Realistic MLB Trade Ideas to Solve Early Problems
April has ceded to May. The 2018 MLB season is young, but it's no longer an infant.
The July 31 non-waiver trade deadline is roughly three months away. The odds of seismic swaps in the near future remain low.
Still, it's not too early to survey the baseball landscape and suggest realistic trades that could solve early problems for contenders, provided said contenders are willing to surrender the requisite pieces.
Here are a half-dozen hypothetical deals, including a catcher switching squads in the National League East, a pair of impact relievers relocating and a superstar shortstop heading from Maryland to Southern California.
San Diego Padres LHP Brad Hand to the Houston Astros
1 of 6
At 20-10, the Houston Astros lead the American League West and boast the second-best record in the Junior Circuit behind the Boston Red Sox.
If the defending champions have a weakness, it's in the bullpen, where 34-year-old Tony Sipp and his 5.06 ERA is the top left-handed option.
Overall, 'Stros relievers rank fifth in baseball with a 2.76 ERA, but they could gild the lily and address their southpaw deficiency by acquiring Brad Hand from the San Diego Padres.
An All-Star in 2017, Hand has notched six saves in eight opportunities for the Friars while striking out 21 in 13.2 innings. The rebuilding Padres signed him to a three-year, $19.75 million extension in January, but that doesn't mean they won't listen to offers.
Right-hander Forrest Whitley and outfielder Kyle Tucker should be off limits, but Houston could build a package around powerful Cuban Yordan Alvarez and a high-upside arm such as Jorge Alcala from its well-stocked farm system.
Oakland Athletics 2B Jed Lowrie to the St. Louis Cardinals
2 of 6
Veteran second baseman Jed Lowrie has sprinted off the starting blocks for the Oakland Athletics, posting a .339 average and .979 OPS in his first 28 games.
The 34-year-old is a sell-high candidate for Oakland, which is always looking to fill its small-market coffers with cost-controlled talent.
The St. Louis Cardinals, meanwhile, are trying to compete in the National League Central and have gotten ho-hum production from second baseman Kolten Wong, who's slashing .194/.304/.284.
Lowrie is set to hit free agency after this season and would thus be a rental. As such, the Cards shouldn't sacrifice any blue chips but could engage the A's with a raw, powerful arm such as 21-year-old prospect Junior Fernandez.
Miami Marlins Catcher J.T. Realmuto to the New York Mets
3 of 6
The New York Mets need a catcher after losing Travis d'Arnaud to a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow and Kevin Plawecki to a broken hand.
The Miami Marlins hung a neon sign this offseason that read "Everything must go."
There's a scenario where the Amazin's acquire backstop J.T. Realmuto from the Fish. Said scenario was discussed between the two teams, per Mike Puma of the New York Post.
In February, Realmuto's agent, Jeff Berry, said his client "would like to be traded to another organization before spring training so he has an opportunity to compete for a championship," per Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald.
That didn't happen, but it's tough to believe Realmuto will finish 2018 in a Marlins uniform.
After missing action due to injury, he's hit .357 with four home runs in 11 games for Miami. He's coming off a breakout 2017, is 27 years old and isn't eligible for free agency until 2021.
He'll cost the Mets, in other words. Outfielder Brandon Nimmo could be dealt from a crowded outfield, but New York would likely have to include another enticing piece such as shortstop and top prospect (per MLB.com) Andres Gimenez.
It would be worth it. With their formerly vaunted pitching staff returning to health, the Mets have a shot at the postseason. Realmuto would significantly improve the odds of that shot finding its mark.
Miami Marlins 2B Starlin Castro to the Milwaukee Brewers
4 of 6
At 17-13, the Milwaukee Brewers are in the NL postseason tussle. They could also use some assistance at the keystone sack.
Eric Sogard is hitting .113. Jonathan Villar owns a .311 on-base percentage and has two extra-base hits all season.
Starlin Castro, meanwhile, is hitting .312 for the Marlins. As with Realmuto and every other Miami player pulling a paycheck, the four-time All-Star is theoretically available.
The Brewers could snag him if they're willing to part with a high-upside prospect such as right-hander Corbin Burnes, and possibly convince Miami to swallow some of the more than $20 million Castro is owed through 2019 (with a $16 million club option and $1 million buyout for 2020).
Kansas City Royals RHP Kelvin Herrera to the Washington Nationals
5 of 6
If 2018 is Bryce Harper's D.C. swan song (and, to be real, it probably is), the Washington Nationals should do everything in their power to make a run.
For example: The Nats ought to upgrade a bullpen that ranks 22nd in baseball with a 4.80 ERA.
Paging Kansas City Royals right-hander Kelvin Herrera, who has been tested in the postseason crucible and owns an unblemished 0.00 ERA with 11 strikeouts in 9.2 innings.
A free agent after this season, Herrera would be a rental. The Nats should balk at any deal that includes outfielder and top prospect Victor Robles.
Infielder Carter Kieboom or right-hander Erick Fedde, along with other controllable pieces, could pique K.C.'s interest as the 7-21 Royals slink toward an inevitable rebuild.
Baltimore Orioles SS Manny Machado to the Los Angeles Dodgers
6 of 6
At the start of the 2018 season, the notion that the Los Angeles Dodgers would trade for a shortstop would have been patently absurd.
In the wake of Corey Seager's season-ending elbow injury, per MLB.com's Ken Gurnick, it may be a necessity.
Los Angeles has internal options, including versatile Chris Taylor, who hit .288 with 21 home runs in 2017.
"As far as our active roster, I feel good about our guys to still win baseball games," manager Dave Roberts said, per Gurnick. "We have to have other guys step up and fill the void. We can do it."
That's a fine sentiment, but no one on L.A.'s roster or in the minor leagues can supplant Seager, who ranked fifth in MLB with 12.9 WAR between 2016 and 2017, per FanGraphs.
Also, to be clear: The Dodgers aren't attempting to sneak into the playoffs. They're trying to win their first title since 1988, one season after they won 104 contests and marched to Game 7 of the World Series.
Which brings us to the Baltimore Orioles, who sit at 8-20 and are about to watch franchise player Manny Machado waltz into free agency.
A three-time All-Star and two-time top-five AL MVP finisher, Machado is hitting .361 with nine home runs and a 1.124 OPS. He converted to shortstop full-time this spring after spending the bulk of his career at third base.
The Orioles would likely demand a top-shelf prospect such as outfielder Alex Verdugo and more. The Dodgers would be mortgaging their future for a crack at glory now.
For a huge-market club that hasn't hoisted a Commissioner's Trophy in three decades, it's a gamble worth taking.
All statistics and contract information current as of Monday and courtesy of Baseball Reference and FanGraphs.
.jpg?w=480)
