MLB Trade Targets Who Would Star After Change of Scenery
Sometimes the grass is in fact greener on the other side.
That could be the case for a handful of MLB's top trade targets, at least. Over the next few slides, we'll take a look at players who can turn into stars by swapping uniforms.
Young talent, while a blessing, can also be a curse. When a player captivates the baseball world with an impressive debut, the only way to go is down. Because of that, promising youngsters are scrutinized at the first sign of adversity and pushed onto the trade bubble.
Sometimes those players never pan out. But in most cases, genuine ability always shine through. That's why any team that can acquire the likes of Yasiel Puig or Drew Storen could be in for a treat down the road.
We'll take a look at each of those players, as well as a few others who could use a change of scenery. Let us know what you think in the comments section below. Would you want to trade away any of these players, knowing what they could blossom into?
A breath of fresh air can do wonders for a young player trying to find a consistent foothold in today's MLB. Here are a few players who would benefit from a fresh start.
Jurickson Profar
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With so many talented youngsters emerging around MLB, it's easy to forget about Jurickson Profar.
Profar was named the top prospect in the minor leagues before the 2012 season by Baseball America. He arrived in Texas later that season after slashing .281/.368/.452 with 14 homers and 16 stolen bases in Double-A.
The gifted middle infielder seemed poised to take the next step in 2013, but he never made an impact for the Rangers in 85 games. Profar was then bit by the injury bug, as he missed all of 2014 and most of 2015 with a shoulder injury.
Because of those injuries, teams have tried to lowball Texas this offseason for Profar. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, the Rangers haven't wavered on their asking price:
"Jon Daniels said several clubs have checked in on the availability of INF Jurickson Profar. That's nice and all, but don't expect the Rangers to trade Profar - if they trade him at all - until after he gets back on the field in the spring. Clubs right now are trying to buy extremely low. The Rangers' view of Profar has not changed during his two-year recovery from shoulder issues. In other words, they'd still want compensation along the lines of a top-tier prospect to even discuss a deal.
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Texas is right to not trade Profar for players from the scrap heap. He's still just 22, and he's as talented as he was when he was MLB's top overall prospect. But at the same time, Texas witnessed the emergence of Rougned Odor (16 HR, 61 RBI) this season and are handcuffed to Elvis Andrus and his long-term deal.
It's been a long time since Profar has seen the field. His shine has worn off, which could push the Rangers into making a deal before it's all said and done. It may not happen, but a fresh start and consistent playing time is exactly what Profar needs to figure it out.
Starlin Castro
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Starlin Castro's 2015 was a microcosm of his entire career.
The talented infielder slashed just .265/.296/.375 last season, which is obviously underwhelming. But Castro finished 2015 with a flurry, hitting .369 in September and playing a crucial role in the Chicago Cubs magical postseason run.
It's that maddening inconsistency that drives Cubs fans crazy. After impressive campaigns in 2011 and 2012, Castro posted an on-base percentage below .300 in 2013. He bounced back in 2014 with arguably his best year as a pro before his up-and-down year last season.
Castro has yet to fully convince the Cubs higher-ups that he should have a role with the club going forward. With Addison Russell and Javier Baez ready to take over up the middle, Chicago has a logjam of middle infielders that can't all play.
According to ESPN's Jerry Crasnick, MLB executives believe Castro is the most likely Cubs infielder to be traded:
"Castro showed enough at two positions this year that his contract will seem like a fair deal once the free-agent class this year gets paid,'' an AL general manager told Crasnick. "I don't see the Cubs' leadership parting with Baez given his upside, but I also see some teams shying away from his boom-or-bust approach.''
If Castro is indeed the odd man out, teams should jump at the chance to acquire him. He's got his warts, but the 25-year-old has proven he can excel in the majors when he's feeling right at the plate. Castro has reached double figures in homers in each of the last five seasons.
The Cubs are ready to win now, and dealing Castro will help them get there. Although the club can't worry about what he'll become if he is dealt, Chicago must be prepared to see the talented Castro shine somewhere else.
Drew Storen
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If not for a poorly timed transaction at the deadline last summer, Drew Storen would already be well on his way to starring for the Washington Nationals.
In the first half of 2015, Storen was one of the top relievers in baseball. The right-hander posted a 1.89 ERA in 33.1 innings, striking out nearly 30 percent of the batters he faced. Storen ranked third in saves and 11th in WAR among relievers.
Storen had finally settled into the job it looked like he had won with a 43-save season back in 2011. But when Jonathan Papelbon was acquired at the trade deadline to assume the ninth-inning duties, Storen went in the tank. After a dominant first half, he posted a 5.82 ERA in 21.2 innings down the stretch.
The addition of Papelbon clearly affected Storen's psyche. Yet, it's hard to blame general manager Mike Rizzo for going out and acquiring a reliever with a lifetime 2.35 ERA. Some of the blame has to fall at the feet of Storen, who fell apart when his team needed him the most.
But baseball players are very prideful athletes. In Storen's defense, he had excelled as Washington's closer in the first half of the season. The need to add Papelbon had to feel like a slap in the face.
Now Washington is stuck with both hurlers heading into the offseason. Rizzo has said that both Papelbon and Storen will be on the roster next season unless a team approaches him with a reasonable offer.
At 28, Storen is under contract for at least two more seasons. He has the big arm and experience to be a reliable closer for years to come. For teams with ninth-inning issues, Storen should be at the top of the wish list.
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Yasiel Puig
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Yasiel Puig's rare blend of size, speed and athleticism is hard to replicate. There isn't a more exciting player in MLB than the 24-year-old outfielder when everything is clicking.
Puig isn't just potential either. He's produced at a high level, slashing .294/.371/.487 in two-plus seasons with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Puig has hit for power, stolen bases, flashed the leather and gotten on base at a high clip.
It all sounds good, right? It should, but Puig's antics sometimes led to issues with former Doders manager Don Mattingly. Donny Baseball's old-school mentality clashed with Puig's new-age attitude, and may have stunted Puig's development in a sloppy, injury-filled 2015.
That's not to lay all of the blame at Mattingly's feet. According to Molly Knight, author of the book The Best Team Money Can Buy, Puig's immaturity fueled the contentious relationship between player and coach:
"[Mattingly] had to deal with Yasiel Puig, who’s phenomenally talented, sells tickets...and he’s a basket case," Knight told former Grantland baseball writer Jonah Keri. "He flouts all the rules, skips BP, shows up late. What do you do? Bench him and watch your team lose? Or not punish him and piss off 24 other guys?”
It can be spun many different ways, but the Mattingly/Puig dynamic wasn't going to work in L.A. Mattingly decided to move on after this past season, which will open the door for Puig to return to the good graces of the organization.
Puig will have a fresh slate, but he's by no means untouchable heading into the winter. The Dodgers won't be actively shopping the talented Cuban, but it's hard to imagine they wouldn't consider a slam-dunk deal for a player with a lot of growing up to do.
But that's the thing—Puig will grow up. He's seen a whirlwind of attention since he moved to the states, and he deserves the right to work through some growing pains while he figures it all out.
Puig may still shine in L.A., but he could benefit from a fresh start with a new team. It'll be interesting to see what the club's next skipper has in store for him.
Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and accurate as of Nov. 12.
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