2011 MLB Trade Ideas: Who Are the Biggest Players for Jose Reyes, Jered Weaver?
Two of baseball’s premier players—Jose Reyes and Jered Weaver—may be available at this year’s trade deadline.
Reyes is a free agent after this season, while Weaver will hit free agency after the 2012 season. The New York Mets and Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim may not re-sign their respective star players: Reyes for financial reasons and Weaver due to a poor relationship between the Angels and Weaver’s agent Scott Boras.
As long as the Mets (32-33) and Angels (31-36) are on the fringe of playoff spots, Reyes and Weaver probably aren’t going anywhere. However, if one or both of the teams begin to slip fast, a trade could occur.
Both players are playing at a level that would net the parent team a package of good prospects. This may be a major consideration even if one of the teams is in a pennant race.
Here are 10 teams—five for Reyes and five for Weaver—that may make a deal near July’s trade deadline.
Note: As a Mets fan, I desperately hope New York can find a way to re-sign Reyes. However, I have offered an objective approach to possible trades.
5. Jered Weaver: Seattle Mariners
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The Seattle Mariners have been one of the surprise teams in the league thus far this season.
Seattle is just 1.5 games behind the Texas Rangers at this point, and the starting pitching has been a major factor.
Felix Hernandez and Michael Pineda have the potential to be the best one-two punch in the game.
If the Mariners can swing a deal for Jered Weaver, that starting rotation could be even better.
Weaver is very familiar with the Rangers and the other teams in the AL West that the Mariners will be playing down the stretch.
The thing with Weaver is that he’ll be more than just a two-month rental player, since he isn’t free-agent eligible until 2013.
5. Jose Reyes: San Francisco Giants
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The San Francisco Giants could be players for Jose Reyes. Of all the possible destinations, the Giants could maybe be a long-term destination for the dynamic shortstop.
The Giants have had some injury issues in the infield. Mike Fontenot, Pablo Sandoval and Freddy Sanchez are all on the disabled list.
San Francisco recently signed Bill Hall, who started the year with the Houston Astros, but his .221 batting average isn’t too imposing.
Reyes is leading the entire league in hitting (.346) and triples (11). He would give the Giants offense a great boost.
The Giants won’t deal top hitting prospect Brandon Belt, but maybe they’d be willing to part with young right-hander Zach Wheeler. This might only be the case if Reyes agrees to sign a long-term extension upon completion of the trade.
4. Jered Weaver: Atlanta Braves
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The Atlanta Braves have always been known for their strong starting pitching, and this year is no different with Tommy Hanson, Derek Lowe, Tim Hudson and Jair Jurrjens.
However, bringing in Jered Weaver would allow this staff to rival the Philadelphia Phillies.
These two teams will see each other a ton down the stretch, so whoever emerges victorious in the head-to-head battles may have the best chance of winning the division.
The Braves will need to pull out all the stops in holding off the Phillies, and trading for Weaver could be a good first step.
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4. Jose Reyes: Cincinnati Reds
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The Cincinnati Reds could use an offensive upgrade at shortstop.
Last year’s World Series MVP Edgar Renteria has struggled with the stick, and Paul Janish is an all-defense player.
Acquiring Jose Reyes for the top of the order would add more balance to Cincinnati’s lineup since Brandon Phillips—known as a free swinger—can shift down into a run-producing spot rather than a table-setting one.
The Reds are currently 4.0 games behind the Milwaukee Brewers for the top spot in the NL Central.
Reyes could be the defining piece that allows the Reds to make a postseason push.
3. Jered Weaver: Tampa Bay Rays
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Though the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox may duke it out atop the AL East, the Tampa Bay Rays are far from an afterthought.
They’ve gotten great performances from some unlikely sources—Sam Fuld, Matt Joyce, Kyle Farnsworth—and will look to hang with the big boys for as long as possible.
One way to do that would be to trade for Jered Weaver. Not only would that strengthen the Rays rotation, but it would also keep Weaver away from the Yankees.
David Price, Weaver, James Shields, Jeremy Hellickson and Jeff Niemann/Wade Davis is as a good a starting pitching staff as any in the game, except the Phillies and maybe the Atlanta Braves.
3. Jose Reyes: Detroit Tigers
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The Detroit Tigers have very quietly caught the once-surging Cleveland Indians for the top spot in the AL Central.
However, losing Brandon Inge to mononucleosis may have a major impact on the team. No one knows how much time Inge will miss.
As such, Jose Reyes becomes an intriguing option. Jhonny Peralta can play third base, creating an opening for Reyes.
Austin Jackson has been leading off for the Tigers, but his .313 OBP is meager compared to Reyes’ .391.
Detroit may be a possibility for Reyes long-term. The Mets would surely inquire about hard-throwing righty prospect Jacob Turner. Lefty Daniel Schlereth may be in the deal as well.
2. Jered Weaver: St. Louis Cardinals
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With Adam Wainwright out for the season, Chris Carpenter was expected to have a huge year atop the St. Louis Cardinals rotation.
However, Carpenter is just 1-6, while Jaime Garcia, Kyle Lohse and Kyle McClellan (currently on the disabled list) have carried the staff.
Carpenter will hopefully find his groove over the next few months, but the Cardinals still need another front-line starter.
The Brewers with Zack Greinke, Yovani Gallardo and Shaun Marcum will be tough to match up to down the stretch, so Jered Weaver can be just what the team needs, especially if Carpenter doesn’t figure out his problems.
2. Jose Reyes: Boston Red Sox
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After a slow start, the Boston Red Sox are back where they belong—atop of the AL East.
However, the New York Yankees will be clawing at their heels the entire summer, and Boston may need some extra insurance.
Jed Lowrie has come back down to earth, and may be the centerpiece in a deal for Jose Reyes.
Reyes and Carl Crawford together in the same lineup can wreak havoc, especially when surrounded by run producers in Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Youkilis and David Ortiz.
The Red Sox won’t be content until the Yankees are eliminated from playoff contention, and adding Reyes can solidify that.
1. Jered Weaver: New York Yankees
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The New York Yankees can easily score 6-10 runs per game, but it’s their pitching that may hinder them from making a deep postseason run.
However, adding Jered Weaver would solve that problem instantly.
Freddy Garcia and Ivan Nova have been serviceable at the back end of the rotation, but with Bartolo Colon on the disabled list and Phil Hughes still a month away, the Yankees could use another sturdy arm.
The Angels would have to ask for at least one of the “Killer B” pitching prospects—Dellin Betances, Manny Banuelos or Andrew Brackman—and maybe even catching prospect Austin Romine.
If the Yankees are desperate enough, they’ll pull the trigger. They'd definitely hope that this Weaver was better than Jeff Weaver in pinstripes.
1. Jose Reyes: Milwaukee Brewers
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The Milwaukee Brewers are in a position to win now, but have an uncertain future. It seems Prince Fielder is likely to leave via free agency, so the team may acquire rental players to make a run for the World Series.
Jose Reyes would be one of these players. He’d be a huge upgrade over Yuniesky Betancourt, and would form a nice tandem atop the order with Rickie Weeks.
If the brewers are skeptical about re-signing Fielder, signing Reyes to an extension may be out of the question.
However, bringing Reyes in for the stretch run can allow the Brewers to maintain their lead and challenge the Phillies for bragging rights in the NL.
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