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When it comes to the July 31 trade deadline, good things do not come to those who wait.
With the first month of the season in the books, general managers around the major leagues already have begun to deploy scouts to evaluate other teams and their farm systems as well as take stock of their own major-league 25-man roster and farm system.
By now, most GMs have a good grasp of their team’s main strengths and weaknesses. They have begun to target the possible sellers at the trade deadline and who might be their competition for a particular player. Contending teams have begun to crystallize whether they will be able to address certain weaknesses from within their farm systems or if they will have to go outside the organization. But no matter what, they are trying to stay ahead of the curve and that means sending out scouts to watch players now.
Going by their records, selling teams are already obvious: Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres. By the end of May, more teams such as the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners could join that group as their surprising starts could -- or should -- fizzle by then.
In three categories, there are a number of players who should be prime targets of most contenders: closers, starting pitchers and position players.
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Targeted closers: Brandon League, Joel Hanrahan, Huston Street, Carlos Marmol, Brett Myers and Grant Balfour
Clubs in need: Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins
League should draw interest especially from the Angels and Reds. His fastball sits at 96-97 mph, occasionally touching 98-99 with great sink. He’s also got a good slider and a nasty split.
"Some say he has the best swing-and-miss pitch in the league," Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said. "Opposing players say he’s just nasty."
The Angels could be interested in Street and Hanrahan as well, and it is crucial for them to come away with one of them. Any one of that veteran trio can go a long way in helping stabilize the Angels’ bullpen in the late innings.
Cincinnati could be interested in the same three in order to push Sean Marshall back into a setup role. Marshall has shown pretty consistently that his effectiveness wanes when used in consecutive days, and he simply is more attuned to the being a setup man. Further, the Reds clearly see Aroldis Chapman as a potential No. 1 starter, but to move him from the bullpen to the rotation, they need to be able to fill the void with another relief arm.
The Cubs will want to try to move Marmol, but he will only have value if he regains his control. His slider is his big pitch, but his fastball command has always been shaky.
Myers has looked good, effectively throwing his curveball, fastball and cutter for strikes consistently. "He works fast and gets the job done," says Astros GM Jeff Luhnow. "[Brett] doesn't get rattled at all, even when a runner gets on, and that's why it's key to have a veteran in that role."
The Red Sox do have Andrew Bailey returning at some point during the season, but he is a health risk and GM Ben Cherington must protect against that. Alfredo Aceves can’t be the answer, and Mark Melancon is still in Triple-A. Hanrahan. Balfour or League would fit best in Boston.
Marlins closer Heath Bell has struggled mightily early on; perhaps Marmol or Hanrahan could fit in Miami if Bell cannot turn it around.
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Targeted starting pitchers: Wandy Rodriguez, Ryan Dempster, Erik Bedard
Clubs in need: New York Yankees, Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers
Clearly Rodriguez is the best of the trio, and he could draw interest from the Yankees. Don’t be surprised to soon see Yankees scouts watching every one of Rodriguez’s starts. He has been the Astros’ best starter so far and should fetch a good price come July.
“He works fast and doesn't mess around,” Luhnow said. “His stuff is as good as it's ever been and the big difference between this year and prior years is that he doesn't let things get to him. If a guy botches a ball behind him, he used to become a different pitcher and struggle. Now he just shakes it off and bears down on the next batter.”
Dempster owns a no-trade clause, but he is in the last year of his contract. He has always been a favorite of Tigers manager Jim Leyland. With youngsters Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello scuffling, a savvy, unflappable veteran like Dempster could help stabilize the rotation beyond ace Justin Verlander.
Bedard is always a health risk, so he won’t cost much, which might fit Cleveland’s price range. Bedard had a great April, posting a 2.48 ERA, and he leads the Pirates with 26 strikeouts.
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Targeted position players: Denard Span, OF; Justin Morneau, 1B; Jeff Francoeur, OF, Carlos Lee, 1B/DH
Clubs in need: Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Marlins, Washington Nationals
It was confirmed Tuesday that Morneau has no structural damage in his surgically repaired wrist, so Morneau will be of interest to several teams, including the Rangers, Dodgers and Marlins. He fits best with the Rangers, as their current left-handed hitting first baseman Mitch Moreland has looked terrible. And assuming he is completely healthy, Morneau could act as considerable insurance in case Josh Hamilton chooses to leave as a free agent after this season.
The Dodgers could also be interested. Though they have a smooth-fielding James Loney, he is not the middle-of-the-order offensive force Morneau is. Morneau is a logical fit for both the Dodgers and Rangers, and if he can get back on the field he can build up his trade value a bit more.
Meanwhile, Span could bring some interest from the Nationals, but the more I watch Bryce Harper play, the more I’m convinced he will eventually play center field. That would leave Michael Morse in left field when he returns from the DL, with Jayson Werth in right.
Both Francoeur and Lee could also be traded. Wil Myers, one of the Royals top prospects, is off to a fast start in Double-A (1.069 OPS). When he's ready, he'll take over in right field, which could make Francoeur available. An NL East contender like Philadelphia or Washington could have interest. Lee has a full no-trade clause, but he is in the final year of his deal and could convinced to waive the clause if an AL contending team like the Tigers, Indians or Rays comes calling.
With the first month of the season in the books, general managers around the major leagues already have begun to deploy scouts to evaluate other teams and their farm systems as well as take stock of their own major-league 25-man roster and farm system.
By now, most GMs have a good grasp of their team’s main strengths and weaknesses. They have begun to target the possible sellers at the trade deadline and who might be their competition for a particular player. Contending teams have begun to crystallize whether they will be able to address certain weaknesses from within their farm systems or if they will have to go outside the organization. But no matter what, they are trying to stay ahead of the curve and that means sending out scouts to watch players now.
Going by their records, selling teams are already obvious: Kansas City Royals, Minnesota Twins, Chicago Cubs, Houston Astros, Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres. By the end of May, more teams such as the Baltimore Orioles, New York Mets, Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners could join that group as their surprising starts could -- or should -- fizzle by then.
In three categories, there are a number of players who should be prime targets of most contenders: closers, starting pitchers and position players.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Targeted closers: Brandon League, Joel Hanrahan, Huston Street, Carlos Marmol, Brett Myers and Grant Balfour
Clubs in need: Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati Reds, Boston Red Sox, Miami Marlins
League should draw interest especially from the Angels and Reds. His fastball sits at 96-97 mph, occasionally touching 98-99 with great sink. He’s also got a good slider and a nasty split.
"Some say he has the best swing-and-miss pitch in the league," Mariners GM Jack Zduriencik said. "Opposing players say he’s just nasty."
The Angels could be interested in Street and Hanrahan as well, and it is crucial for them to come away with one of them. Any one of that veteran trio can go a long way in helping stabilize the Angels’ bullpen in the late innings.
Cincinnati could be interested in the same three in order to push Sean Marshall back into a setup role. Marshall has shown pretty consistently that his effectiveness wanes when used in consecutive days, and he simply is more attuned to the being a setup man. Further, the Reds clearly see Aroldis Chapman as a potential No. 1 starter, but to move him from the bullpen to the rotation, they need to be able to fill the void with another relief arm.
The Cubs will want to try to move Marmol, but he will only have value if he regains his control. His slider is his big pitch, but his fastball command has always been shaky.
Myers has looked good, effectively throwing his curveball, fastball and cutter for strikes consistently. "He works fast and gets the job done," says Astros GM Jeff Luhnow. "[Brett] doesn't get rattled at all, even when a runner gets on, and that's why it's key to have a veteran in that role."
The Red Sox do have Andrew Bailey returning at some point during the season, but he is a health risk and GM Ben Cherington must protect against that. Alfredo Aceves can’t be the answer, and Mark Melancon is still in Triple-A. Hanrahan. Balfour or League would fit best in Boston.
Marlins closer Heath Bell has struggled mightily early on; perhaps Marmol or Hanrahan could fit in Miami if Bell cannot turn it around.
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Targeted starting pitchers: Wandy Rodriguez, Ryan Dempster, Erik Bedard
Clubs in need: New York Yankees, Red Sox, Cleveland Indians, Detroit Tigers
Clearly Rodriguez is the best of the trio, and he could draw interest from the Yankees. Don’t be surprised to soon see Yankees scouts watching every one of Rodriguez’s starts. He has been the Astros’ best starter so far and should fetch a good price come July.
“He works fast and doesn't mess around,” Luhnow said. “His stuff is as good as it's ever been and the big difference between this year and prior years is that he doesn't let things get to him. If a guy botches a ball behind him, he used to become a different pitcher and struggle. Now he just shakes it off and bears down on the next batter.”
Dempster owns a no-trade clause, but he is in the last year of his contract. He has always been a favorite of Tigers manager Jim Leyland. With youngsters Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello scuffling, a savvy, unflappable veteran like Dempster could help stabilize the rotation beyond ace Justin Verlander.
Bedard is always a health risk, so he won’t cost much, which might fit Cleveland’s price range. Bedard had a great April, posting a 2.48 ERA, and he leads the Pirates with 26 strikeouts.
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Targeted position players: Denard Span, OF; Justin Morneau, 1B; Jeff Francoeur, OF, Carlos Lee, 1B/DH
Clubs in need: Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers, Marlins, Washington Nationals
It was confirmed Tuesday that Morneau has no structural damage in his surgically repaired wrist, so Morneau will be of interest to several teams, including the Rangers, Dodgers and Marlins. He fits best with the Rangers, as their current left-handed hitting first baseman Mitch Moreland has looked terrible. And assuming he is completely healthy, Morneau could act as considerable insurance in case Josh Hamilton chooses to leave as a free agent after this season.
The Dodgers could also be interested. Though they have a smooth-fielding James Loney, he is not the middle-of-the-order offensive force Morneau is. Morneau is a logical fit for both the Dodgers and Rangers, and if he can get back on the field he can build up his trade value a bit more.
Meanwhile, Span could bring some interest from the Nationals, but the more I watch Bryce Harper play, the more I’m convinced he will eventually play center field. That would leave Michael Morse in left field when he returns from the DL, with Jayson Werth in right.
Both Francoeur and Lee could also be traded. Wil Myers, one of the Royals top prospects, is off to a fast start in Double-A (1.069 OPS). When he's ready, he'll take over in right field, which could make Francoeur available. An NL East contender like Philadelphia or Washington could have interest. Lee has a full no-trade clause, but he is in the final year of his deal and could convinced to waive the clause if an AL contending team like the Tigers, Indians or Rays comes calling.