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10 Potential Replacements For Mike Moustakas And David Wright

By Steve Adams | June 3, 2016 at 1:27pm CDT

A pair of teams have been struck with significant blows on the injury front in the past week, as the Royals announced last week that Mike Moustakas has a torn anterior cruciate ligament, while the Mets announced today that David Wright won’t even participate in any baseball activities for the next six weeks to two months. That injury ended Moustakas’ season, while Wright’s could leave him sidelined into mid-August or even September, as he’ll need awhile to get back up to speed after a potentially eight-week layoff.

Both clubs have internal options from which to choose — Cheslor Cuthbert, Whit Merrifield and Hunter Dozier for the Royals; Wilmer Flores and Matt Reynolds for the Mets — but injuries of that magnitude tend to eventually lead a team to explore the outside market. It doesn’t seem likely that either club will leap into action immediately, as one might expect had these injuries occurred closer to the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline, but if and when they do explore the trade scene, there’s no shortage of options on which to inquire.

Let’s run down some names that could plausibly be in play…

Trevor Plouffe / Eduardo Nunez, Twins: With Minnesota staring at a virtually insurmountable climb in the AL Central, their infield options could be available sooner than most. Plouffe isn’t off to a good start (.246/.277/.362), but he batted .248/.312/.426 in 2200 plate appearances from 2012-15, showing 20-homer pop and steadily improving his glovework along the way. Plouffe is earning $7.25MM this year, so he’s not exactly a cheap asset, but if he turns it around at the dish, he’s controllable through 2017. He can also help out at first base, where the Mets are presently missing Lucas Duda. Nunez, meanwhile, is more of a utility option, but he’s played quite a bit of third in his career and has enjoyed a brilliant start to the 2016 season, hitting .331/.358/.509. He’s not a great defender, but he’s a competent bat with plenty of speed on the bases and a low salary. Nunez is earning $1.475MM this season and can be controlled through 2017 as well.

Yangervis Solarte, Padres: Executive chairman Ron Fowler voiced disgust with his team’s 2016 performance earlier this week and, in doing so, signaled that changes could be on the horizon. The number of Padres players that have underperformed this season limit their trade chips on the summer market, but the quietly steady Solarte has been excellent since returning from a hamstring injury. He’s hitting .339/.429/.593, and while no one should expect that to continue, he’s a .269/.334/.411 hitter since debuting in 2014 despite playing the majority of his games at Petco Park. He’ll be arbitration eligible for the first time this winter and is controllable through 2019, so the Padres would ask for a legitimate return.

Jed Lowrie / Danny Valencia, Athletics: Like Nunez, Lowrie embodies the “jack of all trades, master of none” profile, as he’s capable of playing many positions on the diamond but doesn’t draw positive defensive marks in most instances. Third base is the one exception, as he’s been a positive there in the eyes of both Defensive Runs Saved and Ultimate Zone Rating. Lowrie has been playing mostly second base this season, but he logged nearly 400 innings at the hot corner last year in Houston. He’s batting .315/.355/.364 and earning $7.5MM this season. He’ll earn $6.5MM next year, and his contract contains a $6MM club option for the 2018 campaign (which comes with a $1MM buyout). Valencia would require a larger return, given his excellent production over the past calendar year, and the Royals have already been down that road once before, while the Mets may not have a regular spot for him late in the year. As an affordable slugger with a year of control remaining beyond 2016, he’s certainly appealing, and it’s tough to definitively rule out any trade when it comes to the A’s.

Yunel Escobar, Angels: The last-place Halos might not be waving the white flag just yet, but with baseball’s most injury-riddled pitching staff and a dismal farm system from which to draw reinforcements, things are bleak in Anaheim. Escobar has been a bright spot at the plate (.306/.362/.416) while earning just $7MM, and he comes with a 2017 option for the same price. Escobar’s poor defense weighs down the value brought to the table by his bat, and he’s also drawn questionable reviews (to put things mildly) for his clubhouse presence in the past. But, his premium contact skills would fit in well with the Royals’ philosophy, and he’s capable of playing multiple positions.

Luis Valbuena, Astros: The 30-year-old doesn’t look like he’s going to come close to matching last season’s career-best 25 homers. Valbuena is hitting .223/.320/.399 with six big flies on the year, demonstrating a solid walk rate but also a penchant for strikeouts. The left-handed-hitter is best deployed as a platoon option, which might make his $6.125MM salary steep, but Houston could be willing to absorb some of that salary. Former No. 2 overall pick Alex Bregman is demolishing minor league pitching and may be on the cusp of the Majors, so the Astros would probably be comfortable moving their starting third baseman even if they still aim to contend.

Kelly Johnson, Braves: Johnson looks primed to experience some deja vu this summer. After signing a one-year deal to return to the Braves (who originally drafted him) during the 2014-15 offseason, he found himself flipped to the Mets alongside Juan Uribe. Johnson isn’t hitting like he did in 2015, but he’s a known commodity to the Mets and can play all over the infield. Given his struggles (.210/.276/.295), the cost of acquisition figures to be minimal. Even if he doesn’t end up in New York, he’s an obvious trade candidate.

Aaron Hill, Brewers: On the more productive side of the veteran scale is Hill, whose huge May has perhaps made him a more appealing target for clubs in need of some infield help. The 34-year-old’s season-to-date batting line rests at a productive .274/.346/.433, and while he’s historically been a second baseman, Hill has piled up 557 innings at the hot corner over the past two seasons. He’s earning a steep $12MM in 2016, but the D-backs are reportedly on the hook for $6.5MM of that sum, and I’d imagine that the Brewers would be willing to kick in some additional funds if it meant improving the return.

Alex Guerrero, Dodgers (for now): The Dodgers designated Guerrero, he of a four-year/$28MM contract (signed in 2013), for assignment earlier this week when he completed a minor league rehab assignment. Guerrero hasn’t lived up to his contract by any stretch of the means, but he also never got an opportunity at regular playing time. He’s a poor defender and has batted .224 with a .251 on-base percentage in the Majors, but he also slugged .414 (.190 ISO) and ripped 11 homers in just 247 Major League PAs over the past two seasons. Guerrero owns a lifetime .303/.385/.526 batting line in Cuba’s Serie Nacional, and mashed at a .323/.357/.598 clip in 266 Triple-A plate appearances with the Dodgers. It’s unlikely that a team would be willing to take on the remainder of his contract in a trade, but Guerrero could soon be released, thus freeing him to sign with any club willing to roll the dice.

Certainly, there are other names to consider. Each team can explore everything from bad contract (e.g. Chase Headley) to former prospects now in the upper minors (e.g. Will Middlebrooks), to elite prospects like Joey Gallo that may be somewhat “blocked” at the MLB level (though the latter of the three presents further long-term roster maneuvering). And, as is the case every year, other names will most likely surface as trade candidates once the non-waiver trade deadline draws closer. However, for a pair of clubs in tight races for the division lead — the Royals hold a 1.5 game lead on the AL Central, while the Mets are three back in the NL East — acting sooner rather than later to fill a void can make a sizable impact.

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David Wright Shut Down For Six To Eight Weeks
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30 Comments

  1. TheMichigan

    9 years ago

    Didn’t Yuniel have a slur on his eye black when he was with the blue jays

    Reply
    • Gogerty

      9 years ago

      Yeah he caught a lot of crap on that one. Think he had a DUI as well or that might have been Furcal, confusing my former Braves SS troubles.

      Reply
  2. drewm

    9 years ago

    It makes sense for Aaron Hill to go to a team that needs an all-star caliber infielder, but I’ll be a little sad to see him go. He’s been really impressive defensively. I forgot what great defense looked like.

    Reply
    • mikeyst13

      9 years ago

      If Hill keeps hitting he’ll be gone sooner than later. He has been a fairly pleasant surprise, especially on defense, but he’s obviously not part of the overall plan. Perez has been too good to keep out of the lineup too often, Rivera and possibly Cecchini will be up to get some MLB ABs eventually and who knows how long they wait on Arcia before calling him up and moving Villar over to 3B or 2B. The 34 year old with some trade value is going to end up as the odd man out as they look toward the future.

      Reply
  3. Triteon

    9 years ago

    Any chance Jhonny Peralta joins this list? A little pricey and coming off injury, and potentially blocked in the Cardinals lineup. He’s had several productive years and can play third.

    Reply
    • A'sfaninUK

      9 years ago

      That’s actually a great idea. Kolten Wong is probably available too if the Mets want to move As-Cab or Walker to 3B.

      Reply
  4. thunder12k

    9 years ago

    Mets cannot count on Wright moving forward so any reservations about playing time for Valencia at the end of the year shouldn’t have any impact. Valencia would be a solid addition. Plouffe as well. Hill had a good month but I’m assuming there is still some bad blood with the Brewers after the failed Gomez deal last summer

    Reply
  5. assumptions

    9 years ago

    Rays are looking to unload money; Longoria is a possibility…

    Reply
    • sandiegorocker1104

      9 years ago

      As much as I see the Rays wanting to off load salary, I think fans would riot if Longoria was traded.

      Reply
      • wedgeant27

        9 years ago

        What fans?

        Reply
        • cubsfan2489

          9 years ago

          Just because people don’t go to that dump of a field, doesn’t mean there aren’t Rays fans

          Reply
  6. A'sfaninUK

    9 years ago

    Danny Valencia has an .890 OPS over his last 140 games/520 PA – that’s all-star level. When are we going to start viewing him as such?

    Oh, and also, the fact that Beane got him for free to replace Donaldson, and then traded Lawrie due to Lawrie and Valencia not getting along in the clubhouse – there’s absolutely no chance he trades Valencia unless its for like, Dansby Swanson or someone on that level. He needs to cover his Donaldson mistake and Valencia is actually doing a great job of it.

    Reply
  7. cowboysoldiertx

    9 years ago

    The Rangers would want big time pitching for Gallo.

    Reply
    • GeauxRangers

      9 years ago

      More likely though Gallo is the Rangers starting 1B at some point next season

      Reply
  8. suddendepth

    9 years ago

    Cody Asche, if he shows some sizzle in the next couple of weeks.

    Reply
    • mikeyst13

      9 years ago

      Asche has been pretty awful defensively at 3B by almost every metric other than range factor, where he’s about average. As a still fairly young guy with power potential and a decent amount of control left he could draw some interest, but his defense along with the low walk/high strikeout rates and thus low OBP would be concerns for contending teams.

      Reply
  9. KJ

    9 years ago

    I hope the Padres hold onto Solarte, they can have Amarista!

    Reply
    • sandiegorocker1104

      9 years ago

      I like this guys thinking. Maybe we can convince someone to take Rosales?

      Reply
  10. notagain27

    9 years ago

    Plouffe seems to be the best fit considering the Mets needs at 3B

    Reply
  11. davep-3

    9 years ago

    Could the Cards move Gyorko now that Peralta is coming back and Diaz has emerged as a bona fide SS?

    Reply
  12. chieftoto

    9 years ago

    Why not Gordon Beckham? He’s actually hitting.

    Reply
  13. drmorales

    9 years ago

    What about Yulieski Gouriell? He should be declared a FA soon

    Reply
  14. dbacksrs

    9 years ago

    I like Matt Reynolds, he was solid for the Diamondbacks for a few seasons, but I don’t like the idea of a pitcher (wrong link in article) playing first base for the Mets.

    Reply
    • Matt Galvin

      9 years ago

      Mark Reynolds?

      Reply
      • dbacksrs

        9 years ago

        Matt Reynolds, a pitcher the DBacks got from the Colorado Rockies.

        Reply
  15. unglar

    9 years ago

    I would really like to see the Yankees spend the year “re-tooling” with the contracts they have coming off the books. To do so, they could trade McCann and Headley as well as Chapman and if anyone wants him, Nova. Headley’s value is pretty low right now but he has upside and has been solid on D, so I bet they could get something small. Would let them play Castro at third, Didi at SS, Refsnyder at 2nd, and Bird at 1st next year to go with Judge,Ellsbury,Gardner,Hicks, Romine, Sanchez, and 1 year of Arod while we await Harper.

    Reply
    • cubsfan2489

      9 years ago

      I think it’s HILARIOUS that Yankees fans think it’s automatic that Harper is going there. Just like Stras too right? When are you all going to realize that the Yankees aren’t the only ones with money anymore. Not everyone wants to go there

      Reply
      • alproof

        9 years ago

        You know it, pal! Even some of the pathetic Yankee-loving sports talk-show hosts up here (upstate NY) are as bad as those misguided, delusional fans.

        Reply
  16. cloneapalooza

    9 years ago

    Was hoping to see Yuliesky Gurriel on thi list… would make sense.

    Reply
  17. zackw

    9 years ago

    The Royals had Danny Valencia and they got rid of him pretty quickly. The broadcasters seemed to imply that he didn’t get along well with others.

    Reply

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