MLB: Starting Pitchers that could potentially be on the trading block

There are many contending teams in the MLB that are in need of a starting pitcher or two in order bolster their rotation. However, there is a noticeable lack of quality starting pitchers that could be traded as we get closer to the middle of the summer. Here are a few that could possibly swap uniforms in the coming months.

Teams can never have enough starting pitchers and that sentiment rings true when the trade deadline roles around. Eleven starters were traded in the months of June and July last season, with a few of them being solid top of the rotation options. Veteran aces Cole Hamels and Johnny Cueto were traded to eventual playoff teams in the Texas Rangers and Kansas City Royals, respectively. Other solid starting rotations options including Scott Kazmir, Mike Leake, Dan Haren, Alex Wood and J.A. Happ were moved to contenders as well.

Stating pitchers can make a real difference during a playoff push as teams look to go on elongated winning streaks. Having a deep starting rotation can also make a big difference during the postseason, when starting pitching is usually the deciding factor in most games. While it is unlikely that a true ace gets dealt this summer, there is still a chance if things go a certain way and injuries continue to occur, that some impactful players could find themselves on new teams once the trade deadline passes.

Next: Back-End of the Rotation Options

Back-End of the Rotation Options

Andrew Cashner (San Diego Padres)

2016 Stats: 2-3/4.96 ERA/3.6 BB9/7.3 SO9/4.45 FIP

While the 29 year-old’s numbers to start the year don’t look like a pitcher who contenders would want to add to their staff, Andrew Cashner has the stuff to be a solid starting pitcher in the MLB as he posses a mid-90’s fastball that he is throwing around 70 percent of the time this season according to Fangraphs. His walks are the primary concern this season as he just isn’t able to control his pitches consistently. However, Cashner has had some success in his career, with his run in 2013 and 2014 when he finished both seasons with ERA’s under 3.10. Teams will be looking to buy low on Cashner as he becomes a free agent at the end of the year.

Drew Pomeranz (San Diego Padres)

2016 Stats: 3-3/2.12 ERA/4.2 BB9/10.9 SO9/2.86 FIP

Unlike Andrew Cashner, Drew Pomeranz has performed way above expectations. Pomeranz was mostly a reliever the past couple seasons with the Oakland A’s. He was successful in that role as well, finishing the past two seasons with ERA’s under 3.75. Pomeranz is not a power arm as he throws his fastball in the low 90’s. His main weapon is his curveball, which he throws more often than the fastball. Pomeranz has had problems with walks in the early goings, but his strikeout numbers are balancing that problem out. Pitching in San Diego surely helps him and his stats are not sustainable with the number of walks he gives up, but he could be a nice piece at the end of a good rotation.

Ivan Nova (New York Yankees)

2016 Stats: 1-1/4.34 ERA/1.0 BB9/ 4.8 SO9/4.06 FIP

The Yankees have long been rumored to trade for a starting pitcher by trading one of their dominant receivers, but that doesn’t mean that they would not trade Nova to make room in the rotation if they acquire a starting pitcher. Nova has been good in spots in the past, but he’s also been inconsistent. He hasn’t had a good season since 2013 and his swing and miss numbers have decreased over the past couple years, but that doesn’t mean he does not have the stuff to be a serviceable starter. With how many teams need pitchers, if the Yanks make Nova available he could be snatched up.

Ervin Santana (Minnesota Twins)

2016 Stats: 0-2/3.86 ERA/ 4.2 BB9/ 8.5 SO9/3.74 FIP

Sure, Santana is on an expensive deal for at least the next three years for the type of starting pitcher that he is. But, the 33 year-old has been consistently average over the course of his career. Like Pomeranz, Santana is striking hitters out and giving up walks, which means his numbers could fall back. What different about Santana is that he has a track record as a serviceable starter while Pomeranz does not. Many teams will need arms when the calendar turns to July, and this means that clubs may make desperate moves to improve their rotation. If the Twins could kick in some money to make Santana less expensive, a desperate contending team could bite on him.

Next: Rich Hill

Julio Teheran (Atlanta Braves)

2016 Stats: 0-3/3.48 ERA/3.0 BB9/8.5 SO9/3.87 FIP

The Braves ace is young and full of potential. But like many other players on the Braves, no player is off the table to be dealt. Even though Teheran is only 25 years old, he still has a wealth of experience in the MLB for his age. Teheran made his major league debut in 2011 and has had a decent amount of of success against major league hitters. He made his first all-star game in 2014, when he finished the year with a 2.89 earned run average while collecting 14 wins.

Teheran was a top prospect in the Braves system when made the jump to the major leagues, and even though his fastball velocity has decreased as he has gotten older, his unique delivery and off speed pitches are what make him dangerous.

The 25 year-old is having a solid season to start this year, even though he is on an abysmal club. While last season may not have been disappointing for the young right hander, he has never really done poorly in the three years that he has been a full-time starter.

Teheran will not be a free agent until the 2020 season, which makes him very valuable on the trade market. However, this also means that it will take a lot to pry him away from the Braves. Atlanta does have multiple young starters coming up through their farm system in Matt Wisler, Aaron Blair and Sean Newcomb, which may make it a little easier to deal Teheran away. Also, the Braves may also take into account that he will start to be paid every year because of his production and arbitration. Clubs will have to give up some good pieces in order yo bring him in, but as they’ve shown in the past year, Atlanta is always open for business.

Potential Fits: Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees, Toronto Blue Jays, Los Angeles Dodgers

Next: James Shields

James Shields (San Diego Padres)

2016 Stats: 1-5/3.61 ERA/4.0 BB9/6.8 SO9/4.72

The 11 year veteran has been subject to trade rumors more than most this past year. Shields was a signature piece for Tampa Bay Rays through the prime of his career. Kansas City traded for the 34 year-old in 2013 and he played a major role in the Royals magical postseason run in 2014. Shields has been one of the more underrated starting pitchers in the MLB for most of his career. he’s made one all-star team , but has pitched to an under 4.00 ERA six times, which included a great run from 2011-2014, where is average ERA was 3.32.

Shields did have his worst year in a while in 2015, where his stuff seemed to take a step back and his numbers did as well. With that, he was still the subject of trade rumors with a disappointing the Padres were last season. Shields is no longer a power pitcher as his fastball velocity has declined. His FIP and walk rate should also cause some concern. But, he has gotten off to a solid start this season and has a track record of being a reliable starting pitcher, which is something that many times don’t have in the back of their rotation.

His contract is not ideal as he is set to be paid $21 million a year for the next three seasons. He can opt-out after this season. But he probably won’t as he continues to regress and his salary being very high over the next couple seasons. His contract can be bought out after the 2018 season. The Padres will have to give some money if they hope to get something valuable for Shields. If they are willing to pay for someone to take Shields, San Diego should have a market for the veteran starter. However, the club that trades for him probably does need to have deep pockets.

Potential Fits: Boston Red Sox, Detroit Tigers, Texas Rangers, Los Angeles Dodgers

Next: Sonny Gray

Sonny Gray (Oakland Athletics)

2016 Stats: 3-4/6.00 ERA/4.2 BB9/7.8 SO9/4.48 FIP

Sonny Gray has not been the Sonny Gray that we’ve all come to know the past couple years. Being only 26 years old, the A’s young ace has been one of the better starting pitchers in the game since he entered the MLB in 2013. He has never really gone through the early career struggles that many young pitchers too during his first couple seasons, so that makes his struggles in 2016 a bit concerning.

Currently, Gray has an ERA of 6.00 and has a walk rate of 4.2 per nine innings, which are both career high’s for the right hander. Gray has been a successful pitcher by controlling his pitches and attacking hitters, which allows him to go deep into games. He has not ended a season with a walk rate per nine innings above 3.0 in his career, which shows the type of control Gray possesses. However, his strikeout numbers right now are on par with what his career average is.

Like all pitchers who pitch in Oakland, they are benefited from the far fences and wide foul territory. But Gray’s success should not be defined by where he has pitched. His ability to limit his walks and his solid pitch arsenal will make him a top of the rotation type in pretty much any starting rotation. People should expect Gray to get back to the type of pitcher he has been as the season wears on.

Even if Gray doesn’t return to the dominant pitcher he has been, teams may try and buy him while his value is low. This may help to build a bigger market for his services, but it will still take a couple of top prospects and other pieces to get the young ace. Gray will just be entering arbitration after this season, and won’t be a free agent until 2020. His success and controllability will  make him one of the most sought after players on the trade market of the A’s decide to put him out there. The Athletics probably won’t be a playoff contender and Billy Beane has traded star players before. Just don’t expect him to part with Gray unless he is getting substantial value in return.

Potential Fits: Boston Red Sox, Houston Astros, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers

Next: Jose Fernandez

Jose Fernandez (Miami Marlins)

2016 Stats: 4-2/3.54 ERA/4.4 BB9/12.8 SO9/2.50 FIP

Jose Fernandez is one of the most physically dominant pitchers in the entire MLB. He has everything you want when you are looking for an ace. Fernandez has a dominant fastball that regularly sits in the high 90’s and sometimes gets up into the triple digits. He also has a nasty slider that he uses to keep hitters off balance. This combo of fastball-slider gets a lot of swing and misses as you can see by his career strikeout rate of 10.8 K’s per nine innings.

He was first floated out in trade rumors during the winter meetings this past offseason. Jon Heyman sent out a tweet during the winter meetings that was documented on CBS Sports website, which said that the Marlins wanted five or six “great” young players for the 23 year-old ace. This may seem like a lot to ask for, but when you look at the numbers Fernandez has put up it’s easy to see why the Marlins would want so much for him.

He ended the first three seasons the MLB with ERA’s in the 2.00’s, while also finishing in third place for the Cy Young in 2013 when he was just 21 years of age. He not only is able to get hitters out, but he dominants opposing lineups, giving them very little chances to put rallies together because of his extraordinary ability to strike batters out. Also, even though he only has an ERA in the mid-3.00’s to start 2016, his FIP of 2.80 helps to tell that he is still dominating hitters and could just be getting a bit unlucky.

The main reason why Fernandez was floated out in trade rumors was because many around baseball did not believe that the Marlins would extend Fernandez and lose him to free agency. Right now, his value is extremely high and the team would be wise to listen to offers. The Marlins original asking price of five to six top prospects isn’t that crazy noting that Hernandez has the tools to be a top five starter in the major leagues and the fat that he still has 3 years of control left.

Next: How long can the Nationals keep Tre Turner down?

Miami has started off this season fairly well, sitting at just three game behind the Mets for first place in the NL East. However, if the Marlins start to slip, expect the Jose Fernandez trade talk to heat back up, even though only a few clubs have what it takes to meet the Marlins’ asking price.

Potential Fits: Boston Red Sox, Chicago Cubs, Los Angeles Dodgers