MLB Trade Rumors: Every Team’s Top Trade Candidate
Which MLB Players Could be Traded?
We are now about a quarter of the way through the 2013 MLB season and discussion is going to start about which players could be traded at the deadline. I think we are going to see a lot of movement even with the extra wild card spot being in play. I have put together the one player on each team that I could see being traded. I think that there are some surprising names that end up on this list.
It is obvious that all of these players aren’t going to be moved, especially if their team is in first place or is close to that point. It is a way to look at which players though could be traded to improve the current product on the field. As play started on May 16, there were 16 teams above the .500 mark with another three within two games of that point. There aren’t very many teams looking to completely unload, but some of these players are worth tracking to see if they get moved.
There are players in the final year of their contract and others that are having terrible years that could be moved to bring in better players. I even included some players who are injured right now but could improve their trade value when they return from the disabled list. I’m sure that the trade deadline is going to include many of these names. The statistics included in this article are through play on May 15. Here is my look at each team’s top trade target as we hit the middle of May and the beginning of trade season arrives.
Andy Schmidt is a columnist/writer for RantSports. Follow him on Twitter @ASchmidtSports, like his Facebook page or add him to your network on Google.
Arizona Diamondbacks: Ian Kennedy
Kennedy is just 2-3 with a 4.88 ERA. It is possible that he could be moved if he can’t turn things around for the Diamondbacks.
Atlanta Braves: Chris Johnson
Johnson played a lot earlier this season but is in a platoon now. He is hitting .324 with three home runs and 12 RBIs and could be looked at by another team as a starter.
Baltimore Orioles: Nate McLouth
McLouth started red-hot but has cooled off in a big way over the last week. Baltimore may want to look for another corner outfielder.
Boston Red Sox: Jacoby Ellsbury
Ellsbury is in the final year of his contract and if the Red Sox fall out of contention, getting something back for him would be better than nothing at the end of the year.
Chicago Cubs: Matt Garza
Garza hasn’t pitched at all this season but is easily the biggest trade chip on the team. I have to believe he will be traded by July.
Chicago White Sox: Jake Peavy
Peavy may be one of the few bright spots this season for the White Sox with a 5-1 record. He could get a good return if the White Sox don’t turn their offense around.
Cincinnati Reds: Mike Leake
This is a wild card obviously. Leake is 3-2 with a 3.72 ERA but with Johnny Cueto returning sooner than later, a decision needs to be made about the starting rotation.
Cleveland Indians: Mark Reynolds
Reynolds has 11 home runs on the season but could be looked as a late-season power pickup at the trade deadline.
Colorado Rockies: Dexter Fowler
Fowler has battled some injury issues but has hit eight home runs already. Colorado might want to look to trade him if they don’t see the playoffs in their future.
Detroit Tigers: Octavio Dotel
Dotel has been awful this season with a 13.50 ERA and is on the disabled list right now. The Tigers should be considering other late-inning options and that includes trading Dotel.
Houston Astros: Bud Norris
Norris might be 4-4 on the season, but he has most of Houston’s victories. He should be traded in July to get more prospects back.
Kansas City Royals: Wade Davis
Davis hasn’t been what the Royals wanted so far with a 3-3 record and a 5.98 ERA. He is either headed for the bullpen or out of town if things don’t change.
Los Angeles Angels: Peter Bourjos
It is a crowded outfield with the Angels and while Bourjos is out right now, he could be traded at the deadline for some more pitching.
Los Angeles Dodgers: Andre Ethier
It has been a struggle for Ethier all season with the high expectations on the Dodgers. It is possible that the team might want to go in a different direction.
Miami Marlins: Giancarlo Stanton
This is an obvious suggestion. Stanton is the player that would bring the most back in a trade and everyone knows the Marlins aren’t close to a championship.
Milwaukee Brewers: Rickie Weeks
Weeks has struggled a lot over the last two years with his batting average. The Brewers might not want to trade him, but he is 30 years old now and probably won’t improve.
Minnesota Twins: Josh Willingham
The Twins are a team that wasn’t expected to do much, and trading Willingham could bring back some needed talent for the future.
New York Mets: Ike Davis
Davis has been one of the biggest disappointments around. He is hitting just .164 on the season. He might turn it around and that can only improve his trade value if the Mets want to do that.
New York Yankees: Vernon Wells
There is zero doubt that Wells is the comeback player of the year with his .301 average, 10 home runs and 23 RBIs. The injured Yankee players are returning though and Wells is now expendable for the right price.
Oakland Athletics: Bartolo Colon
Colon could be looked at as the father of the Oakland rotation. He will get traded though if the Athletics don’t improve quickly, even with a 4.56 ERA.
Philadelphia Phillies: Cliff Lee
Lee is the lone good high-priced starter on the Phillies at this point with a 4-2 record and 2.86 ERA. He has a huge salary but could be moved if Philadelphia falls any deeper in their division.
Pittsburgh Pirates: Mark Melancon
The turnaround for Melancon this year has been great as he has a sparkling 0.43 ERA right now. I’m sure other teams see a potential closer there if the Pirates want to trade him away.
San Diego Padres: Carlos Quentin
Quentin is batting just .181 but could be used to pick up a young player or two in a trade, especially if San Diego wants to begin rebuilding.
San Francisco Giants: Ryan Vogelsong
A pitcher that has fallen off the face of the earth is Vogelsong with his 8.03 ERA. The Giants might not get much for him at this point, but a few good starts could increase his value.
Seattle Mariners: Michael Morse
Morse was red-hot to start this season, cooled off and is now hitting better again. Seattle might be tempted to move Morse to give some young players playing time later this summer if they fall out of the race.
St. Louis Cardinals: Jake Westbrook
Westbrook has been one of the best pitchers in the game this year. If St. Louis were to collapse, Westbrook would probably be the first to go.
Tampa Bay Rays: David Price
The Rays have been struggling and Price could be seen as a pitcher to be traded to get even more prospects, especially with free agency looming.
Texas Rangers: Lance Berkman
Berkman may be hitting .293 but I’m not sure how much longer his solid start will last. The Rangers lead the division right now but might look into trading him if they can pick up a better player.
Toronto Blue Jays: Josh Johnson
Johnson was the biggest pitcher in the huge Blue Jays trade this winter. He is 0-1 with a 6.86 ERA and is now on the DL. There is value there if he can return and pitch solidly.
Washington Nationals: Drew Storen
The closer of the future in Washington appears to have lost that position forever. He is still young though and could bring two or three prospects in a trade.
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