Post by Philadelphia Phillies on Jun 2, 2017 11:33:07 GMT -5
We are almost halfway through the regular season and the playoff picture is still very muddied. The trade deadline is coming up soon and it’s possible that there may be some trades that don’t involve the NL Central. Plenty of buyers and several sellers with good pieces should make this a very active month coming up. With that in mind, I am going to focus on the deadline implications for this edition.
Ranking (Previous Ranking). (Record) (Total Points)
Biggest Rise:
Minnesota Twins (+11)
Largest Fall:
Cleveland Indians (-15)
Buyers
1(2). Braves (48-39) (1947.217): The Braves have held a consistent point lead on the rest of the league (by a lot) for a long time now and have dominated the starting pitching categories. I had written about how the Braves could use a starter, and then they traded for Verlander and Gibson, so that I guess I was right. If the Braves do make another move before the deadline, it will probably be to add a relief pitcher to replace Chapman, or potentially add a consistently starting Catcher as the Ianetta/Narvaez combination could be due for an upgrade.
2(13). Twins (46-31) (1686.873): The last time I wrote, the Twins were 12 back in the division. Since then, the Twins have scored the most points by a considerable amount and are only one game back of a freefalling Indians team for the lead in the division. As the hottest team in the league, the Twins do not have many weaknesses at the moment, but may be looking to upgrade at first with Napoli looking like 2017 retiree. The Twins could also try to boost the rotation as their rotation outside of Kluber has seriously underperformed on the year.
3(5). Phillies (53-24) (1893.16): The Phillies have been solidly in the #2 spot for overall points for most of the year and have done it with a lineup that has largely stayed healthy. With Kinsler returning from a short DL stint next week, the lineup does not need to fill any holes. The starting pitching, on the other hand, could certainly use an upgrade as Tyler Anderson (5.85 ERA) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (2 quality starts on the year). I will be looking to upgrade my starters as the deadline approaches.
4(3). Padres (46-31) (1783.983): Despite having one of the top offensive teams overall, the Pads have actually gotten poor production out of the Catcher and Center field positions. I would not be surprised to see the Pads trade some depth to shore up those spots. The more likely upgrade goal is in the rotation or bullpen. Andriese and Griffin are on the DL, but they shouldn’t be there for too long, but Griffin might not have a rotation spot when he is due to return and with Blake Snell having pitched himself to a demotion, the Padres’ rotation looks like it’s probably only going to be 4 deep. The bullpen has gotten essentially nothing from people not named Addison Reed, so I would be very surprised if the white and midnight blue don’t add a pitcher or 3 before the deadline.
5(6). Reds (48-29) (1743.74): The NL Central has been and will be a dog fight down to the bitter end and no team has performed better than the Reds (even if the Cubs have marginally outscored them). With the largest bench in the league on offense, the Reds, like San Diego, could trade some depth to get better production in other places, but even with the Freeman injury, the Cincy offense does not have many glaring holes. SS or 3B could be a target as Tim Beckham is probably the weakest link at the moment. With Skaggs due to come off the DL in June and Matz in the next week or so, the 4 man rotation might upgrade itself without the need for Cincy to make a move. Of all the teams mentioned so far, the Reds might benefit the most from a quiet trade deadline.
6(7). Red Sox (52-25) (1710.767): The BoSox continue to consistently churn out wins and now have the second best record in the league despite losing Starling Marte. SS has been a black hole with Semien on the DL, but he is due to return in the next couple weeks. The bigger move might be to replace an epically struggling Kole Calhoun in Right. The lineup is probably going to be fine either way. The rotation could use some help however. Archer and Cueto could use some help as Arroyo/Chacin/Peralta inspire little to no confidence. I would be surprised if the Red Sox don’t at least try to add a starter at the deadline.
7(12). Cardinals (44-33) (1703.913): Like everyone else, the Cards are right in the thick of the NL Central race and the Wild Card. They would be smart to look for a new SS as Erick Aybar is hitting below the Mendoza Line now after a very hot start to the season. The Cards could also use some help in CF after the Trout injury. The rotation is five deep at the moment and all five are pitching well, so I don’t think the Cards will be too pressed to add an arm.
8(8). Rays (47-30) (1703.337): The Rays have played well enough to hold onto a nice 4 game cushion from being outside of the playoffs. Assuming that Tommy Joseph keeps hitting like it’s May and not like April, the only week spot in the Rays lineup is 2B, where the can certainly find an upgrade for the Spangenburg/Rosales combo. Other than that, the Rays look primed for a playoff run. The rotation is deep and solid. It should be interesting to see if they can make up the deficit in the AL East.
9(17). Yankees (43-34) (1603.623): It is pretty likely that my real life hatred of the Yankees has clouded my ability to Judge (pun!) this team. The Yanks do not look like they are going away any time soon. CF is a weak spot in an otherwise very good lineup and the Yankees have enough prospect depth to get a stud there, but would probably be wiser to use their prospects to add a starter if they choose to make a deal. With Finnegan starting a rehab assignment and Dinelson Lamet dealing in his first ML starts, even that might not be needed. The young guns are making the Bombers look like a playoff team that no one should want to face in the playoffs.
10(10). Cubs (40-37) (1751.843): The Cubbies have the 4th most points in the league overall and most in the NL Central, but find themselves in last place. They are still well within shouting distance of the division and wild card, but are going to need some better luck. The lineup is good outside of Delino DeShields manning CF. The Cubs could choose to look for a legitimate starting center or look for a more legitimate back end of the rotation as I do not think that Dickey, Cashner, or Nolasco are going to help them much in their quest to get out of the Central cellar.
11(11). Rangers (44-33) (1585.303): At the beginning of the year, I expected the Rangers and Astros to be battling hard for the West division. That might still be the case, but not at the top of the AL as expected. The Rangers recently got Donaldson back, which could be the difference maker in the division. RF is an offensive need as I have little faith in Danny Valencia. Hammel’s apparent demise and Hamels’ extended DL stint make the back end of the rotation suspect and it would not surprise me if the Rangers try to grab a starter in June at some point.
12(14). Astros (41-36) (1574.49): Despite outplaying the Rangers by a fairly large margin since the previous power rankings, the ‘Stros have actually lost ground in the division. Houston could use a better LF, as Aoki has just not performed, but otherwise have no real weaknesses on offense. The rotation has been plagued by injuries though and may need some help if they want to leap over the Rangers in the West. With Shelby Miller out for the year, Tillman/Liriano pitching horribly and Aaron Sanchez out indefinitely, the Astros might be forced to move for a starter or two.
13(9). Pirates (45-32) (1635.27): The NL Central is by far the deepest division, with 5 legitimate playoff contenders. The Pirates are no exception and just added a big piece in Mark Reynolds to an already solid lineup. The Pirates could use a CF and maybe a 3B, but otherwise have solid contributions coming from around the diamond. The rotation is another story. Sale is looking like the league MVP, but Miguel Gonzalez is not a strong number 2 starter no matter how you look at it. The Pirates will probably be looking to find someone to pair with Sale for a playoff run.
14(21). Marlins (39-38) (1541.753): The Marlins are recovering nicely from a slow start and are right in the thick of things for the Wild Card. Mike Zunino looks like a lost cause at Catcher, but with the addition of Zimmerman, the offense is solid. The rotation, while deep, could use some help. Even though I expect Harvey to pitch much better, Zimmermann, Straily, and Butler’s histories suggest they won’t be very helpful down the stretch. The Marlins need to climb out of a hole and adding a pitcher might be the best way to do that.
15(15). Brewers (42-35) (1551.427): The lineup has had quite a few players that have played beyond my expectations and one severe disappointment (Ian Desmond). That being said, I do not think that the Brewers need to make many moves on the offensive side of the ball. The Brew Crew are down to only 4 healthy starters, however, and only Samardzija has pitched well. If they want to hang in a very tough NL Central in the second half, Jeff is going to need some help.
16(1). Indians (47-30) (1570.54): I jinxed the shit out of the Indians. Since I put them #1 in the power rankings and pronounced them a playoff lock, the Indians have ranked 25th in points and have been almost doubled by the Twins in the same stretch. They are still clinging to the #1 spot in the Central, but the once 12 game lead has fallen to 1 in the blink of an eye. The collapse has been shocking. Schwarber has been terrible and the Cubs will have to consider benching him soon. Same goes for the Grandy Man in NY, so the Indians may need to look for some outfield help. The bullpen and rotation are in good shape though, so I expect the Indians to halt the freefall a bit, just maybe no enough to hold onto the division.
17(4). Giants (40-37) (1543.7): Eric Thames and Wil Myers stopped destroying the baseball world and so did the Giants, but that is more a product of injuries than anything. Pedroia, Turner, Pederson, Hechavarria, and Matt Duffy are all currently on the DL, leaving a mangled lineup. Somewhat fortunately, they are all supposed to be back in June and should be back soon enough that the Giants can still compete for the playoffs. Injuries should dictate the Giants’ needs moving forward on the defense as well as Duffy and Karns find themselves on the DL as well and should be back soon. Even with them healthy, the G-Men could use a starter at the deadline.
18(19). Royals (41-36) (1359.683): The Royals continue to outplay their peripherals, similar to the short-lived dynasty of not too long ago in real-life KC. Deven Marrero at 3B, Alicides Escobar at shot, and Ezequiel Carrera in Left could all be due for an upgrade on the offense, which is not receiving the performances from veteran studs that one would expect. The Royals, should they choose to buy, are also going to be looking for some new 5-6 starters as Ubaldo looks done and Smyly’s return is a big question mark at this point.
On the Fence
19(18). Mariners (39-38) (1371.48): Similarly to the Royals, the Mariners have outplayed their point scoring a bit throughout the year. They are still over .500 and barring some setbacks, should have the ability to make a playoff run, but they will probably need to make a move or two to truly compete. Seth Smith is on the good side of a platoon, but is still a platoon player in left. Rupp is just not performing in Philly and Matt Adams has yet to adjust to Atlanta and greater playing time. Therefore, LF, 1B and C should be on the Mariners’ radar. It will also be interesting to see if Brad Miller remembered how to hit after getting injured. Injuries have ravaged the bullpen in Seattle and they should certainly add an arm with Ottavino on the DL. The rotation is a man down and could certainly use an ace. The Mariners might have the pieces to add one.
20(16). Angels (35-42) (1371.24): A part of me has been rooting hard for the Angels to make a comeback after an extremely unlucky start to the season and some savvy trades to try to hang in the race, but it is starting to look like it might not be possible. Assuming CarGo2 comes back soon to man center, the only big hole that is going to need filling would be 2B as Danny Espinosa is losing time to a AAAA player now. The return of David Price should obviously a rotation that would look very good now if Salazar and Glasnow were pitching to their abilities. The Angels need a good couple weeks if they want to hang in the race.
21(20). Orioles (38-39) (1351.303): The Orioles are not done yet and their record should probably be worse considering their performance, but the offense is starting to hit and this team could be dangerous if they pitching follows suit. The O’s do have holes on offense with Saunders in LF expected to lose significant playing time with Howie Kendrick’s return and the Catching position being a black hole. Gausman and Ian Kennedy have to pitch better, but even if they do, the Orioles could use some more starting rotation depth.
22(25). Nationals (33-44) (1307.713): The Nats can continue to hang onto hope of sneaking into the second Wild Card and have played well over the past couple weeks. With Dansby Swanson starting to look like a young stud again, the Nats have some solid position players. Also Andrelton Simmons is the 7th ranked SS – wow. Castellanos and Bird are looking like busts, so at the very least, I think the Nats would need to add a quality 1B to make a run. The rotation is not a problem, although adding a 6th start could certainly help a team that will need to get desperate to hang in the playoff hunt.
Sellers
23(22). Mets (30-47) (1319.793): The Mets, like real-life, had a lot of promise heading into the season, but injuries have done them in. The Mets have 2 prime trade candidates with expiring contracts that are too high to extend at this point in Neil Walker and Melky Cabrera. They are both solid regulars that could help a contender down the stretch and I would be very surprised if they are still in Flushing come August.
24(24). Rockies (30-47) (1283.39): The Rockies have already begun to sell, shipping Mark Reynolds out of town and seem to have accepted their fate for 2017. A lot of teams could use catchers and the Rockies could move Wieters and his 2 years remaining. The more likely movers are Carlos Beltran and Howie Kendrick. Both have expiring contracts and, while not great in any sense, can certainly plug some holes for a desperate team.
25(23). Diamondbacks (28-49) (1271.49): The DBacks do not have a ton of pieces that make a lot of sense to move. The expiring contracts are Brett Anderson and Zack Cosart. Anderson has been awful and is currently on the DL. He will need to come back and pitch well if Zona is going to get anything for him. Cosart has been really really good and assuming there isn’t a second half collapse, will need to be extended, so there is a strong incentive to keep him. The most likely movers might be Wade Miley and Kimbrel who have reasonable team options for next year and are pitching well. If the DBacks don’t plan to make a run in 2018 (which I doubt), it would make a lot of sense for those 2 to move.
26(26). Tigers (12-38) (23-54): The Tigers probably won’t be ready to compete in 2018 either so, they will probably be looking to move all of their veterans. Joe Mauer’s value is probably as high as it is ever going to be as he has hit well so far this year. The 28M price tag and 18 for ’18 will scare a lot of teams away though. Alex Gordon and Span’s contracts might be unmovable with their poor performance and injury problems, respectively. Overall, the Tigers might have trouble finding trading partners this year though so I would not be surprised if they stand pat at the deadline.
27(27). Blue Jays (29-48) (1025.343): At this point, the only veteran on the roster with any real value is Russell Martin. Although his contract is not great (23/20/17), Russell could help a lot of contenders and is one of the better Catchers though, so he should be able to find a new home by the deadline. Scott Kazmir is a dark horse candidate to bring some return if his rehab goes well. Kazmir is more likely to move at the ’18 trade deadline though.
28(30). White Sox (25-52) (898.34): Brandon Phillips is the obvious candidate to move and he has been on the block for a while. I can’t imagine that he will still be in the South Side in August. He has been a top tier 2B and someone will snatch him up either due to injury or for an upgrade. Bartolo’s fat ass looked like a nice trade chip not long ago, but that chip has been eaten. James Shields is due to return from injury, but his contract and recent struggles will probably prevent much of a return. With a dearth of solid RPs and an aging Gerardo Parra however, it looks like the ChiSox will me one of the most active sellers at the deadline.
29(28). Athletics (21-56) (987.47): Oakland has already gone through a massive selling of assets, but they might not be done. The A’s do not have many game-changing assets other than Harper, but I think it is clear the A’s have no intention of moving him. There are some solid relievers on the squad that could be moved for a low tier prospect, but the only real return I can see would be for Sonny Gray. The A’s have floated him on the block, but with 2 arbitration years remaining, they won’t be in any rush to move him. If he pitches well moving forward, however, someone might be able to pry him away.
30(29). Dodgers (18-59) (805.017): The Dodgers have reclaimed their rightful place on the bottom of the Rankings after Bellinger and Benintendi have come back down to Earth. Yasmani Grandal is playing well enough to earn a fairly cheap extension at the end of the year and it might be needed to avoid a huge increase in his final year of arbitration. I would not be entirely surprised if the Dodgers sell high on him to avoid that possible tough decision. JJ Hardy is still alive and Buck Showalter is still giving him regular starts, so he is a decent possibility to be move if a team is desperate for someone to play short. The Dodgers would love to move Melancon, but that contract will be tough to find a buyer.
Ranking (Previous Ranking). (Record) (Total Points)
Biggest Rise:
Minnesota Twins (+11)
Largest Fall:
Cleveland Indians (-15)
Buyers
1(2). Braves (48-39) (1947.217): The Braves have held a consistent point lead on the rest of the league (by a lot) for a long time now and have dominated the starting pitching categories. I had written about how the Braves could use a starter, and then they traded for Verlander and Gibson, so that I guess I was right. If the Braves do make another move before the deadline, it will probably be to add a relief pitcher to replace Chapman, or potentially add a consistently starting Catcher as the Ianetta/Narvaez combination could be due for an upgrade.
2(13). Twins (46-31) (1686.873): The last time I wrote, the Twins were 12 back in the division. Since then, the Twins have scored the most points by a considerable amount and are only one game back of a freefalling Indians team for the lead in the division. As the hottest team in the league, the Twins do not have many weaknesses at the moment, but may be looking to upgrade at first with Napoli looking like 2017 retiree. The Twins could also try to boost the rotation as their rotation outside of Kluber has seriously underperformed on the year.
3(5). Phillies (53-24) (1893.16): The Phillies have been solidly in the #2 spot for overall points for most of the year and have done it with a lineup that has largely stayed healthy. With Kinsler returning from a short DL stint next week, the lineup does not need to fill any holes. The starting pitching, on the other hand, could certainly use an upgrade as Tyler Anderson (5.85 ERA) and Hyun-Jin Ryu (2 quality starts on the year). I will be looking to upgrade my starters as the deadline approaches.
4(3). Padres (46-31) (1783.983): Despite having one of the top offensive teams overall, the Pads have actually gotten poor production out of the Catcher and Center field positions. I would not be surprised to see the Pads trade some depth to shore up those spots. The more likely upgrade goal is in the rotation or bullpen. Andriese and Griffin are on the DL, but they shouldn’t be there for too long, but Griffin might not have a rotation spot when he is due to return and with Blake Snell having pitched himself to a demotion, the Padres’ rotation looks like it’s probably only going to be 4 deep. The bullpen has gotten essentially nothing from people not named Addison Reed, so I would be very surprised if the white and midnight blue don’t add a pitcher or 3 before the deadline.
5(6). Reds (48-29) (1743.74): The NL Central has been and will be a dog fight down to the bitter end and no team has performed better than the Reds (even if the Cubs have marginally outscored them). With the largest bench in the league on offense, the Reds, like San Diego, could trade some depth to get better production in other places, but even with the Freeman injury, the Cincy offense does not have many glaring holes. SS or 3B could be a target as Tim Beckham is probably the weakest link at the moment. With Skaggs due to come off the DL in June and Matz in the next week or so, the 4 man rotation might upgrade itself without the need for Cincy to make a move. Of all the teams mentioned so far, the Reds might benefit the most from a quiet trade deadline.
6(7). Red Sox (52-25) (1710.767): The BoSox continue to consistently churn out wins and now have the second best record in the league despite losing Starling Marte. SS has been a black hole with Semien on the DL, but he is due to return in the next couple weeks. The bigger move might be to replace an epically struggling Kole Calhoun in Right. The lineup is probably going to be fine either way. The rotation could use some help however. Archer and Cueto could use some help as Arroyo/Chacin/Peralta inspire little to no confidence. I would be surprised if the Red Sox don’t at least try to add a starter at the deadline.
7(12). Cardinals (44-33) (1703.913): Like everyone else, the Cards are right in the thick of the NL Central race and the Wild Card. They would be smart to look for a new SS as Erick Aybar is hitting below the Mendoza Line now after a very hot start to the season. The Cards could also use some help in CF after the Trout injury. The rotation is five deep at the moment and all five are pitching well, so I don’t think the Cards will be too pressed to add an arm.
8(8). Rays (47-30) (1703.337): The Rays have played well enough to hold onto a nice 4 game cushion from being outside of the playoffs. Assuming that Tommy Joseph keeps hitting like it’s May and not like April, the only week spot in the Rays lineup is 2B, where the can certainly find an upgrade for the Spangenburg/Rosales combo. Other than that, the Rays look primed for a playoff run. The rotation is deep and solid. It should be interesting to see if they can make up the deficit in the AL East.
9(17). Yankees (43-34) (1603.623): It is pretty likely that my real life hatred of the Yankees has clouded my ability to Judge (pun!) this team. The Yanks do not look like they are going away any time soon. CF is a weak spot in an otherwise very good lineup and the Yankees have enough prospect depth to get a stud there, but would probably be wiser to use their prospects to add a starter if they choose to make a deal. With Finnegan starting a rehab assignment and Dinelson Lamet dealing in his first ML starts, even that might not be needed. The young guns are making the Bombers look like a playoff team that no one should want to face in the playoffs.
10(10). Cubs (40-37) (1751.843): The Cubbies have the 4th most points in the league overall and most in the NL Central, but find themselves in last place. They are still well within shouting distance of the division and wild card, but are going to need some better luck. The lineup is good outside of Delino DeShields manning CF. The Cubs could choose to look for a legitimate starting center or look for a more legitimate back end of the rotation as I do not think that Dickey, Cashner, or Nolasco are going to help them much in their quest to get out of the Central cellar.
11(11). Rangers (44-33) (1585.303): At the beginning of the year, I expected the Rangers and Astros to be battling hard for the West division. That might still be the case, but not at the top of the AL as expected. The Rangers recently got Donaldson back, which could be the difference maker in the division. RF is an offensive need as I have little faith in Danny Valencia. Hammel’s apparent demise and Hamels’ extended DL stint make the back end of the rotation suspect and it would not surprise me if the Rangers try to grab a starter in June at some point.
12(14). Astros (41-36) (1574.49): Despite outplaying the Rangers by a fairly large margin since the previous power rankings, the ‘Stros have actually lost ground in the division. Houston could use a better LF, as Aoki has just not performed, but otherwise have no real weaknesses on offense. The rotation has been plagued by injuries though and may need some help if they want to leap over the Rangers in the West. With Shelby Miller out for the year, Tillman/Liriano pitching horribly and Aaron Sanchez out indefinitely, the Astros might be forced to move for a starter or two.
13(9). Pirates (45-32) (1635.27): The NL Central is by far the deepest division, with 5 legitimate playoff contenders. The Pirates are no exception and just added a big piece in Mark Reynolds to an already solid lineup. The Pirates could use a CF and maybe a 3B, but otherwise have solid contributions coming from around the diamond. The rotation is another story. Sale is looking like the league MVP, but Miguel Gonzalez is not a strong number 2 starter no matter how you look at it. The Pirates will probably be looking to find someone to pair with Sale for a playoff run.
14(21). Marlins (39-38) (1541.753): The Marlins are recovering nicely from a slow start and are right in the thick of things for the Wild Card. Mike Zunino looks like a lost cause at Catcher, but with the addition of Zimmerman, the offense is solid. The rotation, while deep, could use some help. Even though I expect Harvey to pitch much better, Zimmermann, Straily, and Butler’s histories suggest they won’t be very helpful down the stretch. The Marlins need to climb out of a hole and adding a pitcher might be the best way to do that.
15(15). Brewers (42-35) (1551.427): The lineup has had quite a few players that have played beyond my expectations and one severe disappointment (Ian Desmond). That being said, I do not think that the Brewers need to make many moves on the offensive side of the ball. The Brew Crew are down to only 4 healthy starters, however, and only Samardzija has pitched well. If they want to hang in a very tough NL Central in the second half, Jeff is going to need some help.
16(1). Indians (47-30) (1570.54): I jinxed the shit out of the Indians. Since I put them #1 in the power rankings and pronounced them a playoff lock, the Indians have ranked 25th in points and have been almost doubled by the Twins in the same stretch. They are still clinging to the #1 spot in the Central, but the once 12 game lead has fallen to 1 in the blink of an eye. The collapse has been shocking. Schwarber has been terrible and the Cubs will have to consider benching him soon. Same goes for the Grandy Man in NY, so the Indians may need to look for some outfield help. The bullpen and rotation are in good shape though, so I expect the Indians to halt the freefall a bit, just maybe no enough to hold onto the division.
17(4). Giants (40-37) (1543.7): Eric Thames and Wil Myers stopped destroying the baseball world and so did the Giants, but that is more a product of injuries than anything. Pedroia, Turner, Pederson, Hechavarria, and Matt Duffy are all currently on the DL, leaving a mangled lineup. Somewhat fortunately, they are all supposed to be back in June and should be back soon enough that the Giants can still compete for the playoffs. Injuries should dictate the Giants’ needs moving forward on the defense as well as Duffy and Karns find themselves on the DL as well and should be back soon. Even with them healthy, the G-Men could use a starter at the deadline.
18(19). Royals (41-36) (1359.683): The Royals continue to outplay their peripherals, similar to the short-lived dynasty of not too long ago in real-life KC. Deven Marrero at 3B, Alicides Escobar at shot, and Ezequiel Carrera in Left could all be due for an upgrade on the offense, which is not receiving the performances from veteran studs that one would expect. The Royals, should they choose to buy, are also going to be looking for some new 5-6 starters as Ubaldo looks done and Smyly’s return is a big question mark at this point.
On the Fence
19(18). Mariners (39-38) (1371.48): Similarly to the Royals, the Mariners have outplayed their point scoring a bit throughout the year. They are still over .500 and barring some setbacks, should have the ability to make a playoff run, but they will probably need to make a move or two to truly compete. Seth Smith is on the good side of a platoon, but is still a platoon player in left. Rupp is just not performing in Philly and Matt Adams has yet to adjust to Atlanta and greater playing time. Therefore, LF, 1B and C should be on the Mariners’ radar. It will also be interesting to see if Brad Miller remembered how to hit after getting injured. Injuries have ravaged the bullpen in Seattle and they should certainly add an arm with Ottavino on the DL. The rotation is a man down and could certainly use an ace. The Mariners might have the pieces to add one.
20(16). Angels (35-42) (1371.24): A part of me has been rooting hard for the Angels to make a comeback after an extremely unlucky start to the season and some savvy trades to try to hang in the race, but it is starting to look like it might not be possible. Assuming CarGo2 comes back soon to man center, the only big hole that is going to need filling would be 2B as Danny Espinosa is losing time to a AAAA player now. The return of David Price should obviously a rotation that would look very good now if Salazar and Glasnow were pitching to their abilities. The Angels need a good couple weeks if they want to hang in the race.
21(20). Orioles (38-39) (1351.303): The Orioles are not done yet and their record should probably be worse considering their performance, but the offense is starting to hit and this team could be dangerous if they pitching follows suit. The O’s do have holes on offense with Saunders in LF expected to lose significant playing time with Howie Kendrick’s return and the Catching position being a black hole. Gausman and Ian Kennedy have to pitch better, but even if they do, the Orioles could use some more starting rotation depth.
22(25). Nationals (33-44) (1307.713): The Nats can continue to hang onto hope of sneaking into the second Wild Card and have played well over the past couple weeks. With Dansby Swanson starting to look like a young stud again, the Nats have some solid position players. Also Andrelton Simmons is the 7th ranked SS – wow. Castellanos and Bird are looking like busts, so at the very least, I think the Nats would need to add a quality 1B to make a run. The rotation is not a problem, although adding a 6th start could certainly help a team that will need to get desperate to hang in the playoff hunt.
Sellers
23(22). Mets (30-47) (1319.793): The Mets, like real-life, had a lot of promise heading into the season, but injuries have done them in. The Mets have 2 prime trade candidates with expiring contracts that are too high to extend at this point in Neil Walker and Melky Cabrera. They are both solid regulars that could help a contender down the stretch and I would be very surprised if they are still in Flushing come August.
24(24). Rockies (30-47) (1283.39): The Rockies have already begun to sell, shipping Mark Reynolds out of town and seem to have accepted their fate for 2017. A lot of teams could use catchers and the Rockies could move Wieters and his 2 years remaining. The more likely movers are Carlos Beltran and Howie Kendrick. Both have expiring contracts and, while not great in any sense, can certainly plug some holes for a desperate team.
25(23). Diamondbacks (28-49) (1271.49): The DBacks do not have a ton of pieces that make a lot of sense to move. The expiring contracts are Brett Anderson and Zack Cosart. Anderson has been awful and is currently on the DL. He will need to come back and pitch well if Zona is going to get anything for him. Cosart has been really really good and assuming there isn’t a second half collapse, will need to be extended, so there is a strong incentive to keep him. The most likely movers might be Wade Miley and Kimbrel who have reasonable team options for next year and are pitching well. If the DBacks don’t plan to make a run in 2018 (which I doubt), it would make a lot of sense for those 2 to move.
26(26). Tigers (12-38) (23-54): The Tigers probably won’t be ready to compete in 2018 either so, they will probably be looking to move all of their veterans. Joe Mauer’s value is probably as high as it is ever going to be as he has hit well so far this year. The 28M price tag and 18 for ’18 will scare a lot of teams away though. Alex Gordon and Span’s contracts might be unmovable with their poor performance and injury problems, respectively. Overall, the Tigers might have trouble finding trading partners this year though so I would not be surprised if they stand pat at the deadline.
27(27). Blue Jays (29-48) (1025.343): At this point, the only veteran on the roster with any real value is Russell Martin. Although his contract is not great (23/20/17), Russell could help a lot of contenders and is one of the better Catchers though, so he should be able to find a new home by the deadline. Scott Kazmir is a dark horse candidate to bring some return if his rehab goes well. Kazmir is more likely to move at the ’18 trade deadline though.
28(30). White Sox (25-52) (898.34): Brandon Phillips is the obvious candidate to move and he has been on the block for a while. I can’t imagine that he will still be in the South Side in August. He has been a top tier 2B and someone will snatch him up either due to injury or for an upgrade. Bartolo’s fat ass looked like a nice trade chip not long ago, but that chip has been eaten. James Shields is due to return from injury, but his contract and recent struggles will probably prevent much of a return. With a dearth of solid RPs and an aging Gerardo Parra however, it looks like the ChiSox will me one of the most active sellers at the deadline.
29(28). Athletics (21-56) (987.47): Oakland has already gone through a massive selling of assets, but they might not be done. The A’s do not have many game-changing assets other than Harper, but I think it is clear the A’s have no intention of moving him. There are some solid relievers on the squad that could be moved for a low tier prospect, but the only real return I can see would be for Sonny Gray. The A’s have floated him on the block, but with 2 arbitration years remaining, they won’t be in any rush to move him. If he pitches well moving forward, however, someone might be able to pry him away.
30(29). Dodgers (18-59) (805.017): The Dodgers have reclaimed their rightful place on the bottom of the Rankings after Bellinger and Benintendi have come back down to Earth. Yasmani Grandal is playing well enough to earn a fairly cheap extension at the end of the year and it might be needed to avoid a huge increase in his final year of arbitration. I would not be entirely surprised if the Dodgers sell high on him to avoid that possible tough decision. JJ Hardy is still alive and Buck Showalter is still giving him regular starts, so he is a decent possibility to be move if a team is desperate for someone to play short. The Dodgers would love to move Melancon, but that contract will be tough to find a buyer.
