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The Left Fielder Market

By Tim Dierkes [May 29, 2008 at 10:59am CST]

Today let's see which left fielders may be on the trade market in the coming months. I'll limit it to players who have actually played left this year. The Indians, Mets, and Cardinals could be looking for help at the position.

Pat Burrell, Phillies. Maybe the Phils' surging offense could spare Burrell once Jayson Werth returns from the DL. They're much more likely to hang on to Burrell though.
Jason Bay, Pirates. The resurgent Bay (.290/.410/.541) is one of the crown jewels of the trade market. The Bucs were right to wait on trading him. Since the acquiring team gets him for a season and a half, could he draw a Teixeira-like bounty?
Matt Holliday, Rockies. Ken Rosenthal suggested "almost certainly would consider" trading him. Jayson Stark's sources were more skeptical. Like Bay, Holliday is signed through '09.
Adam Dunn, Reds. Dunn has a full no-trade clause until June 15th; after that he can block trades to ten teams he's specified. According to Rosenthal, Dunn strategically selected high-revenue teams for these ten. Walt Jocketty has to navigate through all that to find a team willing to give up players worth more than two draft picks in exchange for two months of Dunn.
Raul Ibanez, Mariners. At .263/.325/.444, he's not tearing the cover off the ball. But Ibanez is a free agent after the season and the Mariners are the worst team baseball. Ibanez might maintain Type A status, and I could see Bill Bavasi holding on to him.
Frank Catalanotto, Rangers. Fairly useful player who can also help at first base.
Chris Duncan, Cardinals. Trading him now would be selling low.
Jay Payton, Orioles. Doesn't have any trade value.
Dave Roberts, Giants. Could be back in June but carries burden of $6.5MM '09 salary.
Matt Murton, Cubs. Murton believes he has 20-30 HR potential and would seemingly welcome a trade.
Juan Rivera, Angels. He's still buried behind Gary Matthews Jr. and Garret Anderson.
Free agents: Barry Bonds, Kenny Lofton, Reggie Sanders.