Inside Baseball: 12 possible sellers, who might go and proposed deals – CBSSports.com

There are, officially, only two confirmed selling teams as the calendar hit July, the very two who started the year as sellers – yes, the Phillies and Braves. But there are at least 10 more teams with the potential to sell, which could blow the trade market wide open, turning it quickly from a seller’s market into a buyer’s market.

Some of those other 10 clubs could of course still wind up selling or buying, or doing something in between, depending on what goes on the next couple weeks. In any case, they ultimately hold the key to the market. (All 12 possible sellers are listed below.)

While the Phillies possess perhaps the sexiest player to sell in perpetually-on-the-block pitching star Cole Hamels, their sale has been oddly slow, with the esteemed and accomplished Andy MacPhail coming in now as team president, presumably in part to help speed up the process, and perhaps the rebuild itself, which looks like a massive undertaking for baseball’s worst team. The open-minded Braves, meantime, could be a blueprint for Philly, as a retooling team that managed to acquire close to a dozen pitching prospects (see below) while also unloading Melvin Upton Jr., who toted perhaps baseball’s worst contract. Though at this point, realistically, Atlanta already has dealt the biggest names likely to go.

It is those other 10 teams that will make or break this trading season. They are mostly a mix of underperforming and/or downright disappointing clubs that could add spice to a market that’s just getting started. Interestingly, the Mariners, one of 10 that could possibly do some selling now, made the lone decent-sized deal to date, by acquiring slugger Mark Trumbo (though most still see the M’s as committed to the race and thus reluctant to sell). Though, one longtime Mariners observer was unimpressed with the big trade to date. “They need a high on-base, speed guy,” the person said. “They didn’t need a power guy who strikes out. They got that (already).”

Anyway, the Mariners rank as one of at least five teams that made one or more big moves this winter only to get off to a sorry start, with the alleged winter winners Red Sox, White Sox, Marlins and Padres also in that sad club. Those teams had every intention of contending, and they may still go for it, but if things don’t turn around soon, they could join the Phillies and Braves by posting their own “for sale” signs.

And still five additional teams look like decent candidates to sell, depending to some degree on how the next week or two or three go, and if the Brewers, Reds, A’s, Rockies and Diamondbacks also do shop some veteran players, a full 40 percent of teams could wind up shedding players and effectively turn a strong seller’s market into a buyer’s one.

“There could be a lot more sellers than we think,” one AL GM said. “A team could really take advantage by getting ahead of it.”

Historically most bubble teams wait until the All-Star break or so before assessing their chances, and the market, so there’s still time for these 10 bubble teams to assess. Anyway, here are the dozen clubs with something to think about, and maybe a few somebodies to trade.

1. Phillies

Overview: They are conducting the world’s slowest sale, with only the iconic Jimmy Rollins plus Marlon Byrd and Antonio Bastardo going so far, and many, many more players to trade remaining, including franchise lefthander Hamels plus slugger Ryan Howard, closer Jonathan Papelbon, aging catcher Carlos Ruiz and veteran righty Aaron Harang.

Special Considerations: MacPhail has been imported to see what the heck is going on, and while he is working only as a consultant now before transitioning to become team president after the season, it’s hard to imagine another established veteran voice could hurt at this point. While high salaries and unpalatable options make some of their players on the block tricky propositions, it’s a bit of a mystery why they are still holding Hamels, an excellent pitcher who could help any number of teams.

Players Who Could Move: Hamels has a list of nine teams to which he can be traded without his approval, and he helped the team by listing a nice mix of big-market teams to go with California teams (he’s a San Diego native), and according to someone familiar with the situation, he’d also accept the Red Sox and possibly a few others. It is well within the rights of Hamels to reject whomever else he pleases, but recent heat led him to suggest – probably falsely — that he’d consider the Blue Jays and Astros, two teams reported here and elsewhere to be clubs he wouldn’t accept (Jays) or likely wouldn’t accept (Astros). “He’s just trying to say the right thing,” says someone in the know who knows he’s already told the Phillies he’d rather not go to Toronto. And it’s hard to blame him for being “political” in the city that sometimes lacks brotherly love. One thing that is true, he’s surely getting antsy by now. That’s nothing compared to Papelbon, who can’t wait to get to a contender, almost any contender (though the Cubs and Jays are the only ones linked at all to the accomplished reliever with an unpalatable 2016 vesting option). Harang, too, could be a useful piece for someone. “A dependable innings eater,” one scout called him.

My Proposed Trade: The Phillies asked the Rangers for catching prospect Jorge Alfaro plus outfield prospect Nomar Mazara but may be willing to take one or the other as part of a bigger package.

2. Braves

Overview: John Hart and Co. didn’t have a terrible team by any means, but they correctly believed they might be hard-pressed to compete with the Nats and contend for a title as things stood. Plus, they had star players on expiring contracts (Justin Upton and Jason Heyward), another on a very bad contract, one that’s worse than Howard’s (the other Upton) and a farm system that wasn’t close to what it once was. So they conducted an all-time great sale, acting swiftly and decisively by making several big trades and rebuilding a farm system in short order – in other words, what the Phillies should have done. Consider that since Hart came aboard the Braves have acquired all these young pitchers and pitching prospects: Touki Toussaint, Chris Withrow, Matt Wisler, Arodys Vizcaino, Shelby Miller, Tyrell Jenkins, Max Fried, Manny Banuelos and Mike Foltynewicz. It’s nothing short of a bonanza.

Special Considerations: The new regime, led by the ex-Indians/Rangers GM Hart, is willing to try anything. They make “outside the box” a positive description. Their purchase of Toussaint (that’s what it was, a purchase), a No. 1 draft choice from only a year ago, was roundly applauded by the rest of the baseball world.

Players Who Could Move: There isn’t a lot left to go, though considering their short track record, who knows what they could turn it into? Veteran relievers Jason Grilli and Jim Johnson could be popular, third baseman Juan Uribe might help someone (he quickly took the job of Chris Johnson, whose trade value is next to nil now) and veteran catcher A.J. Pierzynski can still hit.

Proposed Trade: Grilli to the closer-challenged Jays could work in this trading season. But here’s one for the winter. How about a return of Craig Kimbrel to Atlanta, where is beloved in the clubhouse and beyond? “It is not as far-fetched as one might think,” says one person with knowledge of their inner workings.

3. Brewers

Overview: Whether it be from a hangover following their late-season collapse or something else, the Brewers have continued their rough play, and are a sure bet to start selling at some point. Their team clearly isn’t close to what they figured it might be. So there’s no choice now.

Special Considerations: The Brewers have been in the middle for a decade now, with 80-plus wins in seven of their last 10 seasons, which isn’t half bad for such a small market. So it’s no surprise their baseball people seem ready to rebuild. While the team has become a Brew City phenomenon under Mark Attanasio in his 10 years owning the team, and they’re used to buying at this time, it is hard to imagine him not acceding to a sale. The real question is said to be how deep to make the endeavor: Do they just try to deal struggling veteran starters Kyle Lohse and Matt Garza and some complimentary pieces such as outfielder Gerardo Parra and reliever Neal Cotts, or do they shop star center fielder Carlos Gomez or perhaps even young shortstop Jean Segura and cornerstone catcher Jonathan Lucroy? GM Doug Melvin said they need to be “open-minded,” though most folks still figure they’d be hard-pressed to surrender Lucroy, at least.

Players Who Could Move: Gomez would be a huge piece for someone, and the Brewers know their chances to keep him past 2016 are slim (“The Brewers know he’s not signing back there,” a rival says). So he could possibly go. Less likely is Segura, though the Brewers’ top prospect is a shortstop, Orlando Arcia (who scouts compare to the more heralded Francisco Lindor). And one GM says, “They should listen on Segura.” Even less likely is Lucroy, one of the game’s best catchers who is on a team-friendly deal. Francisco Rodriguez, who still has $11 million to go through next year, has been linked to the Jays and others, but word is he wants to stay in Milwaukee, and one rival GM says, “I don’t see him going anywhere.” Lohse is in the last year of his deal, so someone could take a flyer on him, though he’s having a rough year, but Garza is going to be much tougher to move. Parra is a solid spare outfielder, and relievers Jonathan Broxton and Cotts will come up.

Proposed Trade: How about Gomez back to the Twins if Byron Buxton doesn’t prove to be ready quite yet? The Twins could use outfield help.

4. Reds

Overview: Cincinnati looks like it’s in a tough spot in 2015 with catcher Devin Mesoraco, shortstop Zack Cozart and starter Homer Bailey out for the year, and the NL Central is as tough a division as they come, with the Cardinals all but having locked up the top spot and the Pirates and Cubs looking like strong wild-card contenders. But word is, ultra-competitive owner Bob Castellini is hesitant to sell. And the Reds may have just enough healthy big stars to try to make things interesting. Jay Bruce, caught recently at Citi Field, said, “We’re trying to make it tough on the front office.”

Special Considerations: Folks believe the reluctance of Castellini to sell is likely related to the July 14 All-Star Game in Cincy. “He doesn’t want to see Johnny Cueto come in for the All-Star Game wearing another cap.” So, assuming that’s the main consideration, deals could start happening July 15.

Players Who Could Be on The Move: Cueto and Mike Leake are free agents after the year, so if they decide to trade, both should go. Cueto is one of the game’s best pitchers, though there could be some concern after he was pushed back a couple times due to shoulder concerns. Even so, scouts like what they see. “The man knows how to pitch,” says one NL scout.

Proposed Trade: Cueto to the Astros for young outfielder Domingo Santana and infield prospect Nolan Fontana. (Though it may not be so easy to get Reds GM Walt Jocketty to get together on a trade with his Astros counterpart Jeff Luhnow — word is, ex-Cards execs Jocketty and Luhnow are even less close than Luhnow and the remaining Cardinals front office folks).

5. Marlins

Overview: The Marlins are giving it two more weeks, like so many of the others, and they are beginning to play better. But at 13 games under .500, and with Giancarlo Stanton said to be out four-to-six weeks with a broken hand, they’d still need quite a turnaround to spare a sale. They are quite capable, however. “It’s why there’s a lot of frustration, and also why there’s a lot of optimism,” Marlins president Michael Hill says. “There is talent. It just has to come together.”

Special Considerations: New manager Dan Jennings was sure a couple weeks back that they’d go for it, but that was before a few more losses, including the big one of Stanton, who had hit 43.4 percent of their home runs when he went out. And there’s also been speculation that owner Jeffrey Loria may want to make things look as nice as possible for a possible sale of the team. (Loria has denied the team is for sale.)

Players Who Could Be On the Move: With superstar starter Jose Fernandez back Thursday (he’s throwing 99 mph in rehab, and word is his elbow is pristine post-surgery, unlike many others who go through the Tommy John ordeal), there’s a little extra good feeling now for the team that’s been without its top four starters much of the year. “We know how good he is, but we don’t want him to feel like he has to be the savior of the season,” says Hill. That’s the right way to approach it. But in any case, the presence of Fernandez also could allow a trade of a veteran starter, either Dan Haren or Mat Latos, both of whom are free agents after the year, without grossly impacting the team’s chances. (Haren would like to go west, though there’s no indication any of the Southern Cal teams are interested). If they decide to do a full sale, the versatile and oft-traded Martin Prado should be back in a couple weeks, and lefty reliever Mike Dunn might help a contender.

Proposed Trade: The dependable Haren back to the Dodgers, where he could win many games considering their offense (though the reality is, they wanted to trade him badly enough that they are already paying him to pitch for the Marlins).

6. Rockies

Overview: The Rockies may have already missed the boat, as the trade value of big-name stars Troy Tulowitzki and Carlos Gonzalez aren’t anywhere near their all-time highs of a couple years ago. As one rival GM put it, “The window may have closed on a Tulo trade.” That’s too bad because the Rockies need to do some serious overhauling to start a fair rebuild.

Special considerations: The club-owning Monfort brothers would never pay down a serious portion of franchise man Tulowitzki’s contract to move him, says a friend. And that may be a problem since, as one rival GM put it, “I don’t know if anyone takes the contract.” Tulo is healthy enough to play, and he’s still surely a well above-average offensive shortstop, but he isn’t yet showing the range or power he has in the past, at least not in the first months following hip surgery. “He doesn’t have the lower half explosiveness,” yet another GM guessed.

Players Who Could Be On The Move: After Tulo and CarGo, who remain perennially likely to stay, the Rockies could consider dealing first baseman Justin Morneau (though his value was higher coming off his batting title last season than it is now) and oft-traveled closer John Axford.

Proposed Trade: Morneau to the Cardinals, who are without Matt Adams at first base.

7. Diamondbacks

Overview: They have played better than expected under first-year manager Chip Hale, and they are still awaiting the return of ace Patrick Corbin. There seems to be a goal to win as many games possible, one competing GM surmised. And as one D-Backs person put it, “Who do we really have to trade anyway … Aaron Hill?” That’s true, there aren’t a lot of obvious veterans to excise.

Special Considerations: While they may not be inclined to sell, it’s also still hard to see them beating the Dodgers and Giants to win the division, or the Pirates, Cubs and Mets to win a wild card.

Players Who Could Be on The Move: Infielder Aaron Hill might be able to help someone, but one team that recently went out to see him was said to have come back unimpressed. The other player who would draw interest is Brad Ziegler, who’s done well as a set-up man and closer.

Proposed Trade: Hill to the Yankees. (These two teams seem to like to trade, and the Yankees still aren’t completely settled at second base.)

8. Padres

Overview: With the efforts and moves they made, and the excitement they created, the Padres are surely going to give it every effort before deciding to sell. The underperformance of Matt Kemp and the holdover pitchers plus the injury to key piece Wil Myers have conspired to keep them under .500, deadening some of the early buzz.

Special Considerations: As big a gambler as new GM A.J. Preller is, nothing should surprise anyone. The Padres’ payroll is at an all-time high of $107 million, but there somehow seemed to be room to go higher. However, Preller is probably not afraid of a selloff, if needed. It has at least been considered now in San Diego.

Players Who Could Be Moved: The biggest piece to go could be Justin Upton, and other teams are champing at the bit over the free-agent-to-be slugger. The Padres could consider anything, though, and that includes deals for young pitchers Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross as well as veteran Ian Kennedy, another free agent to be. Set-up man Joaquin Benoit is another obvious trade piece.

Proposed Trade: Andrew Cashner and a prospect to the Cubs for Starlin Castro and Javier Baez.

9. Red Sox

Overview: It may not quite be time to sell, but GM Ben Cherington allowed, candidly, “It’s time to think about it … It hasn’t worked out the way we hoped or expected it would.” Like so many others, the Red Sox will give it some more time before acting, and they may conduct some sort of a hybrid sale. The only thing they’ve ruled out so far is trading for rentals, so any deal would have to entail receiving controllable players. “I’m not giving up, that’s for sure,” Cherington said a few days ago. “But we have to play better.”

Special Considerations: Some continue to say the big-market Red Sox would never sell. But they sold in two of the three most recent seasons (in the other season, they won a World Series). They conducted the all-time successful fire sale with the Dodgers in 2012, helping save the money that enabled them to win the ’13 World Series, then last year they traded Jon Lester and John Lackey.

Players Who Could Be Moved: Mike Napoli is a free agent after the year, so he could go. Koji Uehara has a year to go so he’s a bit less likely. And while Clay Buchholz is often mentioned in trade speculation, Boston would be hard-pressed to deal a home-grown pitcher who happens to be their best pitcher right now, and also one with team options at the end of his contract.

Proposed Trade: Napoli to the Rays, who could obviously use the offense. When right, he is instant offense.

10. White Sox

Overview: The White Sox received effusive praise (including here) for a winter in which they logically filled five holes, but many more holes appear to have sprung up. “They need offense in the worst way, and they need defense in the worst way,” one scout said. Beyond any specific issues, the team just isn’t clicking as is. They could use some life in that clubhouse.

Special Considerations: They are in a tough spot in sports-crazed Chicago, with the young and talented Cubs capturing people’s attention, the Blackhawks fresh off their third title in six years, the Bulls perennially good and the beloved Bears less than one month away from the start of training camp. The good feeling from all those popular offseason moves seems very far away indeed.

Players Who Could Be On The Move: Jeff Samardzija isn’t having the year he had last year and this time he’s only a rental, but scouts still mostly love him, and he should be quite popular. First baseman/DH Adam LaRoche is producing decently compared to the rest of the lineup, though the extra year on his deal may limit a possible take. (He probably should be elsewhere; “I don’t get why he’s DHing there, he’s their one above-average defensive player,” one rival said).

Proposed Trade: Samardzija to the Jays for catching prospect Max Pentecost, a No. 1 pick a year ago.

11. Mariners

Overview: The Mariners have gone from easily the best pitching staff in the league and one game out of a playoff spot to the worst hitting team and nowhere near the playoffs. The AL West may be an unpredictable race, but one rival sees no hope for the Mariners, who are getting a stunningly off-year from superstar Robinson Cano (though he showed he may be on the right track with his best game of the year Wednesday), who possess a surprising collection of players batting around .200 or just above (Mike Zunino is at .165 and probably needed more time in the minors) and whose whole bullpen “blew up,” as one rival put it. “It looks like one of those years in Seattle,” the executive said. “And the Astros have way better players.” That may be so, but the Mariners are pretty committed to the 2015 season, so a sale is still a long way from their minds.

Special Considerations: Word is, folks are getting nervous in Seattle, which doesn’t help matters. The contracts lengths of GM Jack Zduriencik and manager Lloyd McClendon are oddly unknown, but it may not matter. (As one rival pointed out, they ate some money on the contracts of Bill Bavasi and Eric Wedge before them.)

Players Who Could Be On The Move: “Who do they have to trade, exactly?” With a mix of a few high-priced veterans they intend to keep plus young, inexpensive players, there are few obvious veterans to go. They could consider a few of their free agents, including center fielder Austin Jackson and starter Hisashi Iwakuma, if the latter looks good coming back from injury. They’ve gotten a couple calls on Fernando Rodney, believe it or not. Seth Smith, who pounds right-handed pitching, and Logan Morrison are under team control for another year so they may be somewhat less likely to go. There’s also Mark Trumbo, who could be just one of many sluggers who doesn’t agree with Safeco Field (.390 OPS so far as a Mariner, 360 points below his career norm).

Proposed Trade: Trumbo back to the Angels (they need an outfielder and some help for the amazing duo of Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, and it would make a nice story).

12. A’s

Overview: With a run differential of plus-48 and a win-loss record nine games under .500, it doesn’t take a Billy Beane-type genius to know they have been by far the unluckiest team in baseball and maybe one of the unluckiest ever. Their ability could lead them to believe they should put together a run, though they’ve dug a bit of a hole and may ultimately calculate that there isn’t enough good fortune to make up for the ill will of the first half.

Special Considerations: Beane is a wild card, as he is apt to do something way outside the box. With their ‘pen issues, he could decide to try to buy. But he also knows, there’s still quite a hill to climb.

Players Who Could Be On The Move: Free agents-to-be Scott Kazmir and Ben Zobrist are the most obvious popular names in trade speculation, with his hometown Astros being one of many logical fits for Kazmir, and Zobrist working for any number of teams since he can play any number of positions.

Proposed Trade: Scott Kazmir and Ben Zobrist to the Cubs for Javier Baez, Arismedy Alcantara and Dan Vogelbach.

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Samardzija is on the list of the Jays, who are much more focused on enhancing the rotation than the pen … Dioner Navarro renewed his interest in a trade this week. He’d like to go somewhere to catch, if possible. The Diamondbacks, a logical landing spot, said no, citing Jarrod Saltalamacchia‘s presence … Rookie reliever Roberto Osuna (0.90 WHIP), who is 20, is impressing scouts.
	Major League Baseball News
Union leadership has been meeting about what to do about the CBA, which is up after 2016, and there’s a sense that there may be a tussle this time around. Some agents are determined to get rid of the qualifying offer, which has been a drag on some segments of the free-agent market and what some have called an “unforeseen windfall” for the owners. That doesn’t mean management is giving it back easily, though. There would have to be concessions on the union’s part. The bigger-picture issue, though, is the meteoric rise in revenue from 2011 to 2016, and how to divide it up. MLB has to wonder how the union’s new regime, headed by former player Tony Clark, will approach things following the beloved, amiable, deal-making late union leader Michael Weiner … MLB powers generally like how the draft has worked out, but it may provide too much of an advantage to the previous year’s worst team, as much bigger slot money has allowed Houston to make hay two of the past three years. While it’s enabled the Astros to move from worst to best (in the AL West, anyway), the slot discrepancy may be too big an edge … I don’t want to say too much about the All-Star voting, which is quite curious and a concern even after improved voting in the most recent weeks, so I’ll just say this. #VoteAltuve.