MLB
Trade Deadline Decisions For 5 On-The-Fence Teams
One of my—and baseball fanatics’—favorite times of year is the MLB trade deadline. Some of the biggest names in the game get moved, contenders begin to separate themselves from the rest of the pack, and rebuilding teams move on from aging talent and reset for next season.
Despite the volatility of the period—in which the hard deadline is just 7 days away—I decided to take a look at 5 teams whose decision as to whether they should “buy,” “sell” or “stand pat” is just as much of a quagmire as is the NL Central race.
Without further ado, here is my verdict on 5 squads whose direction in transaction madness is far from binary.
#1: Cleveland Indians – Buy
By the All-Star Break, it almost seemed certain that Cleveland was going to ship away some of their best players, including ace Trevor Bauer. But lo and behold: this team is now 16 games over .500, only 3 games back of the Twins, and in line to host the American League Wild Card Game.
Could Cleveland receive a tantalizing offer for the aforementioned Bauer or elite reliever Brad Hand? Absolutely. But at this point in the year, this team has reached its zenith and has no signs of slowing down.
The team has a premier rotation that has the propensity to carry them to a 4th straight playoff berth, with studs like ASG MVP Shane Bieber, a healthy Corey Kluber, and a resurgent Mike Clevinger.
However, the weakness of this team is its outfield. Other than rookie revelation Oscar Mercado, they have one of the weakest OF corps in baseball. Acquiring a big bat like Kansas City’s Whit Merrifield or Detroit’s Nicholas Castellanos—ironically two AL Central rivals—could really help.
#2: San Francisco Giants – Sell
The Giants are white-hot and are coming off of a 9-1 record in their last 10 games. Though they sit at 52-50 and 2.0 GB of the second NL Wild Card berth, this torrid stretch seems aberrational.
Madison Bumgarner and Will Smith should certainly draw big crowds on the trade market, as teams are perennially looking to bolster their rotations and bullpens. Moreover, trading those players would allow the Giants to get much younger and expedite their rebuild.
Former franchise cornerstones Buster Posey, Brandon Crawford and Brandon Belt are 32, 32 and 31 respectively. Furthermore, none of those players’ WAR surpasses 1.0; all are having down seasons.
Ultimately, I think this team’s subpar rotation and star-deprived lineup will prevent it from making the playoffs. While playing in Oracle Park at this very moment may be a formidable challenge, I suspect that this unit’s hot stretch is masquerading as prolonged success that almost certainly will not show up.
#3: Texas Rangers – Sell
The Rangers started the year very well. However, they now sit at 6.5 games behind the A’s for the ultimate Wild Card spot in the American League.
Not only does the trek to the top of the stout AL West division seem impossible, but it appears unlikely that Texas will find itself in the playoff mix considering how many teams currently separate Arlington from October glory.
Consequently, I think it is very smart for the Rangers to sell some of their assets. Starters Mike Minor and Lance Lynn have both flourished in Texas, and each of their values is likely skyrocketing.
Moreover, All-Star designated hitter Hunter Pence is having his best season since 2014. Considering that all 3 of the aforementioned players are over 30 should only foster more incentive for GM Jon Daniels. The apparent lone untouchable? Joey Gallo.
#4: Colorado Rockies – Stand Pat
After losing free agents DJ LeMahieu and Adam Ottavino—coincidentally both to the New York Yankees, against whom they just played—the Rockies have underwhelmed in 2019 and are currently tied for 4th in the NL West.
However, the Rox’s performance isn’t due to a dearth of superstars; rather, it is because of their rotation.
The Rockies own a true nucleus of talent in OF Charlie Blackmon—whose name has been discussed on the trade block—SS Trevor Story and 3B Nolan Arenado. Despite their talent, Colorado has the worst team ERA in baseball at 5.58.
At the same time, I think the future is bright for this team. Highly-touted prospect Brendan Rogers is out for the season, not to mention that starters Kyle Freeland, Peter Lambert and Jeff Hoffman are all youthful.
The Rockies might not contend for the postseason this year, but I think it’s simply too early to give up on a squad that has success on its itinerary. If things remain the same next season, however, selling may be on the horizon.
#5: Chicago White Sox: Stand Pat
The White Sox have shown glimpses of optimism but have gone a dismal 3-7 in their past 10 contests. Per FanGraphs, the Sox have a 0.0% chance to make the playoffs; they are 11 back in the Wild Card race.
Despite their 2019 record, I think the White Sox are analogous to the Rockies in that both teams can enter 2020 with optimism. Emerging players like SS Tim Anderson, OF Eloy Jimenez, 3B Yoan Moncada, 2B Yolmer Sánchez, and pitchers Michael Kopech and Dylan Cease—not to mention an elite farm system—should guide this team to success in the near future.
The one tangle in which the Sox find themselves is in regard to star first baseman Jose Abreu, who has been the linchpin of the South Side for the last several years. Abreu’s name has surfaced in trade talks—largely since he is a free agent at season’s end—but I think the White Sox should do everything in their power to retain their veteran slugger and leader.
So when making the decision about his team’s future, general manager Rick Hahn should realize that his burgeoning contingent will likely be able to contend in the next few years and thus avoid trading any outstanding players or prospects.
Written by Bradley Locker
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Photo credit to Perry “El Guapo” Blazian via Flickr.
