MLB Trade Ideas Based on Week 15 News, Rumors and Speculation
While most of the baseball world is still trying to comprehend Giancarlo Stanton's superhuman performance in the 2016 Home Run Derby, general managers have been busy working the phones and laying the groundwork for deals that will take place over the next two-and-a-half weeks.
It's officially trade season, the most wonderful time of the year. With the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline quickly approaching, we've already begun to see things pick up in the rumor mill.
But that pales in comparison to the speculation that will make the rounds in the days ahead, when it will appear that Billy Hamilton, rather than a gerbil, is running on the wheel that powers the trade winds around baseball.
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.
Jon Niese Gets Traded to the Kansas City Royals
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Kansas City Gets: LHP Jon Niese and $5 million*
Pittsburgh Gets: RHP Pedro Fernandez and LHP Eric Skoglund
The Rumor/Speculation
Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review reports that the Pirates have been shopping veteran left-handed starter Jon Niese.
Why It Makes Sense for Kansas City
The Royals desperately need a front-of-the-rotation starter, but after last year's spending spree to add Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist, they really can't afford to part with any of their best young talent. Taking a chance on a back-of-the-rotation arm like Niese is the team's best chance at finding help.
Despite some lousy numbers in Pittsburgh, Niese has still managed to keep the ball on the ground more often than not. There's enough there for Royals manager Ned Yost and pitching coach Dave Eiland to work with.
He's not a savior, but Niese could prove to be a reliable innings-eater, capable of keeping things close enough for Kansas City's bullpen to finish things off. That he comes with two team options is an added bonus, as the Royals could opt to keep him around if he finds success in the AL Central.
Why It Makes Sense for Pittsburgh
With a slew of young pitchers either in the majors or on the cusp of seizing a spot in the Pirates rotation (Steven Brault, Tyler Glasnow, Chad Kuhl and Jameson Taillon), Pittsburgh needs to start restocking the farm.
By picking up the rest of Niese's 2016 salary and a buyout of a team option for next season, the Pirates could add a pair of semi-interesting pitching prospects. As starters, neither Pedro Fernandez nor Eric Skoglund figures to be anything more than a back-end option or organizational depth.
As relievers, the pair could prove to be shrewd additions. A 6'7" southpaw, Skoglund's low-90s heat plays up thanks to his extended release point, while Fernandez's fastball-changeup combination would give him a chance to become a late-inning weapon.
*$5 million includes the estimated $4.5 million Niese is due in 2016 plus a $500,000 buyout of his 2017 team option.
Jake Odorizzi Gets Traded to the Boston Red Sox
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Boston Gets: RHP Jake Odorizzi
Tampa Bay Gets: C/OF Blake Swihart
The Rumor/Speculation
Boston has been scouting Tampa Bay's Jake Odorizzi, according to the Boston Globe's Nick Cafardo, as the team's search for rotation help continues. Rumors have swirled for weeks that the Rays may look to trade one (or more) of their starting pitchers.
Why It Makes Sense for Boston
Odorizzi isn't having a stellar season in Tampa Bay, but the 26-year-old's 4.47 ERA and 1.27 WHIP are Cy Young Award-worthy when compared to the numbers belonging to the arms that Boston has been trotting out at the back end of its rotation this season.
Even with his issues this season, Odorizzi has pitched to a combined 3.91 ERA and 1.23 WHIP while averaging nearly a strikeout per inning since becoming a full-time starter in 2014. He's also controllable through 2019, and the Red Sox certainly have the financial wherewithal to extend him if they want.
As for Blake Swihart, he's a player without a place to play in Boston. He's been passed by Sandy Leon and Christian Vazquez at catcher and would merely be keeping left field warm for prospect Andrew Benintendi, who could arrive at Fenway Park before the end of the regular season.
Why It Makes Sense for Tampa Bay
Normally, trading for a player on the disabled list wouldn't be advisable, but Swihart is dealing with a sprained ankle and not something more serious. Tampa Bay simply can't pass on the chance to add the long-term answer behind the plate its been searching for, even if he won't contribute much until 2017.
Early comparisons to San Francisco's Buster Posey were a bit too generous, but the 24-year-old has the stuff to stick behind the plate and the bat to become an impact player in the middle of Tampa Bay's lineup.
Carlos Beltran Gets Traded to the Chicago White Sox
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Chicago Gets: OF/DH Carlos Beltran and $6 million*
New York Gets: LHP Jordan Guerrero
The Rumor/Speculation
George A. King III of the New York Post suggests that Carlos Beltran could be of interest to the Chicago White Sox if Justin Morneau fails to produce as the team's designated hitter after the All-Star break.
Why It Makes Sense for Chicago
Beltran would represent a significant upgrade over Avisail Garcia in right field for the White Sox, so even if Morneau is producing—a big if, given his history of injuries—bringing Beltran to Chicago makes sense.
While it's true that Beltran has a partial no-trade clause, and the White Sox might be on the list of teams he'll need to approve a trade to, the chance to finish the year with a contending club and perhaps return to the playoffs seems like reason enough for him to waive it.
The 39-year-old's days of swiping bases and playing Gold Glove-caliber defense are long gone, but the switch-hitter remains a legitimate threat at the plate. His arrival would also deepen Chicago's bench, especially if manager Robin Ventura decided to play him in right field and shift Adam Eaton back to center.
Doing so would allow the White Sox to utilize Austin Jackson as a fourth outfielder when he's ready to return from June surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.
Why It Makes Sense for New York
There's a better chance of Derek Jeter deciding that he's grown bored of being married to a supermodel and coming out of retirement than there is of the Yankees extending Beltran a qualifying offer after the season.
With the playoffs looking increasingly unlikely, moving Beltran for something is better than letting him walk away for nothing. By picking up the balance of his $15 million salary, the Yankees are able to land an intriguing pitching prospect in Jordan Guerrero.
The 22-year-old southpaw has scuffled a bit in his first taste of Double-A this season (4.52 ERA, 1.44 WHIP) but has the upside of a mid-rotation starter as he continues to develop. While he's not a flame-throwing strikeout artist, Guerrero does a good job of limiting walks and keeping the ball down in the zone.
*Approximate amount left on Beltran's $15 million 2016 salary
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Joe Smith Gets Traded to the Washington Nationals
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Los Angeles Gets: 3B Kelvin Gutierrez
Washington Gets: RHP Joe Smith
The Rumor/Speculation
ESPN's Buster Olney reports that Los Angeles is expected to trade veteran reliever Joe Smith while listing Washington as one of three contenders expected to aggressively pursue late-inning relief help.
Why It Makes Sense for Los Angeles
Contrary to the belief in the Angels clubhouse that the team isn't "out of this thing," as manager Mike Scioscia explained to the Orange County Register's Jeff Fletcher, the playoffs aren't in the team's immediate future.
With that being the case, there's no point in the team hanging onto veteran reliever Joe Smith, who can become a free agent after the season and is unlikely to return in 2017.
Kelvin Gutierrez is still a few years away from contributing and has yet to display the prototypical power we've come to expect from a third baseman, but he could develop into the team's future at the hot corner. That's something the Angels don't have in their farm system.
Why It Makes Sense for Washington
Smith is having the worst season of his 10-year career, and there's no guarantee that his sidearm delivery will play any better in Washington than it did in Anaheim. But with high asking prices attached to the best late-inning relievers who are potentially available, he's the kind of arm worth gambling on.
If Smith is able to get himself straightened out, terrific. If not, the Nationals didn't surrender anything of major significance to acquire him and would still have plenty of trade chips to play in order to make a run at the likes of Aroldis Chapman or Andrew Miller.
Jeremy Jeffress Gets Traded to the Texas Rangers
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Milwaukee Gets: 2B Travis Demeritte, RHP Jonathan Hernandez and OF Leody Taveras
Texas Gets: RHP Jeremy Jeffress
The Rumor/Speculation
Milwaukee and Texas have been scouting each other's farm systems, sources tell Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal. And while he opines that it could be a precursor to a Jonathan Lucroy trade, the Brewers have some other players who could be of interest to the Rangers.
Why It Makes Sense for Milwaukee
With dreams of contending still a few years off, continuing to stockpile talent is the way to go for a rebuilding club like the Brewers. At the same time, the team isn't about to give away its established, controllable big league talent.
That explains why, according to Peter Gammons, Milwaukee asked Miami for a three-prospect package in exchange for reliever Jeremy Jeffress. The Brewers are able to land that three-player package from Texas, but none of the prospects they would acquire are close to contributing in the majors.
Travis Demeritte, 21, has tremendous power and can stick at second or third base, while Leody Taveras, 17, has the speed and arm strength to play all three outfield spots, though he's yet to tap into what power he has.
Jonathan Hernandez, 20, has the ceiling of a mid-rotation starter but could be utilized as a reliever as he continues to gain velocity, especially if he struggles to develop a quality third offering in his arsenal.
Why It Makes Sense for Texas
The Rangers need help in both the rotation and bullpen, but swinging a deal for Jeffress won't preclude the team from adding additional pieces, as it doesn't cost the team any of its best young talent.
Jeffress, 28, has proven to be effective in both a setup role and as a closer with the Brewers, pitching to a combined 2.42 ERA and 1.28 WHIP from mid-July 2014, when he arrived in Milwaukee, through the 2016 All-Star break.
He's converted 23 of 24 save opportunities as the Brewers closer this year and is more than a short-term rental, with three years of team control remaining. His arrival gives manager Jeff Banister options in the late innings.
Unless otherwise noted, all statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs and are current through July 11. All contract information courtesy of Cot's Contracts (via Baseball Prospectus).
Hit me up on Twitter to talk trades and all things baseball: @RickWeinerBR.
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