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Bold trade deadline moves for 2019

The 2019 MLB trade deadline will have a bit of a different feel to it this year. The July 31st deadline remains the same. However, unlike in seasons past, this will be the last time that teams can trade for players in order to improve their teams. Gone is the waiver trade deadline, which allowed teams to add players via a waiver trade up until August 31st. Once the date passes for players to be traded, teams have to start figuring out their strategies for the post and offseason. There has always been some last minute acquisitions that have been a difference maker for any team that potentially will be holding the World Series trophy come the end of the playoffs. Here are some bold predictions that I personally would like to see happen. Please note, I AM NOT a professional baseball journalist, I am only throwing my two-cents in on what would be interesting trade concepts before the deadline.

1) LHP Madison Bumgarner (SF): The rumors around MadBum have surrounded him since the beginning of the season. As much as a staple name Bumgarner has been for the Giants, the dynasty window looks like it will be closing if San Francisco keeps up this performance for the season. However, loyalty is more important to Bumgarner in wanting to stay over actually wanting to be traded. That’s why he listed his no-trade clause with a group of teams that are potential contenders for this season (Astros, Braves, Brewers, Cardinals, Cubs, Phillies, Red Sox, and Yankees). It’s hard to say, but the landing destination for Bumgarner is a small field. However, the best spot for where he could potentially wind up is the Minnesota Twins. The Twins have a commanding lead of the American League Central and are in the best position to beat out the favored Cleveland Indians for division. The Nationals are another team not listed on Bumgarner’s list and have the potential to send some of their top prospects for the veteran and make their pitching staff lethal in the rotation of Max Scherzer, Stephen Strasburg, and Patrick Corbin. As much as MadBum would like to stay a Giant for life, his potential of winning his fourth title could make his value as a free agent in 2020 more valuable.

2) RHP Marcus Stroman (TOR): The Toronto Blue Jays are in same comparable situation as the Giants, the difference that they are currently taking advantage of is exposing their young talent that is ripe enough to be exposed from their farm system. Someone who is willing to stick around for that talent to blossom is ace, Marcus Stroman. Stroman has been the best pitcher in the Blue Jays system and has as much to offer as Madison Bumgarner does, and should not shy away the contention of being able to compete at a high level. Although he does not have the World Series rings like Bumgarner, Stroman was the star pitcher that led the United States in winning their first World Baseball Classic title in 2017. Stroman has been fighting arbitration cases with the Toronto front office over the past couple of seasons; and he even lost his case in the offseason before the 2019 campaign began. It would be in high favor that Stroman would be traded to a division rival that has the chance of running deep into the playoffs this fall. The Yankees have eyed Stroman as a favorite to switch sides in the division, and for that potential youth factor for their rotation going forward can be solved by replacing C.C. Sabathia in the long term.

3) 3B Anthony Rendon (WSH): There have already been stirring rumors of Rendon’s agent Scott Boras working on an extension with the Washington Nationals, but it has always been a routine of Boras telling his clients to deny any extension and see what said player could find in free agency. The Nats could probably have the financial means to extend Rendon in any ridiculous fashion that Boras would throw their way. After the departure of Bryce Harper, which happens to be Boras’ prized client, the front office of Washington would move forward to invest more in supporting players, like Rendon, and make him a big time All-Star. However, in the terms that the Nationals come up short and do not look like they will be in the playoff picture, it would not be unrealistic for them to hold Rendon valued enough to a team looking for that edge at third base. A team that could easily shop for Rendon is any American League contender. The Minnesota Twins could squeeze Rendon into their lineup and push Marwin Gonzalez to the outfield platoon that has lingered with injury all season. The Yankees do not need a third basemen with the explosion from Gio Urshela, but after the shortcomings of missing out on Manny Machado, it is too good to be true to go after Rendon.

4) OF Yasiel Puig (CIN): Another free agent piece that is up for grabs in the 2020 season, Yasiel Puig could be a perfect rental piece for any contender that needs strong outfield presence with an explosive bat. At the beginning of the season, it looked like the Cincinnati Reds were loaded up to go against a talent stacked NL Central, but their efforts have left them in last place of the division at the halfway mark. Puig’s efforts should not go without appreciation: in a Reds uniform he is currently has a batting average if .263 with 22 home runs and 56 RBIs. Another statistic that needs to go into focus is Puig’s career numbers over the past three seasons is what he hits for in the second half of the season. From July through September, he has hit for .282/.264/.294 for his averages and collecting 32 home runs alongside 89 RBIs. The icing on top is how he hits for in the post season, where his career numbers in October is hitting .280 for batting average with five home runs and 23 RBIs since 2013; he has not missed a post season ever since his debut for the Los Angeles Dodgers in the same year. Puig will not come cheap; he is almost a $10 million-dollar-man and will need to go to a team that has the salary room to afford him for the second half of the season. For an outfielder that has experience playing in a World Series, a team that is willing to pay for the right fielder could be the Cleveland Indians or the St. Louis Cardinals.

5) LHP Will Smith (SF): So the best closer that all the experts have their eyes on is Kirby Yates of the San Diego Padres, but the Friar Faithful are in consideration of being a fringe team in making the Wild Card for the National League. Even if the Padres come up short, the probability of dealing Yates is low because their potential in the future looks promising with what they are currently producing as a unit. In the same division, the Giants continue to be in the mix for selling their key assets of the season, which includes closer Will Smith. Smith is another pitcher that is eligible for free agency in 2020 and the Giants could let him go without any loss to their team. His numbers this year are impressive, with a 2.11 ERA, 54 strikeouts, and 24 saves in the 2019 campaign. That is second behind the league leader Yates, which makes him the second best closer in the National League halfway through the season. There are a handful of playoff contenders that are looking to improve their bullpens for short-term retainer for the playoffs, including the Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers, Rays, and Red Sox. There would be an expectation that if Smith were traded, it would be a last minute transaction before the deadline closes.

6) 1B Jose Abreu (CWS): The Chicago White Sox are on the fringe of becoming a competitive unit within the coming season or two. In the current season, they are not even close to being considered as a Wild Card team for the American League. Sending out Jose Abreu for the last few months of the season would be the perfect sacrifice that the White Sox could do to address any missing links they need for the next season. The primary reason why this is acceptable is Abreu has been vocal about his pride for the South Side and even if he were traded, his first priority would be to come back and resign in free agency after the 2019 postseason. Besides the faithful commitments by Abreu, his 2019 season has been stellar with 21 home runs, 66 RBIs, and scoring 44 runs with an OPS of .807. There are a great deal of playoff contenders who are full at first base, so the potential suitors for Abreu would be a Wild Card worthy team. It would be in his best interest to go to a fast producing offense, like the Rays or Indians. A strong team that would love his bat would be the Houston Astros who would love the rental at first base.

7) RHP Noah Syndergaard (NYM): We get to the same point every year for the New York Mets and it ends up to be in the same miserable place they suffer in. If the hitting is connecting, the pitching is off and sometimes vice versa. Lately, they continue to have trouble closing out games having a carousel of closers including Jeurys Familia and Edwin Diaz. At the brink of hitting the “fire sale” button, it would be in their best interest to let go of any players where they could gain an edge for potential future, and it starts with Noah Syndergaard. Thor has lingered with injury on and off ever since the Mets were great contenders to command the National League East, yet everyone in the division have managed to catch up to them (outside the Marlins). Mets GM Brodie Van Wagenen has laughed off the idea that Syndergaard be traded at all, but it would not sound like a bad idea. The rumors have stirred that the Padres would be more than willing to fit Thor into their future system, and after paying for Manny Machado they can assure that they can afford him. With the Padres having one of the best farm teams, they have plenty of players to send over that can fit the replacement of Syndergaard. Another factor is Thor comes cheap, as he still has another year of arbritation before he becomes a free agent in 2020.

8) RHP Shane Greene (DET): There have been more rumors circulating around starting pitcher Matthew Boyd for the Detroit Tigers to trade before the deadline. However, in the hopes that their rotation will be competitive for the following season with the return of Michael Fulmer and potentially their first overall draft pick Casey Mize, the team would like to keep Boyd as a seasoned veteran. Greene has been one of the best closers for the American League and proved it by being a nominated an All-Star this season. He has been setting his career high for someone that has never been in the considerations of making the Midsummer Classic. The 30-year old is holding down a 1.06 ERA with 35 strikeouts and 22 saves for a team that is currently in last place of their division. Probably the best asset the Tigers have to offer for trading, they could move Greene to any potential suitor for a cheap price who is only making four million dollars and would not be too awful to any team’s payroll. Not to mention that he has one more year of arbitration left and would not be considered a free agent until the 2021 off-season, but he could be an asset for a team that potentially needs a closer for the post season. Teams with the fewest saves this season that are playoff contenders include the Red Sox, Rangers, and Cubs.

9) SS Didi Gregorious (NYY): This is a bit of a reach, but this is valuing the concept of free agency in the 2019 postseason, and Gregorious is one of the top names that are in that class. In high regard for how well the Yankees performed this season, they reached first place with strictly bench and farm players with a great deal of their prime talent on the injury list, which also included Gregorious. That is not assuming that the Yankees are going to let go of Gregorious, but rather insisting that they do not need him. The way the Yankees can take advantage of trading away ‘Sir Didi’ would be in their favor for a potential pitching piece that can make them more dominant not just for this season, but for future seasons as well. Gleyber Torres has the youth and the potential to be the club’s future shortstop and the team is doing fantastic with recent free agent addition DJ LeMahieu. Worst case scenario, the Yankees will do the same play the White Sox would do for Abreu: if he looks to be a part of the big picture for the team in the future. Unless of course the Yankees are looking for the fountain of youth, which would not benefit potentially 30-year old Gregorious in the 2020 season.

10) OF Nicholas Castellanos (DET): Probably one of the best rental outfield pieces is Nicholas Castellanos of the Detroit Tigers. The third baseman turned outfielder is one of the cheapest players available before he becomes a free agent in 2020. As one of the best hitters in the Tigers lineup, Castellanos is hitting .283 for the season with 10 home runs and 35 RBIs. If the dramatics for Yasiel Puig is not anything a potential playoff contender is looking for, Castellanos comes roughly at the same price at slightly under $10 million to fit anyone’s payroll. The difference however happens to be his lack of playoff experience, which is why he is ranked lower on this list than Puig. In the advantage that the Tigers have over the Reds is that they are almost finished with retooling their team. The Reds made more aggressive trades this season in order to remain competitive with the remainder of their division, but their efforts will look like that they are about to hit the reset button as well before the start of next season. A trade deal with Castellanos to be packaged with Greene to a team that looks hungry to win would be exciting to see towards the end of the trade deadline.

Do you agree with this list at all? Is there any MLB player on this list that you believe who will be on the move instead of any of these names? I am no psychic nor do have I have a crystal ball, but these are some bold decisions on who will be traded before the 2019 deadline.