MLB Trade Deadline: Best Available Pitchers On The Market
With the MLB trade deadline right around the corner, contending teams all over baseball are looking for that missing piece to their championship puzzle. The question most of these teams must ask themselves is are they ready to give up their future for a better chance at a championship this season. One thing every contending team needs is some pitching.
A lot of the teams in the NL East are very short in that category. Teams like the Baltimore Orioles, Boston Red Sox and the Toronto Blue Jays are in big need of some starting pitching. The Baltimore Orioles having lineup full of home run hitting machines but they lack an “ace” on the mound. No team will ever win a World Series with the top of the rotation that they currently have with Chris Tillman. The issue with the Orioles is they have a weak farm system which makes it really hard for them to make a move for a quality arm. The Boston Red Sox are looking to add starting arms but their problem is that they are unwilling to split ways with top prospects in their organization. The Blue Jays have a similar problem as the Orioles, a lack of talent down in the farm system making it hard for them to make a deal for a quality arm.
There are a bunch of great arms on the market before the deadline, but here are the best five available arms right now.
Chris Archer
Archer has had an awful run with the Tampa Bay Rays this season. At the All-Star break his ERA sits at 4.66. This could make him a great trade value for a contending team considering the numbers he put up last season. Archer last season posted a 3.23 ERA in 212 innings for the Rays. With the poor performance so far this season the price could drop significantly on Archer. Look for a team like the Dodgers to call about him. With Archer on a team-friendly 6-year $25.5 million deal, there is no doubt that teams will be calling for him.
Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers
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Jeremy Hellickson
Hellickson has had a tremendous bounce-back year with the Philadelphia Phillies this season. At the break his ERA sits at a modest 3.92. The Phillies traded for him last off-season for basically nothing. Now they look to turn him around for a nice profit. The 29 year-old is in the last year of his contract, making him a rental if a team would want to trade for him. He fits in a lot of different rotations as a number three or four. I look for a team like the Toronto Blue Jays to make a move for Hellickson, as they would not have to trade much for him and they need another solid arm.
Prediction: Toronto Blue Jays
Sonny Gray
Gray has had by far his worst season of his short, young career. On the season, Gray’s ERA sits at 5.16, a career-low. This hasn’t seemed to change what the Athletics are looking for in return for him. The A’s still have a high price on Gray and that is why he has not been moved yet. I am looking at a team in the AL East to make a move for him, specifically the Baltimore Orioles. The question is whether the Orioles have enough to offer for the young ace.
Prediction: Baltimore Orioles
Julio Teheran
Teheran has had another solid season with the Atlanta Braves. In 118 innings this season, he has posted an ERA of 2.96. With the Braves looking for young talent to stockpile in their farm system, look for them to make a move to deal Teheran. He is currently under a 6 year, $32 million deal that will have him locked up throughout the 2019 season. The price will be high for him but there will definitely team making calls to the Braves about him. With the young talent that the Houston Astros have, they could definitely make a deal for Teheran. It would be a perfect match as the Astros need multiple quality arms.
Prediction: Houston Astros
Matt Moore
Moore has had another down season with the Tampa Bay Rays. His ERA at the break currently sits at 4.62. With team control through 2019, this could be a steal for a team in the need for a middle of the rotation arm. The Rays have proven in the past that they are not willing to sign players long term so there is no doubt Moore is on the market. A team like the Los Angeles Dodgers would be the type of team to make a deal for Moore. They would not have to give up too much and they will have Moore under team control through 2019.
Prediction: Los Angeles Dodgers