound of things, they're kicking around the possibility of answering a Dodgers bang with one of their own.
But that'll be tough. The Giants are said to be interested in Hamels (h/t Rosenthal), Price (h/t Morosi), Chapman (h/t Morosi) and Gomez (h/t Rosenthal), but it'll take prospects to acquire one of those names. The Giants may be too short on those to last in a bidding war.
What will the Giants do if they can't get a big name? Probably nothing, actually. They're not perfect, but right now, they're at full strength for the first time all season. They can afford to stand pat.
Arizona Diamondbacks (48-51)
Not unlike the Atlanta Braves, the Diamondbacks are in a position to sell but without pieces to sell. It seems the only player they have who's attracting any real interest is Brad Ziegler.
So, maybe the D-backs will buy instead. It sounds nuts, but Crasnickย reports they're in on Hamels, and Passanย reports they're in on Chapman, too. Knowing the D-backs have the prospects to pursue guys like them, it is possible they'll swoop in and steal one of them from the contenders.
Possible, but not likely. The D-backs may want those guys, but they probably won't be desperate enough to last in a bidding war for them. So rather than a surprisingly loud showing, you can expect a quiet showing for Arizona at the deadline.
San Diego Padres (47-53)
The Padres are ready to blow it up, as Heyman reports they're pushing hard to sell their big-name players ahead of the trade deadline. That means Upton, Kimbrel, Shields, Ross, Cashner and Benoit.
Of the bunch, Upton is the most likely to be moved. He's a big bat on a market where big bats are much-needed, and his pending free agency creates a situation where his price is affordable and the Padres have little excuse to hold on to him.
But the others? The markets for Kimbrel and Benoit seem strong enough for them to be moved, but Shields and Cashner are tough sells, and teams with a need for pitching and prospects to sell could be too distracted by Hamels and Price for the Padres to get what they want for Ross.
The Padres should have a productive deadline, but probably not as productive as they're hoping.
Colorado Rockies (43-55)
The Rockies have already traded Tulowitzki. Now it's Gonzalez's turn, as Heyman reports the Rockies are prepared to trade him.
He's going to be a harder sell than Tulo. CarGo may not have Tulo's long contract dragging him down, but he has just as troubling an injury history and a checkered track record away from Coors Fieldย to boot. If the Rockies are going to deal him, it may mean having to compromise on a package.
But with Tulo's departure seemingly signalling the arrival of a rebuilding phase, the Rockies could be willing to do that rather than risk watching the injury bug sting CarGo's value again. Then they would get what they can for John Axford, and go from there.
Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted/linked.
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