Trade Rumors: CarGo, Giants, Flores, Mets

Carlos Gonzalez will achieve his 10-and-5 rights (and thus full no-trade protection) on July 19, MLB.com’s Jon Paul Morosi writes, so the Rockies may need to move quickly if they want to freely move the veteran outfielder.  The Rockies aren’t really deadline sellers at this point, as their modest 44-43 record is still keeping them 4.5 games back in both the NL West and NL wild card races, though Gonzalez is providing only moderate value and could be expendable.  The 32-year-old hasn’t done much to bounce back from a mediocre 2017 season, as CarGo is hitting just .267/.316/.427 with seven homers in 244 PA.  Those numbers contain some lopsided splits, as he hasn’t been at all productive against left-handed pitching or away from Coors Fields, making him a pretty limited asset for potential trade partners.  Gonzalez is only under contract through this season via a one-year, $5MM deal, and he is enough of a respected figure in Colorado that the Rox may want to keep him for their pennant push rather than arrange a trade.

More Fourth-of-July buzz about some teams likely to be active at the deadline…

• Giants GM Bobby Evans recently described the team’s desire to keep payroll under the $197MM luxury tax threshold as “a target, not a mandate” in terms of making roster upgrades, though a source tells MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand that avoiding the tax “is a must” for the club.  After passing the tax limit for multiple seasons, San Francisco could be charged only a 20 percent tax on the overage rather than 50 percent if it can keep its payroll in check for the season.  This didn’t keep the Giants from some big offseason spending, and they have very little room for further additions at the deadline if they want to make a playoff push, which could greatly complicate things for Evans and the front office.  “They’ll have a better feel for what they need at the [All-Star] break, but they may very well have to move money to add money,” the source said.
• Wilmer Flores is hoping to remain with the Mets, though the New York Post’s Mike Puma writes that Flores is one of several veterans who could be shipped out by the trade deadline.  Flores has been getting a lot of playing time, which could simply be because Flores is one of the few Mets swinging the bat well, or because first baseman Dominic Smith has been dealing with a minor wrist injury.  Alternatively, the Mets could be giving potential trade partners a long look at what Flores can do.  The infielder is controlled through the 2019 season and can play at first, second, and third base, not to mention being a regular at shortstop as recently as 2015.
• The Mets may be forced to deal more controllable assets like Flores or even major pieces like Noah Syndergaard or Jacob deGrom if they want to get a truly quality return, the New York Post’s Joel Sherman writes, since the team isn’t likely to receive much in the way of young talent if they only stick to dealing impending free agents.  None of the prospects received by the team in last season’s deadline deals of walk-year veterans, for instance, have shown much promise this season.