Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game is giving its players some much-deserved rest, but the trade market is starting to heat up, as some of the game’s best could be on the move in the coming weeks.
Those available sit on each end of the spectrum from All-Stars to vital role players. Continue below for some of the latest buzz surrounding the most recent trade rumors:
Johnny Cueto
Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto is not seeing the kind of success that made him one of the National League’s best last season. After a 20-9 year with a 2.25 ERA in 2014, Cueto is just 6-6, but he still holds an impressive 2.73 ERA this year.
He is an ace on a struggling Reds team that has entered the All-Star break with a 39-47 record, 15.5 games behind the National League Central leading St. Louis Cardinals. Their play has Cueto on the trading block, as USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale reports that there are a few teams interested in the right-hander:
The Houston Astros are in need of a second arm that could help put them over the top of the American League West, as they trail the Los Angeles Angels by one-half game. At this point, however, they just need some healthy ones. They currently have just three starters active on their depth chart, as Scott Feldman and Brett Oberholtzer are on the disabled list.
They do have the American League All-Star team’s starting pitcher, though. Dallas Keuchel is 11-4 with a 2.23 ERA, and adding the likes of Cueto could create one of the best one-two punches in the American League.
Over in the American League East, the Toronto Blue Jays’ reported interest in Cueto shows that they are very much looking to be buyers, despite trailing the New York Yankees by 4.5 games in the division.
Their offense is not the problem. With the likes of Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, the Blue Jays can score runs. Unfortunately for them, their pitching is giving up just as many.
Four of their five starters this season hold an ERA of 3.50 or higher, including Drew Hutchison’s 5.33 mark. Former Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey is having a dreadful season with a 3-10 record to go along with a 4.87 ERA.
While Cueto would be acquired by the first two sides listed in order to help turn around, even save their seasons, the Kansas City Royals could be World Series favorites if they nab their target.
Kansas City is 52-34, 4.5 games ahead of the Minnesota Twins for the American League Central lead. Cueto could bolster a rotation that could use a bona fide ace in their pursuit of their first World Series title since 1985.
Without Jason Vargas, who is on the DL with a left flexor strain, the Royals have put their faith in 26-year-old Danny Duffy. Duffy is one of three Royals pitchers with an ERA over 4.60, and Cueto could help bring that number down. In doing so, he could also help take some pressure off of Kansas City’s offense, which is capable of putting up big numbers on any given night. But attaining postseason success relying on big-time offensive production could be a dangerous game to play.
Jay Bruce
A teammate of Cueto‘s, Reds outfielder Jay Bruce is also on the block, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported on Sunday, July 12:
Bruce is a two-time All-Star, experiencing his best seasons from 2011-13 when he hit 30 or more home runs in each of those years. He experienced his worst season in 2014 as his average dropped to .217 with 18 home runs.
He looks to be back on track this year with 13 long balls and 42 RBI through 84 games, but his improved play is not resulting in wins for the Reds.
There should be teams that are interested in making a deal for Bruce, especially teams that desperately need an offensive boost.
One team that comes to mind that could make a move for Bruce would be the New York Mets. The Mets have had problems scoring runs this season, including a four-game stretch from June 30 to July 2 where they scored just three times. They’ve been shutout 10 times this season.
Michael Cuddyer has been underperforming this season, as a player that usually sees his average over .300 is batting just .244. At 36 years old, a younger option in Bruce could make Cuddyer a dangerous bench player. It could also make Bruce a bat that could help ignite the Mets offense.
The 28-year-old is signed through 2017, according to Spotrac.com and would not just be a rental for a team that is looking for a long-term fix in the outfield.
Ben Revere
Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Ben Revere could be on the way out of the City of Brotherly Love, according to the Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo:
The Mariners have been a disaster this season, one of the more disappointing teams to date, along with the Red Sox and Padres. They added some power in the form of Mark Trumbo in a deal with the Diamondbacks, but are now in need of a leadoff hitter. Revere, who had been eyed by the Angels a couple of weeks ago, is one of the players they’re considering, according to a major league source.
Revere has been one of the bright spots on a struggling Phillies franchise the past two seasons. He saw career highs in 2014 in at-bats (601), average (.306) and hits (184) which led the National League.
He’s doing it again this season in a contract year. He holds a .297 batting average while playing a defensively solid center field on a Phillies team that is an MLB-worst 29-62.
The Mariners, while faring better than the Phillies, are 7.5 games behind the American League West leading Angels with a 41-48 record, despite a roster that includes stars like Nelson Cruz and the underperforming Robinson Cano.
They’ve received little contribution from the center field position as well. Austin Jackson is batting just .251 with four home runs and 19 RBI with a .295 on-base percentage. Revere could provide a true leadoff hitting talent for the Mariners with a .337 on-base percentage and six triples, which leads the league this season.
His 21 stolen bases would add a lot of speed to a Mariners roster that has just 35 as a team in 2015. Seattle would have to try and lock him up long-term if they do acquire Revere as his small ball talents would help rejuvenate a Mariners team that is desperately looking for a spark.
Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com
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