All 30 MLB Teams' Burning Questions as 2016 Midseason Approaches
Believe it or not, we are rapidly approaching the midway point of the 2016 MLB season.
When the calendar flips to July in a little over a week, the trade market will start to take shape and the rumor mill will kick into high gear.
So with that in mind, it's fair to say that there is at least one significant question that each team needs to answer in the days and weeks to come leading up to the Aug. 1 trade deadline.
Whether it's a contender looking at how to improve for the second-half push, a seller planning for the future or the always tough question of when to call up a top prospect, there is no shortage of topics to be addressed.
Ahead we've broken down all 30 MLB teams' burning question as midseason approaches.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
The Question: What impact, if any, can A.J. Pollock make in 2016?
The Arizona Diamondbacks were dealt a huge blow before the season even started when center fielder A.J. Pollock suffered a fractured right elbow.
Pollock was one of the breakout starts of 2015, posting an .865 OPS with 39 doubles, 20 home runs, 76 RBI, 111 runs scored and 39 stolen bases for a 7.4 WAR.
There was no timetable for his return at the time of the injury, but it's looking more and more like he'll suit up at some point in 2016.
"A.J. Pollock is so optimistic about his recovery from right elbow surgery that he believes he could play a 'good chunk of time' this season," wrote Jack Magruder of Today's Knuckleball.
While it certainly sounds like Pollock is heading in the right direction, he was not willing to offer up a target date for his return.
"Obviously I have a long way to go before I get to that point," Pollock told Magruder. "I don’t want to throw a timeline out there. Healing right now is pretty solid. There are a lot variables that have to happen."
Chris Owings, Michael Bourn, Socrates Brito, Chris Herrmann and Rickie Weeks have all started at least one game in center field in Pollock's absence.
The position has produced a .261/.314/.396 line with 13 doubles, five home runs and 29 RBI, so a healthy Pollock would be a clear upgrade.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
The Question: Will Julio Teheran be traded?
There are no readily available aces on the trade market this summer, unlike last year when David Price, Cole Hamels and Johnny Cueto were all moved.
That is, unless the Atlanta Braves decide they're serious about dealing Julio Teheran.
"The days of us trading players like Teheran for prospects are over. We need to get better at the major league level. We would have to be overwhelmed to move Teheran," general manager John Coppolella told Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports in May.
However, that hasn't stopped him from being one of the most popular names on the rumor mill, and Rosenthal for one is not yet sold on him staying put.
"Coppolella is such a frenetic trader, I'll believe Teheran will remain in Atlanta past the non-waiver deadline when I see him in a Braves uniform on Aug. 1," Rosenthal wrote earlier this week.
After a terrific rookie season, he was handed a six-year, $32.4 million extension that includes a $12 million team option for 2020.
He was an All-Star in his second season but dropped off considerably last year when he pitched to a 4.04 ERA and 1.306 WHIP over 200.2 innings of work.
The Braves opted against selling low on him during the offseason and he's rewarded their faith with a 2.66 ERA and 0.908 WHIP through 15 starts.
So is the 25-year-old a long-term piece of the puzzle for the Braves, or will he be the latest high-profile player to leave Atlanta?
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
The Question: Can they legitimately contend with their current starting rotation?
The Baltimore Orioles starters ranked 25th in the league last year with a 4.53 ERA, and things haven't gotten any better here in 2016.
Their best starter from a year ago, Wei-Yin Chen, is now pitching for the Miami Marlins, and that starters' ERA has climbed to 4.93 to rank 27th in the majors.
Chris Tillman (10-1, 3.11 ERA, 1.149 WHIP) is having an All-Star-caliber season atop the rotation, but the rest of the staff has been a mess.
- Ubaldo Jimenez: 14 GS, 4 QS, 4-7, 6.97 ERA, 1.944 WHIP
- Kevin Gausman: 12 GS, 6 QS, 0-5, 4.37 ERA, 1.353 WHIP
- Tyler Wilson: 11 GS, 6 QS, 3-5, 4.19 ERA, 1.219 WHIP
- Yovani Gallardo: 5 GS, 0 QS, 2-1, 6.26 ERA, 1.696 WHIP
That doesn't include Mike Wright, who was recently demoted to Triple-A after posting a 6.12 ERA in 12 starts and one relief appearance.
The Orioles offense has put up 4.87 runs per game on the year and lead the majors with 111 home runs, helping to propel them to a 41-30 record and a two-game lead in the AL East.
Can they maintain that level of play without finding a way to improve the starting rotation?
The farm system is relatively thin and the trade market is lacking in impact starting pitching, so they may be forced to make do with their in-house talent.
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Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
The Question: Who is truly untouchable in a trade for a front-line starter?
Even after signing David Price to a record-setting contract and watching knuckleballer Steven Wright emerge as one of the breakout stars of 2016, the Boston Red Sox starting rotation remains a huge question mark.
The rest of their starting rotation behind that duo has managed just 16 quality starts in 42 games, and their 4.50 starters ERA overall ranks 18th in the majors.
That would seem to make them a prime candidate to add an impact starter, and they've been checking in on some high-profile arms, but to this point they haven't gained any traction.
Michael Silverman of the Boston Herald offered up the details:
"According to multiple baseball sources, the Sox have not shied away from asking about a few of the most elite names in the game — Jose Fernandez of the Marlins, Gerrit Cole of the Pirates are two such prime talents — even if the teams have no plans of moving that player.
This is exactly what the Red Sox did in the offseason, when they spoke with the White Sox about Chris Sale, the Mets about Matt Harvey and the A’s about Sonny Gray.
The responses over the winter tended to be along the lines of "Let’s start with the names of Xander Bogaerts and Mookie Betts," a conversational non-starter if there ever was one.
The responses from teams this summer have not been much different, just as the Red Sox have not changed their tune about dealing away Bogaerts or Betts.
"
So with Bogaerts and Betts seemingly off the table, who else could the Red Sox offer up in a package for one of those front-line arms?
Jackie Bradley, Blake Swihart and Travis Shaw are attractive young pieces at the MLB level, while the farm is still stacked with quality prospects as well. The pieces are there, but who will the Red Sox actually be willing to offer up and who will be available to them?
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
The Question: Will a blockbuster move be made to bolster the relief corps?
It's hard to poke holes in a Chicago Cubs team that is off to a dominant start this season, but if there is one weakness on the roster it's the bullpen.
While they currently rank 11th in the majors with a 3.56 ERA from the relief corps, adding another proven late-inning arm to the incumbent duo of Pedro Strop and Hector Rondon would help to flank what has been a dominant starting rotation.
Team president Theo Epstein said earlier this month that the team "would love" to add an impact reliever, according to Cody Stavenhagen of MLB.com.
That came shortly after Cubs scout Jason Parks was in attendance at Yankee Stadium scouting the trio of Andrew Miller, Dellin Betances and Aroldis Chapman, according to George A. King III of the New York Post.
So what would the Cubs be willing to offer up in exchange for one of those dominant relief aces?
"Kyle Schwarber, Javy Baez and top catching prospect Willson Contreras are expected to be non-starters in talks. But the Cubs have a handful of other intriguing young prospects (and possibly Jorge Soler) who could be made available," wrote Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times.
Chapman figures to be the cheapest to acquire considering he's set to hit free agency at season's end, but the team may prefer more than just a rental player if they're parting with young talent.
Aside from Soler, the team is rich in high-upside position-player prospects such as Gleyber Torres, Eloy Jimenez, Jeimer Candelario, Ian Happ, Dan Vogelbach and Mark Zagunis who could all be of interest to the Yankees.
It boils down to how much of a priority upgrading the bullpen is for the Cubs.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
The Question: Should they still be buyers despite their recent slide?
The Chicago White Sox jumped out to a 23-10 start this season and looked like a force to be reckoned with, but they've been in a complete free-fall ever since.
Over the past 39 games, they've gone 13-26 with a minus-48 run differential and in the process they've gone from six games up in the AL Central to 5.5 games back.
Despite those struggles, general manager Rick Hahn is still confident in the team's chances of contending this season, according to JJ Stankevitz of CSN Chicago:
"We very much believe the talent is there to be in the thick of things come October. Obviously we have to stop squandering opportunities, especially in our division, where we’ve performed poorly over the last few weeks. But we have not, thanks in large part to the quality start, haven’t buried ourselves yet. We need to get it turned around fairly quickly, though, so we can continue saying that and reinforce our notion, our believes in ourselves that this team has the ability to contend.
"
Those comments came shortly after owner Jerry Reinsdorf made it clear to Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago that "rebooting and selling off wasn’t in the organization’s plans" at this point.
The team already pulled off one major trade when they acquired James Shields from the San Diego Padres, which has been an absolute disaster to this point.
How much further can they fall back in the AL Central standings and still consider themselves buyers?
Last season they opted against trading Jeff Samardzija when they strung together a few wins leading up to the deadline, only to finish 10 games out of a wild-card spot, so don't be surprised if they cling to any hope of contention once again.
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
The Question: How big of a return will Jay Bruce bring?
While many of the burning questions featured here center on whether or not a high-profile player will be traded, Cincinnati Reds slugger Jay Bruce is all but certain to be on the move before the Aug. 1 deadline.
Bruce struggled to a .222/.288/.406 line and a 90 OPS+ over the past two seasons, but he's rebounded nicely this year and his stock is soaring as a result.
The 29-year-old is currently hitting .285/.336/.594 with 17 doubles, 16 home runs and 55 RBI.
His .594 slugging percentage is tops in the National League and his .930 OPS ranks 10th, leaving him looking like the leading candidate to represent the Reds in next month's All-Star Game.
Bruce is owed the remainder of his $12.5 million salary this season and carries a $13 million team option with a $1 million buyout for next year, so trading him now is almost a foregone conclusion for the rebuilding Reds.
That reasonable salary commitment combined with his elite-level production so far this year makes him one of the top trade chips on the market and by far the most attainable impact bat.
The Reds have done a terrific job bolstering their farm system via trade in recent years, and Bruce should bring another solid haul of young talent once he's finally dealt.
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
The Question: When will Michael Brantley return to the lineup and how productive will he be?
Despite dealing with a nagging shoulder injury, Michael Brantley put together another terrific season in 2015 when he hit .310/.379/.480 with 45 doubles, 15 home runs and 84 RBI.
He underwent surgery on that shoulder in the offseason and after a winter of rehab rejoined the Indians lineup on April 25.
His return would be short-lived, though, as he played just 11 games before returning to the disabled list with shoulder inflammation and has been sidelined ever since.
He recently hit a bump in his efforts to return to the field and there were some concerns that it was another issue with his surgically repaired shoulder. But he was eventually diagnosed with right biceps tendinitis, according to Paul Hoynes of the Cleveland Plain Dealer.
While that was good news, there is still no clear-cut timetable for his return to the MLB roster.
The Indians currently hold a three-game lead over the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central, and the emergence of Jose Ramirez has helped plug the hole in left field.
Still, the return of a healthy Brantley would be welcomed with open arms as he was one of the most productive hitters in all of baseball the past two seasons. He could be the piece that pushes the Indians over the top in their pursuit of a division title.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
The Question: Will Carlos Gonzalez be traded?
The Colorado Rockies finally pulled the trigger on trading star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki at the deadline last season after years of speculation.
Will Carlos Gonzalez be next?
CarGo finally stayed healthy last season and put up terrific numbers as a result, finishing with a .271/.325/.540 line that included 25 doubles, 40 home runs and 97 RBI.
He's been even better here in 2016, improving his triple-slash numbers with a .313/.357/.548 line and adding 15 doubles, 15 home runs and 38 RBI for a 2.0 WAR.
That should make for plenty of interested suitors as we get closer to the deadline, but for now things have been quiet and the Rockies are still focused on winning at three games under .500 on the year.
"The calls haven’t started coming in for Carlos Gonzalez. The Rockies are expected to listen, though they are playing pretty well at the moment," wrote Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball.
The Rockies picked up a terrific pitching prospect in Jeff Hoffman with the Tulowitzki trade last year, and the emergence of Tyler Chatwood and Jon Gray at the MLB level gives the pitching staff some hope for the future.
Moving CarGo and adding a few more high-end young pieces could position them even better in the long run.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
The Question: Is the answer to their No. 5 starter situation in-house?
The Detroit Tigers starting rotation has been a mixed bag so far this year.
The good:
- Justin Verlander: 15 GS, 11 QS, 7-5, 3.78 ERA, 1.070 WHIP, 102 K
- Jordan Zimmermann: 13 GS, 8 QS, 9-3, 3.24 ERA, 1.151 WHIP, 54 K
- Michael Fulmer: 11 GS, 5 QS, 7-2, 2.40 ERA, 1.162 WHIP, 60 K
The bad:
- Mike Pelfrey: 14 GS, 3 QS, 1-7, 5.19 ERA, 1.755 WHIP, 38 K
- Anibal Sanchez: 11 GS, 1 QS, 4-7, 6.67 ERA, 1.676 WHIP, 48 K
- Matt Boyd: 5 GS, 0 QS, 0-2, 7.66 ERA, 1.540 WHIP, 19 K
- Shane Greene: 3 GS, 1 QS, 1-2, 6.75 ERA, 1.500 WHIP, 11 K
At this point, the Tigers have already demoted both Anibal Sanchez and Shane Greene to the bullpen and returned Matt Boyd to Triple-A.
That leaves Daniel Norris to make his first start of the season on Thursday in place of Boyd, and he has a chance to be a real X-factor for the Tigers.
Norris was a key piece of the trade that sent David Price to Toronto last July and he was ranked as the No. 18 prospect by Baseball America at the start of the 2015 season.
The 23-year-old was expected to contend for a rotation spot to start the season, but a back injury during spring training took him out of the running and he's been working his way back in Triple-A.
If Norris can't shore up the back of the rotation, they'll need to seriously consider adding an arm at the deadline.
Houston Astros
11 of 30
The Question: When will Alex Bregman arrive?
Shortstop Alex Bregman was scooped up with the No. 2 overall pick in last year's draft, and so far he's looked like a man among boys every step of the way in the minors.
He's currently hitting .302/.411/.568 with 15 doubles, 14 home runs and 44 RBI for Double-A Corpus Christi.
"He’s played really well in Double A and I think there’s always going to be some hiccups whether it’s in Triple A or the big leagues, but he’s certainly done about as well as any player could coming out of last year’s draft," GM Jeff Luhnow told Angel Verdejo Jr. of the Houston Chronicle.
With Carlos Correa firmly entrenched as the team's shortstop of the present and future, the hot corner seems like the logical long-term landing spot for Bregman, who's seen the occasional start there this year as the team eases him into that eventual transition.
A rough start to the season from Luis Valbuena made that look like an even more obvious fit, but the veteran has turned things around with a .300/.400/.467 so far in June.
If nothing else that means the team doesn't need to rush the 22-year-old Bregman to the majors to plug a hole, but all signs still point to him arriving at some point in 2016.
"If we had a couple injuries right now and we had a need, I think Bregman would be a guy we’d have to talk about," Luhnow told Verdejo Jr. "But right now, the team’s playing well and we don’t have a need at a position that he’s playing, so right now we’re going to keep him playing in the minor leagues."
Kansas City Royals
12 of 30
The Question: What happens when Whit Merrifield and Paulo Orlando regress?
With no clear-cut starter in right field and a struggling Omar Infante manning second base to start the year, the emergence of Paulo Orlando and Whit Merrifield has been a huge boost to the Kansas City Royals' offensive attack.
- Orlando: 167 PA, .354/.380/.456, 9 2B, 1 HR, 15 RBI, 13 R
- Merrifield: 131 PA, .320/.336/.461, 10 2B, 2 HR, 13 RBI, 21 R
The blind optimist would look at that and see two players in the midst of breakout performances and be excited about what's to come for both guys.
However, a closer look at the numbers gives plenty of reason for pause.
The league average for batting average on balls in play generally sits around .300, with a player who makes consistent hard contact capable of maintaining a BABIP slightly higher than that.
Orlando currently leads all players with at least 100 plate appearances with a .458 BABIP, and Merrifield is not far behind with a .382 BABIP that ranks ninth.
Making their future outlook even cloudier is the fact that neither player has displayed much in the way of on-base ability.
Merrifield has the second-worst walk rate among players with 100-plus plate appearances at 2.3 percent and Orlando is third-worst at 2.4 percent.
The question isn't whether they'll regress but how far, and whether they'll remain viable everyday options for the duration of the season.
The Royals would be wise to have a contingency plan in place for both players.
Los Angeles Angels
13 of 30
The Question: Who goes if they decide to sell?
The Los Angeles Angels are in a tough spot as a team with a ton of money invested in their current roster but a less-than-promising outlook as far as their postseason chances are concerned.
Their $177,767,884 team payroll ranks fifth in the league, according to Spotrac, but so far all that money has bought them is a 31-41 record and a 15.5-game deficit in the AL West.
With the worst farm system in baseball, an aging core and no clear shot at contention, trading who they can in an effort to add some young talent would seem like a no-brainer.
Jered Weaver and C.J. Wilson are both in the final year of their respective contracts, but neither has much trade value with a salary north of $20 million, and their real value will come when their $40-plus million is off the books.
Relievers are always in demand and both Fernando Salas and Joe Smith (once he's healthy) would likely generate some interest. Closer Huston Street could also be shopped, though he's signed through 2017 with a $10 million option for 2018.
On the position-player side, Yunel Escobar is probably their most valuable chip, assuming Mike Trout and Kole Calhoun are staying put for the time being.
There might not be a blockbuster deal in the makings for the Angels, but they can collect some solid young talent if they move their second-tier pieces.
Los Angeles Dodgers
14 of 30
The Question: When does Julio Urias hit his innings limit and who replaces him?
Julio Urias was shaky in his first two big league starts but has since flashed the elite-level talent that has made him such a highly regarded prospect since he joined the Los Angeles Dodgers organization.
He's pitched to a 2.33 ERA and 1.137 WHIP over his last four starts, striking out 28 and walking just four in 19.1 innings of work.
That being said, he's not the answer to shoring up the rotation the rest of the way.
Still just 19 years old, Urias has never thrown more than 87.2 innings in a season and he's already up to 68 so far this season.
Manager Dave Roberts announced that he would make at least one more start before he took the mound on Wednesday night, according to Doug Padilla of ESPN, and the team will seemingly reevaluate his situation on a start-by-start basis from there.
However, an innings limit will be implemented at some point and it will come long before the stretch run.
Hyun-jin Ryu and Brandon McCarthy are both still on the mend and prospect Jose De Leon continues to impress with a 2.40 ERA and 14.4 strikeouts per nine innings in four starts for Triple-A Oklahoma City.
One way or another, expect their rotation to look considerably different by the time the month of August rolls around, whether they're active on the trade market or not.
Miami Marlins
15 of 30
The Question: When will Giancarlo Stanton snap out of his slump?
Few would have guessed that Giancarlo Stanton would be the weak link in the Miami Marlins outfield this season.
Christian Yelich has continued his emergence as one of the game's most well-rounded outfielders, and Marcell Ozuna has bounced back in a big way as his OPS is up from a disappointing .691 last year to .946 so far this season.
It's been a trying season for Stanton, though.
The hulking slugger has hit 13 home runs, but he's batting just .211/.311/.427 and has struck out a staggering 85 times in 252 plate appearances for a 33.7 percent strikeout rate that is third-worst among qualified players.
"Privately, the Marlins insist they aren’t overly [concerned] and believe this is simply a slump," wrote Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
Despite the slow start from Stanton and a shaky starting rotation, the Marlins are 38-34 and still very much in the mix for a playoff spot.
A return to form by Stanton could be the spark they need to be a legitimate postseason threat.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
The Question: Will Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy both be traded?
If you believe owner Mark Attanasio, the Milwaukee Brewers have not yet turned to shopping their two biggest trade assets in Ryan Braun and Jonathan Lucroy.
"Much ado about nothing so far,” Attanasio told Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel. "We’re not actively out shopping either of these guys."
Maybe he's telling the truth, but at some point between now and Aug. 1 that figures to change.
Lucroy might be the most valuable trade chip on the entire market, as he's bounced back nicely from an injury-plagued 2015 season to hit .305/.363/.510 with 14 doubles and 10 home runs for a 2.0 WAR.
He's a steal this season at $4 million and carries an equally reasonable $5.25 million option for 2017 so he's more than just a rental player and should fit in any team's budget.
Moving Braun is a bit trickier.
He's on the books for $76 million the next four years and has a $15 million option with a $4 million buyout in 2021, which will be his age-37 season.
However, he too is having a terrific season at the plate with a .320/.378/.537 line that includes 14 doubles, 12 home runs and 38 RBI for a 2.3 WAR.
He'd undoubtedly be a huge addition to the middle of a contender's lineup, but that significant financial obligation limits his market and a lot will depend on whether the Brewers are willing to pitch in any money and how much.
The Brewers have done a great job building up the farm system on the trade market in recent years and moving those two would further position them for future success.
Minnesota Twins
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The Question: Will they sell high on Eduardo Nunez?
Bright spots have been few and far between for the Minnesota Twins this year, but Eduardo Nunez is quietly having a breakout season serving in a super-utility role.
The 29-year-old has never made more than 338 plate appearances in a single season, but he's already at 263 this season and is hitting .313/.345/.472 with 10 doubles and a career-high nine home runs while splitting his time between shortstop and third base.
Despite that performance, manager Paul Molitor was not yet ready to anoint him as a viable everyday option earlier this month while talking with Rhett Bollinger of MLB.com.
"It's a slippery slope as far as projecting a guy into that role who has played well for a couple months. If you base it on how he's performed, it's easy to speculate he could be one of those guys who sheds the role as a utility guy. But I think it's too early for that. I'm hopeful for that. It would be great for our team and for his career, but we're just going to ride it for right now.
"
That said, could the Twins look to sell high by flipping Nunez at the deadline this year?
Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe speculated as much in a recent article, and there would no doubt be interest if he were put on the block.
Nunez is making $1.48 million this year and is under team control through the 2017 season.
New York Mets
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The Question: How will the offensive woes be addressed this season?
The New York Mets were a 53-50 team at the trade deadline last year and two games behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East standings.
They had been carried to that point by one of the best starting rotations in baseball but were being held back by an offense that was averaging just 3.54 runs per game.
Then came the trade for Yoenis Cespedes.
From there, they went 37-22 to close out the season with their offense exploding for 5.39 runs per game as they ended up winning the NL East title by seven games.
Flash-forward to this season, and it's a remarkably similar story.
They're currently a 38-32 team facing a 3.5-game deficit in the division standings and scuffling on offense at 3.66 runs per game.
"The Mets don’t have the luxury of time, at least as far as team COO Jeff Wilpon is concerned," wrote Laura Albanese of Newsday.
"A day after getting swept by the worst team in the National League [Braves], Wilpon — not one to make big proclamations, or to reveal too much of anything, really — said the Mets may not be able to wait until the Aug. 1 trade deadline to add a bat to their offensively stagnant lineup."
So how will they address the struggling offense this time around?
With Lucas Duda and David Wright both currently shelved with significant injuries, adding a corner infielder seems like the obvious approach.
Danny Valencia (Athletics) and Yunel Escobar (Angels) are two potential targets.
New York Yankees
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The Question: Will Luis Severino help solidify the rotation?
Luis Severino made his MLB debut on Aug. 5 last season and down the stretch was the New York Yankees' best starter.
All told, he went 5-3 with a 2.89 ERA, 1.203 WHIP and 56 strikeouts in 62.1 innings over 11 starts as a rookie, and hopes were understandably high for him heading into the 2016 season.
Instead, he was knocked around to the tune of a 7.46 ERA and 1.686 WHIP over his first seven starts and currently finds himself in Triple-A as a result.
After a brief pit stop with High-A Tampa, he's been nothing short of dominant in four Triple-A starts with a 2.52 ERA, 0.880 WHIP and 24-9 ratio of strikeouts to walks ratio in 25 innings of work.
Meanwhile, the Yankees continue to look for some consistency out of their starting rotation behind ace Masahiro Tanaka and the resurgent CC Sabathia.
The 22-year-old Severino has a chance to be a real difference-maker if he can return strong, but for now he's staying put in the minors.
"It still needs some tuning up," manager Joe Girardi told reporters, via Randy Miller of NJ.com. "It's location. Consistency is the big thing. You see some really good pitches, some well-located pitches, but it's consistency and here (in the majors) you can't leave [the] ball in the middle of the plate or they get hammered. So I think a lot of times you have to look beyond the numbers."
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
The Question: How will missing time impact Rich Hill's trade value?
Rich Hill managed to parlay four late-season starts with the Boston Red Sox last year into a one-year, $6 million deal with the Oakland Athletics during the offseason.
Signing the 36-year-old was a clear risk for the A's but looked like an absolute steal through the first two months of the season.
Hill went 8-3 with a 2.25 ERA, 1.125 WHIP and 74 strikeouts over 64 innings in his first 11 starts, but he hasn't pitched since May 29 and has been on the disabled list since June 9 with a groin injury.
He's currently scheduled to make what could be his one and only rehab start on Monday with High-A Stockton, where he'll throw roughly 65 pitches.
"Shoot, I'd like to throw him right in there, but we gotta make sure we get him in a game scenario, other than just throwing a simulated-type thing in the bullpen," manager Bob Melvin told reporters, via Jane Lee of MLB.com.
Assuming he does make just one minor league rehab start and returns to the Oakland rotation before the end of the month, that would put him in position to make five or six more starts before the Aug. 1 deadline.
He still has a chance to be one of the most coveted trade chips on the market this summer and to bring a significant return for the A's, but any further injury issues could take a serious bite out of his value.
Philadelphia Phillies
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The Question: When does the next wave of prospects arrive and who gets the call?
The Philadelphia Phillies were surprise contenders at the start of the season with a 24-17 record, but they've gone just 6-36 in their last 42 games and the focus has returned to their rebuilding efforts.
Aaron Nola (23), Maikel Franco (23) and Odubel Herrera (24) look like potential pieces to build around and there is plenty more prospect talent on the way.
So who can we expect to see next in Philadelphia?
Shortstop J.P. Crawford is the team's top prospect and was bumped up to Triple-A earlier this season, but he's hitting just .210 with a .545 OPS in 30 games since being promoted.
"He's been better lately and it's not uncommon when a player, especially a 21-year-old, jumps from Double A to Triple A, to struggle at first," GM Matt Klentak told reporters, via CSN Philly's Corey Seidman. "J.P. went through some struggles early, but he's been swinging the bat a lot better."
He still figures to debut at some point in 2016, but perhaps not as soon as some expected.
Outfielder Nick Williams (.806 OPS, 16 2B, 7 HR, 33 RBI) and right-hander Jake Thompson (14 GS, 6-5, 3.09 ERA, 1.174 WHIP) are also currently playing for Triple-A Lehigh Valley and knocking on the door with a strong showing so far.
Further down the organizational rankings, outfielder Dylan Cozens is turning heads with a .925 OPS, 19 doubles, 19 home runs and 55 RBI in 70 games for Double-A Reading.
Pitchers Mark Appel, Thomas Eshelman and Ben Lively, as well as catcher Andrew Knapp, are also worth keeping an eye on, as they don't have much left to prove in the minors.
Pittsburgh Pirates
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The Question: When will Tyler Glasnow arrive?
The Pittsburgh Pirates are mired in quite the downward spiral at the moment, as they've gone 2-12 in their last 14 games and slipped to four games below .500 in the process.
Pitching has been the biggest issues and their 5.92 ERA in the month of June ranks 28th in the majors, with much of the blame falling to an underperforming starting rotation.
With ace Gerrit Cole sidelined with a right biceps strain, the team has already called on one of their touted pitching prospects in Jameson Taillon, and he's posted a 3.50 ERA and 1.111 WHIP in 18 innings over his first three starts.
How long then until Tyler Glasnow joins him?
Juan Nicasio kicked off the season with a 3.33 ERA in five April starts, but since then he's gone 2-4 with a 7.68 ERA and 1.734 WHIP with opponents hitting .324 against him in 36.1 innings.
He was briefly demoted to the bullpen prior to the Cole injury and sending him back there in favor of Glasnow seems like the right move for a team in desperate need of a spark.
The 22-year-old Glasnow still has some work to do refining his mechanics and honing his command, but he's been nothing short of dominant once again this season with a 1.61 ERA, 1.143 WHIP and 100 strikeouts in 84 innings at Triple-A Indianapolis.
He hasn't allowed a hit over 13 innings in his last two starts, but he has walked 11 during that span.
That speaks to the work he still needs to do, but the Pirates can't sit on their hands any longer, and Glasnow is the type of player who could provide an immediate spark.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
The Question: Will they trade Wil Myers?
It comes as no surprise that the San Diego Padres are expected to be among the most active sellers when the trade deadline rolls around this year, but the idea that they could move Wil Myers is a bit of a shock.
After battling injuries the past two seasons, the 2013 AL Rookie of the Year is hitting .286/.331/.521 with 16 doubles, 16 home runs and 45 RBI while also adding 10 stolen bases.
He's been particularly great here in June, posting a 1.185 OPS with eight doubles and nine home runs in 90 plate appearances.
That would seemingly make the 25-year-old a long-term piece of the puzzle for a rebuilding Padres team, but selling high on him now is also an option the team appears willing to explore.
"The Padres are said to be 'open' to move Wil Myers if the right deal came along, though it still may be a long shot that they’ll pull the trigger on the still-emerging slugger," wrote Jon Heyman of Today's Knuckleball.
That was followed a few days later by a report from Jon Morosi of Fox Sports saying that there had been "minimal dialogue" surrounding Myers and he was "likely staying put" as things currently stand.
There's no reason for the Padres to not at least test the waters on Myers when his value is as high as it's been since his rookie season.
If they do decide to aggressively shop him, he'd rival Jonathan Lucroy as the most valuable bat on the trade market and could net an even bigger return given his age and extra years of control.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
The Question: How will the team handle being without Hunter Pence?
It's hard to quantify exactly what Hunter Pence means to the San Francisco Giants, but there's no doubt they're a different team when he's in the lineup.
Last year, he played in just 52 games while dealing with a number of injuries. The Giants were 34-18 (.654) in the games he played, compared to 50-60 (.455) without him.
Now he's sidelined once again after undergoing surgery to repair a torn right hamstring on June 9.
He's expected to need eight weeks to recover, per the Associated Press, via ESPN.com, which puts his return somewhere at the end of July or beginning of August barring any setbacks.
The Giants could simply stand pat until then with the likes of Gregor Blanco, Jarrett Parker and Mac Williamson seeing expanded playing time in the outfield.
The team has actually gone 13-5 with a plus-41 run differential since Pence last suited up on June 1, so they haven't been nearly as lost without him as they were a year ago.
Still, Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Giants were "looking everywhere for another [outfielder]" following the Pence injury and that they had talked with the Milwaukee Brewers about Ryan Braun.
Nothing has gained any traction to this point, but there's still at least a chance the Giants could look to make a splashy addition in the form of an outfield bat.
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
The Question: When will Felix Hernandez return from his calf injury and how effective will he be?
Placed on the disabled list on May 28 with a strained calf, Felix Hernandez was originally expected to miss just two weeks.
However, after undergoing a second MRI, he'll now be shelved for an additional four weeks, per ESPN.com news services, which means he'll likely be sidelined until after the All-Star break.
"We are hopeful that we are looking for something between now and the All-Star break but the more likely scenario is that we get him out to pitch somewhere for a brief outing just before or during the All-Star break and he’s ready to go as we come out," GM Jerry Dipoto told Shannon Drayer of 710 ESPN Seattle.
He played catch from 75 feet on Wednesday and sent manager Scott Servais a text saying he was "doing much better," according to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times.
That's a step in the right direction, but for a Mariners team with legitimate postseason aspirations they need their ace back as soon as possible and more importantly they need him pitching like an ace.
King Felix was 4-4 with a 2.86 ERA in 10 starts prior to the injury, but his peripheral numbers were troubling to say the least.
His walk rate was up (career-high 3.7 BB/9), his strikeout rate was down (career-low 7.6 K/9) and his 4.11 FIP was a less-than-promising indication of what was to come.
Considering the injury is not to his arm, perhaps a chance to rest and regroup heading into the All-Star break will prove to be beneficial for his second-half push.
Then again, that might be wishful thinking.
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
The Question: How much longer of a leash will Trevor Rosenthal get in the closer's role?
Trevor Rosenthal made significant strides last season on his way to setting a franchise record with 48 saves in 51 chances.
He lowered his ERA (3.20 to 2.10), his WHIP (1.408 to 1.267) and perhaps most importantly his walk rate (5.4 to 3.3 BB/9).
The flame-thrower has converted 14 of 16 save chances so far here in 2016, but it's been an adventure.
His ERA has climbed to 4.50 and his WHIP has spiked to a dangerously bad 1.917, in large part because he's walked 20 batters in 24 innings for a 7.5 BB/9 walk rate.
He's allowed at least two baserunners in five of his last six appearances, picking up a loss and a blown save, as well as 10 hits and four walks in 4.0 innings of work during that span.
Meanwhile, rookie Seung-hwan Oh has been absolutely dominant in a setup role with a 1.70 ERA, 0.811 WHIP, 1.9 BB/9 and 12.2 K/9 over 36 appearances.
The 33-year-old racked up 357 saves pitching in the Korean Baseball Organization and Japanese League for 11 seasons prior to making the jump to MLB this past offseason, so he has plenty of experience closing out games.
It could be only a matter of time before he gets a crack at the ninth-inning job if Rosenthal continues to struggle.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
The Question: Will they move a starting pitcher in a thin market for impact arms?
The Tampa Bay Rays were a popular source of starting pitching trade speculation during the offseason, but they wound up holding onto all of their top arms outside of an early trade that sent Nathan Karns to the Seattle Mariners.
At 31-39 on the season, they currently find themselves 9.5 games back and in last place in the AL East.
Will that be enough to persuade them to finally pull the trigger on flipping a young, controllable starter for cheap assets?
According to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, the Miami Marlins have had "preliminary contact" with the Rays regarding right-hander Jake Odorizzi.
The 26-year-old has gone 23-25 with a 3.71 ERA, 1.209 WHIP and 406 strikeouts in 421.2 innings since the start of the 2014 season.
He may not be a front-line arm, but he's controllable through the 2019 season and has been nothing if not consistent to this point in his MLB career.
Chris Archer is probably off limits in trade talks as the Rays would be selling low at this point, but Matt Moore, Drew Smyly and starters-turned-relievers Erasmo Ramirez and Matt Andriese would all generate significant interest if they were made available.
It's simply a matter of when the Rays are ready to throw in the towel on 2016 and just how high their asking price will be.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
The Question: How will they address the recent wave of starting pitching injuries?
The Texas Rangers have looked like the team to beat in the American League to this point, but it's been a rough week for them on the injury front.
Derek Holland was placed on the disabled list on Tuesday with shoulder inflammation and Colby Lewis joined him on Wednesday with a strained lat.
Lewis will be shut down for four weeks, before being evaluated to see if he can begin throwing again.
"These kind of nagging soft-tissue issues, if you go too quick, they happen again," GM Jon Daniels said, according to the Associated Press, via ESPN.com. "You have to have 100 percent recovery. It's like a hamstring injury basically for a pitcher, you have to give it time."
As for Holland, he had been struggling mightily prior to being placed on the DL with an 8.31 ERA in his previous three starts.
"It's been going on for a little bit and started bothering me a little bit more in the last start so we want to make sure everything is OK," Holland told reporters, via ESPN.com. "I felt like I could play through it, but obviously I wasn't doing a good job."
Those injuries come on the heels of Yu Darvish being placed back on the DL earlier this month with neck and shoulder discomfort, just three starts after he had finally returned from Tommy John surgery.
For now, the Rangers will trot out a rotation of Cole Hamels, Martin Perez, Nick Martinez and A.J. Griffin, with Chi Chi Gonzalez looking like the front-runner to fill the fifth spot.
Prior to these injuries the bullpen looked like it would be the focus of their trade inquiries, but chances are they will now shift their attention to the rotation.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
The Question: When will Aaron Sanchez be moved to the bullpen and who replaces him?
After starring as a setup man in the second half last season, Aaron Sanchez won a rotation spot this spring and is in the midst of a breakout season for the Toronto Blue Jays.
The hard-throwing right-hander has gone 7-1 with a 3.35 ERA and 1.248 WHIP while striking out 89 batters in 91.1 innings.
It's that innings total that has been put under the microscope, though.
The plan all along has been to return Sanchez to the bullpen at some point in an effort to limit his innings, and his terrific start has done nothing to alter those plans.
"For safety reasons, health reasons, he’s going to end up down there," manager John Gibbons told Buster Olney of ESPN, via David Singh of sportsnet.ca. "We’ve been talking about it, no doubt. We’re still in discussion right now what that actual number is before we bump him to the ’pen, but it’s gonna happen."
For a Blue Jays team looking to win an AL East title and return to the postseason, the question then becomes who replaces one of the rotation's best starters?
Jesse Chavez and Drew Hutchison would appear to be the two most likely in-house options.
Chavez has posted a 3.25 ERA with 31 strikeouts in 27.2 innings out of the bullpen, but he has plenty of experience starting in the past.
Hutchison, a 13-game winner in 2015 despite a 5.57 ERA, was sent to the minors in April to continue working as a starter and has posted a 2.87 ERA, 1.088 WHIP and 85 strikeouts in 75.1 innings for Triple-A Buffalo.
Expect one or both of those guys to get a look before the team explores outside options.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
The Question: When will Trea Turner and Lucas Giolito arrive for good?
The Washington Nationals have two of the top prospects in all of baseball in Trea Turner and Lucas Giolito, and their inevitable arrival could trump any additions the team may choose to make on the trade market.
Turner played in 27 games down the stretch last season and was 3-for-3 with a double in a brief two-game promotion earlier this year, but for the time being he's still waiting in the wings in Triple-A.
The 22-year-old looked like an obvious upgrade over Danny Espinosa early in the season, but Espinosa has responded to being pushed by hitting .292/.378/.662 with seven home runs in the month of June.
Meanwhile, Turner is hitting .292/.366/.436 with 25 extra-base hits and 22 stolen bases in the minors, so he doesn't have much left to prove at this point. It's simply a matter of time.
As for Giolito, he too has no clear path to an MLB job as the Nationals starting rotation has been terrific so far with a 3.34 ERA that ranks third in the majors.
The 21-year-old is arguably the top pitching prospect in all of baseball, but he hasn't exactly been lights-out so far this year in Double-A with a 3.17 ERA, 1.423 WHIP and 72-34 BB/K ratio in 71 innings.
It's not out of the question to think that Giolito might not debut until 2017, but if injuries create a need he could still get a crack at making an impact here in 2016.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com, unless otherwise noted.
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