Deadline targets won’t be around for long
MLB stars seldom re-sign with teams that acquired them
When baseball stars on expiring contracts get traded in July, there’s usually no need to find long-term housing.
Manny Machado, Mike Moustakas, Brian Dozier, Cole Hamels, J.A. Happ, Nathan Eovaldi, Martin Maldonado and Zach Britton were among the players dealt before Tuesday ’s deadline for trades without waivers. All could be eligible for free agency after the World Series.
Most will find new clubs like Randy Johnson (1998), CC Sabathia (2008), Aroldis Chapman (2016) and Yu Darvish (2018) did when they were traded.
Few decide to stay, such as Yoenis Cespedes with the New York Mets after the 2015 season.
A look at some of the potential free agents and their situations:
COLE HAMELS
Chicago is paying just $5 million to the 34-year-old left-hander, who struck out nine Wednesday to win his Cubs debut 9-2 at Pittsburgh. If he is overwhelming the rest of the way, the Cubs likely would exercise his $19-million option for 2019. Otherwise, they would decline and get reimbursed by Texas for his $6-million buyout.
MANNY MACHADO
He is among the most anticipated of the players in this off-season’s market, a free agent at 26 who could command a deal of eight to 10 years or more. Even if he leads the Los Angeles Dodgers to their first World Series title since 1988, he almost certainly would seek his market value.
MIKE MOUSTAKAS
A World Series champion and two-time all-star with Kansas City, he expected a big-money, long-term contract as a free agent last winter. Instead, he re-signed with the Royals in March for a bargain price: $5.5 million guaranteed and $2.2 million in performance bonuses he is on track to earn. He joined a Milwaukee team that has never won a World Series. His home runs are down slightly this year and his RBIs are up.
MARTIN MALDONADO
He is likely a short-term guest in Houston. Brian McCann had knee surgery last month and is due back in August and the Astros obtained the Gold Glove winner from the Los Angeles Angels as an upgrade while he is out.
J.A. HAPP
A left-hander who turns 36 in October, Happ could find happiness in Yankee Stadium. New York’s rotation is uncertain behind Luis Severino with concerns about Masahiro Tanaka’s elbow, CC Sabathia’s knee and Sonny Gray’s fortitude. Jordan Montgomery won’t return from Tommy John surgery until late next season at the earliest, and while New York is expected to pursue a top freeagent starter, New York wants more rotation depth.
ZACH BRITTON
It is hard to imagine Britton staying in the Bronx, where Aroldis Chapman is the closer and starting pitching is an urgent need.