OF B.J. Upton - Rays
Upton has frustrated the Rays with his lack of effort at times and this makes two straight years in which he hasn't hit much at all, but it looks like the team still isn't ready to give up on him. While his name came up in the Cliff Lee rumors and he's been mentioned in connection with the Nationals, Phillies and Dodgers, the belief is that he's staying. The Rays aren't ready to turn center field over to top prospect Desmond Jennings just yet.
OF Chris Young - Diamondbacks
Young certainly would have been a lot easier to acquire over the winter. With a .269/.334/.468 line, 17 homers and 63 RBI in 98 games, he's currently living up to the contract that will pay him $5 million next year, $7 million in 2012, $8.5 million in 2013 and either $11 million or a $1.5 million buyout in 2014. The Diamondbacks as a whole, on the other hand, have continued to disappoint and want to cut back payroll, which is why Young might be available. It'd still be quite a surprise if he were dealt.
OF Cody Ross - Marlins
Ross fits better in a corner, but he remains an option in center field. It's where the Marlins have been using him since they called up Mike Stanton to take over in right. After back-to-back years of 20 homers and OPSs right around 800, Ross is currently hitting .270/.325/.404 with nine homers through 374 at-bats. The Phillies, Braves, Red Sox and Dodgers have expressed interest in him anyway, though the Dodgers would seem to be out of the mix after picking up Scott Podsednik. Because of the Chris Coghlan injury, the Marlins are leaning towards keeping him, at least for a couple of more months. He'll be a prime non-tender candidate in the offseason if he fails to put up a strong second half.
OF Coco Crisp - Athletics
Crisp has had big problems staying on the field the last two years, but he's the one legitimate leadoff-hitting center fielder potentially available and that would seem to give him some trade value. The Padres bid on him in the offseason and still have a need for him now, and he'd be quite a weapon as a part-timer for the Braves, White Sox, Yankees or Rays. The A's could choose to retain him and exercise his $5.75 million option for 2011, but as much time as he's missed, he should come cheaper than that next year.
OF Jim Edmonds - Brewers
Back after a year off, Edmonds has posted an impressive .289/.353/.513 line in 197 at-bats for Milwaukee this year. He's no everyday center fielder at this stage of his career, but his bat makes it worth living with his diminished range, at least when the opponent is throwing a right-hander. He can also serve as a backup first baseman. This is probably his last season, but he hasn't expressed a desire to finish his career with a World Series contender. The Brewers figure to keep him unless he requests a move next month.
OF Corey Patterson - Orioles
Patterson filled in admirably as the Orioles' leadoff hitter with Brian Roberts on the shelf, and though his production has tailed off recently, he's still at a respectable .274/.325/.404 in 223 at-bats. He's also stolen 17 bases in 20 attempts. No contender is going to want him as a regular, but he'd be awfully useful off the bench if he could maintain that kind of line. Too bad most suspect that he can't.
OF Willie Harris - Nationals
Not that he would have brought a king's ransom in return, but the Nationals missed out on their chance to sell high on Harris a year ago. After three straight seasons in which he proved quite valuable while racking up about 350 at-bats a year, he's fallen all of the way to .184/.287/.355 in 141 at-bats in 2010. Given that he plays left and right very well, center adequately and second and third if necessary, he could still be a fit for several contenders. A return to Chicago with the White Sox would make some sense.
OF Chris Dickerson - Reds
Dickerson, who has been on the DL since the end of April with a broken hamate bone, is hitting .429/.515/.821 through nine games in a rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville. The strong showing might prompt the Reds to have him replace Laynce Nix on the bench, but they'd likely still be willing to send him elsewhere in return for a prospect. Dickerson is out of options, so sending him down until rosters expand isn't an option.
OF Jayson Werth - Phillies
It seemed inconceivable two months ago, but the Phillies have been willing to discuss Werth because of their need for pitching and their ability to plug the game's No. 1 prospect, Domonic Brown, into his spot in right field. A trade, however, did seem a bit more likely a couple of weeks ago than it does now. The Rays, considered one of the top suitors, no longer appear to be in the mix, and the possibility of Roy Oswalt coming to Philly, a move that may have required a Werth trade, has diminished. Besides, teams have to be wondering if Werth is really worth that big of a ransom. He's a free agent at season's end, his production has dropped every month this season and he's been downright ordinary outside of Citizens Bank Park (.259/.365/.414 with three homers in 174 at-bats). He'll probably finish out the year in Philadelphia.
OF Corey Hart - Brewers
Hart was up for grabs over the winter after back-to-back disappointing seasons, but no one bit. After losing playing time to Jim Edmonds initially, he's come back with what could go down as a career year, as he has 22 homers and 70 RBI through 89 games. Like Prince Fielder and Rickie Weeks, Hart is a free agent after 2011, and the Brewers may well have to part with at least one member of the group with all being due for big raises in arbitration over the winter. Hart, making $4.85 million this year, figures to see his salary jump to $8 million-$10 million if he goes on to have a 35-homer season. The Giants have led the way in trade talks regarding Hart, though those whispers were louder earlier this month than they are now. He could also be an option for the Padres and Rays.
OF Josh Willingham - Nationals
The Nats probably can't risk going long-term with both Adam Dunn and Willingham, so one could be moved this week. Another right-handed slugger, Willingham has less to offer defensively than Werth or Hart, but he's just as good of a hitter as either. He's batting .273/.401/.479 in 311 at-bats so far this season. A major cause for concern is his history of back problems, but that's a bigger worry for the team that eventually signs him to a long-term contract. He's played in 96 of the Nationals' 99 games this season, and he hasn't actually missed time because of his back since 2008. Willingham has the same contract situation as Hart: he's making $4.6 million now and he'll be eligible for free agency for the first time after next year. Since he doesn't cover as much ground in the outfield, he should be less attractive to the Giants and Padres than Hart. However, he could really help the AL East powers with his bat.
OF Luke Scott - Orioles
One of the game's most underrated hitters, Scott has quietly batted .295/.364/.583 with 17 homers in 254 at-bats for the Orioles this season. Of course, Camden Yards has played a role there. In fact, Scott's road OPSs the last three years are completely pedestrian: 753, 727 and 743 so far this season. Then again, he never gets to face Orioles pitching and that'd probably be good for an extra 50 points of OPS if he changed teams. While he's been used primarily as a DH the last two years, Scott is a solid defender in left field and he's gaining some experience at first base. He should be an option for NL teams as well as AL squads. Baltimore is willing to move him since he's 32 and he's due a nice raise before becoming eligible for free agency after next year. His left-handed bat would look very good in the middle of the heavily right-handed White Sox lineup.
OF Scott Podsednik - RoyalsThe Royals have never been ones to admit defeat, and with David DeJesus down, they might just hold on to Podsednik just so that they don't have to resort to committing so many at-bats to Alex Gordon and Mitch Maier. Still, they'd be crazy not to part with him if the price is right. Podsednik has been a fine top-of-the-order hitter this year, batting .308/.352/.400 with 30 steals in 42 attempts, but at age 34, it's not like he's a big part of the Royals' future. Other than the injury-prone Coco Crisp, Podsednik is the one true leadoff man available, and that could be worth an extra prospect in trade talks. He's another possibility for San Diego, and the Dodgers may want him as a fourth outfielder.
Update: Reportedly acquired by Dodgers for two minor leaguers.
OF Garrett Jones - Pirates
Jones took the league by surprise as a 28-year-old rookie last year, hitting .293/.372/.567 with 21 homers in 314 at-bats for the Pirates. NL pitchers, though, have had a lot more success against him in year two. His current .270/.333/.422 line is a lot closer to what his minor league numbers suggested he'd hit. Jones won't even be arbitration eligible next year, so the Pirates may want to keep him around as an extremely cheap regular. Still, if they can get a couple of intriguing prospects for him now, they should go for it and then start looking to find the next Jones. The Angels are believed to have asked about him, and he could also be a fit with the White Sox or with the Tigers as a replacement for Magglio Ordonez.
OF Jose Guillen - Royals
Guillen has been on the block for a year and a half, but now that he has just a bit more than $4 million left on his three-year, $36 million contract, a deal is finally realistic. The 34-year-old has 16 homers and 59 RBI this season, though his overall .271/.333/.457 line is less impressive. He's also a liability in the outfield. FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal suggested that the Yankees, Red Sox, Mets, Padres and Giants could be interested in Guillen, and it's believed the Royals and Mets have discussed various forms of deals involving Guillen and Jeff Francoeur.
OF Austin Kearns - IndiansIt looked like Kearns might revive his career in Cleveland after he hit .373/.429/.627 in April, but the 30-year-old has done little while playing regularly over the last three months and he's currently down to .266/.349/.408 on the season. On the plus side, he has hit .288/.366/.449 away from Progressive Field. Kearns also remains a quality defensive outfielder capable of playing part-time in center if necessary. The Padres, Red Sox, Dodgers and Giants are among the teams that could use him as a fourth outfielder.
Update: Reportedly acquired by Yankees.
OF Kosuke Fukudome - Cubs
Just like in his previous seasons, Fukudome opened 2010 in grand fashion and then faded fast. He still has an adequate .253/.356/.410 line for the season, but he's been a liability since his big April. The Cubs will be willing to eat a portion of the $4 million+ he's owed over the rest of this year and the $13.5 million he's due next year, but since he doesn't seem like a good bet to help a contender right now, an in-season deal remains unlikely. He'll probably get moved over the winter.
OF Jeff Francoeur - Mets
Francoeur hasn't posted a 700 OPS against righties since 2007, but he still thinks of himself as a full-time outfielder and he's made it clear he'd welcome a trade away from the Mets if it came with more playing time. If he goes anywhere this week, it will probably be to Kansas City. However, even if the Royals truly want him, they'd be better off signing him after he's non-tendered this winter.
OF Ryan Church - PiratesChurch has had a disastrous season in Pittsburgh, hitting just .187/.242/.319 in 166 at-bats, and at this rate, he could well end up in Japan next year. Maybe it's a coincidence, but he hasn't been the same player since suffering multiple concussions in 2008. The Pirates will gladly give him away if anyone comes calling.
Update: Acquired by the Diamondbacks as part of a deal which sent Chris Snyder to the Pirates.
SS Stephen Drew - Diamondbacks
While Drew has largely shaken the injury-prone tag he earned before he even reached the majors, he hasn't come close to reaching his offensive potential outside of a strong 2008 season. After posting an 836 OPS as a 25-year-old, he dropped to 748 last year and he's at 738 through 332 at-bats in 2010. He's a solid defensive shortstop, so he's an above average regular, and there's still reason to hope that he has more 820-850 OPS seasons in him. The Diamondbacks, though, may be willing to part with him for a big return. This isn't a Dan Haren situation -- Drew's likely $5 million salary should fit into their 2011 budget -- but he's only going to get more expensive in 2012 and since he's a Scott Boras client, a long-term contract seems highly unlikely. Still, a deal is more likely to come in the offseason than now. That's particularly the case since the Tigers, thought to be Drew's primary suitor, suddenly have bigger worries than shortstop.
SS Reid Brignac - Rays
Supposed to be the Rays' long-term shortstop, Brignac was quite a disappointment in 2008 and 2009 and he came up in trade rumors quite a bit following Jason Bartlett's emergence. However, just when it seemed Brignac could fall out of the Rays' plans, he made the team as a part-time player this spring and he's done terrific work while playing second base and shortstop, hitting .282/.339/.431 with six homers and 35 RBI in 209 at-bats. The Rays could still decide to part with him if it helps brings in a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat, but it's more likely that he stays and makes Bartlett expendable this winter.
SS Miguel Tejada - OriolesTejada hasn't made an appearance at shortstop all year, but if he's traded, it could well be to a team that would slide him back to his old position. The Padres are thought to be interested, and he actually makes a lot of sense for the NL West leaders. He's not much of a home run guy anymore, and Petco's big alleys should be rather kind to his approach at the plate. Also, while he lacks range at shortstop these days, the singles that get by him would turn into fewer runs at Petco than they would anywhere else. The Tigers are another team that could use Tejada. An August deal is a possibility here.
Update: Acquired by the Padres for RHP Wynn Pelzer.
SS Cristian Guzman - NationalsIf the Nationals were thinking clearly, they would have let Guzman go when the Red Sox claimed him off waivers last summer. He's done an adequate job with the bat these last two years, but he's no $8 million-per-year player with his 700 OPS and subpar defense. Fortunately, he's now in the final year of his deal, and the Nationals might be able to get a little something in return for him. Like Tejada, he makes some sense for the Tigers and Padres. He's also been mentioned in connection with the Rockies, though that window has probably closed with Troy Tulowitzki ready to return.
Update: Reportedly acquired by Rangers for prospects.
SS Brandon Wood - Angels
The Alberto Callaspo trade seemed to make it official: the Angels have given up on Brandon Wood. They can't send him down, since there's still no chance he'd clear waivers, but he's entirely useless as a bench player. Given 173 at-bats this year, the 25-year-old has hit .168/.185/.225 with three homers and a 52/4 K/BB ratio. The only hope now is that a change of scenery/change in coaches does something for him. No contender is going to want him to come in any play a role, but the Pirates, Astros, Orioles and Indians are among the also-rans that should be open to giving him a shot.
SS Ryan Theriot - Cubs
Theriot never projected as a major league regular, but he was a surprisingly capable one in 2008 and 2009. This year, he was pushed off shortstop by Starlin Castro and he's struggled offensively as the Cubs' second baseman. While his average is practically the same as last year (.281 vs. .284), his OPS is down 76 points because of a sharp drop in his walk rate and a complete lack of power. Odds are that Theriot will spend most of the rest of his career in a utility role. Still, if some team wants him as a regular for the final two months, the Cubs could oblige. He's currently earning $2.6 million, which might make him too expensive to bring back as a part-time player next year.
SS Cesar Izturis - Orioles
Izturis will subtract from an offense while hitting at the bottom of the order, but he remains a strong defender at age 30 and he only has a bit more than $1 million left on his contract. That makes him a realistic choice for the Padres, Tigers or any other contender that loses a shortstop between now and Aug. 31.
SS Jack Wilson - Mariners
Any team that might acquire Wilson knows exactly what it would be getting: he's one of the game's most trustworthy defensive shortstops, but he's also an offensive zero and he's having more and more difficulty staying healthy now that he's in his 30s. Since he's owed another $2 million this year and $5 million in 2011, it's doubtful the Mariners will be able to move him. They don't have anyone ready to step in anyway.
SS Ronny Cedeno - Pirates
The Pirates are likely open to trading either Cedeno or Bobby Crosby, though they'd want a bit more for Cedeno, who is back starting lately after losing time during his ugly June. He went from hitting .121/.136/.121 in 58 at-bats last month to .400/.441/.673 in 55 at-bats so far in July. Of course, that's only gotten him to .255/.295/.381 for the year. He'd have to keep it up or risk being non-tendered this winter.
3B Jose Bautista - Blue JaysBautista has played twice as much right field as third base this year and it's quite possible that he'd be a full-time outfielder if traded, but since he remains a solid defender at the hot corner -- and certainly a better one than the Jays' nominal third baseman, Edwin Encarnacion -- I'm listing him here. It was Bautista's ability to hit left-handers that seemed to be keeping him in the league prior to this year, but he's come through with a 916 OPS against right-handers in 2010, and he is, of course, leading the majors with 26 homers. The Giants, White Sox, Tigers and Braves have asked about Bautista, according to Yahoo's Jeff Passan. The Jays have to decide whether it's worth trading him at the probable peak of his value or risk paying him $7 million-$8 million next year in his final season before free agency. I think he'll go, quite possibly to San Francisco.
3B Jorge Cantu - Marlins
Cantu has been a full-time third baseman this year, but he fits best at first base. Unfortunately, he just doesn't hit like a top-flight first baseman. While he's on pace to drive in 90 runs for the third straight season, his OPS is just 723, down from 808 in 2008 and 788 last year. He could still be useful if he comes cheap, but the Marlins will want legitimate prospects in return and he's not worth it. The Giants, Angels and Rockies have displayed limited interest, though the Angels may have lost theirs when they brought in Alberto Callaspo. He figures to stay in Florida for now.
3B Ty Wigginton - Orioles
Wigginton has played more first base and second base this year, but no contender should want him as a regular at second and his bat plays better at third than at first. The 32-year-old free-agent-to-be followed up the best two-month run of his career with a pretty awful June and first half of July, but he's bounced back with six extra-base hits in eight games since the All-Star break. The Orioles placed a pretty astronomical price tag on his head after his brilliant start, but they'll likely be willing to accept quite a bit less as the deadline nears. The Phillies, Yankees, Rangers and Rockies are believed to have discussed him with the Orioles. Detroit is another obvious fit now with Brandon Inge absent.
3B Jose Lopez - Mariners
Lopez's transition from second base to third has gone better than anyone could have imagined, as he's played some exceptional defense at his new position. His bat, though, hasn't nearly caught up. He's hitting just .235/.266/.336 through 387 at-bats, a huge decline from the respectable 760-770 OPSs he amassed over the previous two seasons. Lopez is still just 26, and his contract includes a reasonable $4.5 million option for next year. He might not make sense for a contender, but maybe a team like the Royals or Blue Jays could take a flier and let his August/September performance dictate whether he's brought back. The Mariners are clearly ready to move on.
3B Edwin Encarnacion - Blue Jays
Of course, Lopez would only work for Toronto if the team admitted that last year's gamble has proven a failure. Encarnacion figures to have more 25-homer seasons in his future, but he's not a third baseman and the Jays really should have tried him in the outfield back in spring training. Encarnacion has already cleared waivers once this season, and a trade seems pretty unlikely because of his lack of defensive value. One would think he's athletic enough to make it in the outfield, but he'd need to get some work there before a major league team could plug him in.
3B Jhonny Peralta - IndiansAt .251/.313/.396, Peralta is having another underwhelming season. Still, he has a couple of advantages over several of the other third basemen here. For one, he's spent most of his career at shortstop, and though he lacks range there, he could still fill in as a starter for a couple of weeks if needed. I also get the feeling that teams think he'd fare better as a bench player than most other regulars suddenly taken out of a starting role would. The Indians have no intention of picking up his $7 million option for 2011, so he's a strong candidate to go, perhaps in August if not before the deadline. The Yankees, Tigers and Reds should be interested.
Update: Acquired by Tigers for LHP Giovanni Soto.
3B Andy LaRoche - Pirates
With Pedro Alvarez up, LaRoche hasn't made a start for the Pirates in three weeks. It's not as though he didn't deserve to be replaced -- he's hit just .232/.300/.310 in 203 at-bats -- but he probably is worthy of one more opportunity. In 2009, he was pretty much an average regular while hitting .258/.330/.401 and playing very good defense at third. The Indians are one team that might be willing to give him a shot during the final two months, assuming that they can find a taker for Peralta first. The Pirates probably won't require much in return.
3B Mike Lowell - Red Sox
Lowell's injury issues essentially took him out of Boston's plans and have made him pretty much impossible to deal so far. He's currently on a rehab assignment after going on the DL with his chronic hip problem, and he believes he's ready to come back and contribute. His bat would help any number of contenders if only he could be counted on to remain in the lineup. The Red Sox, though, have extra incentive to move him with their luxury-tax issues and probably will get something done, even if it means eating every penny that he's still owed. Detroit and Texas are the most obvious suitors.
3B Pedro Feliz - Astros
Feliz has been a disaster for the Astros this year, hitting just .216/.240/.307 in 264 at-bats. He's still a pretty good defensive third baseman at age 35, but he's not what he used to be, and given his lack of versatility, it's hard to imagine that any team would want him as a bench player.
3B Wes Helms - Marlins
Strictly a bench player, the veteran Helms has hit .242/.305/.383 in 120 at-bats for the Marlins this season. Money is a non-factor here, as Helms is making $950,000 in the second year of a two-year deal. The Yankees and Rangers have been mentioned in connection with him, but his only real strength is pinch-hitting and there are several better backup first basemen/third basemen wasting away in Triple-A.
2B Dan Uggla - MarlinsThe current suspicion is that Uggla isn't available, even though he's due to make around $10 million next season and the Marlins don't look like contenders at this point. The teams that wanted him last winter appeared to prefer him as a third baseman, but he wasn't interested in switching positions and he'd definitely remain a second baseman if traded now. His bat would provide a significant boost to the lineups of any number of contenders. The Rockies, in particular, have often been mentioned in connection with him, though it doesn't appear as though anything is going on at the moment. He's probably staying.
Update: Reportedly heading to Rangers for two minor league pitchers.
2B Rickie Weeks - Brewers
Completely healthy for once, Weeks has turned in an exceptional season, hitting .277/.376/.482 with 19 homers in 394 at-bats. It puts the Brewers in a tough spot. It doesn't look like they'll play any part in the NL Central race, and Weeks is going to be a lot more expensive to retain going forward if this keeps up. Plus, there are still questions about whether their top prospect, Brett Lawrie, will be able to make it as a second baseman or if he'll need to be moved elsewhere. If the Brewers could get a couple of quality young arms back, it'd make sense for them to move Weeks now. He'll be a free agent after next year, and he'd be a big risk on a long-term deal. Still, indications are that he isn't currently available.
2B Kelly Johnson - Diamondbacks
Johnson is back tearing it up of late, though it's worth noting that the vast majority of his production has come at Chase Field. He's hitting .310/.430/.598 at home and .238/.317/.375 on the road. Still, he has to be fairly attractive in trade talks. He's making just $2.35 million this year, he's under control as an arbitration-eligible player for another season and he probably wouldn't cost as much in terms of prospects as Uggla. He'd have been a great get for the Mets a month ago, and he'd still make a lot of sense for them now. AL teams figure to shy away. Not only has Johnson never played in the league, but he's really struggled during the interleague schedule the last couple of years.
2B Mark Ellis - Athletics
Ellis remains an awfully solid player when he's in the lineup, but he's 33 and injury prone. He's played in 130 games just twice in his career, and that's not going to change this season, since he's already missed 37 games, primarily due to a hamstring strain. The Athletics' first choice is to bring him back for 2011, but probably not at the $6 million he's due to earn under the terms of the option on his current deal. If they don't think he'll be amenable to a cheaper deal, they could send him elsewhere. The White Sox and Tigers are among the teams that could use him as a stopgap.
2B Adam Kennedy - Nationals
The Nationals signed Kennedy because he was cheap and they thought he might come in handy. However, he struggled as the team's primary second baseman initially and he hasn't fared a whole lot better as a bench player. He's currently hitting .250/.329/.328 with 17 RBI in 192 at-bats. His play on defense has been disappointing as well. The Nats are plenty open to moving him, but even though several contenders have dealt with injury problems at second base, no one has made a play for him yet.
2B Mike Fontenot - Cubs
Fontentot has been a non-factor for the Cubs the last two months, but before Starlin Castro was called up, he hit .324/.373/.481 in 108 at-bats through the end of May. Paired with someone capable of hitting lefties, he'd make for a very solid platoon second baseman, and he's helped his stock by gaining experience at shortstop and third base this season. It wouldn't surprise me if the Cubs were getting more inquiries about him than they are regarding Ryan Theriot (he'll be listed with the shortstops).
2B Jeff Keppinger - Astros
Keppinger has found a little pop this month, hitting three homers in July after coming up with jus one over the first three months. His game is hitting for average, though, and he's typically been a liability against right-handers over the course of his career. The Astros would want more than he's worth in order to part with him.
2B Akinori Iwamura - Pirates
Iwamura was one of the worst players in the majors during April and May, but since getting dropped by the Pirates and assigned to Triple-A, he's hit .300/.456/.457 in 70 at-bats. The Pirates have little reason to give him another opportunity, and they'd probably pick up most of the rest of his $4.25 million salary in order to get a prospect in return for him. Iwamura has experience at third as well as second, so if he's truly regained his swing, he'd make a lot of sense for the Tigers, Twins, White Sox and others.
2B Craig Counsell - Brewers
Counsell's offensive revival hasn't carried over. After turning in one of his best seasons in 2009 and starting off 2010 by hitting .333/.385/.583 in April, he's come in at .208/.286/.217 in 106 at-bats since the beginning of May. On the plus side, even at age 39, Counsell can still handle shortstop on a part-time basis and he's a plus defender at both second and third. He'd be an upgrade off the bench for the Reds and Phillies, and he might be a starter in San Diego.
2B Willie Bloomquist - Royals
Bloomquist is on pace to finish with a sub-700 OPS for the eighth straight season, but he has pummeled lefties to the tune of a .304/.360/.522 line in 46 at-bats. That and his ability to play anywhere give him value as a 25th man. He's been mentioned in connection with the Red Sox several times, and he could also be a fit on the Yankees.
1B Prince Fielder - Brewers
Fielder has overcome a slow start in grand fashion: by month, he's posted OPSs of 741, 880, 956 and now 1074 so far in July. Still, one gets the feeling that his trade value isn't what it was a year ago. That's in part because he's going to be very difficult to get signed to an extension before he becomes a free agent following next season. It also doesn't help matters that he could ask for about $20 million in arbitration over the winter. Since the offers won't overwhelm, the Brewers will probably be better off keeping him and hoping for better luck in 2011. The White Sox are thought to be interested, but unless they offer up Gordon Beckham -- and they probably won't -- there wouldn't seem to be a potential match.
1B Adam Dunn - NationalsI led off the NL notes on Rotoworld
with my thoughts on a possible Dunn deal. There's a chance the
Nationals will move Dunn if they don't think he'll come down from his
request for a four-year, $60 million contract. Still, the odds are
against it right now. The White Sox and Yankees have shown the most
interest.
1B Derrek Lee - Cubs
Lee posted the second-best OPS of his career as a 33-year-old in 2009,
but at .247/.337/.391 right now, he's currently on pace to finish below
800 for the first time since 1999. Maybe there is still time for that
to change: he's gone 11-for-26 with five extra-base hits and eight RBI
in six games since the All-Star break. Lee has a no-trade clause and
likes Chicago, so it's not simply a matter of the Cubs finding a taker
for him. It's possible he'll accept a trade, but far from a given. An
August deal could be a possibility here.
1B Lance Berkman - AstrosBerkman and Lee are basically in the same boat: both are former All-Stars having down years and both have no-trade clauses and no huge desire to move on. The two are also free agents at season's end, though Berkman has a $2 million buyout attached to a $15 million option for 2011 that makes him a more expensive proposition. Berkman came out last week and said he didn't expect to be traded, but because of his salary, he's another player who could potentially be available during August.
Update: Acquired by Yankees.
1B Adam LaRoche - Diamondbacks
LaRoche would seem to have about as much to offer as Lee and Berkman,
but with fewer strings attached. He doesn't have a no-trade clause, and
while his contract includes a $1.5 million buyout attached to a mutual
option for 2011, he'll be owed just $1.5 million over the final two
months of this season. The Diamondbacks may be willing to pick up a
portion of that buyout anyway, since it's money they expected to be on
the hook for all along. LaRoche, typically a second-half player, is
hitting .259/.332/.453 at the moment. It seems doubtful that the Giants
would bid for him after he spurned them last winter, but he'd make a
lot of sense for the Angels.
1B Lyle Overbay - Blue Jays
Overbay isn't going to be anyone's top choice, but there are worse
platoon first basemen around. He's gotten better every month since a
dreadful April, and while his overall .251/.331/.414 line is still
pretty unimpressive, he's hit a respectable .271/.363/.449 against
righties. Odds are that he'll clear waivers and remain available into
next month. If the Angels, Giants, Rangers or another contender is
sweating its first base situation then, Overbay could be a fit.
1B Xavier Nady - Cubs
While Nady could step in at first base for the Cubs if Lee is traded,
he's actually the more likely of the two to get dealt. He's struggled
in his return from Tommy John surgery, but that's in part due to a lack
of at-bats. He's had just 141 this season, hitting .220/.289/.340 in
the process. No contender should be looking to pick him up to play
regularly, but he could probably help a team starting three times per
week between first base, the outfield and maybe DH.
1B Russell Branyan - Mariners
Branyan has been laid up with another back injury of late, making a
trade a whole lot less likely. The Mariners, who just picked him up
from the Indians last month, weren't going to get much for him anyway,
so they'll probably just keep him and hope his power will help them
avoid a 100-loss season.
1B Casey Kotchman - Mariners
It didn't figure that anyone would want Kotchman a month ago, but he's
bounced back to hit .333/.422/.692 with three homers in 39 at-bats
during July. Like Overbay, he's a potential fallback for a team that
fails to get its top choice. It helps his case that he's the slickest
fielder in this group.
1B Dan Johnson - Rays
In Johnson and Chris Richard, the Rays have a couple of the
International League's top performers stashed away at Durham. Johnson,
30, is hitting .300/.413/.603 with 25 homers in 307 at-bats, and he's
been playing plenty of third base and left field, which might make him
more interesting to teams. The 36-year-old Richard is batting
.297/.387/.514 in 286 at-bats. The Rays may yet decide to give Johnson
a look as a part-timer, but if he's not in their plans at all, letting
him go to a team that would use him would be the kind thing to do.
C Miguel Montero - Diamondbacks
Arizona reportedly turned down Boston's offer of Daniel Bard for
Montero before Montero's breakthrough season last year. The
Diamondbacks are a team in need of a shakeup, so no one in the lineup
besides Justin Upton is untouchable. Still, the team would clearly
prefer to move Chris Snyder instead.
C John Buck - Blue Jays
Now here come the more realistic trade candidates. With a .278 average
that's 40 points better than his career mark and 13 homers in 248
at-bats, Buck has proven to be a nice bargain for the Blue Jays after
signing for just $2 million over the winter. Still, he's a free agent
at season's end and the team may want to give prospect J.P. Arencibia a
chance to audition for the starting job next year. There are no
contenders desperate for a starting catcher, so Buck could stay.
However, the Red Sox, Tigers, Dodgers and Angels could consider him if
the price is right.
C Ryan Doumit - Pirates
Before Buck entered the picture, it looked like Doumit might be the
Blue Jays' catcher this year. Trade talks broke down, though, and
Doumit remained with the Pirates. With 3 1/2 months down, he still has
a chance to get through a season completely healthy for the first time.
However, he hasn't helped his stock by hitting a modest .259/.330/.414.
A well below average defensive catcher, he wouldn't seem to be a great
fit for any contender at the moment.
C Chris Snyder - Diamondbacks
Fears about how he'd overcome back surgery, combined with a rather
significant contract, prevented Snyder from being traded over the
winter, but the 29-year-old has returned at 100 percent this year. He's
currently hitting .237/.350/.441 in 186 at-bats for Arizona, and the
back held up just fine when he was playing everyday during Montero's
absence. The contract remains an issue: he's owed $5.75 million next
year and then either $6.75 million or a $750,000 buyout in 2012. That's
not a price anyone is going to want to pay for a part-timer, and while
Snyder is a capable regular, there just aren't any many teams looking
for a regular at the moment. For that reason, he might stay put.
C Chris Iannetta - Rockies
Iannetta's struggles to hit for average have set him back in Colorado,
but he a fine offensive catcher even while batting .220-.230 and he's
always been solid defensively. The Rockies seem divided on him. He lost
playing time to Yorvit Torrealba last year, only to get a three-year
contract in the offseason. Then Miguel Olivo was brought in anyway, and
Iannetta ended up back in Triple-A for a time this year. The Red Sox
are thought to be hot on his trail, and Peter Gammons reported today
that the Rockies turned down Boston's offer of infielder Jed Lowrie for
Iannetta. As hot as Iannetta has been recently, the Rockies will
probably keep him unless they can get back someone capable of helping
them immediately.
C Dioner Navarro - Rays
Navarro looked like one of the league's better young catchers when he
hit .295/.349/.407 for the Rays in 2008, but he came in at
.218/.261/.322 last year and he was hitting a similarly pathetic
.210/.291/.286 in 105 at-bats this season before getting demoted to
Triple-A. He has performed better for Durham, coming in at
.268/.404/.415 in 41 at-bats, so it's possible someone will take a
flier. The Rays probably won't ask for much in return, since his
current $2.1 million salary practically guarantees that he'll be
non-tendered in December.
C Jarrod Saltalamacchia - Rangers
Saltalamacchia and Taylor Teagarden were supposed to split time for the
Rangers behind the plate this season, but both have taken huge steps
backwards. Salty played in just two games before going on the DL with
back spasms, developed Mackey Sasser-like throwing problems while on a
rehab assignment and got himself optioned to Triple-A as a result. He
did iron out the throwing issue, but after a fast start offensively, he
hasn't hit for Oklahoma City and he's fallen out of the Rangers' plans
for the rest of this season. Salty appeared to have a world of
offensive potential a few years back and he's still just 25, so he's
not hopeless. However, there probably isn't any demand for his services
right now. He's more likely to find himself on the move this winter.
C Lou Marson - Indians
When the Indians picked up Marson from the Phillies in the Cliff Lee
deal, they thought they were getting a pretty valuable property, albeit
one probably without much of a future in the organization. Sure enough,
Carlos Santana has quickly Marson expendable. Marson, though, has seen
his value collapse with a dreadful offensive showing in the last 12
months. At this point, he's looking like more of a pure backup than a
player who projected as something close to an average regular a couple
of years ago.
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