MLB Trade Ideas Based on Week 11 News, Rumors and Speculation
Just when you thought baseball's rumor mill was about to shift into a higher gear, it stalled out.
There's been plenty of speculation mixed in with a smattering of rumors, but much of it has revolved around the same names we've been focused on since Opening Day. With so many teams still trying to figure out if they're contenders or pretenders, things may stay in that holding pattern for a few weeks.
That said, there's enough out there for us to concoct a handful of trade ideas, including two that revolve around a pair of All-Star players who could be among the biggest names moved before the trade deadline arrives.
Keep in mind that these proposed deals are only ideas and pure speculation. Unless otherwise noted, there's no indication that any of them have actually been discussed.
Andrew Miller Gets Traded to the Chicago Cubs
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Chicago Cubs Get: LHP Andrew Miller
New York Yankees Get: RHP Corey Black, 3B Jeimer Candelario, 2B/OF Ian Happ and RHP Duane Underwood Jr.
The Rumor
Chicago has been scouting New York's late-inning relief trio of Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman, according to reports from the Chicago Sun-Times' Gordon Wittenmyer and the New York Post's George A. King III.
Per Wittenmyer, the Cubs will not consider including Javier Baez, Kyle Schwarber or top catching prospect Willson Contreras in a potential deal for one of them.
Why It Makes Sense for Chicago
Miller might be the best reliever in baseball. Not only is he dominant, but he's willing to fill any role. That selfless attitude is important, as the Cubs may not want to upset things by replacing Hector Rondon, who deserves to keep his job as closer.
With a reasonable $9 million salary through 2018, Miller is more than a short-term rental and won't be a major financial drain on the team's payroll.
Realistically, none of the prospects the Cubs give up in this deal have a clear path to playing time at Wrigley Field. While their loss will put a dent in the team's pool of prospects, Chicago's farm system will still be well-stocked with high-upside talent.
Why It Makes Sense for New York
In exchange for Miller, New York winds up with a pair of top-100 prospects (per MLB.com) in Ian Happ and Duane Underwood Jr., its potential third baseman of the future (Jeimer Candelario) and one of its former prospects, Corey Black, who general manager Brian Cashman never wanted to trade away.
Happ is a versatile player with 20-20 potential who can play second base or anywhere in the outfield. Of the four prospects heading to New York in this deal, he's the closest to contributing. Black has command issues but has averaged more than a strikeout per inning over parts of five minor league seasons. A return to his former club could be what he needs to get back on track.
Candelario and Underwood have both struggled at Double-A this season, but that hasn't made either one less likely to reach their ceilings. Candelario projects as an everyday third baseman who can hit for power and average, while Underwood could develop into a No. 2 starter.
Ryan Buchter and Drew Pomeranz Get Traded to the Boston Red Sox
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Boston Red Sox Get: LHP Ryan Buchter and LHP Drew Pomeranz
San Diego Padres Get: LHP Trey Ball, 3B Michael Chavis, 3B Rafael Devers and RHP Michael Kopech
The Rumor
Boston has put the word out that it's in the market for both starting and relief pitching, sources tell the Boston Herald's Evan Drellich.
Why It Makes Sense for Boston
Not only do the Red Sox add the starter and reliever they're looking for, but both Ryan Buchter and Drew Pomeranz come with multiple years of team control, making them more than short-term additions.
Buchter has been effective against batters from both sides of the plate, and, somewhat surprisingly, his numbers are better on the road than they are at home, in the confines of pitcher-friendly Petco Park. He's had no problem striking batters out, either, with 40 Ks over 28 innings of work.
A ground-ball pitcher who is missing bats at a career-high rate, Pomeranz would be a good fit as a No. 3 starter for the Red Sox. That he has previous experience in the American League (he spent 2014-15 in Oakland) only adds to his appeal, as he has some familiarity with AL lineups.
Why It Makes Sense for San Diego
San Diego adds four prospects with upside to a farm system that's still trying to recover from general manager A.J. Preller's shopping frenzy before the 2015 season.
Michael Chavis and Rafael Devers are potential middle-of-the-order bats, with Chavis having the chops to play second base or an outfield corner, while Devers can handle things at the hot corner. Along with shortstop Javy Guerra, who the Padres acquired in the Craig Kimbrel trade, three-fourths of San Diego's future infield could have all began their careers with Boston.
Both Trey Ball and Michael Kopech have front-of-the-rotation ceilings, but Ball has struggled with his command, making it less likely he reaches his. Still, he has the stuff to be a reliable part of the big league rotation.
Ryan Braun Gets Traded to San Francisco
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Milwaukee Brewers Get: SS Christian Arroyo, RHP Tyler Beede and 1B Chris Shaw
San Francisco Giants Get: OF Ryan Braun and $40 million
The Rumor
In its search for outfield help, San Francisco has had preliminary talks with Milwaukee about outfielder Ryan Braun, tweets USA Today's Bob Nightengale, adding that nothing is imminent.
Why It Makes Sense for Milwaukee
The chance to add three more young players to the organization and recoup roughly $40 million in future payroll is simply too tempting for the Brewers to pass up.
Christian Arroyo's future lies at second base, as he lacks the quickness to stick at shortstop. That works out well for the Brewers, who need a second baseman to pair with top prospect Orlando Arcia, the team's shortstop of the not-too-distant future.
Chris Shaw's raw left-handed power would play well at Miller Park once he's big league ready, while Tyler Beede has all the makings of a future front-of-the-rotation arm.
Why It Makes Sense for San Francisco
While parting with a trio of their best prospects is painful, the Giants add one of baseball's best run producers on what essentially works out to a four-year, $40 million deal.
People don't like Braun for a variety of reasons, including his PED-tainted past and subsequent lies about gaining an unfair advantage. But it's not like he's a repeat offender—he hasn't failed a single test since as far as anyone knows and has returned to his MVP-season level of production.
With Angel Pagan and Hunter Pence injured, San Francisco has been relying on Jarrett Parker, Gregor Blanco and Mac Williamson to fill the void. Braun not only serves as a massive upgrade for the Giants, but gives the team a pair of All-Star-caliber corner outfielders (along with Pence) for the next few years.
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Jon Jay Gets Traded to the Chicago White Sox
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Chicago White Sox Get: OF Jon Jay
San Diego Padres Get: LHP Andre Wheeler
The Rumor/Speculation
Jon Heyman lists San Diego outfielder Jon Jay as a potential trade candidate in his latest "Inside Baseball" column for TodaysKnuckleball.com.
Why It Makes Sense for Chicago
Chicago has been in need of a left-handed bat all season, and with Austin Jackson expected to miss at least six weeks after undergoing surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee, the White Sox could now use another outfielder as well.
Jon Jay isn't going to win any Gold Glove Awards for his defense in center field, but he's more than adequate with the glove. His arrival would allow the White Sox to shift Adam Eaton back into right field and keep Avisail Garcia as a part-time designated hitter, where his shaky defense wouldn't be an issue.
Jay would also satisfy Chicago's need for a left-handed bat. Due roughly $4 million through the end of the season, his addition wouldn't be a major financial drain on the team's finances.
Why It Makes Sense for San Diego
No matter how long the Padres wait to move him, Jay isn't going to bring back a substantial haul as a short-term rental. Trading Jay would also open a roster spot for outfield prospect Hunter Renfroe, who has been raking for Triple-A El Paso.
In this deal, San Diego walks away with an erratic hard-throwing southpaw, 24-year-old Andre Wheeler. He began his career as a starter, but lacks a third pitch and is probably best suited to pitch out of the bullpen.
He needs to solve his control issues (16 walks over 32.2 innings in High-A this year), but knows how to make batters swing and miss, averaging more than a strikeout per inning over parts of four minor league seasons.
Kyle Kubitza Gets Traded to the Cleveland Indians
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Cleveland Indians Get: 3B Kyle Kubitza
Los Angeles Angels Get: RHP Mitch Brown
The Rumor/Speculation
Los Angeles designated Kyle Kubitza for assignment Monday, tweets Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times, giving the Angels 10 days to trade him, place him on waivers, release him or outright him off the 40-man roster to the minors.
Why It Makes Sense for Cleveland
Kubitza likely wouldn't supplant the currently injured Juan Uribe or the versatile Jose Ramirez on the Indians depth chart, but he would give the Tribe some much-needed depth at the position.
The 25-year-old struggled at the plate in his first taste of the majors last season, hitting .194 with one RBI, three walks and 15 strikeouts over 39 plate appearances. His .253/.349/.366 slash line with Triple-A Salt Lake this season also leaves much to be desired.
But Kubitza is also somewhat versatile, capable of playing left field as well. With Cleveland's continued need for outfielders, he'd be someone worthy of taking a low-cost flier on.
Why It Makes Sense for Los Angeles
Rather than getting nothing in return for Kubitza, which would be the outcome were the Angels to place him on waivers or release him, Los Angeles walks away with a fringe pitching prospect in Mitch Brown.
The 22-year-old's ceiling is that of a back-of-the-rotation arm, as he lacks a true plus offering and has inconsistent command. He may ultimately be nothing more than someone who provides organizational depth while getting the occasional start in the majors when injury or inconsistency calls for it.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs and are current through games of June 13. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts (via Baseball Prospectus).
Hit me up on Twitter to talk all things baseball: @RickWeinerBR.
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