Top 10 MLB trade deadline candidates
6. Eric Hosmer, 1B, Royals
If the Royals do decide to sell, Hosmer is probably the biggest fish they can dangle. He’ll turn 28 at season’s end, putting him firmly in his prime. He’s a free agent at the end of the season, and as an established hitter at first base, he’ll likely command a hefty sum on the open market. The Royals really want to keep him, so they may hold onto him even if they do sell, but finances may make that unfeasible.
A career .278 hitter, Hosmer hit 25 homers in 2016. His power numbers are starting more slowly this year, but he’s hitting a productive .282.
Teams looking for a bat will definitely want a shot at Hosmer if the Royals decide to move him, but they may cling to him in the long-shot hope of re-signing him.
7. Francisco Liriano, SP, Blue Jays
If the Blue Jays well and truly fall out of contention, it’s not a stretch to think Liriano could be moved. Another impending free agent, the lefty is off to a poor start in 2017, with a 6.35 ERA in seven starts. However, after he was sent to Toronto in a deadline deal in 2016, he put up a 2.92 ERA.
The Blue Jays are currently 14-21, though they have enough talent to turn things around. That said, they’re getting buried already in one of baseball’s better divisions.
If Toronto continues to play poorly, they’ll have little choice but to start entertaining some offers on the talent they have that has trade value. And if Liriano, who was just placed on the 10-day DL, returns and puts together a few decent starts, he could become a trade target. It helps that he’s only signed through 2017.
8. J.D. Martinez, OF, Tigers
The Tigers’ start has been just barely good enough to fend off the wolves, but they’ll definitely be one of the teams to watch if they fail to establish themselves as a legitimate contender by the end of July. If they don’t, J.D. Martinez will be the name to keep your eye on.
Martinez has yet to play in 2017 due to a nagging foot injury, but barring setbacks, he’ll be with the team within a week or two. If he does hit the market, he’ll be a 29-year-old power hitter who has averaged 28 home runs a season in his three years in Detroit, with a late call-up keeping his tally down in 2014 and injuries costing him time in 2016. His 2015 season saw him hit .282 with 38 home runs, his one fully uninterrupted season in Detroit.
Martinez is set to be a free agent after the season, and he’s on a team that has already stretched its payroll to the limit. If the Tigers sell, he’ll be first in line to go.
9. Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates
If the Pirates can’t turn around a 14-20 start, is it really a stretch to believe that the Pirates would again entertain trades for McCutchen? By all accounts, they tried to move him last offseason, but ended up keeping him when they were unable to find a deal they liked.
A McCutchen deal would probably be difficult, but not impossible. The biggest problem is the fact that he’s not doing anything to help his trade value.
McCutchen hasn’t posted an OPS of .800 or better since 2015, and his .210/.288/.387 start to 2017 won’t reassure many doubters. He is, however, in the last year of his contract — he has a team option for 2018 with a $1 million buyout — so the Pirates would probably gauge interest. Whether they can actually move him is a different story.
10. Mike Moustakas, 3B, Royals
Oh, look, another Royal.
Moustakas plays third base, which will already make him attractive, and he’s still fairly young, currently in his age-28 season. Another Kansas City free-agent-to-be, his value is hard to gauge.
Moustakas was on a huge high after 2015, where he hit .284 with 22 home runs, but an ACL tear cost him nearly the entire 2016 season, leaving him to rebuild his value this year.
Moustakas is off to a decent start, hitting .246 but belting eight home runs in the young season so far. He has power and is a capable enough defender at a premium position, so if the Royals dangle him, there will be takers. It’s simply a question of how optimistic they are of keeping him around long-term if they fail to turn it around this season.
