Baseball’s rumor mill heating up for these players
Major League Baseball’s nonwaiver trade deadline has recently had a theme. In 2015, ace starters like David Price, Johnny Cueto and Cole Hamels all changed teams before July 31. A year later, star relievers were all the rage, with Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Mark Melancon finding new homes.
Pitching again dominates the stage this season. The Chicago Cubs showed they aren’t ready to yield the National League Central to the Milwaukee Brewers after adding starter Jose Quintana in a deal with the Chicago White Sox, and the Washington Nationals began a bullpen upgrade by acquiring relievers Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle from the Oakland A’s.
But there is one reliever on a non-contending team that could change the complexion of any bullpen: Brad Hand of the San Diego Padres.
The 27-year-old left-hander has increased his strikeout rate year over year (from 30.5 to 31.6 percent) while decreasing his walk rate (from 9.9 to 7.1 percent) resulting in a corresponding drop in ERA (from 2.92 to 2.20). He’s pitched 49 innings of relief this season, holding opponents to a .589 OPS against, the fourth-lowest among relievers pitching at least as many innings this season.
He won’t come cheap. ESPN’s Buster Olney tweeted the Padres want something “similar to what the Phillies got for Albuquerque’s Ken Giles.” Philadelphia received five players from the Houston Astros for Giles, including 23-year-old flamethrower Vince Velasquez and Mark Appel, the No. 1 pick in the 2012 MLB June amateur draft.
Here are six other names to consider as the trade deadline approaches.
Zach Britton, RP, Baltimore Orioles
Last season, Britton was nearly unhittable. The left-handed reliever allowed a .162 average against with 74 strikeouts in 67 innings pitched.
He isn’t as spectacular this season, allowing just 3.5 runs fewer than expected, but he induces a large number of groundballs (68 percent of balls put in play) and can keep the ball in the yard.
Sonny Gray, SP, Oakland Athletics
The quintessential ace, Gray is striking out more batters this season (22.7 percent) than he has since 2013, his first year in the majors, despite losing velocity on his fastball since then.
According to FanGraphs depth chart projections, no available starter is expected to provide more wins above replacement than Gray for the remainder of the season.
Alex Avila, C/1B, Detroit Tigers
The 30-year-old is batting .286 with 11 home runs and a .932 OPS, creating runs at a rate that is 49 percent higher than the league average after accounting for league and park effects (149 wRC+).
His plate discipline is much better — he is swinging at a career-low 12.8 percent of pitches out of the zone.
Justin Upton, OF, Detroit Tigers
An all-star for the fourth time this season, Upton is batting .273 with a .852 OPS, creating runs at a rate that is 28 percent higher than the league average after accounting for league and park effects, the 18th highest rate among 63 outfielders qualifying for the batting title.
Jarrod Dyson, OF, Seattle Mariners
Dyson is batting .243 with five home runs and 22 stolen bases with 12 defensive runs saved in the field, making the 32-year-old the 20th most-valuable outfielder in the majors this season. His role as a table-setter is also solid.
Marco Estrada, SP, Toronto Blue Jays
Estrada has struggled lately, allowing a 1.045 OPS against in June and 1.054 OPS against in July. His .330 batting average on balls in play (league average is .299) does suggest he is getting unlucky bounces.
RAYS-DODGERS TRADE: The Los Angeles Dodgers have traded reliever Sergio Romo to the Tampa Bay Rays in a deal between playoff contenders.
The NL West-leading Dodgers sent Romo and cash to the Rays, who hold an AL wildcard spot, for a player to be named or cash. Romo was designated for assignment by the Dodgers on Thursday. The 34-year-old righty was 1-1 with a 6.12 ERA in 30 appearances.