The Major League Baseball trading deadline is getting closer and as teams try and figure out whether to be buyers or sellers, time is running out for everyone to get depots where they need it and some of the top options to be moved include Jake Peavy, Luke Gregerson, Ervin Santana, Kendrys Morales as well as names like Michael Young and Alex Rios.
Some of the teams most likely to buy deals include the Red Sox, Cardinals, Dodgers, Braves, Orioles, Reds and Rangers among other teams. The Angels may also be in the mix after Albert Pujols was placed on the DL with a foot injury.
The Cardinals already have a number of players in their farm system that can help later in the season and they could go for a top pitching name like Matt Garza, but so far that type of deal has not been linked with St. Louis. The team needs a better shortstop and while Brendan Ryan of the Mariners is available, he only has a solid glove and his hitting leaves much to be desired. The Pirates are guaranteed to be buyers at the deadline after the way they have played and first base and the outfield are two need areas and one name that keeps popping up is Alex Rios, as he is playing for the White Sox and they are very out of it this year.
The Reds have various needs with Jonathan Broxton and Sean Marshall on the DL and even though Ryan Ludwick is coming back, they could go after someone like Rios or the Phillies' Michael Young, who has had interest from the Yankees as well. The Dodger like Garza or Bud Norris in a deal since they need some pitching and the Diamondbacks may do the same as well. A name that has come up is Chris Sale and while the White Sox don't want to part with him, since they are paying so bad it might be the best move.
The teams at the middle of the pack will be the most interesting to watch, including the Phillies, as they could deal Cliff Lee, Roy Halladay, Michael Young and Chase Utley, but so far Reuben Amaro has said he wants to sit tight. Carlos Ruiz could also go and another team that is in need of some help is the Nationals. Garza has been linked to a number of teams, including the Cardinals, Blue Jays, Rangers, and Indians and he can be a top of the line starter for most teams. The Cubs are hoping to get some solid pieces for Garza and Theo Epstein will wait until he gets a deal that he likes before pulling the trigger. ESPN is reporting that the Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays are the top contenders for Garza and the trade talk should heat up in the coming weeks.
Alex Rios has turned himself into a trade option with the way he has played this year, as he is hitting above .270 with 11 homers, 40 RBI and 19 steals and teams were impressed with what he did lasts season, hitting .304 with 25 home runs, 91 RBI and 23 stolen bases. The Rangers could also be in the market for Rios after Josh Hamilton left last season and he also could go to a team like the Rockies or the Tigers. Morales is a very likely option to get moved, as the Mariners (despite playing well of late) are 11 games out of the Wild Card and since he will be a free agent next season and will want over $10 million per year, it might be the perfect move for Seattle. The team traded starter Jason Vargas for Morales this offseason to get more pop in the lineup and he has done that, but since the team is just 43-52 at the break and are 13 games out of the division, general manager Jack Zduriencik may realize it's selling time.
Morales has been solid with power in the lineup while hitting .280 with 14 home runs and 54 RBI this season and since Raul Ibanez has been playing like he's 20, the team may not feel bad about getting rid of some power. Ibanez has been mentioned as a possible chip since he has 24 home runs, but Morales will get the team a much better player in return since he is younger and ESPN is reporting that the Pirates could be a spot for him to land, as they need a first baseman type player. Morales benefits from the DH, but the Pirates are playing better than they have in years and they may not worry about it as they try to add more power to the lineup.
Morales is a switch-hitting power bat and a number of teams could be looking for that, including the Pirates, who are battling with the Cardinals for the central division. The Mariners are feeling good after sweeping the Angels heading into the break, but that won't keep them from being sellers, as they have been way too inconsistent this year to have any shot at getting into the playoff race.
Rios has been having one of his best seasons in recent memory with the White Sox this year and this past week he showed why he once was a $100 million player, going six-for-six in a game on Tuesday that Chicago won 11-4 against the Tigers. Rios has been a solid outfielder for most of his career and after going through a couple rough seasons in Toronto, he looks like an excellent option for teams in need of a bat in the outfield, including for teams like the Yankees, Reds, Giants, Rangers and Athletics. Byrd is another player that looks like a potential target for teams, as he hit a grand slam this past week in a victory over the Giants and he would be valuable as a righthanded bat.
Rios is the first player to have six hits in a game in the American League since Ian Kinsler did it in 2009 in April and the last MLB player to do it was Adrian Gonzalez back when he was with the Padres. After the game Rios got his batting average up to a respectable .281 and while the White Sox like what he has done for the team this season, a recent slump and the mediocre play of the team has his name popping up in trade rumors.
