Big-Name MLB Waiver Trade Targets Who Could Still Move by August 31
So, you think just because July 31 has passed that Major League Baseball's trade season is over, eh?
Guess again, chump.
OK, sorry for calling you "chump" just now. But seriously, trades can still happen, for the month of August 'tis waiver trade season. The rules for waiver deals are complicated—Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter has the breakdown you need—but not complicated enough to prevent noteworthy trades from going down. Heck, even very noteworthy trades can go down.
On this note, we're going to look at the top 10 impact players who could find themselves on the move by Aug. 31, the last day for teams to acquire players and have them eligible for the postseason. These are players who didn't get moved ahead of the non-waiver deadline but still loom as realistic potential upgrades for upgrade-needy contenders.
We'll go in order from the least attractive trade chip to the most attractive trade chip. Step into the box whenever you're ready.
10. Matt Garza, SP, Milwaukee Brewers
1 of 10
The Milwaukee Brewers figure to put two veteran starters on waivers this month: Kyle Lohse and Matt Garza. And between the two of them, Garza is a better bet to actually help a pitching-needy contender.
This is not to say Lohse won't be moved, mind you. But given that he's done everything possible to earn his 6.24 ERA, he doesn't look like a real upgrade for a rotation in need.
As for Garza, he hasn't had a banner year either with a 5.17 ERA in 20 outings. But he has looked more like his old self in three starts since coming off the disabled list on July 21, allowing just six runs in 17.2 innings. And troubling though his year has been, it's a welcome sight that his velocity is right where it was in his solid 2014 season.
Because Garza is owed at least $25 million over the next two seasons, it's unlikely that he'll be claimed on waivers, lest a team risk having the entirety of that remaining contract dumped on it. But once he clears waivers, the Brewers will be free to trade him anywhere.
Assuming Garza can keep pitching well in his return from injury, there should be enough interest in his services for the Brewers to find a deal. Even if it means having to eat some of his contract.
9. Mike Napoli, 1B, Boston Red Sox
2 of 10
If he'd been posting his usual numbers, the Boston Red Sox likely would have had no trouble moving Mike Napoli to a team in need of some right-handed thump ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline.
But alas, it's been a rough year for the Red Sox first baseman. He's gone from being a consistently above-average hitter to a below-average hitter who's batting .206 with a .694 OPS. That combined with his $16 million salary made him a problematic trade chip, to say the least.
Things, however, are suddenly looking up for Napoli. He's caught fire since the All-Star break, posting a .283 average and .964 OPS in 14 games. Combine this with the fact that more and more dollars are being subtracted from his salary with each passing day, and he's looking more and more like an attractive acquisition target.
As such, it wouldn't be surprising to see Napoli get claimed on waivers this month, in which case the Red Sox will have the option of trying to get something for him rather than just handing over him and his remaining salary.
Given that Napoli isn't going to net Boston a draft pick by way of a qualifying offer at the end of the year, it'll likely be open to taking whatever it can get for him.
8. Martin Prado, 3B, Miami Marlins
3 of 10
The Miami Marlins made Martin Prado available ahead of the non-waiver trade deadline, but not for a discounted rate. According to Joe Frisario of MLB.com, the Marlins were only trading him for "something big."
That's an indication the Marlins would just as soon hold on to Prado through the final year of his contract in 2016. The trouble is that his 2016 salary is $11 million, which is steep by Marlins standards. And because of that, he's a good bet to pass through waivers and be available to everyone.
If it comes to that, interest in Prado could be too much for the Marlins to pass up. He's not having a great year, as he's hitting just .270 with a .669 OPS, but he showed with his .877 OPS with the New York Yankees last year that he can be energized by a postseason push. Also, his ability to play multiple positions will make him an appealing target for teams looking for extra depth.
As such, the Marlins have a chance to get a decent package in exchange for Prado. Don't be surprised if they jump on that chance rather than keep him around for 2016 so they can pay him for, as ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick put it, his "steadying presence on a young roster" and likely not much else.
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7. Yovani Gallardo, SP, Texas Rangers
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Yovani Gallardo was rumored to be on the trading block in the final days leading up to the trade deadline, but he ultimately stayed put. That was likely owed to rentals like Scott Kazmir, Johnny Cueto, David Price and Dan Haren all moving before him, effectively wiping out his market.
A trade could still happen, though. There are going to be teams looking for a quick rotation fix this month, and Gallardo fits the bill as a guy who could do the job.
Though he's pitched poorly recently, on the whole Gallardo has posted a solid 3.39 ERA in 22 starts this season. His subpar K/BB ratio leaves him little margin for error, but he's been good enough at managing contact to get by.
As for Gallardo's market, his chances of clearing waivers are probably in the 50-50 range. But either way, it wouldn't be surprising to see the Texas Rangers seek a deal rather than pull him back and hold on to him through the end of the year.
Presumably, the Rangers will only do that if they think Gallardo is going to be qualifying offer material. MLB.com's Phil Rogers is right to doubt that he will be, in which case trading him in August will sound a lot better than letting him go for nothing at year's end.
6. Ian Kennedy, SP, San Diego Padres
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Ian Kennedy is one of many players the San Diego Padres were said to be shopping ahead of the trade deadline. But like all the others, he ended up going nowhere.
"We were working through all different scenarios," said Padres general manager A.J. Preller, via Corey Brock of MLB.com. "Ultimately, we felt like we didn't get the value we wanted to get to."
Another reason the Padres didn't sell at the deadline, however, is because they feel like they're not out of the National League playoff race yet. And they have a point, as they've been playing well recently and are facing an easy schedule over the next couple weeks. So, they could end up gripping their assets just as tightly in August as they did in late July.
But if they don't, Kennedy is one guy you can expect to see walk out the door.
That Kennedy is being paid $9.85 million for a 4.44 ERA in 19 starts this season doesn't look great. But the good news is his ERA is coming down, and quickly. He's quietly been on a roll with a 2.80 ERA in his last 11 starts, looking a lot like the guy who topped 200 innings with a 3.63 ERA in 2014.
Despite this hot stretch, Kennedy is like Yovani Gallardo in that he's probably not going to be a qualifying offer candidate at year's end. The Padres are likely to see what they can get for him this month instead, and that could be something decent whether or not Kennedy clears waivers.
5. Marlon Byrd, OF, Cincinnati Reds
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It's no surprise Marlon Byrd didn't get moved ahead of the non-waiver deadline. The Cincinnati Reds were more focused on shopping Aroldis Chapman and Jay Bruce, and Byrd's market was overshadowed by the likes of Justin Upton and Yoenis Cespedes.
But now that that's all over, Byrd looks like a decent bet to be moved this month.
He isn't very consistent with just a .252 average and .306 on-base percentage, but he's once again offering plenty of power. He's slugging .485 and has hit 18 home runs.
A power bat like that would be a welcome addition to plenty of contenders. Teams are probably going to want to wait to be sure Byrd's $8 million option for 2016 isn't going to vest with 550 plate appearances, and then they'll be interested in talking to the Reds about him.
If it does indeed look like that option isn't going to vest—and it is a stretch given that Byrd has only logged 327 plate appearances so far—the Reds should be able to get something for a few weeks of Byrd's power.
4. Francisco Rodriguez, RP, Milkwaukee Brewers
7 of 10
The Milwaukee Brewers were shopping Francisco Rodriguez ahead of the non-waiver deadline, but they were unable to find a deal for him. There was a demand for relievers, but teams might have been scared off by the $9.5 million K-Rod is still owed after 2015.
But Rodriguez may not be long for Milwaukee anyway. Said demand for relievers isn't likely to die down much in August, and that could ultimately put him on the move.
Rodriguez looks like an attractive target based on his production, as he's authored a 1.50 ERA with 10.0 K/9 in 36 outings. And though he doesn't throw nearly as hard as he used to, he's getting whiffs more frequently than he has since all the way back in 2002.
If K-Rod can keep it up, the Brewers should be able to move him. He could pass through waivers, or a team could decide his contract isn't that scary and put in a claim on him. Either way, the Brewers have a good chance of saving a bit of money and/or getting back some young talent in return.
3. Koji Uehara, RP, Boston Red Sox
8 of 10
The Boston Red Sox were shopping veteran closer Koji Uehara ahead of the non-waiver deadline, but general manager Ben Cherington told Christopher Smith of MassLive.com that nothing "really compelling" materialized in the way of offers.
But if there's an elite closer who's a good bet to be moved this month, it's Uehara.
Part of what makes Uehara attractive are, obviously, his results. He's following up a 2.52 ERA last year with a 2.39 ERA this year, and once again has an elite K/BB ratio of 6.3. And though he doesn't throw nearly as hard, he's missing bats at nearly the same rate as Aroldis Chapman.
Uehara's $9 million salary for 2016 isn't cheap, but it's not outrageous either. That's the kind of money that could allow him to either clear waivers or attract claims. It would be better for the Red Sox if he did the former, but they might find a "compelling" deal for him either way.
2. James Shields, SP, San Diego Padres
9 of 10
Of all the players the San Diego Padres were shopping in late July, ESPN.com's Jayson Stark heard that James Shields was one guy they really wanted to move. Ultimately, of course, that didn't happen.
Which isn't surprising. Clubs were focused mainly on rental players ahead of the non-waiver deadline, and Shields is the opposite of that with $65 million still owed to him after 2015. That's a lot of money for a guy who's only managed a 3.77 ERA this year.
But the Padres still have a chance to move Shields this month.
He's all but guaranteed to clear waivers, in which case the Padres would have another shot at shopping him around to teams in need of starting pitching. And though a deal would likely require the Padres to eat some money, they may be willing to do that if the return is good enough.
Shields would definitely help the cause by staying as hot as he is now, as he has a 2.50 ERA over his last six starts. If he keeps that up, a deal may move further into the realm of possibility.
1. Carlos Gonzalez, RF, Colorado Rockies
10 of 10
The Colorado Rockies finally wised up and traded Troy Tulowitzki, saving a bunch of money and also getting back some talented prospects in the process. Given where they are at this stage, deals like those are just what they need.
Hence why Carlos Gonzalez could be next.
Gonzalez didn't move ahead of the non-waiver deadline, but Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that he was put on the block after Tulo was traded. As far as the Rockies have to be concerned, he's still on the block now.
After a lost 2014 season, Gonzalez is in the process of rebuilding his trade value with a hot streak that's pushed his OPS to .853 and his home run count to 21. He still comes with red flags—such as his injury history and less-than-awesome road splits—but he's looking like a guy who could actually be worth the $37 million he's owed over the next two seasons.
With a contract like that, CarGo should clear waivers. Once he does, he should attract interest from teams looking for an impact bat for the rest of 2015 and beyond. The Rockies could find a deal to their liking.
Note: Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted/linked.
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