MLB trade deadline: Top 10 players who could be available
Starting pitcher market is thin ahead of Aug. 1 deadline
The Major League Baseball non-waiver trade deadline is less than a month away and rumours are starting to fly ahead of Aug. 1 (The deadline's been extended a day for this season only because July 31 falls on a Sunday).
Here are some of the top players who might get dealt before the deadline.
All dollars in US and all contract details courtesy of spotrac.com
No Runs DMC, New York Yankees
The New York Yankees' trio of relievers — Dellin Betances, Andrew Miller and Aroldis Chapman — are the biggest names on the market this year, with all three able to single-handedly transform any bullpen into an elite one. With the Yankees sitting fourth in the AL East and not looking like anything close to contenders, any of the three could be moved.
Betances is probably the most unavailable due to his contract status (under team control through 2019) and sheer dominance, but both Miller and Chapman could be had for the right price.
Miller is under contract at $9 million per season through 2018, which means the Yankees would need a huge haul to move the 31-year-old. Chapman, a UFA at the end of the season, was acquired in the off-season from the Cincinnati Reds at a cheap price because of legal trouble at the time, meaning New York could theoretically cash in and get more back than they gave up for him.
Relievers are generally the most available at the deadline because of their year-to-year volatility and cheaper prices than starting pitchers, but contending teams are always looking for a chance to add depth to their bullpens.
Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies
With the Rockies being nowhere close to a playoff spot, trading an expensive 30-year-old star outfielder could be the best thing for the future of the team.
Jon Heyman of todaysknuckleball.com reported that Gonzalez would not oppose a trade, and if management is on board, finding a landing spot for the outfielder shouldn't be too hard.
The all-star is hitting .318 on the year, good for fifth-best in the NL, while adding 19 HRs and 54 RBI.
He is making $17 million this year and $20 million in 2017 so the Rockies may need to eat some salary to get a deal done, but teams are always on the lookout for left-handed power.
Sonny Gray, SP, Oakland Athletics
The starting pitching market is extremely thin this year, which would drive up the price for the few like Sonny Gray who might be available.
Oakland isn't competing this season and Gray is the biggest chip they have to infuse their farm system with more top-end, contract-controllable talent.
The 26-year-old has not been playing well this year, posting a 3-8 record with an ERA of 5.16 (10th worst for qualified starters) and a WHIP of 1.47, but he did finish third in last year's Cy Young voting.
He was reportedly scouted by multiple teams last week, including the Toronto Blue Jays, Baltimore Orioles and Kansas City Royals, and any team who tries to acquire him would be hoping the first half of the season was an anomaly for the former all-star.
It doesn't hurt that he's under team control until 2019, making him a very affordable commodity.
Ryan Braun, OF, Milwaukee Brewers
Although he's had his share of injury problems this season, Ryan Braun has been MVP-like when healthy.
The 32-year-old outfielder is hitting .312 with 14 HRs and 44 RBI on a bad Milwaukee team, looking like the player who won the NL MVP in 2011 and was runner-up in 2012.
Braun does have a no-trade clause, allowing him to block a trade to every team except the Angels, Dodgers, Marlins, Diamondbacks, Padres and Giants. He would need to waive it if any of the other 23 teams wanted to acquire him.
The biggest hurdle for the Brewers — besides either dealing him to one of those six teams or convincing him to waive his no-trade — is finding someone willing to swallow Braun's contract. He's signed through 2020 and is owed $76 million after this season, with a $16-million mutual option in 2021. If Milwaukee is willing to take on some salary, there could be a team amenable to a trade.
Jonathan Lucroy, C, Milwaukee Brewers
Finding catchers who can hit is a perennial struggle for teams, which makes Jonathan Lucroy more appealing than most.
The two-time all-star is hitting .304 to go along with 11 HRs and 41 RBI, and he finished fourth in NL MVP voting just two seasons ago.
Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports indicated the Texas Rangers could be "plotting" to acquire Lucroy, but that the price would probably be high, saying they would need to part with top prospects Jurickson Profar or Joey Gallo to get a deal done.
Lucroy does have a limited no-trade that allows him to block a deal to eight teams.
Just like with Braun, the Brewers may be willing to part with their older top-end talent to stock their farm system and build for the future.
Lucroy, who will become a UFA in 2018, has a $5.25 million club option next season.
Drew Pomeranz, SP, San Diego Padres
Update: Acquired by the Boston Red Sox
If Gray is the best starting pitcher on the market, Drew Pomeranz is probably a close second.
The 27-year-old all-star is under team control through 2018, and has posted phenomenals numbers all year. He has the second-best opponents' batting average in the league at .184 and the fourth best ERA at 2.47, all while having the 13th-worst run support at 3.53 runs per game.
Rosenthal has reported the Rangers have been doing background work on the Padres pitcher and are looking to add starting pitching help.
Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds
Jay Bruce was nearly traded to the Blue Jays in the off-season for Michael Saunders until a Toronto prospect also involved in the deal failed his physical, causing it to fall apart. That hasn't slowed the rumours involving the Reds outfielder, with Cincinnati seemingly in sell mode for the past few years.
Bruce has quietly been one of the best power hitters in the Majors over the past decade (226 HRs since 2008 debut), and he's having another stellar season with 18 HRs and 63 RBI.
Bruce does have a limited no-trade clause, but Heyman indicated he would be willing to waive it to go to a contender. He also pointed to the Blue Jays as a possible landing spot, despite the team failing to acquire him in the off-season.
Ryan Madson, RP, Oakland Athletics
Ryan Madson joined the Athletics this off-season on a three-year deal worth $22 million and has worked as their closer for the majority of the season, notching 17 saves on 23 chances.
He's had a decent campaign, posting a 3.62 ERA with 31 strikeouts over 37 1/3 innings, and would bring a veteran presence to a contender's bullpen.
At 35 years old, being on a rebuilding team increases his chances of being dealt, and being a reliever makes him fairly easy to move should the Athletics decide to trade him.
Carlos Beltran, OF, New York Yankees
Carlos Beltran's effectiveness had been waning the past couple years, but at 39 years old, the Yankees outfielder has had a massive resurgence in 2016.
Because of his age, along with this being the final year of his contract, a Beltran trade is very much possible. He does , however, have a limited no-trade which allows him to block a trade to 15 teams in the league.
Beltran was named an all-star this season for the ninth time, and is batting .299 with 19 HRs and 56 RBI.
The Yankees also have top prospects Aaron Hicks and Aaron Judge ready to step into their Major League outfield as soon as next season.
Beltran wouldn't fetch a huge return if the Yankees decided to deal him, but he would provide a team with a great bat and a lot of post-season experience.
Will Smith / Jeremy Jeffress, RPs, Milwaukee Brewers
The third and fourth Brewers on this list, Jeremy Jeffress and Will Smith are the top relievers on a rebuilding team.
Both players are under team control through 2019, and ESPN's Jerry Crasnick reported that both have been getting a lot of attention from scouts.
Jeffress took over as the closer when Smith was placed on the disabled list before the season started, and has been great, posting a 2.35 ERA with 23 saves.
Since returning from injury on June 2, Smith has been just as good, posting a 2.12 ERA and 0.88 WHIP in 17 innings.
The Brewers have a lot of tradeable commodities, and could deal one or even both relievers if the right opportunity presented itself.