Trade Market Rumors

The Left Fielder Market Revisited

Time for another look at the market for left fielders. The Mets figure to be surveying these options. A trend here: teams don't seem terribly motivated to move the top players. Matt Holliday, Rockies. Holliday, a Scott Boras client, is signed for '09 at $13.5MM. The Rockies' asking price seems to be fantastically high. Jason Bay, Pirates. The Bucs are not motivated to trade Bay, who is signed for next year at just $7.5MM. An extension seems more likely than a trade. Adam Dunn, Reds. There hasn't been much buzz around Dunn, for some reason. He's got a very Dunn-like...   Continue Reading

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The Third Baseman Market Revisited

Today let's take another look at the third base options on the trade market. Garrett Atkins, Rockies. Atkins has displayed dramatic home/road splits since the beginning of '07. Plus, his defense is not well-regarded. He's under team control through 2010, and the Rockies' unwillingness to do a long-term deal should tell you something. They'd probably still ask for a lot though. Casey Blake, Indians. Blake seems likely to be traded. His versatility is a plus, and he provides an .800 OPS. He's been linked to the Dodgers and Twins recently. Adrian Beltre, Mariners. It's been suggested that the Mariners might...   Continue Reading

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The Shortstop Market Revisited

Next up in our second pass through the Trade Market: shortstops. Cristian Guzman, Nationals. He's having a fine year, hitting .313/.340/.424 in 424 plate appearances. Extension talks with the Nationals have dragged. The Nats might prefer to trade him, while Guzman might prefer to test the free agent market. Miguel Tejada, Astros. The Astros have given no signs of kicking off a rebuilding effort, so a trade is unlikely. Plus, Tejada hasn't hit much since April. He's signed for '09 at $13MM. Clint Barmes, Rockies. The Rox might be able to spare him, but Barmes has never hit away from...   Continue Reading

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The Second Baseman Market Revisited

Let's take another pass at the market for second basemen. Brian Roberts, Orioles. After so many offseason Cubs rumors, there's been no recent buzz around Roberts. The O's don't look like contenders, so trading him still makes sense. Ray Durham, Giants. The resurgent Durham sits at .293/.385/.414 in 304 plate appearances. The Giants should be listening; there was a rumor the Brewers were interested. Mark Grudzielanek, Royals. He wants to play two or three more years. Should provide about the same value as Durham. Mark Ellis, Athletics. He may not be available, as extension talks are expected. Jamey Carroll, Indians....   Continue Reading

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The Starting Pitching Market Revisited

We've been updating our Trade Market series position by position, but today's let's jump ahead to the starting pitchers. After all, pitching is always in high demand. By the way - not all of the pitchers below are available. I just wanted to discuss them. Justin Duchscherer, Athletics. Duke is leading all of baseball with a 1.78 ERA in 101 innings. He is under team control for '09, and Billy Beane wants to wait until after the season to talk extension. He'd be a very interesting trade chip. Zack Greinke, Royals. Despite interest, the Royals "remain decidedly uninterested in moving...   Continue Reading

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The First Baseman Market Revisited

Next up in our second pass through the Trade Market, first basemen. Mark Teixeira, Braves. As Mark Bowman wrote yesterday, the Braves may need a few weeks to decide whether to sell or buy. Teixeira is hitting .275/.381/.492. Frank Wren might have a hard time finding a match for Teixeira. He's an upgrade on guys like Casey Kotchman, Carlos Delgado, and Chad Tracy, but is the improvement worth it? Rich Aurilia, Giants. Aurilia could make sense as a platoon partner for Tracy in Arizona, if Brian Sabean doesn't mind helping a team in his division. Aurilia hit well in May...   Continue Reading

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The Catcher Market Revisited

It's been over a month since we finished up our Trade Market series. A lot has changed, so let's take another look at each position. Today we'll look at catchers. As always, I welcome suggestions in the comments. Gerald Laird, Rangers. He's currently on the DL with a hamstring strain. He should be back this month. However, the Rangers may be on the fence about selling and committing to Jarrod Saltalamacchia as the main catcher. Bengie Molina, Giants. The Giants are only five games out, and GM Brian Sabean said he's not thinking of trading Molina. Rob Barajas and Gregg...   Continue Reading

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Trade Market Summary

Over the last few weeks, we've attempted to determine the players available for trade at each position. Here are the links to each post: C, 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, CF, RF, SP, RP Be sure to read the comments of each post, because readers did a fine job filling in the gaps on players I missed.   Continue Reading

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The Reliever Market

Plenty of contenders are in the market for relievers. Possibly needy clubs include the Tigers, Indians, Astros, Yankees, and Red Sox. The following relievers may be available in the coming months. Huston Street, Alan Embree, Keith Foulke, A's. Street is under team control (but not contract) through 2010; he might require a large bounty. Jon Rauch, Nationals. He's racked up 12 saves in Chad Cordero's absence and is signed cheaply through 2010. George Sherrill, Chad Bradford, Jamie Walker, Orioles. Sherrill is second in the Majors with 19 saves; he is also second with 21 opportunities. He's under team control through...   Continue Reading

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The Starting Pitcher Market

Almost every team needs starting pitching. Let's take a look at who's out there. Bronson Arroyo, Reds. If Walt Jocketty starts selling off his veterans, he'll have to listen on Arroyo. The innings-eating 31 year-old is signed through 2010. Derek Lowe, Dodgers. Lowe seems to have righted the ship after a five-start stumble. He'll be a free agent after the season, but I can't see Ned Colletti moving Lowe unless the Dodgers fall out of contention. Joe Blanton, A's. Like Arroyo, a hittable innings eater. Also like Arroyo, he's under team control through 2010. Livan Hernandez, Twins. The Twins may...   Continue Reading

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The Right Fielder Market

The Mariners, A's, and Cubs are some clubs that may be in the hunt for right field help. The players below may be available this summer. Xavier Nady, Pirates. Among right fielders, only Ryan Ludwick has been more productive than Nady this year. He earns $3.35MM this year and won't reach free agency until after the '09 season. It'd be tough for Pirates fans to watch their incredibly productive outfield be dismantled, but trading Nady and Jason Bay might serve the greater good. Brian Giles, Padres. The 37 year-old sports a .313/.398/.496 line in 367 ABs away from PETCO since...   Continue Reading

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The Center Fielder Market

Any decent center fielders out there for trade? It's a thin market; let's explore. Coco Crisp, Red Sox. Believe it not, he's the best-hitting CF available. Crisp is signed through '09. Brandon Moss and Bobby Kielty are both on minor league rehab assignments. When they're healthy, Crisp trade talks may resume. Ryan Freel, Reds. Freel is a strong candidate to be moved, if a team will take on his $4MM salary for '09. I'm sure Corey Patterson is available too. Willy Taveras, Rockies. Once Matt Holliday and Brad Hawpe return, the Rockies could entertain offers for Taveras. The Rox could...   Continue Reading

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The Left Fielder Market

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...   Continue Reading

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The Third Baseman Market

Looking to fill a need at the hot corner? Here is MLBTR's rundown of the possibly available third basemen. Garrett Atkins, Rockies. It seems that the Rockies will listen on Atkins, who will reach free agency after the 2010 season. The Indians may have interest. Dallas McPherson, Marlins. Jorge Cantu is getting the job done for the big club, while McPherson is hitting .283/.378/.604 with 15 home runs in Triple A. Joe Crede, White Sox. Despite all the springtime rumors, it seems unlikely that the first-place Sox would trade Crede. Josh Fields could be a valuable trade chip, though. Kevin...   Continue Reading

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The Shortstop Market

Many shortstops are having disappointing seasons, at least offensively. What does the trade market offer at this position? Jack Wilson, Pirates. He's set to come off the DL tomorrow following a calf strain. Given the performance of his replacements, the Bucs may hang on to Wilson for the sake of respectability. Plus, they're not out of contention. Wilson is signed through '09 and has a limited no-trade clause. Alex Gonzalez, Reds. If Jeff Keppinger can return in late June and Gonzalez is ready in July, he could be dealt. It'd be tough - he's signed through '09. Cristian Guzman, Nationals....   Continue Reading

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The Second Baseman Market

Is your team weak at second base? Perhaps you've been suffering through Asdrubal Cabrera and his .506 OPS? Take a gander at MLBTR's list of available second basemen, and make a deal. Are we missing anyone? Brian Roberts, Orioles. There have been rumblings that Roberts may be off the market. He should be available come July, though. The asking price will be high. Ray Durham, Giants. Sure, you can have him. The power's gone, but he does have a .366 OBP. Since Durham makes $7.5MM, this will just be a salary dump. Ronny Cedeno, Cubs. Cedeno can handle short, too....   Continue Reading

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The First Baseman Market

Next up in the Trade Market series, first basemen. Which ones might be available in the coming months? Let me know in the comments if you have anyone to add. Nick Johnson and Dmitri Young, Nationals. Johnson will be out for roughly a month with a torn wrist tendon, while Young just returned from the DL after a lower back strain. It'll be tough for Jim Bowden to move either of them. Rich Aurilia, Giants. He's heating up this month. He's being paid $4.5MM this year, and it wouldn't take much. Kevin Millar, Orioles. Millar seems to enjoy playing in...   Continue Reading

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The Catcher Market

As we near June, trade rumors will start to pick up. It's always fun to try to find teams with matching needs. With that in mind, I'm going to profile available players at each position on the diamond. Today we'll start with catchers. Let me know in the comments if you have anyone to add. Ramon Hernandez, Orioles. The O's are playing surprisingly well, but Hernandez is not hitting. He makes $7.5MM this year, $8MM in '09, and has an $8.5MM option for '10 with a $1MM buyout. I imagine the Orioles would like to move that contract. Gerald Laird,...   Continue Reading

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