To Sell or Not to Sell?
Photo via Redleg Nation
American League and National League contenders have been touched on. Now let's focus on the teams who could be looking to sell pieces in order to "retool." These are teams who should be willing to deal some of their better pieces, but only if the price is right.
Tampa Bay Rays
Top Tradable Assets: RHP Chris Archer, RHP Nathan Eovaldi, CF Kevin Kiermaier, C Wilson Ramos, RHP Sergio Romo
Archer has reportedly been coveted by teams for a while, but the Rays have been stingy, citing his strikeout rate. However, he hasn't posted a sub-4.00 ERA since 2015, and he isn't on track to do it this season, either. Then again, he's signed through next season with two addition team options.
Eovaldi is the polar opposite. The trait that once propelled him was his upper-90s fastball, but it was generally hit hard, and his strikeout rate was always low. Then he underwent Tommy John surgery. Now, on the last year of a very affordable contract, he appears to once again have the value he once did. With that said, after being unhittable when he first returned, the average exit velocity off him is back over league average and has led to his statistical regression.
Talk about regression...Kevin Kiermaier has seemingly forgotten how to hit. He remains one of the game's top center fielders, but a .183 batting average with little pop at his disposal has brought his stock way down. A deal will have to wait until at least the offseason.
Wilson Ramos, on the other hand, has been the team's top hitter. He was voted to start the All Star game, and if it wasn't for a hamstring injury that will likely have him out past the deadline, he would be on his way out. At this point, though, they'll likely have to settle for extending a qualifying offer to him in the offseason and bringing back a draft pick that way, although the August waiver deadline may be an option.
Now onto everyone's favorite: the opener. Sergio Romo has often received the honor of pitching for an inning to begin games, rather than using a traditional starting pitcher. He also has plenty of experience as a closer in big situations, dating back to his days in San Francisco. Needless to say, his versatility is a major selling point, and he has plenty of bravado to boot.
Los Angeles Angels
Top Tradable Assets: RF Kole Calhoun, RHP Andrew Heaney, LHP Tyler Skaggs, SS Andrelton Simmons, OF Chris Young
Calhoun was once the Angels No. 2 foundational position player. However, he has had a rough campaign offensively, and has been overtaken by Shohei Ohtani, Justin Upton and Andrelton Simmons (not to mention Albert Pujols). They'd probably prefer to wait for him to re-establish value, but a team that believes in him just as much could potentially pry him away.
Speaking of Simmons, he is in the middle of what may be his best season as a hitter. His value has never been higher than it is right now. That puts the Angels in prime position to get a haul in return for him. After this year, he is under contract for two more at $13 and $15 million, respectively, which is relatively affordable for a player who ranks No. 10 in the league in bWAR.
Chris Young could be a cheap acquisition as a platoon bat. Yes, he's struggling this year, but that doesn't tell the whole story. As recently as two years ago, he had an elite .329/.410/.589 slash line against lefties. At most, his new team would only have to pay him the remainder of his $2 million for this season, plus a marginal prospect. That sounds like someone worth going after.
Skaggs and Heaney can be grouped together. Both have struggled along their paths to where they are now, but they've both performed like at least middle of the rotation starters (and Skaggs has been more like a No. 1 or 2) and are controllable. Skaggs could be retained through 2020, and Heaney through 2021.
Toronto Blue Jays
Top Tradable Assets: RHP Tyler Clippard, OF Curtis Granderson, RHP J.A. Happ, 1B Justin Smoak, 3B Yangervis Solarte
When isn't Clippard in this discussion? He's currently pitching in his seventh organization since the Nationals let him walk following 2014. His numbers haven't necessarily been where they once were, but he's generally still a solid pitcher, has plenty of late-game experience, and would cost under $1M to acquire.
Granderson has become quite similar to Clippard. He is a low average, high on-base percentage corner outfielder with diminishing but still existent power. More than that, however, he is a prototypical veteran presence. His price tag is a bit higher, but that didn't stop the Dodgers at last year's deadline.
Smoak had a better year last season (as did seemingly every Blue Jay), but he's still one of the more powerful, lesser-known sluggers in the league. He's also on a tear so far in July, and holds a team option for 2019. Get him while he's hot!
Solarte is experiencing his worst season since he was a rookie, and his batting average is at a career low. However, that should be looked at similarly to Calhoun (though less extreme). He can play anywhere across the infield at a serviceable level, and it's hard to imagine he won't start hitting better at some point soon.
Minnesota Twins
Top Tradable Assets: 2B Brian Dozier, SS Eduardo Escobar, RHP Kyle Gibson, RHP Jake Odorizzi, RHP Fernando Rodney
It's possible that Dozier's best days are behind him, but he hit more than 30 home runs each of the last two seasons. The much more appealing piece at this time, though, is Escobar, who can play almost anywhere and is in the middle of a career (up to this point) year. He's much like another Eduardo who the the Twins dealt two years ago. Like Dozier, he would be a rental, but at just over half the price and clearly still in his prime.
Gibson may be a tad inconsistent from year to year for some people's taste, but he is performing like a No. 2 starter this year. He is also relatively inexpensive ($4.2 million) and under contract for next season.
Jake Odorizzi is also on the market. This sounds like a broken record. He was once dealt from Kansas City to Tampa Bay, along with Wil Myers, for a package that included ace James Shields and failed starter Wade Davis — it's safe to say that worked out nicely for one side. The Rays then bluffed at trading him for seemingly all five years he pitched for them, before finally pulling the trigger this past offseason. Once again, he finds himself performing like a mid-to-back end starting pitcher for a non-contender. He comes with an extra year of club control compared to Gibson, albeit at a slightly more expensive rate.
Speaking of former Rays, here's a reliever who once recorded 48 saves in Tampa. Fernando Rodney may be 41, but he's still an effective closer, and (much like Romo) his swagger remains 100.
Cincinnati Reds
Top Tradable Assets: LF Adam Duvall, 2B Scooter Gennett, RHP Matt Harvey, RHP Raisel Iglesias, RF Scott Schebler
The Reds may not wind up being sellers at all. They have played much better since the firing of manager Bryan Price, and have stated that they are looking to re-sign Scooter Gennett. So why is he on this list? Negotiations with him may already be ongoing, and depending on the status and the quality of any offers received for him, he may be worth cutting ties with. Anyone fortunate enough to add him would be receiving a year and a half of elite offense from a second baseman.
Cincinnati has four starting-caliber outfielders, and three of them can only play the corners. Jesse Winker is the most highly touted of the group, so that leaves Duvall and Schebler in limbo, although the team could theoretically create a great platoon with them. Both are under contract through at least 2021 (and Schebler is through the following season), so solid return could be expected.
Matt Harvey was never meant to last here, unless he re-establshed himself as an ace. He's been better than he had recently been for the Mets, but still well short of his short-lived glory days. Unless they don't like what they're presented with, he will be gone shortly.
Outside of Gennett, Iglesias has to be viewed as the league's top target from the Reds. He's been a sensational closer at times, and also has experience in the rotation. He's also signed through 2021 at below market value. This is a classic scenario of a guy who will only be traded for multiple renowned prospects, because they have time to wait for a better offer down the road.
Now that all of the teams stuck in between have been touched on, that leaves the Rangers, Tigers, White Sox, Royals, Orioles, Marlins, Mets and Padres as teams who need to "blow it up." Check back in tomorrow for their best routes toward rebuilding.