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 Baltimore, and the O’s are only two games out of the wild card. He’s not hitting much yet anyway.
- Richie Sexson, Mariners and Carlos Delgado, Mets. Both seem more likely to be designated for assignment than traded. Their salaries have kept them afloat so far.
- Paul Konerko, White Sox. Logic says Konerko stays put. A sore wrist has contributed to a slow start, he has 10 and 5 rights, and he earns $12MM annually through 2010.
- Adam LaRoche, Pirates. Seems to have shaken off his typical slow start. Extension talks fizzled.
- Scott Hatteberg, Reds. He seems likely to go, and would probably prefer it. Hatteberg may be the first order of business for Walt Jocketty.
- Chris Duncan, Cardinals. The Cards can probably get by in the outfield without him. The 27 year-old has a career line of .271/.359/.512.
- Kendry Morales, Angels. Morales, 25 in June, is hitting .298/.341/.470 in Triple A (nothing special).
- Chad Tracy, Diamondbacks. With Mark Reynolds and Conor Jackson manning the corners in Arizona, Tracy isn’t needed. He could return within a week, finishing a long recovery from microfracture knee surgery.