MLB·Analysis

MLB trade candidates: 4 players who may be dealt

Besides watching the game's best athletes, the MLB all-star break is a time to dream up trade scenarios as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline draws closer. Detroit ace David Price is among the pending free agents that soon could be sporting different uniforms.

Non-waiver deadline is Friday at 4 p.m. ET

Doug Harrison · CBC Sports · Posted: Jul 16, 2015 11:45 PM EDT | Last Updated: July 27, 2015

From left, Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman, Philadelphia left-hander and San Diego outfielder Justin Upton could find themselves on playoff contenders on or before the Friday's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver trade deadline. Chapman is under club control through 2016, Hamels is due to make $23.5 million per season until his contract expires in 2018 and Upton, with 14 homers, is perhaps the best slugger said to be available.

Friday's 4 p.m. ET non-waiver trade deadline is fast approaching and the rumour mill is churning, so baseball fans have plenty of ammunition to dream up trade scenarios.

Below, we profile four players, including pending free agents, that soon could be sporting different uniforms:

Aroldis Chapman, RP

How valuable would he be to a contending team's bullpen? Well, all you had to do was watch the Cincinnati Reds closer's performance at the recent all-star game.

99,101,100,101,101,102,103,102,103,102,100,98,100,102 (Aroldis Chapman's pitches in all-star game listed as MPH) <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/ASG2015?src=hash">#ASG2015</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/610SportsKC">@610SportsKC</a>
—@huke_leller

The 27-year-old Cuban fireballer struck out the side on 14 pitches, twice reaching 103 miles per hour on the radar gun. Chapman's first 42 appearances this season included 20 saves, 1.73 ERA, 1.25 WHIP and 74 strikeouts in 41 2/3 innings. Attractive to teams is the fact Chapman is reasonably priced at $8.05 million US this season and under club control through 2016 when he's eligible for salary arbitration.

Cole Hamels, SP

Perhaps more interesting than which team acquires the Philadelphia Phillies lefty is how much it will eat of Hamels' remaining contract as the 31-year-old is due to make $23.5 million per year until his contract expires in 2018, with a team option for 2019. Hamels is very likely to be dealt as the Phillies want to expedite their rebuilding process. The demand for starting pitching is high, so GM Ruben Amaro Jr. might be able to get the top-20 prospect he is believed to be seeking. In 20 starts this season, Hamels has 137 strikeouts and a 3.64 ERA in 128 2/3 innings. He also has a 3.09 ERA in 13 playoff starts. Hamels is fresh off pitching his first no-hitter and the 13th in Phillies history.

Jeff Samardzija, SP

The price tag rose for the Chicago White Sox workhorse after Samardzija took a no-hitter into the sixth inning in each of his final two starts before the break, including a complete-game, four-hit shutout against Toronto, which boasts the most potent offence in the major leagues. The 30-year-old pending free agent has pitched at least seven innings in nine consecutive starts and boasts a 3-1 mark and 2.38 ERA in his past seven outings and 3.91 ERA overall. Samardzija is no stranger to the trade deadline, having been moved from the Chicago Cubs to Oakland a year ago.

Justin Upton, OF

The pending free agent was one of the bigger signings last off-season by rookie San Diego Padres general manager A.J. Preller, who could be motivated to move Upton and others with the team 8.5 games behind the division-leading Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West entering play Monday and the farm system depleted. Upton, 27, is just entering his prime years and began the week with 16 home runs, 50 runs batted in and 17 stolen bases to put him on pace for a 26-homer, 82-RBI season. One of the few negatives with Upton is the fact his .251 batting average and .330 on-base percentage are below his career marks of .273 and .352, respectively.