MLB Trade Deadline: Ideal landing spots for remaining big names
Starting Pitchers
Mandatory Credit: Dennis Wierzbicki-USA TODAY Sports
Cole Hamels to the Rangers: The Dodgers and Rangers appear to be the front-runners right now. While it makes physical sense for the Dodgers to build up a superstar rotation and stay out of reach of the Giants in the NL West with hopes of finally winning their first World Series since 1988, it might not make sense financially. Los Angeles’ payroll is already super inflated and if Zack Greinke does not opt out after this season, they would have over $84 million in 2016 salaries tied up in three pitchers after factoring in Clayton Kershaw‘s.
Also, the Phillies would love to get Corey Seager in a package for Hamels, but the Dodgers should not budge there. The Rangers are not on Hamels’ no-trade list, they possess a deep farm system and even if they miss playoffs this year, Yu Darvish and Hamels would make for a lethal 1-2 punch in 2016.
Ian Kennedy to the Blue Jays: While Andrew Cashner, Tyson Ross and James Shields might all be available from the Padres, Ian Kennedy has the fewest years of club control left on him, so he’d come at a reasonable cost to Toronto. If acquired, he would strengthen the rotation and leave some chips in place to still deal for an impact reliever. The Jays lost out on Cueto and they’re not going to land Hamels, so they should maximize their outlook by grabbing a strong middle-of-the-rotation arm as a half season rental.
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Jeff Samardzija to the Giants: It sounds like if the Dodgers miss out on Hamels, their plan B is Yovani Gallardo or possibly Price. The Rangers should use that to their advantage when making an offer for Hamels to outbid L.A., and then flip Gallardo to the Dodgers for a one year rental if possible. Either way, it sounds like Los Angeles is going to be getting a pretty solid starter sometime this week. If that’s the case, the Giants need to make a move. Jeff Samardzija is having a strong start to his second half and pitched well during his 16 starts for a West Coast team with the A’s last season. The Giants are fairly thin after Madison Bumgarner and Chris Heston, so the Shark would be a welcomed addition to the Bay Area.
Matt Garza to the Dodgers: If Hamels, Price or Gallardo don’t work out, that’s okay. The Dodgers already have two aces on their staff who are complemented nicely right now by Brett Anderson and Mike Bolsinger. Matt Garza has not been overly sharp in 2015, but that should help drive down his asking price some, which is food for thought for the club carrying the highest payroll in the league. Who knows if Brandon McCarthy will ever regain his form. The fact Garza is controlled through 2017 is also nice. Plus, the veteran has thrown 31 innings in the postseason where he has a 3.48 ERA. That playoff experience should be valuable to Los Angeles.
Mat Latos to the Pirates: Charlie Morton is a ticking time bomb and there aren’t many options after him for a solid fifth starter in Pittsburgh. The trio of Gerrit Cole, A.J. Burnett and Francisco Liriano are as good as any in baseball, but more depth is vital. Mat Latos has been solid since getting shelled during Opening Week, and his FIP of 3.32 is actually the third best mark of his career and is substantially lower than Morton’s (4.56) and Jeff Locke‘s (3.64).
Next: Relievers