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MLB: Ranking the Top Players on the Trading Block by Position

By Greg Goldstein

May 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cincinnati Reds left fielder Adam Duvall (23) is greeted by right fielder Jay Bruce (32) after a home run in the fourth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports
May 24, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Cincinnati Reds left fielder Adam Duvall (23) is greeted by right fielder Jay Bruce (32) after a home run in the fourth inning of the game against the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jayne Kamin-Oncea-USA TODAY Sports /
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Corner Infielders

John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports
John Hefti-USA TODAY Sports /

1. Todd Frazier (Chicago White Sox) – .212/.298/.473/.771/29 HR/2.0 WAR

Once upon a time, the White Sox were at the top of the American League in the early portion of the season. Now, they are what most expected them to be… an average ball club. Chicago is in an interesting spot right now. They started the year by trading for James Shields, but have continued to fall back in the standings. They do not have a roster that invites confidence that they will be able to go on a run in the next two months and they do have many quality players that they could trade away.

One of those is Todd Frazier, who even though has had his struggles with consistency, is still hitting for elite power. His 29 long balls are second in MLB to Mark Trumbo and his power could be quite useful to teams in need of some explosive for the stretch run. Frazier is by no means a complete player, but being that he is a free agent after 2017, Chicago may be wise to get something for him while he is putting up these types of power numbers.

2. Steve Pearce (Tampa Bay Rays) – .309/.388/.520/.908/10 HR/2.1 WAR

The former Baltimore Oriole has been a revelation for Tampa Bay. Signed to just a one-year, $4.75 million deal this past winter, Pearce is one of the more intriguing bats available this summer. Pearce had a breakout 2014 season with the Orioles, but fell off drastically last year. This allowed the Rays to swoop in an ink him to a value contract.

The 33-year-old can play multiple positions around the diamond, which makes him even more appealing, especially to National League clubs. He is hitting over .300 and has hit double-digit home runs in just the 60 games he has appeared in. He may not be a household name, but the Tampa Bay utility man may be the missing piece for a contender looking to advance deep into the postseason. He’s one of the better hitters available at the MLB trade deadline.

3. Danny Valencia (Oakland Athletics) – .302/.353/.481/.834/13 HR/0.7 WAR

When the Athletics picked him up off of waivers in 2015, not many expected that he would put up the stats that he has in the past season and a half in Oakland. Valencia can play both first and third and can handle the bat well, especially against left-handed pitching. His stock has decreased over the past few weeks as he has lost playing time to rookie Ryon Healy at third base.Still, Valencia is at the very least a great plate option for a contender with a need at the corners.

4. Yunel Escobar (Los Angeles Angels) – .318/.366/.406/.773/3 HR/1.3 WAR

The Angels third baseman has been one of the few bright spots for the club this year. He’s hitting over .318 and has a WAR of over 1.0. He does not bring much power to a lineup, but he is a consistent hitter who has a good approach at the plate. He could be a solid addition for one of the few teams that need help at third base and his numbers suggest that he should bring back at least something of value if Los Angeles does decide to move on. He’s not a flashy player, but he is useful.

5. Chris Carter (Milwaukee Brewers) – .215/.300/.473/.773/23 HR/0.1 WAR

There has been a lot of focus on the Brewers primary trade piece, Jonathan Lucroy, but what Chris Carter is doing this year should not be overlooked. Yes, he still is striking at his usual high-rate, but his power numbers should catch the eyes of the league. Carter has always been able to hit the ball far ever since he came into MLB, but what has limited his potential is that he is one of the biggest home run or bust players in baseball. However, while that may be the player that he is, contenting teams that could use a boost in the power department should give a hard look at Carter being that Milwaukee is full sell mode with their veteran players.

6. Mark Reynolds (Colorado Rockies) – .271/.346/.439/.786/11 HR/0.5 WAR

Mark Reynolds has been solid as the starting first baseman for Colorado. He could even start for a few contenders if need be. Surprisingly, Reynolds has not had put up exceptional power numbers at Coors Field, as he has shifted to becoming more of a steady hitter at the plate. He’s been known to be a swing and miss slugger over the years, which makes his stats this season a bit perplexing. He could still add some offense to a contender at the deadline.

Veterans Not Matching Their Salary:

Billy Butler: .276/.332/.425/.757/4 HR/0.1 WAR

Mark Teixeira: .192/.270/.323/.593/9 HR/-0.6 WAR

Role Players:

Yonder Alonso: .247/.310/.341/.651/4 HR/-0.4 WAR

Adam Lind: .227/.262/.436/.697/15 HR/-0.4 WAR

Daniel Descalso: .310/.412/.430/.842/2 HR/0.8 WAR

Gordon Beckham: .241/.326/.392/.718/4 HR/0.2 WAR

Jed Lowrie: .267/.317/.327/.644/2 HR/-0.4 WAR

Next: Middle Infielders

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