The MLB trading deadline is getting close on Wednesday at 4 pm and as teams try to scramble to find out what they can get their hands on, some GMs will be waiting to see what prospects they can fleece and as the hours get closer, some of the top names on the market include Hunter Pence, Jeff Samardzija, Howie Kendrick, Michael Morse, Bud Norris, Ian Kennedy and Cliff Lee among many others.
Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik has been putting together a plan for five years to get the team back to respectability and so far that has not worked, meaning he may try to pry away a prospect or two for some of his veteran players. The trade season has already started with Scott Feldman and Ricky Nolasco being moved and now that the Mariners have young stars like Nick Franklin, Brad Miller and Erasmo Ramirez with the big team, the vets might be on the way out.
Ibanez has shown that old age is no issue for him as he has hit 22 home runs and is leading the team in that and RBIs as well, with the only other solid hitter being Kyle Seager. Iwakuma likely isn't going anywhere as he has been a top of the line starter, but since he is tops in ERA there is a chance someone could try to pry him from the Mariners.
Ryan is easily the top guy to go for a team that needs defense, as the Mariners brought up young star Brad Miller and they appear ready to give him the full chance to start. Michael Morse has been hurt since getting off to his amazing start but for a team that needs a bat, he could be one to go as well. Perez should have made the All Star team based on the way he has pitched in the second half and any team that needs relief could be in the market for him as well.
The Tigers, Yankees, Cardinals and many other teams could come calling for the Mariners and even six wins in seven games likely won't stop the team from dealing. They are over 12 games back in the division after sniffing .500 earlier in the season and the team isn't getting much better. They rank 28th in runs and 27th in batting average and are just 23rd and 18th in on base and slugging percentage in the league.
The Philadelphia Phillies are out of the playoff race in the NL East and as Jonathan Papelbon is ripping the team for its play this season, general manager Ruben Amaro may be ready to deal, including names like Cliff Lee, Michael Young and Carlos Ruiz as the deadline nears on Wednesday.
The Phillies have held out for a while as they try to get back into the race and now it appears they are ready to trade Young, as Hardball Talk reports that the team is calling up third baseman Cody Asche. That means Young could be dealt to another team and some options include the Pittsburgh Pirates and Texas Rangers as well as the Cardinals and Braves. Lee has been mentioned in deals to the Red Sox and other teams, but his contract may not allow that to work.
The Phillies like what Asche has been doing and he comes from Triple-A Lehigh Valley at just 23-years-old while hitting over .290 with 15 homers and 68 RBIs to go along with 11 stolen bases in 104 games this year. The Phillies are in a rebuilding phase even if they won't admit it and trading Young could be a good way to get some prospects, including from the Rangers, who showed they were willing to deal when they went after Matt Garza, giving up Mike Olt in the process.
Aramis Ramirez was another name mentioned at the deadline, but at age 36 he is dealing with some injuries for the Brewers and according to Hardball Talk, he is not doing as well as he thought and that may mean he does not get dealt. The White Sox have Jake Peavy and Alex Rios rumored on the market and Paul Konerko said on Monday that they "were sh***y before the rumors" and it is likely that those two will be traded.
The Phillies are dealing with some injuries, including to star Dominic Brown, who has been the most consistent player for the team and now he is out after having concussion symptoms after making a diving catch and banging his hard on the ground and now he could be out for a bit. The team has been thrilled with how Brown has played and he is hitting .271 with 24 homers before hitting his head and that could spur the Phillies to make a move and Cliff Lee, Michael Young, Carlos Ruiz and Jonathan Papelbon are all on the block.
It's Brown's first full season in the league and he has 69 RBIs for the team with a .847 OPS and has been a consistent bright spot for a mediocre team. The Phillies are ranked 23rd in the league in runs and 11th in batting average and just 19th in on base percentage and while the team looks like sellers at the deadline with names like Michael Young and Jonathan Papelbon, the front office has been adamant that they want to be buyers and the Brown injury could spark that.
