MLB Waiver Wire 2015: Contenders That Need a Trade to Make the Postseason
The 2015 MLB trade deadline was one of the most exciting in recent memory, with several big-name players swapping squads. But with the additional wild card, more teams in contention for the postseason means that the fun could continue with post-non-waiver-deadline trades.
In this article, we look at four teams from each league that could benefit by making an additional move.
It’s not unusual to see big deals go down after the July 31 trade deadline. Recent history shows us blockbusters like the one that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett from the Boston Red Sox to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a franchise-altering move for both teams.
Post-deadline deals can be complicated, and if you’d like to brush up on the rules, you can do so here.
With those rules in mind, the scope of players likely to be traded could be limited to those with high-dollar contracts. Keep that in mind as we explore the teams and players involved.
Chicago White Sox
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The White Sox are perhaps the best example of the difference the extra wild card has made on the trade deadline. Despite being three games under .500 at the deadline, the White Sox decided to mostly stay quiet.
There was chatter leading up to the deadline that Jeff Samardzija might be moved, as Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago wrote. But a seven-game win streak leading up to July 31 put the White Sox in contention. Rather than being buyers, however, Chicago mostly did nothing.
Since the deadline, the White Sox have gone just 2-3, falling to 4.5 games back of the Toronto Blue Jays for the last AL wild card spot.
Chicago is nearing sink-or-swim time and needs to make a decision. Deciding to do nothing at the deadline was almost assuredly the worst move they could have made, neglecting to add future pieces for free-agent-to-be Samardzija and neglecting the American League’s worst-scoring offense.
The Reds’ Marlon Byrd could be an option. Byrd’s age (37) and contract ($8 million next season if he reaches 550 plate appearances) make him unlikely to be claimed, and his 18 home runs could provide a nice spark for the Sox, who have just 88 on the year as a team.
Continuing to do nothing would be just about the worst thing the South Siders could do.
Baltimore Orioles
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The New York Yankees have shot up the standings, posting a 4.5-game lead in the division. The Toronto Blue Jays have soared to a 7-1 mark since acquiring Troy Tulowitzki from the Colorado Rockies.
And then there’s the O's.
They got Gerardo Parra from the Milwaukee Brewers at the deadline and are 3-2 since, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to be enough. They currently trail the Jays for the final wild card by a game and have the Texas Rangers nipping at their heels.
Baltimore actually has good numbers at the plate and in the field, both scoring the sixth most runs in the AL and allowing the sixth fewest. They just need something to push them over the top.
The Orioles have a couple of weaknesses in their lineup and could be a fit for Aaron Hill of the Arizona Diamondbacks. Hill has struggled mightily this season, hitting just .211 with four home runs, but second base hasn’t exactly been a position of strength for the O's.
A better fit for them would be Carlos Gonzalez. Jerry Crasnick said on Twitter before the deadline that the Rockies would likely trade CarGo in the offseason rather than at the deadline.
Part of that obviously came to fruition, as Gonzalez is still in Colorado, but he could still be a trade candidate this year as well.
One thing is certain, the Blue Jays' trades for Tulo and David Price made them the team to beat for at least a wild card spot. Doing nothing probably won’t help Baltimore.
Minnesota Twins
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The Twins' season has come to a head. They’ve lost four in a row and sit two games out of the final wild card position. No team in baseball has a worse record over its last 10 games than Minnesota (2-8).
At the deadline, they traded for late-inning reliever Kevin Jepsen, and that’s about it.
The Twins have a solid young core of Miguel Sano, Byron Buxton (when he gets healthy) and Brian Dozier. What they lack is an ace.
If the Padres decide to sell off their parts post deadline, James Shields would be a nice fit for Minnesota. The Twins' current ace would likely be either Ervin Santana or Phil Hughes. Not great frontline guys.
Imagine if the Twins manage to get into the postseason as is. The guy they have toeing the rubber for game 1 is Santana. That’s not exactly an advantage.
Much has been made of “Big Game” James’ postseason success (or lack thereof), but he’d certainly be an upgrade over Santana or Hughes.
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Texas Rangers
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The Rangers landed exactly the stud they needed at the deadline in Cole Hamels, giving their staff a true ace. But one may not be enough.
The Red Sox have taken a lot of flack for how terrible their rotation has been this season. Well, look up in the runs-allowed category and you’ll see the Rangers just one spot and 11 runs to the better.
If Derek Holland can get healthy and give them a solid No. 2 option, that would help tremendously. But Holland has pitched just 38 innings over the last two seasons, including just one this year.
Shields could be an option for Texas as well, if the Padres decide to sell. Much like for the Twins, it would take a lot for that to even be an option, but if it is, the Rangers should pounce.
A better option might be Samardzija if the White Sox decide to sell after all. Shark hasn’t exactly had the best season but has shown ace upside in the past, and even at times this season.
Hamels is a great No. 1, and the offense has played its part, but an ace can only pitch once every few days, leaving mediocrity to go the other four turns.
San Diego Padres
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What are the Padres doing?
Does San Diego general manager AJ Preller really think his team has a shot to make it into the postseason?
“We’ve got a big challenge in front of us," Preller told NBC San Diego’s Derek Togerson after the trade deadline. "I feel like we have the pitching and players here to start making up some ground.”
If that’s the case, the Padres have some work to do. They’ve scored the 19th most runs in baseball and allowed the seventh most. There’s plenty the Padres could have done at the deadline to fix either one of those problems.
In the same interview, Preller also said something far more likely.
“We have a lot of players who are attractive to other clubs,” he said. “Ultimately, we didn’t get the value we wanted to get to.”
If the Padres are serious about contending, and that’s a big if, guys like Marlon Byrd, Ryan Howard and Aaron Hill would make a lot of sense. If not, it would make much more sense for San Diego to try to deal some of its soon-to-be free agents like Justin Upton, Will Venable and Ian Kennedy.
New York Mets
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What a week it was for the Mets.
From the Carlos Gomez fiasco to Wilmer Flores crying tears of sadness and joy within 24 hours to landing the big bat they’ve been in need of for years in Yoenis Cespedes.
Since the deadline, the Mets are an MLB-best 5-1 and have overtaken the Washington Nationals for first place in the NL East. But there’s a cliche saying about resting on your laurels.
For all the good the last week has brought the Mets, thinking that one bat is going to fix one of the worst lineups in baseball is wishful thinking.
Per MLB.com's Anthony DiComo, David Wright might be back soon, and that would surely help, but the Amazins were awful at the plate. To date, the Mets have scored more runs than only the White Sox, Phillies and Marlins.
That’s it.
Another bat would certainly help. Carlos Gonzalez could be an option if the Rockies ever decide to topple the first domino.
A more likely candidate could be Byrd. Byrd could take the place of rookie Michael Conforto in left and would provide instant impact.
Byrd has scored more runs and total bases than all but two Mets (Curtis Granderson and Lucas Duda).
Chicago Cubs
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There might not be a team with a more exciting future than the Cubbies. Several big-name prospects have made their debut with the team over the last couple of seasons and have lifted this franchise into contention, perhaps ahead of schedule.
Chicago’s pitching has been fine, but its young offense has suffered through growing pains. The Cubs have scored a paltry 410 runs, more than just four NL clubs.
Their run differential of +10 is middling, ranking just 15th in baseball. That’s a recipe for mediocrity, not a playoff berth.
Of the bats potentially available, the best fit might be Carlos Gonzalez. He’s under team control beyond this season, and his drastic home/road splits (.301 average and 13 home runs at home, .258 and 9 home runs away) might not actually be a big deal at hitter-friendly Wrigley Field.
If CarGo were to clear waivers, the Cubs certainly have the farm system to provide the Rockies with something significant in return. (Just imagine Javier Baez’s power potential at Coors Field.)
Washington Nationals
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A week ago, the Nats led the NL East and the Mets were the laughing stock of baseball. This week, the Mets are in first place and Washington sits 3.5 games out of the wild card.
What happened?
Washington has stagnated, going 1-4 since the deadline. Nothing really appears to be broken for the Nats, either.
They’ve allowed the fourth fewest runs in the NL and have scored the fifth most. So what gives?
Depth.
Anthony Rendon has just 108 at bats this season; Ryan Zimmerman, when he’s been healthy, is still hitting just .210; and Stephen Strasburg has had two stints on the DL and has a 5.16 ERA to boot.
The Nats could benefit from adding via a smaller, depth-driven deal or deals vs. trying to make a bigger splash. The Nationals' bench features three guys hitting below .210 (Jose Lobaton—.206, Tyler Moore—.207 and Dan Uggla—.193).
The problem is there’s not a ton of depth-type guys available post deadline.
If they got really creative, Ryan Howard could fit nicely at first for the Nationals. That would give the Nats two unbearable contracts to occupy first base, however, so things would need to get really creative.
The Nationals may end up being just fine; maybe the Mets are just having a good week. But if the Mets somehow add another impact bat, that rotation makes them not only NL East contenders, but favorites.
Stats and info courtesy of ESPN.com unless otherwise noted.
Follow Aaron Brand on Twitter @AaronBrand47
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