Carlos Beltran and 8 Targets of the Seattle Mariners at the MLB Trade Deadline
The Seattle Mariners are currently two games over .500. Last year's World Series champions, the San Francisco Giants, were two games over .500 before they started making moves. Can the Mariners make a similar splash come July?
The Mariners' biggest need is clearly another hitter, preferably a third baseman or an outfielder that can play left or center field. The bullpen still seems pretty thin, so a reliever might help. But a hitter has to be the No. 1 priority.
So while it becomes more and more apparent that the Mariners will be buyers rather than sellers come the trade deadline, here's a look at who's available to help Seattle make a run at the pennant.
Wilson Betemit, Kansas City Royals
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Wilson Betemit isn't the flashiest trade candidate, but as it stands right now, he would be an upgrade over Chone Figgins. Betemit is currently hitting .281 and can serve as a super utility man, as he has logged time at every position besides catcher and center field throughout his career.
Betemit is currently losing time as the Royals begin to bring up their top prospects. He becomes a free agent next season and clearly isn't in the long-term plans for Kansas City.
The 29-year-old journeyman is a nice role player that can be had at a low price.
Josh Willingham, Oakland Athletics
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While no team is out of it yet in the AL West, the Oakland Athletics are the most likely to become sellers.
Left fielder Josh Willingham would probably be the Mariners' most desirable target, should the A's decide to give up come the deadline.
Willingham is currently in the last year of his contract and would certainly fit as a midseason rental as opposed to a long-term solution.
The 32-year-old is currently hitting .231—30 points below his career average—with 10 home runs and 42 RBI in a bad Oakland lineup.
Willingham's name has been mentioned in many rumors as of late, but I'm not sure how much of an upgrade he would be over a Mike Carp/Greg Halman (Carlos Peguero should be in Triple-A soon) platoon.
Luke Scott, Baltimore Orioles
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The Baltimore Orioles currently sit 10 games out in the AL East and will most certainly be sellers when the trade deadline arrives.
The O's have several intriguing bats that will probably be available, such as Vladimir Guerrero and Derrek Lee. Both are free agents next year.
Luke Scott, however, might be the best option if the Mariners can get him at a reasonable price. Scott, a left-handed hitter who plays left field, currently has eight home runs and has always been known as a guy that adds immediate power to a lineup.
He enters his last year of arbitration next year, so it wouldn't be a perfect half-season rental.
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Jason Kubel/Michael Cuddyer, Minnesota Twins
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The Minnesota Twins have improved as of late,but might still be sellers in a couple of weeks.
Jason Kubel and Michael Cuddyer, both free agents after the year, would probably be the biggest targets on the Mariners' mind.
Kubel, a left-handed hitter, currently sits on the DL. But he was hitting .310 with five home runs and 30 RBI before he went out. He has played mostly right field and DH this year, but has played plenty of left field throughout his career.
Cuddyer is a right-handed hitter and currently owns a .280 batting average with 10 home runs and 28 RBI. He has played all over the field throughout his career, and the Mariners could eventually stick him at either third base or left field as well as second or right to give some guys days off.
Chris Coghlan, Florida Marlins
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The Florida Marlins are in shambles right now and will probably be willing to listen to offers on anyone.
Chris Coghlan, the 2009 Rookie of the Year, was just placed on the DL right as he was about to be demoted to Triple-A.
I'm not ready to give up on Coghlan just yet, and if he can prove that he's healthy in a couple of weeks, I wouldn't mind attempting to buy low on the 26-year-old. He's set to hit his first year of arbitration next year, but he shouldn't be too expensive.
Coghlan wouldn't just be a short-term fix, either. It's risky, but he has the potential to be the Mariners' left fielder for the next five years.
Ryan Ludwick, San Diego Padres
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The San Diego Padres aren't going anywhere this year, and it's unlikely that the 32-year-old Ryan Ludwick is part of their future plans.
The up-coming free agent is a perfect midseason rental who has the potential of being a fix for the next one or two seasons.
Ludwick's numbers of .260, nine home runs and 45 RBI don't stand out, but remember that he is playing in a big ballpark with almost no lineup protection around him. Ludwick plays left field almost exclusively and would be an immediate upgrade that wouldn't cost too much.
Hunter Pence, Houston Astros
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Hunter Pence hasn't played anywhere other than right field in the last three years, but he is a good fielder and a move to left probably wouldn't be out of the question.
Pence has been terrific this year, hitting .321 with nine homers and 51 RBI. The right-hander probably wouldn't provide a whole lot of power at Safeco Field but can add plenty of timely hitting and gap power. Things that are essential for the Mariners' offense.
The Astros will almost assuredly be selling, and Hunter Pence is one of their hottest trade chips. Pence might be a little expensive, but I wouldn't mind losing some prospects to get him.
Carlos Beltran, New York Mets
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The New York Mets have improved as of late and aren't absolute sellers anymore. However, if they do decide to sell, Carlos Beltran is an intriguing option.
The switch-hitting Beltran is currently hitting .288 with 10 home runs and 44 RBI, and the always solid center fielder would probably be terrific defensively if put in left next to Franklin Gutierrez.
Beltran would probably cost the Mariners more than anyone on the list, and with his injury problems over the last few years, it is a risky move.
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