24
2011
A Look At Top Trade Deadline Targets – Hitters
An article by Hojo's Mojo
Jon Heyman of SI.com gives us some food for thought as he puts together a list of this season’s potential hitters that could be moved at the trade deadline.
“The biggest everyday star with a chance to hit the trade market” Heyman says, ”is the Mets’ great shortstop Jose Reyes”.
Here is an early look at the potential trade market for the everyday players. These are just the top ten, you could read the full list at SI.com.
1. Jose Reyes, Mets SS. The Giants have been named by several competing execs as a logical suitor, as Reyes would provide the offensive spark and defensive glue needed by the pitching-rich defending World Series winners… Even if they kept their 25-man unit intact, the Giants could still make a respectable offer that starts with top pitching prospect Zack Wheeler. But even if their proposal includes a few others, that may be a tough sell for Mets fans. The Cardinals, Reds and Brewers are among several other teams where Reyes would make a major impact. Reyes would easily be the biggest free agent shortstop in more than a decade, since Alex Rodriguez moved from Seattle to Texas for $252 million, and could be enticing even for unexpected suitors.
2. Carlos Beltran, Mets OF. Mets people have determined they would be willing to eat most or even all of the rest of Beltran’s $18 million 2011 salary if they can get a decent young piece or two back, and that should help grease the skids for a trade after 6 ½ up-and-down years in Queens for the multitalented player. Beltran has looked close to 100 percent this season… The Red Sox have long liked Beltran (top assistant Allard Baird was the GM when Beltran was starring in Kansas City), with the White Sox and Tigers other possibilities. The Yankees were making some sense when DH Jorge Posada was struggling from the right side and rightfielder Nick Swisher from the left, but the Yankees appear very focused on upgrading their pitching staff at the moment. Beltran also has no-trade powers, but he is said to be likely to accept a deal to a contender.
3. Josh Willingham, A’s OF. One A’s exec told me of Willingham, “He’s our best player,” during this spring. He’s also their lone power source, with 10 home runs, and his .231 batting average is surely attributable in part to that pitching palace Oakland Coliseum. Willingham could always hit, and he’s been linked to the Phillies, where he’d be a very good fit (though they’ve made rumblings about being tapped out after their luxury purchase of Cliff Lee this winter). Philly knows Willingham well from his days with the Marlins and Nationals, but he could help a number of teams if the A’s decide to sell. Willingham is a free agent after the year, and as of a week ago, the A’s hadn’t broached the subject of a new deal for him.
4. Michael Bourn, Astros CF. A tremendous defensive centerfielder with as much speed as anyone in the game (he leads the NL with 29 stolen bases), it’s something of a surprise the Astros are listening at all. But word is, they are. Their one concern, apparently, is trouble with lefthanded pitching (his OPS vs. lefties is only .544 this year compared to .737 overall). The Braves could use speed in the outfield, though Jordan Schafer has looked a bit better in recent weeks.
5. Pudge Rodriguez, Nationals C. The Nationals are said to love Wilson Ramos, whom they acquired last year in a smart deadline deal with the Twins for reliever Matt Capps, and are willing to part with Pudge. Word is, Washington spoke briefly to the Giants and Red Sox, but San Francisco didn’t seem very interested and Boston’s faith in Jarrod Saltalamacchia appears to be paying off. Rodriguez’s hitting (.224, two home runs) isn’t what it was in his prime but he’s still a very good defender. The Nationals aren’t anxious to move him but will do so for the right young player. Even though they recently enjoyed an eight-game winning streak, with Stephen Strasburg not due to pitch in the majors again until next year, 2012 is really their target year.
6. Michael Cuddyer, Twins OF. He was off to a slow start, along with the rest of the Twins. But he’s a productive hitter (he has 10 home runs) who’s due to be a free agent. The Twins’ seven-game winning streak means there’s no assurance they will be sellers now, though.
7. Jason Kubel, Twins OF. Another Twin in the final year before he becomes a free agent, he carried them early and still holds a .320 batting average. The Twins will likely try to make a run especially now that superstar catcher Joe Mauer is back with them at a time they’ve gotten hot. But if they eventually decide to sell, they will have several pieces to deal.
8. Luke Scott, Orioles OF. His very right-leaning political views, which he expressed in an interview this winter, got him in trouble with Baltimore management and the sense is they’d like to move on. This is a team with young talent. Scott turns 33 in a few days and his batting average has dropped 41 points from 2010 while his slugging percentage is 100 points lower than it was a year ago.
9. Hunter Pence, Astros OF. The sense is Houston wants to hold onto him even if it isn’t thrilled Pence beat them in arbitration for $6.9 million this winter. Pence is not only having a big year (.321, 51 RBIs) but is seen as someone who provides a great example of how to play the game for a team in transition.
10. Jeff Keppinger, Astros INF. The versatile player has hovered around .300 (he’s at .302 now) and could be a useful man for a contender.
Read the rest of Heyman’s article here.
About the Author: Rob Johnson
34 Comments + Add Comment
NL East Standings
| Team | W | L | Pct. | GB |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Braves | 23 | 18 | .561 | - |
| Nationals | 23 | 19 | .548 | 0.5 |
| Phillies | 20 | 22 | .476 | 3.5 |
| Mets | 16 | 23 | .410 | 6.0 |
| Marlins | 11 | 31 | .262 | 12.5 |
Last updated: 05/18/2013
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Get somebody to help the mets at 1B, ike davis won’t be back.. that’s a shame..
So an injured outfielder with an OPS+ of 98 is a hot commodity? That’s some crack journalism right there. Teams must be beating down Beane’s door for Willingham.
And of course the top 2 guys to get traded are the Mets’ best players. What else does one expect from Heyman?
what is an OPS+?? that’s another saber crappy stat???
Its something nerds like Ralph Kiner and David Cone keep track of. When will you people just go back to 1930 already?
hajahajahaja, is friday donal.. dont be mad be merry.. whatagatapitusberry!!!!!!!!!!!!
look, noone cares about you or saber sandy’s sabertrician methods.. why don’t you just use the language we use to describe a player, great, good, superstar, below average, average, not good, suck, choker etc…
And how do we assign those adjectives if we don’t measure a player’s production?
Who on that list is better than Reyes or Beltran? Also this is exactly what Heyman said it was, just a list of players who could be traded. Journalism? You seem to have an agenda.
So, you’re unfamiliar with Heyman’s work.
So because Heyman didnt use your criteria of ops+ he gets beaten down? He has a quote in that quip and correctly states that the park could be why is average is below his norm. What do you want from just a simple list of players that could be moved? Can you offer up an alternative review of your own that we can scutinize? I would be very interested in seeing how you would have wrote a piece like this.
OPS+ includes adjustments for park factors. Also, you are another person who seems to be missing the fact that Willingham is injured. It isn’t that hard to make an edit to at least acknowledge the situation changed after the article was submitted.
Its a lazy job by a Yankee shill. He just repeated the same names we’ve been hearing over and over.
dona,
who gives a saber crap about OPS+..maybe you and sandy and jessePodesta, that’s it..
You’ve made your point. This is way over your head. Everyone gets that. So, go find a conversation that’s more your speed. Like, who has the prettiest uniforms or something.
ok donal
Yeah and number 10 on the list is an ex-Met!!!
#10 on that list reminds ne a lot of Justin Turner. Sometimes a player doesn’t break out until 25 or 26 and that Trade of Keppinger for Gotay was really a disaster for us because Keppinger could have been stashed in AAA and left on the 40 man roster instead of 35 year olds like Ramon Martinez and Damion Easly.
All players peak at different times and all players decline at different times. The overall less talented Keppinger or Turner in their prime, will put up way better numbers than a former All Star entering his decline.
Keppinger at 25 and just entering his prime would have provided at the very least some depth, and at a position of severe need for us. The guy we traded him for wasn’t even as good and we just cut him, got nothing for him as usual.
The answer to this teams chronic needs at multiple positions is more prospects, not less. Here was a 25 year old 2nd basemen in AAA who needed to be put on the 40 or we might lose him for nothing in the rule 5 but because we have so many 35 year old’s stashed in AAA we trade him away.
Was the Keppinger – Gotay trade really worth keeping Ramon Martinez?
I’m intrigued by Hunter Pence and wonder while we move Beltran, if we could trade for Pence and maybe sign him. BR has his avg season as .291 – 25 – 91 and he’s 28.
brian,
you’re right, he’d be perfect for right field in our park, he’s a good kid, plays hard and has a cannon of an arm..
I always liked Pence and he has solid skills. Kubel might be worth a look too, but I dont think the Twins move him. We have the pieces to get Pence if we wanted him.
Sign me up for Pence any day he’d be great. He could be an all-star waiting to happen.
I wouldn’t mind Pence (2nd round 2004) at all depending on what he cost although why would Houston want to move him? Doesn’t make sense. Cause he might get an arb bump to 5.5M? ***** we paid more than that for Alou, Bay, Castillo and Perez.
Pense does have neutral platoon splits which would help our lineup at the end of games especially with Carlos sure to be gone but he is NOT a good two strike hitter and that is one thing that only gets worse with age.
A trade for Pence costing something we have in abundance is not a no go because we don’t have anything in abundance. Trading him for a couple of C level prospects like Lutz, Satin, Dykstra doesn’t sound appealing from the Astros perspective.
If we could get him at a very low cost, play him in RF for 2013-2104 and cash him in for two high draft choices as a Type A FA that would make a lot of sense but I just don’t see it happening at a reasonable price.
Definitely something to consider. I’m not sold on Lucas Duda or F-Mart and I dont even want to think of Nick Evans in rightfield. With all the uncertainty of Jason Bay in LF, we need a sure thing in RF.
chris,
great points.. is good when i come in here and find good post or replies from ppl like you.. straight to the point.. unlike some ppl who only see numbers…
The only guy who really excites me on that list is Pence. He’s under team control for 2012 and 2013, and he’s hitting .321/.361/.497 at 28. He has a rifle of an arm in RF and would really fit the Mets perfectly. Problem is, he’s not a versatile OF. He’s only a RF. So it’s either him or Beltran, so Sandy would have to work some magic to trade away Beltran and trade for Pence almost simultaneously because as Chris said, without either on the team Duda is the everyday RF. And no, Houston would not take Beltran back in a deal for Pence.
He may not be a versatile OF (But the same could be said for Beltran if you wanted)
What he will be is a good second choice for someone if we ask for too much in trade for beltran.
Look at all those OFs on that list (Granted some should not even be there)
It shows it will be difficult to get a lot for Beltran at the deadline without paying salary.
And I’m almost turning in my opinion and thinking it might not be such a bad idea to resign Beltran to a 2 or 3 year deal. Yes the Knees are a BIG RISK but he is getting the job done.
If we are going to pay Salary to trade and still not get much I would rather trade Bay than Beltran.
But I doubt highly Sandy will feel the same way.
Hey, haven’t seen you in a while. I’m not sure what you mean by “Look at all those OFs on that list (Granted some should not even be there). It shows it will be difficult to get a lot for Beltran at the deadline without paying salary.”
Can you clarify, because I think differently. Pence is the best player on that list not currently a Met. He’s probably better than Beltran at this stage. Kubel’s a decent hitter, but that’s about all. That says to me that the pickins are really that slim and if a team needs an upgrade in RF (or maybe they even give Beltran a shot in CF), they’ll really need to bring it trade-wise. Sure, the Mets will have to eat salary regardless, but maybe they get better players back because in some sense they hold the leverage of having the best accessible OF. Remember, as good as Pence is, he’s very cheap this year and under team control for two more. That combo will demand much more in a trade than Beltran will.
Yeah I was in Vegas doing Miss USA broadcast (And Bravo and Today show…busy week! lol) thats why I have been so missing the last week.
In regards to Pence I think the asking price will be more than for Beltran. Pence should have more suitors and I also think that deal will take longer than any deal for Beltran. If we ask for too much they might as well try for Pence with the same package meaning it will be much more difficult for us to trade Beltran as long as Pence is on the block.
We basically agree on Pence as far as worth. What I was trying to get at was with Pence out there Beltran is harder to trade. Now maybe once Pence gets packed off You get a little more for Beltran but the fact that Pence is an option is going to lower the bar on what we get for Carlos.
As for the others, Well they won’t really have to give up major prospects to get them. So if we price Beltran too high they would be more inclined to trade for the lesser that doesn’t kill thier MiL and go after Beltran in FA if they really want him.
what place did you finish in? I guess it must have been good since you did the other shows too.
Silly me, thinking you were a man all this time.
Oh forgot to mention…
Pence will waste a lot of negotiating time. I would bet his deal goes right down to the wire which means teams looking for an OF might go to the wire leaving us with no partner to negotiate with until Pence goes…
That will hurt the return we get for Carlos unless they work out some arrangement with us before as a backup before they try for pence.
I guess we look at it differently. I think Beltran will garner a good return because teams in need of an OF won’t have to break the bank like they will for Pence and they’ll ensure themselves a good all-around player,more than Kubel or Scott.
I think teams needing a good OF for the stretch run might look to Beltran first if they’re not in the market for a guy for their future like Pence would be. Off the top of my head, I can think of the Mariners and Rays, both in the playoff hunt and both having Ackley and Jennings, respectively, on the horizon and not looking to block them with Pence. Get a talented guy who can fill out the year with playoff experience and keep the rookies out of pressure baseball.
The Rangers are a team I could see in the market for Pence. He’s played some CF, though not much (95 games) and not particularly well, but the Rangers are currently starting Endy Chavez in CF and their best CF prospect is only 21 and stinking up AA (and didn’t overly impress in A ball,either).
Well it really is a matter of WHEN the bank gets broken…
Pence will do it at the deadline and Beltran in FA….
I think thats why Pence might be worth giving up the kids for where Beltran may not since he is merely a 3 Month rental.
It would have to be a team that is already just fine without Beltran and just want to get some overwhelminf force to add to that.
Beltran would be a totally separate deal, we’ll have to give up a couple of good prospects. but I’d be all over Pence.
Is this just copied and pasted from Heyman’s article?
How are these ranked? Heyman doesn’t say. Also I’m surprised to see Keppinger on the list, I liked him for the very short time he was a Met.
Aside from Reyes being the best player on the list, there’s no rhyme or reason to how they are ranked. If it’s by the odds on whose most likely to be traded than obviously Reyes wouldnt be first. Remember the source, Heyman.