Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline is just 10 days away and that means the teams that believe they have a chance to reach the post-season will try to get better while those that have thrown in the towel will try to get better next year – or sometime in the next decade.
Already this month, the Toronto Blue Jays have moved expensive veteran Juan Rivera to the Los Angeles Dodgers for future considerations and the New York Mets have dealt closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Milwaukee Brewers for two players to be named later.
There is definitely more to come. The question is: Which teams are real contenders and therefore real buyers and which teams will start dumping as many veterans as they can possibly unload?
Most teams, it would appear, are like Cleveland — cautious. A surprisingly good team, the Indians are battling Detroit for first place in the AL Central. However, it’s unlikely they’ll do anything to shake up a good thing even though manager Manny Acta has told www.cleveleand.com that his team “desperately” needs to make a deal.
After all, on Tuesday night in Minnesota, he had to use backup second baseman Luis Valbuena in leftfield (the first time he’d ever played the position) because of injuries to Grady Sizemore and Shin-Soo Choo. Velbuena misplayed a fly ball in the ninth inning that probably cost Cleveland the game and as a result, don’t be surprised if the Indians take a look at St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Ryan Ludwick or Oakland’s Josh Willingham — as long it doesn’t cost them too much.
Meanwhile, other teams that could try to improve by adding a veteran or two are Philadelphia, the Yankees, Boston, the White Sox, Texas, the Angels and Atlanta. The Brewers, meanwhile, might not be done making moves while both the Giants and Arizona could be interested.
On the other hand, watch for Toronto, Baltimore, the Mets and Houston to start ridding themselves of older players.
Here’s a list of 10 legitimate trade rumours. In fact, I wouldn’t be surprised if some of these rumours actually came to fruition:
1) Florida Marlins: It has been reported in a number of news outlets that there’s “a good chance” closer Leo Nunez will be traded before the July 31 non-waiver deadline. The Miami Herald pointed out that Nunez has one more season of arbitration eligibility, but it’s extremely unlikely the Marlins will want to absorb “an expected salary increase from his current $3.65 million yearly salary.”
2) Arizona Diamondbacks: The D-Backs are expected to try to make a deal for a veteran reliever. Now that Rodriguez has been dealt to the Brewers, Arizona is looking at the Mets’ Jason Isringhausen and the Cubs’ Kerry Wood. Trouble with the Wood rumour is that he has a no-trade clause. The Arizona Republic is reporting that the D-Backs have talked to Toronto about any one of Frank Francisco, Shaun Camp, Jon Rauch, Jason Frasor and Octavio Dotel.
3) Toronto Blue Jays: It’s very likely the Jays will trade a reliever or two. Octavio Dotel is almost certainly going to be traded. Meanwhile, the Jays will try to move Edwin Encarnacion, but they are also talking to St. Louis about acquiring outfielder Colby Rasmus.
4) Baltimore Orioles: The O’s were supposed to be so much better this year and now, as they fade into oblivion, expect a handful of these guys to be trad bait. It’s actually possible (although not likely) that J. J. Hardy, Mark Reynolds, Jeremy Guthrie, Derek Lee, Luke Scott, Nick Markakis and Adam Jones could all be moved by July 31.
5) Houston Astros: This is a team ready to sell — sell it all, in fact. Word out of Houston is that young pitchers Bud Norris, 26, Mark Melancon, 26, and Jordan Lyles, 20, are the only players the Astros would NOT consider trading.
6) New York Mets: Carlos Beltran will be traded. The only questions are: when, to whom and for how much? As well, don’t be surprised if the Mets try to make a deal for Jose Reyes. He’s in the final year of his contract, the Mets are virtually broke and he’ll command a load of prospects. It’s not as far-fetched as it sounds.
7) Atlanta Braves: The Braves believe they have a shot at Philly and also a shot at the Wild Card and they’ll try to add veteran help. Dodgers SS Rafael Furcal will likely be available and the Braves would like to add a veteran at that position (trading away Yunel Escobar was not smart). The Braves also have a couple of decent prospects at Triple A ready to go and they could use Derek Lowe as trade bait.
Detroit Tigers: The Tigers might be interested in Beltran as a leftfielder if the price is right. However, Detroit really wants a veteran starter. Manager Jim Leyland doesn’t really believe that Charlie Furbush is the answer and there has been some talk that the Tigers would make an offer for Hiroki Kuroda if the Dodgers wanted to deal.
9) San Diego Padres: Closer Heath Bell is a wanted man. In fact, he’s told the L.A. Times already that he figures he’ll end up in the uniform of the Angels, Yankees, Cardinals, Rangers or Phillies. Apparently the Rays are also interested.
10) Colorado Rockies: On the surface, it’s crazy talk. The Rockies are apparently considering trading their ace, Ubaldo Jimenez. The Rockies are, evidently, concerned that Jimenez might be out of their price range when contract negotiations come up next season, so why not deal him now and get something exceptional for him in return. Certainly, the Yankees are interested. I doubt Rockies GM Dan O’Dowd will make a move, but then again, I didn’t think anyone would trade for Vernon Wells and we all know that the Angels pulled the trigger on a guy who is currently making $23 million this season and is hitting .218 with 14 homers and 35 RBI.
