The MLB trade deadline is here and Thursday could see names like Asdrubal Cabrera, Troy Tulowitzki, Matt Kemp, Carlos Gonzalez, Chris Denorfia, Alex Rios, Cole Hamels, David Price, Josh Willingham or Marlon Byrd move and teams like the New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Dodgers, Baltimore Orioles, Seattle Mariners, Toronto Blue Jays and Pittsburgh Pirates could be interested in making trade deals.
David Price has been the top name on the market, but the Rays have played so well they do not want to deal him anymore unless the package is impossible to turn down. According to Hardball Talk, the Rays are likely not dealing Price this offseason, as they are back in the wild card race. Tulo and Gonzalez have been mentioned, but are unlikely to move, while the Toronto Blue Jays are looking at Asdrubal Cabrera according to reports from Hardball Talk and ESPN.com.
The Phillies reputedly are asking fort a ton for Byrd and with him having a vesting option for 2016, many teams are worried about making that deal. Hamels is on the block but the Phillies also are asking a ton for him and the Athletics have made multiple moves, trading for Jon Lester and also dealing away Tommy Milone to the Twins for Sam Fuld. Justin Masterson was moved from the Cleveland Indians and he now is with the St. Louis Cardinals and that could be a major impact move in the NL playoff race.
The Mariners have been rumored in a number of deals and so far they have not pulled the trigger, as they are not looking to deal their top prospects. The team was in on Marlon Byrd and David Price, but they appear to be out of those now and it comes after the Oakland Athletics made another massive trade to get Jon Lester. The A's clearly are going all in and now they have Lester for a power hitter and while Cespedes is a great talent, they felt adding more in the rotation helped the team heading into the postseason.
The Athletics now are looking like the strongest team in the AL and their rotation is just insane. The team feels the Angels in the standings and that is one reason why they went for Lester and now they have a stacked rotation and Lester could be the difference when it comes to the American League. The Red Sox did not want to pay Lester big money and now they have moved him and he was by far the best pitcher for Boston.
The trade was a stunner for most because deals for players like Lester usually do not get players like Cespedes in return and it usually is a prospect. The Red Sox negotiated with Lester this season and they simply do not want to give long term deals after getting burned by Carl Crawford and Adrian Gonzalez and now they have a power hitting outfielder and could try and keep him past 2014. The deadline could be very active this time around and now teams will be looking at deals and Lester is likely the biggest name that will move.
