With the trade deadline quickly approaching, there will be a flurry of deals across Major League Baseball over the next couple of weeks.
Some may seem inconsequential at the time, but later may help a team make a run to the World Series. Others will make immediate impacts and push a team on the bubble to World Series contenders (see Yoenis Cespedes with the Mets in 2015). And while some deals can be made after the July 31 non-waiver deadline, most teams will be stocking up soon to get some key players acclimated to their new squads.
Here are some of the moves I’d like to see made before July 31.
Machado to the Yankees: Can the rich get even richer? New York will certainly make a few moves before the end of the month, but could make the biggest splash in all of baseball if they land Machado. The 26-year-old shortstop is having a career season, and showcased his bat against New York with two home runs in Baltimore’s win on Tuesday night. Although the Yankees were 28 games over .500 entering Wednesday, they remain 3.5 games back of the division-leading Red Sox.
General manager Brian Cashman has several areas of need to address in his team’s pursuit of Boston, and a rental player such as Machado can make one of the game’s tougher lineups almost impossible to get out. An Aaron Judge-Giancarlo Stanton-Manny Machado-Gary Sanchez will give any pitcher nightmares, and should let the Yankees make a deep run with just an average pitching staff.
Josh Donaldson goes to a contender: The 2015 American League MVP has suited up in just 36 games for the Blue Jays this season, posting a disappointing .236 average before getting injured. After missing nearly 50 games with various DL trips last season, Donaldson’s health may scare off some contenders, but is one of the top five third basemen in the majors when healthy. Toronto is unlikely to move him within the division — or the American League for that matter — but could be persuaded with the right return of prospects. Like Machado, Donaldson has pop to his bat, can hit for average, and is a solid fielder. After spending most of his career on the outside looking in at the playoffs in both Oakland and Toronto, it would be interesting to see how the veteran would shine under the bright lights of a deep postseason run.
Bartolo Colon gets one last shot: The things Colon is still able to do at age 45 are incredible, but he isn’t going to be around forever. 2018 could be ‘Big Bart’s’ last season in the majors, and what better way to spend it than on a winning team. He isn’t going to get that in Texas, as the Rangers are currently sitting in last place in the AL West and appear ready for a major sell-off. Colon’s ERA of 4.65 isn’t on any kind of league leaders list, but the journeyman is by no means a walk-over for opposing teams. Colon has gone into the seventh inning in two of his last three starts, including an eight-inning, five-hit performance against Detroit last weekend. I’ll personally be rooting for Colon to get shipped to a National League team just to see a few more of his legendary at bats.
Wilson Ramos returns home: Ramos has been one of the game’s better catchers over the past five seasons, although he’s constantly flown under-the-radar. He’s currently stuck on a Tampa Bay team that is meddling around .500 and are always eager to unload payroll. Ramos will undoubtedly have suitors, but the one that makes the most sense may just be the team where he spent his first seven seasons: The Washington Nationals.
Not only was Ramos consistently reliable during his time with the Nats, he was one of the few catchers in the league to hit for average. In his final season in D.C. in 2016, the 30-year-old hit .307. Through 74 games with the Rays this year, he’s hitting .284 and has an on base percentage of .341. The Nationals were considered by many to be a lock to win the NL East and maybe even a playoff series or two. However, they have slumped throughout June and July, and have gotten passed in the standings by both Philadelphia and Atlanta. With Washington’s catchers having among the lowest Wins Above Replacement (WAR) in the league, a reunion could be smart for both sides.
Harvey goes back to NL East: Matt Harvey’s whirlwind career with the Mets flamed out earlier this year, but he was quickly given another chance with the Cincinnati Reds — and has yet to disappoint.
Harvey is 4-3 with a 3.79 ERA in 11 starts with the Reds. Maybe even bigger than the stats is the fact that Harvey has stayed out of trouble and hasn’t caused any distractions in Cincy.
He’s going to become a free agent at the end of the season, and with the Reds still in a rebuilding stage, he should make a solid rental addition for a contender. Harvey has postseason experience, and two of his former rivals in the NL East are rumored to be looking to add arms. Both Atlanta and Philly have erased years of losing with a young core of players that have pushed them to the top of the standings. Bringing Harvey aboard would make sense, and it would also make quite the storyline to see him pitch against the Mets a few times during the remainder of the year.
