MLB Trade Speculation: One Move for All 30 Teams to Fix Their Biggest Issue
We are now two months into the season, and at this point, it becomes clear what problems teams need to address with midseason trades. Whether it be an extra arm in the bullpen, an experienced starter, an injury replacement or anything in between, each team has a clear need as June rolls around.
This is also the time when teams begin to consider whether they will be buyers or sellers when the July trade deadline rolls around.
So assuming every team is looking to address their biggest need, here is a deal for each MLB franchise that will address their biggest issue.
Arizona Diamondbacks
1 of 30
Biggest Issue: Starting Pitching
The Diamondbacks are off to a surprising start this season, with everyone in their lineup producing and one of the best bullpens in baseball, as they have four relievers with ERAs under 2.00 who have made at least 20 appearances. However, beyond Ian Kennedy and Daniel Hudson, their rotation has been a big weakness.
Solution: Trade for Mark Buehrle
The Diamondbacks have good young talent atop their rotation in Kennedy and Hudson, and Joe Saunders is a better pitcher that he has been so far this season. That said, the team needs another starter if they are serious about contending, and adding a veteran arm like Buehrle to the inexperienced rotation could make the real deal.
Atlanta Braves
2 of 30
Biggest Issue: Offense
The Braves have a number of everyday players who are falling well short of expectations right now offensively, with Dan Uggla (.178 BA), Jason Heyward (.214 BA) and Nate McLouth (.238 BA) the biggest culprits at the moment.
Solution: Trade for Carlos Beltran
The fact of the matter is, the Braves are committed to Uggla and Heyward as starters right now, and they will not be benched or replaced at this point. That means that McLouth is the most logical spot in the lineup to upgrade, and when the Mets decide to selling players off, Beltran could be the perfect rent-a-player for the Braves to make a playoff run.
Baltimore Orioles
3 of 30
Biggest Issue: Middle Infield Depth
The Orioles added a number of players this past off season in an attempt to bolster their offense, as they looked to give their young starting pitchers a bit more run support. However, injuries to Brian Roberts (concussion) and Cesar Izturis (elbow) have left the Orioles with little infield depth.
Solution: Trade for Jamey Carroll
While Roberts is expected back in the middle of June, you never know with a concussion, so dealing for Carroll may be a good move for the O's. Forced into starting duty when Rafael Furcal was injured, Carroll has proven to be effective as both a starter and a utility player.
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Boston Red Sox
4 of 30
Biggest Problem: Relief Pitching
This offseason, when the Red Sox added Bobby Jenks and Dan Wheeler to a bullpen that already featured Daniel Bard and Jonathan Papelbon, the bullpen looked to be a strength. However, Jenks and Wheeler both have ERAs over 8.00, and the bullpen has been the team's biggest weakness.
Solution: Trade for Joe Nathan
The Red Sox already added Rockies reliever Franklin Morales, but he has struggled with injuries and ineffectiveness this season. The Twins have turned closing duties over to Matt Capps, as Nathan struggled early coming back from Tommy John last season. The Red Sox have never shied away from taking a chance on a former stud, and Nathan could be the answer in middle relief.
Chicago Cubs
5 of 30
Biggest Problem: Starting Pitching
The Cubs have run into a rash of injuries to their rotation, as fourth and fifth starters Randy Wells and Andrew Cashner made just one start to open the season before hitting the disabled list. Just as Wells returned, Matt Garza took his place, while Cashner has still not returned.
Solution: Trade for Paul Maholm
The Cubs have tried a few veteran options in Doug Davis and the recently acquired Rodrigo Lopez, and they have been poor at best. They have always had a good trading relationship with the Pirates, and Maholm has been great this year with a 3.18 ERA, although his 2-7 record does not reflect that. Due a $9.75 million team option next year, the Pirates could look to deal the lefty and he would certainly help the Cubs.
Chicago White Sox
6 of 30
Biggest Problem: Bullpen
After non-tendering incumbent closer Bobby Jenks before the season started, the White Sox left the closer's position to be won by All-Star setup man Matt Thornton and youngster Chris Sale. However, they have posted ERAs of 5.60 and 5.40, respectively. Luckily, Sergio Santos has stepped up as closer, or the bullpen would be even worse off.
Solution: Trade for Francisco Rodriguez
The Sox are built to win now, and sooner or later, their offense should come around, as Gordon Beckham and Alex Rios are better than they've showed. That said, if they want to make a run at the AL Central crown, picking up a front-line reliever like Rodriguez would certainly help.
Cincinnati Reds
7 of 30
Biggest Problem: Shortstop
After signing Orlando Cabrera to a one-year contract last season, the Reds made a similar move this year in inking veteran Edgar Renteria to a one-year deal. However, he has split time with Paul Janish this season, and neither is hitting at all, with Renteria batting .231 and Janish hitting .224.
Solution: Trade for Stephen Drew
The pitching should be fine once Bronson Arroyo and Edinson Volquez figure things out, but some production at shortstop could go a long way towards improving the offense. Picking up Drew would not only solve the shortstop problem long-term, but would also allow the Reds to move Drew Stubbs down in the order to a run producing role rather than his current spot as the team's leadoff position.
Cleveland Indians
8 of 30
Biggest Problem: Third Outfielder
The Indians have two productive outfielders they can count on right now in Shin-Soo Choo and Michael Brantley. Beyond that, Grady Sizemore is a constant injury concern, and Austin Kearns is hitting just .197 as the team's fourth outfielder, so the team could certainly benefit from adding another outfielder.
Solution: Trade for Ryan Ludwick
The Padres are far from the team they were last season when they made a surprise run at the NL West crown, and it is time they starting looking ahead to next season. While Ludwick is one of the few productive hitters in the lineup, he is making a decent amount of money, and the Padres will likely look to move him since he will be a free agent at season's end.
Colorado Rockies
9 of 30
Biggest Problem: Third Base
The Rockies looked to have their third baseman of the future in Ian Stewart when he hit 25 HR and drove in 70 runs as a 24-year-old in 2009. However, he took a step back last season and has been absolutely awful this year, hitting just .064 with one RBI in 47 at-bats before being sent to Triple-A.
Solution: Trade for Michael Young
When the Rangers first acquired Adrian Beltre this past offseason, there were rumblings that the Rockies had some interest in acquiring Michael Young. Instead ,Young stayed with the club as their DH and he is off to a great start this season. Still, the Rangers may deal him in an effort to bolster their pitching, and the Rockies may revisit the talks they had this offseason.
Detroit Tigers
10 of 30
Biggest Problem: Second Base
The Tigers opened the season with a pair of unproven commodities in Will Rhymes and Scott Sizemore set to man second base. After an unimpressive start by both, Sizemore has been dealt to the Athletics, leaving Rhymes and his .221 average as the everyday second baseman.
Solution: Trade for Adam Kennedy
Kennedy was brought in by the Mariners to help Jack Wilson keep second base warm until top prospect Dustin Ackley is ready to take over, and he has been a pleasant surprise thus far, hitting .283 BA, four HR and 14 RBI. He would certainly be a low-cost upgrade for the Tigers for the remainder of 2011 at least.
Florida Marlins
11 of 30
Biggest Problem: Starting Pitching
For as good as the top of the Marlins rotation has been, with Josh Johnson, Anibal Sanchez and Ricky Nolasco all having solid seasons, the bottom of the rotation has been equally bad. Chris Volstad (5.91 ERA) and Javier Vazquez (6.02 ERA) are among the worst starters in baseball right now, and the Marlins could benefit from replacing one or both of them.
Solution: Trade for Kevin Slowey
The Marlins are as low-budget as it gets, and if they are going to make a move, it has to benefit them not only on the field but salary wise as well. Coming off a 13-win season, Slowey was the odd man out in the Twins rotation and has been relegated to the bullpen. He makes just $2.7 million this season and would be under team control until 2014. Still just 27 years old, he could shore up the bottom of the Marlins rotation for the next several seasons.
Houston Astros
12 of 30
Biggest Problem: Relief Pitching
The Astros opened the 2011 season with Brandon Lyon as their closer after Lyon saved 20 games with a 3.12 ERA last season. However, he has been terrible this year, posting a 7.15 ERA and registering just four saves before losing his job. That has forced the team's top setup man Mark Melancon into the ninth inning role.
Solution: Sign Kiko Calero
The Astros are not going anywhere this season, or for the next couple seasons for that matter, so the cheaper the fix, the better. Calero is a free agent right now, and while he has had some injury concerns in the past, he would most likely come for the league minimum at this point, and he has proven reliable in the past.
Kansas City Royals
13 of 30
Biggest Problem: Catcher
The Royals are a team that is heading in the right direction, as they have begun to commit to a full-on youth movement. The team's starting pitching has taken some lumps, but that will happen with young starters. One area of concern, however, is catcher, where Matt Treanor is the current starter and the team has no stud prospects at the position on the horizon.
Solution: Trade for Ivan Rodriguez
Rumors have begun to swirl about Pudge heading out of Washington, as he has been phased out for rookie Wilson Ramos. What better player to mentor the young Royals than a veteran like Rodriguez? While his offensive skills have diminished, he would still mark an improvement over Treanor in that department as well.
Los Angeles Angels
14 of 30
Biggest Problem: Offensive Depth
The Angels have done everything they could to make up for the loss of Kendry Morales once again, but their offense is not quite where it needs to be if they want to contend. Vernon Wells (.183) and Torii Hunter (.249) are two guys being counted on to lead the offense who simply aren't performing. Acquiring another hitter to take some at-bats from them may not be a bad idea at this point.
Solution: Trade for Garrett Jones
Jones would give the Angels a power bat to help make up for the loss of Morales, and also, his presence may at least light a fire under Wells and Hunter if they were to start losing at-bats to him. Jones has been on his way out of Pittsburgh for a while now, and chances are he won't make it past the deadline.
Los Angeles Dodgers
15 of 30
Biggest Problem: Relief Pitching
The Dodgers have been hit with a rash of injuries this season to the back of their bullpen with five key relievers, including All-Stars Hong-Chih Kuo and Jonathan Broxton, all missing time. While they are all expected back by the middle of June, it is clear the team could use some depth in the 'pen.
Solution: Trade for Shawn Camp
Last season at the deadline, the Blue Jays had a number of highly coveted relievers, and Camp should keep that tradition alive this year. Coming off a 2010 season in which he appeared in 70 games and posted a 2.99 ERA, Camp has been even better this year, with a 2.42 ERA in 24 appearances. Look for him to be on the move come July, if not sooner.
Milwaukee Brewers
16 of 30
Biggest Problem: Shortstop
The Brewers lineup has been solid top to bottom so far this season, with the only real weak spot being Yuniesky Betancourt at shortstop. He is currently hitting just .225, with an incredibly bad .255 on-base percentage to boot.
Solution: Trade for Marco Scutaro
Scutaro has fallen out of favor in Boston, first with Jed Lowrie's hot start, then with the call-up of top prospect Jose Iglesias. At this point, he would almost certainly be had for cheap, as the Red Sox would take what they can get for him. His versatility would play well in the National League, and he would certainly be an upgrade for the Brew Crew.
Minnesota Twins
17 of 30
Biggest Problem: Offense
The Twins offense is a large part of the reason why they sit at 17-35 overall on the season, as a number of starters are struggling to pull their weight. Justin Morneau (.242), Luke Hughes (.211), Alexi Casila (.236), Danny Valencia (.230) and Delmon Young (.210) are all vastly under performing this season.
Solution: Trade for Wilson Betemit
Betemit has the ability to play all over the field, and he could be plugged in at different spots on a daily basis to help improve the Twins offense. He is having a great season with the Royals, hitting .313 BA, two HR, 21 RBI, which marks a significant improvement over most of the Twins team at this point.
New York Mets
18 of 30
Biggest Problem: David Wright's Health
The Mets aren't going to win anything this season, and any move they make would have to be for a player coming off the books next season, or they are cutting into the huge amount of money coming off the books next year that they will need to use to turn around the franchise. Wright is currently sidelined with a stress fracture in his back, and pushing him to come back would be foolish.
Solution: Trade for Melvin Mora
Mora is a versatile player who, despite his age, is still a solid offensive player after posting a .285 BA, seven HR, 45 RBI season last year. He is making just $2 million this season and is a free agent after the year is up, and he would provide an adequate replacement for Wright in the event his injury becomes a season-long issue.
New York Yankees
19 of 30
Biggest Problem: DH/RF Production
As the Yankees starting pitching has started to come around, the offensive production of Jorge Posada and Nick Swisher now becomes the team's most pressing issue. Calling up Jesus Montero and plugging him in at DH would solve one of those problems, but the team may want him to continue to develop as a catcher at the minor league level.
Solution: Trade for Vladimir Guerrero
While most assume the Yankees will look to acquire a starter at the deadline such as Francisco Liriano or Brett Myers, and they still may, finding a replacement for Jorge Posada and perhaps a platoon partner with Nick Swisher is also a need. While Guerrero's name has not yet been linked to the Yankees, he would be a fit to replace Posada at DH and could occasionally spell Swisher in right field.
Oakland Athletics
20 of 30
Biggest Problem: Lack of Offense
The Athletics have some of the best young starting pitchers in all of baseball, but they're severely lacking on the offensive end. Josh Willingham is the only player with over 20 RBI on the team, and yet they are still just one game under .500.
Solution: Trade for Aaron Hill
The Blue Jays already chose not to pick up Aaron Hill's upcoming options, and with Mark Ellis hitting just .210 on the season and prepared to be a free agent as well this coming season, Hill could serve as an offensive boost for 2011, and perhaps beyond if the Jays chose to move him.
Philadelphia Phillies
21 of 30
Biggest Problem: Outfield Production
When the Phillies let Jayson Werth walk this past offseason, the general consensus was that Domonic Brown would step into the starting right field position and the lineup wouldn't lose out on much. However, the decline of Raul Ibanez, as well as Brown being slowed by a spring training hand injury, has left the Phillies with not one but two holes in their lineup.
Solution: Trade for Carlos Quentin
If the White Sox choose to move Quentin, as many have speculated they will if they fall out of contention, he would solve a couple problems for the Phillies. Not only would he give the Phillies a quick fix for this season, but since Quentin is not a free agent until the 2013 season, he could serve as Ibanez's replacement down the road as well.
Pittsburgh Pirates
22 of 30
Biggest Problem: Right Field
Rumors have swirled for a while that Garrett Jones is on his way out of Pittsburgh, and chances are he will be dealt this coming season at some point. Regardless, he has the lowest average on the team among starters, and the team could use an upgrade in right field.
Solution: Trade for Conor Jackson
Jackson was once a top prospect and everyday first baseman with the Diamondbacks, but after an illness claimed most of his 2009 season, he was dealt to the Athletics, where he has never found regular playing time. A trade to the Pirates would allow him an everyday gig and give him a good place to audition for a starting role elsewhere once he becomes a free agent.
San Diego Padres
23 of 30
Biggest Problem: Offense
The Padres were the surprise team of 2010, as their offense played well above the level everyone expected and helped back what is a very good pitching staff. While the pitching has been solid once again, the offense is dismal top to bottom.
Solution: Trade for Blake DeWitt
The biggest hole offensively to this point has been Orlando Hudson at second base, as he is hitting just .217 with only seven RBI. DeWitt has hit well this season with a .280 average in limited playing time. With the emergence of Darwin Barney as the starting second baseman and Jeff Baker playing well as the utility man, DeWitt is the odd man out, and he could be a solid pickup for the Padres.
San Francisco Giants
24 of 30
Biggest Problem: Catcher
While many have predicted that the Giants will pull the trigger on a deal to acquire Jose Reyes from the Mets to help upgrade their poor shortstop play, the recent injury to Buster Posey has now made catcher the Giants top priority as far as trades go.
Solution: Trade for Ryan Doumit
There are a few options the Giants could pursue to help replace Posey, with Ivan Rodriguez mentioned already, as well as free agent and former Giant Bengie Molina. However, as far as replacing Posey's offense, Doumit may be the only available backstop who can even approach the sort of impact that he made with the bat.
Seattle Mariners
25 of 30
Biggest Problem: Left Field
The Mariners offense has a number of holes, with Chone Figgins hitting just .190 at third base, and Jack Cust with just one home run as the starting DH. However, the outfield has been the biggest issue, although things have recently improved with the return of Franklin Gutierrez.
Solution: Trade for Alex Gordon
Gordon seems to have finally turned a corner, and while he may never be the star that many believed he would be when he was taken second overall in the 2005 draft, he is now a solid big league starter. Not only could he serve as the primary left fielder and give the team an offensive boost, but he could also steal some at-bats from Figgins at third if he continues to struggle.
St. Louis Cardinals
26 of 30
Biggest Problem: Second Base
Take your pick between second base and third base as far as the Cardinals' biggest issue right now, but considering David Freese should be back some time this summer, the most pressing need in terms for the rest of the season is second base.
Solution: Trade for Kelly Johnson
Johnson is one of the better offensive second basemen in all of baseball, and with him set to be a free agent at season's end, he would not interfere with the Cardinals efforts to re-sign Albert Pujols this coming offseason. He would represent a significant upgrade over Skip Schumaker and would give the Cardinals another run producer.
Tampa Bay Rays
27 of 30
Biggest Problem: Shortstop
The Rays traded Jason Bartlett to the Padres this offseason with the intentions of turning the reins over to Reid Brignac, who would team up with Sean Rodriguez to form the team's double play combination of the future. However, Brignac has hit just .173 so far this season, and the Rays may need to look elsewhere for their next everyday shortstop.
Solution: Trade for Jose Reyes
While the Giants were the odds on favorite to acquire Reyes, and they may still be, they now have to turn their attention to filling the hole at catcher left by Buster Posey's injury. The Rays have the prospects to pull off a deal, and Reyes could certainly help fill the hole left by Carl Crawford's departure.
Texas Rangers
28 of 30
Biggest Problem: Catcher
The Rangers have been without an impact catcher since Ivan Rodriguez first left town, and this year is much the same, as starter Yorvit Torrealba has hit just .219 this season and does not have the best track record to begin with.
Solution: Trade for Chris Iannetta
The Rockies have one of baseball's top catching prospects in Wilin Rosario, and he is nearly ready for the big leagues. Iannetta is a solid offensive catcher who has also gotten better defensively, and at 28 years old, he could the Rangers solution at catcher for the next several seasons.
Toronto Blue Jays
29 of 30
Biggest Problem: Starting Pitching
The Blue Jays have gotten decent performances from their starters so far this season, but Ricky Romero is the only one with an ERA under 4.00, as he is clearly the team's ace. With no starter younger than 27 years old, the team could use a veteran arm to eat some innings and help young pitchers like Kyle Drabek in their development.
Solution: Trade for Erik Bedard
Bedard, who didn't pitch last season, was signed by the Mariners to a one-year, $1 million contract this offseason, and he has been solid so far this season, with a 3.48 ERA and 3-4 record in nine starts. He would give the Blue Jays a solid veteran lefty to help bring some experience to their staff.
Washington Nationals
30 of 30
Biggest Problem: Center Field
While there are a number of issues with the Nationals right now as they continue to rebuild, they could very well look to upgrade center field first, as veteran Rick Ankiel has been a disappointment this season, hitting just .214 BA, 1 HR, 7 RBI.
Solution: Trade for Coco Crisp
The Nationals have no real lead-off hitter, and the Athletics are in need of more power in their lineup, so a Ankiel for Crisp deal could actually make sense, provided Ankiel can start to show his power stroke again. Regardless, all the Nationals will look for at this point are short-term solutions as they look to the future.
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