The floodgates are now open with one major trade out of the way and likely plenty of more to follow before the Aug. 1 deadline.
The Chicago Cubs acquired Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees for four prospects Monday, as the team announced on its official Twitter account. While this helps solidify the Cubs as a top contender going forward, it also sets a high bar for any ensuing deals.
With a handful of high-profile players on the market, there could be more 4-for-1 or even 5-for-1 types of trades over the next week with noteworthy prospects potentially changing hands. Here is a look at some of the bigger names available along with predictions for where they will end up.
Edinson Volquez, SP, Kansas City Royals
Anyone who has watched the Kansas City Royals over the last couple of years knows never to count them out. However, hovering around .500 makes them more likely to sell off their assets, especially impending free agents.
One of those players is Edinson Volquez, who has a mutual option at the end of this season for $10 million. Although he has just a 4.56 ERA this season, a lot of that is because of one terrible start in which he allowed 11 earned runs in one inning in June. Since then, the starter has five straight starts of at least six innings pitched.
This strong play as of late has led to plenty of interest from around the league, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney:
The Texas Rangers might be the most intriguing option as a first-place team that lacks the starting pitching you would want from a real playoff contender. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, this team has gone to scout Volquez, so the interest is clear.
Grant also quoted general manager Jon Daniels on the team’s willingness to consider future free agents in potential trades: “I think that’s the only thing that’s really changed is that I was hoping we wouldn’t have to consider rentals. I think if we had a healthy rotation, we’d only be looking at guys who are controllable past this season. (Rentals) would not be our preference, but we’ve got to be open.”
If the Rangers are willing to part with prospects for a player who might be with the team for only a couple of months, this could be a great fit. Volquez isn’t perfect, but he is an experienced player who has pitched well as of late. He is also better than anyone in the active rotation other than Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish, who remains a question mark as he returns from injury.
The Royals could part with a player who isn’t likely to be a major part of the future and could help build up the farm system right away.
Prediction: Trade to Rangers
Wade Davis, RP, Kansas City Royals
Like Volquez, Wade Davis also has a $10 million mutual option at the end of the year. The difference is the closer has shown he is worth the cost.
Davis has been arguably the best reliever in Major League Baseball over the past three seasons, finishing sixth in the Cy Young race in 2015 with an 8-1 record and 0.94 ERA.
The Royals could potentially trade away their elite closer before the deadline, especially with a number of teams interested in making a deal. Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reported the Washington Nationals were one of the teams inquiring about Davis.
Unfortunately for the Nationals, any deal of this nature will come at a high cost, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports:
In one internal conversation, Kansas City was discussing possible destinations for Davis and considered the Washington Nationals, whose desire for a closer to replace Jonathan Papelbon would grow even stronger if they couldn’t get Chapman. With Davis under contract the rest of this season and for just $10 million next season, the Royals bandied about a potential target, according to sources: Lucas Giolito.
Considering Giolito is currently rated as the No. 4 prospect in the minors, according to Baseball America, this is a large price. With the team not quite intent on selling Davis, the cost probably won’t come down.
If the Nationals do want to secure a closer, there are other options available though, per Heyman:
The other options aren’t quite as good, but they will come much cheaper. With other teams having the same thoughts in the coming week, the most likely scenario for Davis is that he stays put.
Prediction: No trade
Chris Sale, SP, Chicago White Sox
It seems the biggest discussion surrounding Chris Sale lately is his insubordination, which led to a five-game suspension by the team.
However, it doesn’t appear likely that this will change his draft stock anytime soon. As Jim Bowden of ESPN.com explained, “The White Sox shook up the industry last week when GM Rick Hahn publicly stated that he would ‘listen’ to offers for lefty ace Chris Sale, and his phone hasn’t stopped buzzing since.”
Bowden also added that a weak farm system could help Chicago “consider something like a 5-for-1 offer.”
So is there a team that could make a move of this magnitude? Olney believes the Boston Red Sox could complete the blockbuster:
ESPN’s Jayson Stark added that the Red Sox are hopefully looking for this level of impact from the trade deadline:
Passan listed Yoan Moncada or Andrew Benintendi as a likely addition in any deal, which is a big start for Boston. There would also likely be a number of extra prospects, even low-level ones, to create an enticing package for the White Sox.
The good news for Boston is it can afford such a package, and it would be worth it for one of the top starting pitchers in baseball. With Chicago likely not too happy with Sale after this past week’s activities in the clubhouse, there is a bigger chance than ever this deal is completed.
Prediction: Trade to Red Sox
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