Oakland Athletics Trade Deadline Overview

Danny Valencia, Third Baseman

The Oakland Athletics acquired third baseman Danny Valencia on August 3, 2015, when he was claimed off of waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays. Valencia came to an Oakland offense that lacked pop, and brought some. Valencia is a strong right handed hitter, who is a prototypical third baseman from an offensive perspective. He swings hard, and when he connects, the ball can go a long way. Valencia has been on a tear lately. Over his past 22 games entering Friday, Valencia is hitting .378 (31-for-82).

Valencia is hitting .346/.380/.579 on the season, and really solidified the third base position for the Athletics, which had been somewhat in limbo last season after the Josh Donaldson trade. Valencia is under the Athletics control until 2018, and may not necessarily be a player the A’s are looking to move, but if they do, Oakland has options.

The Athletics’ No. 4 prospect, according to MLB.com, is third baseman Matt Chapman.  Chapman is playing in Double-A Midland as of this writing, but he certainly impressed the Athletics in Spring Training, when he hit .279, with 5 home runs while in Major League camp. Chapman isn’t considered to be Major League ready just yet, but he’s viewed as the third baseman of the future in Oakland. As for Valencia, injuries around baseball could cause some teams to look at the trade market. The Kansas City Royals are without third baseman Mike Moustakas, (torn ACL) and New York Mets third baseman David Wright is battling a neck injury. Teams with a need due to injury could look to the trade market, and Valencia may be worth trading for the right offer. Interestingly, the Athletics made trades with both the Royals — who acquired Ben Zobrist — and the Mets — who acquired Tyler Clippard — last season.

Next: A Veteran Reliever

John Axford, Relief Pitcher

For much of the early season, the bullpen was a strength in Oakland. The A’s have three capable pitchers at the back end of their bullpen in Sean Doolittle, John Axford, and Ryan Madson. The Athletics like Doolittle very much, and he has closing experience. In 2014, Doolittle, a former first baseman, saved 22 games. The A’s gave Madson a three-year deal in the offseason, and he’s been the closer for the majority of his first year in Oakland. But if the A’s aren’t going to compete for the division, they likely don’t need all of this depth in the back end of the bullpen.

This could make Axford expendable. Axford has plenty of experience closing, as he’s saved 141 games over his eight-year career. The A’s haven’t utilized him in that role very much, although he did record his first save of the season on Tuesday night, in a 7-4 Athletics win over the Minnesota Twins. If a team is in a pinch, Axford has enough closing experience that he could be called on.

In 21 appearances this season, Axford has a 3-1 record, with 7 holds, and one save. Axford has a 3.48 ERA, and has allowed 24 hits against the 89 batters he’s faced. Axford has bounced around the past few years, pitching for the Cleveland Indians, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Colorado Rockies since 2014. If teams are looking for depth in the bullpen, Axford could be a cheap option — he’s on a two-year, $10 million contract — and it could allow the Athletics to get a Minor League piece back in return. If the Athletics elect to keep Axford at the deadline, he’d be under team control through 2017.

Next: A Gold Glove Outfielder

Josh Reddick, Right Fielder

If the Athletics decide to have a sell-off, Josh Reddick has to be considered. Reddick, 29, is set to be a free agent after the 2016 season. This makes him a prime candidate to be a rental player for a contender. The biggest issue with Reddick, is, like many others, is that he’s currently on the disabled list. Reddick fractured his thumb, however the injury wasn’t as bad as initially thought. If Reddick returns to the field at some point in June or early July and proves he’s healthy, there would likely be interest in him.

Prior to his injury, Reddick’s name had been floated in rumors, with both the Chicago Cubs and Chicago White Sox reportedly interested in the Athletics’ right fielder.  On the season, Reddick is hitting .322/.394/.466. and his solid play in right field has earned him a gold glove in the past. The A’s have elected to hold on to Reddick over the past few years when the likes of Josh Donaldson and Yoenis Cespedes got dealt away, but seeing as Reddick is an impending free agent, the Athletics may look to move him. If the A’s don’t trade him, it would be smart of the team to give Reddick a qualifying offer in the offseason. That way, if or when he signs elsewhere in the offseason, the A’s would recoup a compensatory draft pick.

Next: An Improbable Ace

Rich Hill, Starting Pitcher

Has there been a better comeback story in the past year than that of Rich Hill? Hill, 36, made his way out the Independent League to the Boston Red Sox, and parlayed his spectacular Red Sox run into a one-year, $6 million deal with the Athletics.

However, Hill suffered an injury in his last start, leaving with a mild groin strain. According to MLB.com, Hill doesn’t expect to miss any time. If Hill is able to stay healthy, and proves unaffected by the groin injury, he would be arguably the top pitcher on the trade market.

In 11 starts this season, Hill is 8-3, with a 2.25 ERA and has a WHIP of 1.125. To illustrate just how good Hill was with Boston at the tail end of 2015, his WHIP was 0.655. It would be difficult to duplicate that over an entire season, but his 2016 WHIP to this point is still among the best of his career. His contract makes him the ideal type of player to trade, as  a low-risk move for the Athletics, and its paid off in a large way already. Also, if a team were to acquire Hill, there wouldn’t be a ton of financial burden attached. There could be several teams interested in Hill, but like Reddick, if the Athletics keep Hill, look for him to get a qualifying offer in the offseason.

Next: A Struggling Ace

Sonny Gray, Starting Pitcher

Like so many others on Oakland’s roster, pitcher Sonny Gray is currently hurt. Gray is on the disabled list with a strained trapezius, but he threw a bullpen last weekend that went well and is slated to make a rehab start on Sunday, June 5, for Oakland’s High-A affiliate, the Stockton Ports. If it goes well, Gray could return during Oakland’s series at the Cincinnati Reds, on June 10.

Before Gray was injured, he was having his toughest year in the Major Leagues since he debuted in 2013.

In 9 starts, Gray is 3-5, with a bloated 6.19 ERA. Both his FIP — 5.13 — and his WHIP — 1.646 — are the highest of his career. In his 9 starts, Gray has reached 7 innings twice, but he’s also had his share of struggles. Gray has had three starts where he’s been pulled before completing the fourth inning, completing 2 innings on April 27 against the Tigers, 3.2 innings on May 9 against the Red Sox, and 3.1 innings on May 20 against the Yankees.

This stretch of starts was really the first time that Gray, an All Star in 2015, has struggled in the Major Leagues. Gray’s trade value is certainly not as high as it has been in the past, and that could play a factor in Oakland’s deadline strategy.  Gray may not ultimately be dealt at the deadline, but perhaps the framework for an offseason trade could be discussed. It’s well known that A’s Vice President of baseball operations Billy Beane thinks very highly of Gray, and has been hesitant to move him in the past. However, the free agent crop of pitchers isn’t strong after this season, and the Athletics may dangle Gray in a trade once Winter arrives. Gray’s value would be based not only on the talent he’s shown prior to this season, but the fact that he is under team control until 2020.

Next: Astros Trade Deadline Overview

The Oakland Athletics have multiple options if they decide to trade pieces away at the deadline. The A’s may not hold a huge fire sale, but the team may look to make a few moves as the trade deadline approaches.