Author: Tim Dierkes

The Giants, Phillies, Braves, Mariners, Athletics, and Angels are a few contenders short on power with the trade deadline less than two months away.  Let's take a look at some power bats that might be available in late July.

Star Power

We'll let Fred Wilpon decide whether these guys are superstars or just very good players.  But Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Carlos Beltran, David Wright, Jose Reyes, and Hunter Pence are the best potentially available power bats this summer.  I'm aware that Reyes only has one home run and is not considered a power hitter, but his .489 slugging percentage still ranks 18th in the league and ahead of Ethier.

I don't expect Kemp or Ethier to be traded this summer.  The Dodgers may be under new ownership next year, the last year of control for both outfielders.  They'll both get eight-figure salaries in arbitration, but the team can afford that even with a payroll reduction.  Pence also appears unlikely to be dealt, suggested ESPN's Jayson Stark on Monday.

I have a hard time seeing the Mets sell low on Wright, given his back injury.  Reyes should be available, but Beltran is the true star-level power bat on this market.  About $6MM of his $18.5MM salary will remain on July 31st, and the Mets could kick in a few million to sweeten the return.

Having Solid Years

Carlos Quentin, Jason Kubel, Laynce Nix, and Casey Blake are having solid years, though the sample sizes remain small and several of these guys were disappointing last year.  No one here is earning more than $5.25MM, so salary should not be a factor.  Kubel is on the DL and Blake recently came off it.  Nix has nine home runs in just 130 plate appearances, 118 of which came against right-handed pitching. 

Quentin is the best bet here, if you don't mind questionable defense and occasional injury concerns.  He's under team control through 2012.  With Juan Pierre and Alex Rios both struggling, and Pierre up for free agency at season's end, the Sox might feel compelled to keep Quentin.  If you're seeking a left-handed bat instead, renting Kubel is the more feasible alternative.  He could bring draft pick compensation after the season, which should increase the Twins' asking price.

Regulars With Power And Flaws

The Orioles have four regulars who have flashed power in recent memory: Mark Reynolds, Derrek Lee, Vladimir Guerrero, and Luke Scott.  Lee is on the disabled list and Scott is playing through a shoulder injury.  The four hitters have combined for a .238/.311/.383 line this year, so acquiring them would be buying low.

The Cubs can offer Carlos Pena, Aramis Ramirez, and Alfonso Soriano to the power market; the trio was discussed at length here.  Pena would be the most movable player; would a return to Oakland make sense?

Four more flawed hitters with pop: Jeff Francoeur, Delmon Young, Carlos Lee, and Ryan Ludwick.  Most of them won't draw walks, while Ludwick has been pretty bad outside of a solid May.

Going Young

A pair of corner infielders under the age of 27 who might be available: Ian Stewart and Chris Davis.  The Rangers don't have much of a spot for Davis, so he's a fine trade chip.  The Rockies may be reluctant to give up on Stewart, who has been raking at Triple-A prior to a hamstring injury after earning a surprising demotion.  Stewart returned to the lineup tonight by the way.

The Rest

A batch of part-time bats who have shown power here and there: Brad Hawpe, Edwin Encarnacion, Garrett Jones, Marcus Thames, Rod Barajas, Lyle Overbay, Bill Hall, and Jeff Baker.  Baker is the one having a nice year, though he's on the DL for a strained groin.  The 29-year-old infielder crushes lefties.

Jim Thome deserves special mention, as few players in the game match his power when he's healthy.  Right now he's on the DL for a strained left quad, and when he returns the Twins would probably like to see him get those seven remaining home runs for 600 in their uniform.  A late August deal makes more sense.

Check out our list of potentially available starting pitchers here.

There could be as many as a dozen sellers when the trade deadline approaches in late July.  Almost everyone else will be seeking starting pitching; let's take a look at who might be available.

• Jeremy Guthrie, Orioles: On May 29th, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe wrote, "The Baltimore people insist Guthrie is going nowhere, that he’s very much a part of the team’s plans. But not many are buying it."  The 32-year-old righty earns $5.75MM this year and is under team control for 2012.
• John Danks, White Sox: Danks had a rough month of May, and his SIERA sits at 4.62.  Given his track record I think the Sox will keep him in the rotation and wait for him to turn things around.  He's under team control through '12 and should earn a good buck next year.  It'd make sense for GM Kenny Williams to listen, but Danks would be tough to move with Edwin Jackson and Mark Buehrle up for free agency after the season.
• Edwin Jackson, White Sox: EJax has been his inconsistent self this year, posting some strong efforts but also allowing 10.5 hits per nine innings.  If he's sent to the bullpen, some team might have a chance to buy low.
• Jeff Francis, Royals: Francis has been healthy and has performed acceptably for the Royals this year.  He'll earn only $4MM if he hits all his incentives, so the price is right for any contender.  The Royals may also deem Kyle Davies and Bruce Chen expendable, if they get healthy.
• Carl Pavano, Twins: Pavano earns $8MM this year and $8.5MM in 2012.  His declining strikeout rate makes you wonder if he's more of a 5.00 ERA than a 4.00 guy, but I still think he'd generate mild trade interest.
• Francisco Liriano, Twins: Liriano is appealing for his ace upside, and he expects to return next week from a DL stint for shoulder inflammation.  Liriano is more than a rental, and he'll be a wild card if the Twins make him available.
• Kevin Slowey, Twins: Slowey is rehabbing an abdomen strain, after which he'll return to Triple-A and to starting.  The flyballing right-hander sounds like he wouldn't mind a trade, and with his stock down he might not require much.
• Mike Pelfrey, Mets: Pelfrey is looking like Pavano with worse control.  Though he's under team control through 2013, his salary is already close to $4MM and he could get pricey in arbitration.
• R.A. Dickey, Mets: The knuckleballer can be controlled affordably through 2013, and the Mets probably prefer to retain him.  But he is showing that last year was not a fluke and he would draw trade interest.
• Chris Capuano, Mets: Capuano has been solid, though I'm not sure how much of their rotation the Mets want to dismantle.  Capuano may be the most expendable since he's a free agent after the season.  He'd be a nice fit for a team with a big ballpark.
• Livan Hernandez, Nationals: Hernandez continues to get it done with his 84 mile per hour fastball. He's earning a base salary of only $1MM on an extension signed last August.  I imagine he'd prefer to stay and the Nats won't be especially motivated to move him.
• Jason Marquis, Nationals: Marquis is earning $7.5MM and is more likely to go.  He seems recovered from last year's elbow injury, but he's yet another low-strikeout mid-4.00 ERA innings guy.
• Paul Maholm, Pirates: Maholm seems likely to be moved.  He's making a modest $5.75MM and would be owed another $750K if his $9.75MM club option for 2012 is declined.  He's useful, but with a 3.18 ERA he's pitching over his head.
• Kevin Correia, Pirates: Correia's ERA is deceiving as well, as his strikeout rate is a career low 3.8 per nine.  He's shown his best control too, however.  Correia is owed a modest $3MM next year.
• Ryan Dempster, Cubs: Dempster posted a strong May after a brutal April.  He's a horse, and unlike many pitchers listed here he's a strikeout pitcher.  However, he can block any trade.  Dempster earns a hefty $13.5MM this year and has a player option at $14MM for '12.  If the Cubs kick in some money, Dempster approves a trade, and the option situation is resolved, he'd be a nice pickup.
• Carlos Zambrano, Cubs: At about $18MM this year and next, the Cubs would have to contribute some serious cash to move their former ace.  Plus, he has a full no-trade clause.  Z has shown career-best control this year, but groundballs are down and he appears to be a mid-4.00s ERA guy now.
• Brett Myers, Astros: Myers earns $7MM this year, $11MM in '12, and has a $10MM club option with a $3MM buyout for '13.  Groundballs are down and home runs are up, and Myers is looking like a well-paid innings guy.
• Wandy Rodriguez, Astros: Wandy would be one of the more appealing pitchers on this list, but he's on the DL for elbow soreness.  He's well-compensated and can be controlled through 2014.  If he comes back strong the Astros might be well-served to escape his contract if possible.
• Aaron Harang, Padres: Harang's groundball rate is up a touch, and for once his ERA (3.88) is in line with his peripheral stats.  His trade value is limited, but at least he's only making $3.5MM plus a $500K buyout.
• Hiroki Kuroda, Dodgers: Kuroda has a full no-trade clause, which was perhaps his reward for only requiring a one-year deal.  He'd probably prefer to stay near L.A.  He's gone from very good last year to just useful so far this year.  He's earning $12MM, so teams looking to add mid-rotation arms will probably look elsewhere.
• Jon Garland, Dodgers: His groundball rate down, Garland is probably worse than his 4.31 ERA suggests.  He has an $8MM option for 2012 that vests at 190 innings, but it appears he'll fall short.
• Ted Lilly, Dodgers: Lilly's strikeout rate is down a bit, though last night's effort was encouraging.  The homer-prone southpaw remains useful, but he's well-paid through 2013.
• Derek Lowe, Braves: I can't quite see the Braves cashing in on Lowe this summer, though he's been solid this year with added strikeouts and his typical groundball tendencies.  At $15MM this year and next, there are more appealing trade targets anyway.
• Erik Bedard, Mariners: Bedard has been healthy and effective this year.  He has a $1MM base salary and $6.35MM in performance bonuses.  A healthy Bedard would be one of the top available starters, but the Mariners are only a half game back in the AL West.