July means sellers reign supreme in Major League Baseball.
That rings true at least from an attention standpoint, as teams that are out of contention are ready to turn an eye to the future and make a splash. It’s not the most difficult thing to pull off, either, not with so many contenders willing to take the bait each year.
For contenders, these sellers represent one last chance to round out the perfect title roster. Maybe the Tampa Bay Rays don’t pull off a jaw-dropping move such as dealing Evan Longoria, but contenders can still find a niche role player.
Here’s a look at what the rumors market suggests notable sellers are up to as August approaches.
Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins sit dead last in the American League Central at 34-59 and have just 14 wins away from home this year.
It should go without saying that the Twins seem like major sellers ahead of the deadline. Sure, they have had hot streaks here and there, but only a continued surge can seemingly stop players such as Ervin Santana, Trevor Plouffe and Ricky Nolasco from hitting the block.
Count the Boston Red Sox as a team that is eyeing Santana. According to Mike Berardino of the Pioneer Press, the two sides have talked:
The Twins and Red Sox have talked trade in recent weeks, but so far the teams ‘aren’t a great match at this point,’ said a person that had been briefed on those talks.
The Red Sox were among the teams that scouted Santana, who still has two seasons at $13.5 million a year left on his four-year contract. Coming off a two-hit, complete-game shutout in his final start of the first half, the veteran right-hander would be exactly the sort of piece contenders would seek this winter, when the free-agent class for starting pitching figures to be unusually thin.
The last bit of the report helps to explain why the Red Sox wouldn’t mind making a move right now for Santana.
Santana, 33, sits on a 4.12 ERA with 73 strikeouts and a 3-8 record, no thanks to the team around him. Gone are the sub-4.00 ERA campaigns as of late with the Kansas City Royals (2013) and Atlanta Braves (2014).
This potential trade will come down to whether management in Minnesota believes the current crop of young players can develop into a contender in a few years. If not, expect the Red Sox to get a little more dangerous as the chase in the AL East heats up.
Colorado Rockies
The Colorado Rockies won’t catch the San Francisco Giants or Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West—not while sitting on a 43-50 record and being 13.5 games out.
Contenders in need have to be rubbing their hands together.
Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball noted in early July the Rockies might have an interest in moving outfielder Charlie Blackmon. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi just followed up by naming one of the teams with an apparent interest:
Those stats help to illustrate why the Washington Nationals—first in the NL East at 56-38—would pluck a player from Colorado.
Blackmon looks like the right fit on paper. He’s only 30 years old and has another stellar campaign on his hands so far, going for a .307/.370/.484 slash line with 12 homers and 43 RBI.
Heading for arbitration next year, per Spotrac, Blackmon will morph into one of the hottest names on the market once teams realize he might be available. Washington seems to have a head start, but it wouldn’t be much of a shock to see Colorado host a bidding war.
The Rockies have some interesting talent in the pipelines, but it’s clear that management won’t hesitate to get more assets back out of a formula that is not working.
The Teams Miami Targets
The Miami Marlins have the right idea—target the Philadelphia Phillies (43-52), San Diego Padres (41-52) and New York Yankees (47-46).
Maybe some of those teams don’t view themselves as sellers, but the Marlins have taken such a stance. And why not, with the team sitting second behind the Nationals in the NL East at 51-42?
According to Morosi, Miami has a target in mind from each squad:
Let’s work down the list.
Philadelphia’s Jeremy Hellickson is 29 years old with a 4.03 ERA and 98 strikeouts. It’s his first year with the Phillies, but the team that seems to always act as sellers now likely won’t mind moving him for the right price.
Andrew Cashner, 29, out in San Diego is another interesting name. He’s the owner of a 5.05 ERA with 53 fanned batters. His numbers are down, but keep in mind he boasts a career 3.74 ERA with 78.4 strikeouts on average.
The Yankees would be the team that is most unlikely to consider itself a seller. Michael Pineda is 27 and has struggled to a 5.56 ERA and 3-9 record, though he’s struck out 119 batters. He has a career 4.02 ERA with 126.8 strikeouts on average, though, so it’s easy to see why New York might want to keep him.
Either way, it’s no surprise to see the Marlins on the hunt for a starter. The team has a strong 3.98 ERA, but three starters sit at 4.68 or worse. Getting an improved arm would keep the team in the hunt for a playoff bid, and from there, anything can happen. The deeper the quality of the rotation, the better.
All stats and info via ESPN.com unless otherwise specified.
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