MLB Trade Deadline: One move every team should make

More than half of the MLB season has come and gone. Teams that predicted they would be in the title chase have either come to the realization they’re a long way away or their right on the doorstep of making it a reality.

Regardless of any team’s record, upgrades can always be made. With several notable ball clubs looking at the standings, they’ve got some interesting choices to make. In the case of the New York Yankees, do you wave the white flag and concede that this season should be flushed down the toilet? If so, they aren’t likely to make any big splashes. What about the Los Angeles Dodgers? All season long they were touted as the best team in the world. While they’ve looked great for long stretches, the news surrounding Trevor Bauer makes it incredibly difficult to know what their next move should be.

The trade deadline weeds out the pretenders from the contenders based on their actions. Who will push all their chips to the middle of the table and whom amongst them will sell the farm in the hopes of having a better season next year?

With so many questions, we’ve done our best to answer them. We take a deep dive into the one move each team should make with the trade deadline rapidly approaching. Will your team make a playoff push or will they stack up prospects and assets for later down the line? Take a look to find out.

Must make trades for each American League East team: Boston Red Sox

Trade idea: Acquire Sonny Gray

The Boston Red Sox are a well-oiled machine. From just about everywhere, they find a way to shine. They rank top three in batting average, runs batted in, hits and saves.

In short, it’s going to be nearly impossible to knock them off once the postseason comes around. The rise of the Red Sox comes as a major surprise considering that they gave up arguably the best player in the league last season in Mookie Betts who is still dominating with the LA Dodgers. Even more surprising, the Red Sox are without their ace, Chris Sale, who continues to rehab from Tommy John surgery.

With their special lefty not on the mound, the Red Sox have turned to other options but they haven’t been stellar. Nathan Eovaldi has stepped into Sale’s role and although he’s been solid, sporting an ERA just above 3.40, he isn’t exactly an ace.

Grabbing a virtually unhittable pitcher is difficult as teams hate giving them up but if the Red Sox can simply grab another very good arm that should do the trick. To help, the Red Sox should take a hard look at Sonny Gray from the Cincinnati Reds.

For the entirety of his career, Gray has hovered around an ERA in the low 3.00. He did, however, fall apart with the Yankees and their championship expectations in 2017 and 2018. His ERA ballooned to almost 5.00. Still, Gray has put together three strong years with Cincinnati, including an ERA of 2.87 last season. Gray isn’t a number one option but neither is Eovaldi. If the Red Sox can get their hands on him and get a healthy Chris Sale, they can start etching their names into that World Series trophy right now.

Must make trades for each American League East team: Tampa Bay Rays

Trade idea: Acquire Adam Frazier

The Tampa Bay Rays are only a handful of games out of first place in the American League. While the Boston Red Sox have been great, the Rays could easily catch them before the end of the year.

When it comes to hits, runs batted in and home runs, the Rays are essentially a middle of the pack team. They do a tremendous job in the pitching department as they are safely locked into the top 10. The biggest issue for the Rays is getting the ball in play. While their offensive numbers are solid, they are prone to going long stretches without getting anything going. Currently, the Rays rank 23rd in batting average at .231. That number places them behind the worst team, record-wise, in the Arizona Diamondbacks.

There should be only one player that the Rays target, Adam Frazier of the Pittsburgh Pirates. At the moment, Frazier has a top-five ranking in batting percentage, checking in at third with .325. He isn’t a big home run guy, racking up only four this year. In fact, his career-high in that department is only 10. Still, the Rays don’t need him to knock the ball out of the yard, they simply need him to put it in play.

The Rays aren’t exactly a title contender, but they could be if they can simply get a few more hits. No one on the Rays comes close to Frazier as a ball hitter. They desperately need him and considering that the Pirates aren’t going anywhere, Frazier desperately wants the Rays.

Must make trades for each American League East team: Toronto Blue Jays

Trade idea: Acquire Kendall Graveman

Records can be somewhat misleading.

A team with a middling overall record won’t be viewed as a title contender. Instead, they’ll be perceived as a team on the up and up or on a downward trajectory. In the case of the Toronto Blue Jays, they could very well insert themselves onto the shortlist of title hopefuls.

Although their record is very much middle of the pack, currently sitting at 43-40, the Blue Jays should be so much better. Offensively, almost no other team can match what they bring to the table. They’re second in batting average (.267), first in home runs (128), fourth in runs batted in (416) and third in hits (767). Even their overall pitching is solid, checking in at 12th with an ERA of 2.97.

Where the Blue Jays go from amongst the best in the league to bottom of the barrel is the saves department. At the moment, they rank 26th. Simply put, when it’s closing time, the Blue Jays have a hard time putting the game away. If possible, the Blue Jays should go all-in on acquiring Kendall Graveman of the Seattle Mariners. Not only does he sport the third lowest ERA amongst all closers at 0.99 but he also has an 80% save percentage.

If the Blue Jays can get their hands on him, the rest of the league is in trouble.

Must make trades for each American League East team: New York Yankees

Trade idea: Acquire Noah Syndergaard

The bats have been turned off for quite some time with the New York Yankees. Despite having huge power hitters such as Giancarlo Stanton, Gary Sanchez and of course, Aaron Judge, the Yankees still find themselves near the back half of the league in terms of batting average. They’re currently tied with the horrific Baltimore Orioles in that department at .238.

While that would seem to signal that they need another bat or two in the lineup, that just simply isn’t the case. The Yankees have knocked over 100 balls out of the park and could lead the league again when it’s all said and done. In baseball, slumps happen. Even the most star-driven teams have issues at times locating the ball.

With that said, the Yankees should focus on something else.

At first glance, pitching doesn’t seem to be a major problem. They’re safely ranked in the top ten but outside of ace Gerrit Cole, opposing teams are liable to knock them around the park. Corey Kluber was a gem of a pickup during the off-season but constant injury issues have kept him out of the lineup. To help give them a bonafide number two, the Yankees should reach out to their fellow New York neighbors and find out if former ace, Noah Syndergaard is available.

Syndergaard hasn’t played all year due to a Tommy John surgery last season. Recently, he was shut down due to right elbow inflammation. Even without him, the Mets are still third in the league in ERA with 3.35, making him somewhat disposable.

At one point, Syndergaard was considered one of the best young pitchers in the league but injuries have clearly slowed him down. If the Yankees can get their hands on him, he could easily step in when healthy and become their second-best pitcher. In fact, if Syndergaard is back to what he once was, there’s a chance he could snag the number spot away from Cole. He may not be available to play this season but he would be a reclamation project worth taking on.

Must make trades for each American League East team: Baltimore Orioles

Trade idea: Acquire Trevor Rogers

The Baltimore Orioles are bad, like really bad. But they aren’t as awful as their record indicates.

It’s almost a virtual lock that they’ll end the season with either the worst or second-worst record in the league. Their biggest hole, amongst a long list of them, comes from their pitching.

The Orioles can’t get anything right on the mound. Their collective ERA stands at 5.47 which is far and away the worst in the league. In the offseason, they attempted to resurrect the remains of Matt Harvey but quickly realized that he’s a shell of his former self.

Everything needs to start with pitching for the Orioles. There are plenty of aces out there but considering that they’re a few years away from being a few years away, they shouldn’t be looking in the direction of any older players. One pitcher that they should have an eye on is Miami’s young ace, Trevor Rogers.

Ranked number seven in the league with an ERA of 2.22, the Marlins have a future star on their hands at only 23. It’ll be nearly improbable for the Orioles to figure out a deal that the Marlins would deem worthy but if they somehow can, the Orioles should pull the trigger on picking him up.

Must make trades for each American League Central team: Cleveland Indians

Trade idea: Acquire Starling Marte

The outfielder position hasn’t been exactly kind to the Cleveland Indians.

Harold Ramirez is having a solid first year with his new club. His on base percentage of .323 is solid and his slugging percentage is notable at .462. The lack of home runs will always be a concern as he still has single digits although the season is coming to a close. That’s been the problem with the Indians all season long as they hovered around .500.

With the trade deadline creeping around the corner, the Indians should make a hard push to grab Miami Marlins outfielder, Starling Marte. He isn’t much of an upgrade when it comes to the long ball. In fact, he has the exact same homers as Ramirez with six but his overall numbers would make the Indians a better overall team. Marte has an on base percentage of .402 and simply knows how to get the ball in play. He’s always hung around a batting average near .300 for his career and currently, he holds an average of .291.

Marte is the kind of upgrade at outfielder that the Indians need. He won’t be the panacea to all of their issues but he’ll play a key role in turning this squad around.

Must make trades for each American League Central team: Detroit Tigers

Trade idea: Acquire Clint Frazier

Don’t let the horrific numbers fool you. Clint Frazier can still be a stud.

The 2021 campaign hasn’t been one he’ll like to reminisce about though. The championship dreams of the New York Yankees have turned into a nightmare. They’ve been far and away one of the most disappointing teams in the entire league. As for Frazier, his numbers have been putrid.

He’s currently batting only .186, has 34 hits and by the looks of it, won’t even get to double-digit homers as he currently sits at five. Regardless of those stats, Frazier has always been a very good player. In both 2019 and 2020, his batting percentage rested at .267. His slugging percentage in both years was also north of .480.

More than anything, Frazier struggles with playing time as he sits behind Aaron Judge. The Detroit Tigers could use a player of his ilk. Making the playoffs has become a laughable statement as the Tigers languish under .500. Matt Manning, Joey Wentz, Casey Mizz and Tarik Skubal are a good core to build around but they’ll need more. Considering that Frazier is only 26 and can be an on base machine, the Tigers could use him to speed up their rebuilding process.

Must make trades for each American League Central team: Kansas City Royals

Trade idea: Acquire Joey Gallo

Thanks mainly to Whit Merrifield and his league-leading 23 stolen bases, the Kansas City Royals are always likely to get into scoring position. With a top ten batting average (.244), they’re also likely to put a run or two on the board. With that said, chicks dig the long ball but the Royals just don’t produce any.

The lack of home runs for the Royals is alarming. So far this year, they’ve only knocked 84 balls out of the park. Unsurprisingly, that places them in the bottom five of the league. At 36-49, the Royals are battling it out with the Minnesota Twins for the last spot in the Central.

In terms of firepower, the Royals don’t really have any. With only two players on the roster in Salvador Perez and Carlos Santana registering double-digit homers so far, they need more guys who can knock the ball into the second deck.

It could be viewed as practically impossible but if the Royals could somehow, someway, get their hands on Joey Gallo, it would be a miracle. Like always, Gallo is amongst the best in the business. In 2017 and 2018, his two healthy seasons in the league before the injuries began piling up, Gallo recorded back-to-back seasons of at least 40 homers. He’s well on his way to that this season with 21 currently.

No matter how great Gallo has proven to be, he won’t change life completely for the Royals. But, he’ll get them on the right track.

Must make trades for each American League Central team: Minnesota Twins

Trade idea: Acquire Tyler Glasnow

Believe it or not, the Minnesota Twins are a really good team. Now, of course, their record doesn’t reflect. Currently, they sit 15 games under .500 and don’t expect them to get much better as the season winds down.

Game after game, the Twins have been pounded on the scoreboard but usually, they don’t go out without a fight. Offensively, they can score on even the best pitchers. They rank in the top ten in batting average and top three in home runs. But with so many superlative words used to describe their offense, why does their record reek? That’s simple, they can’t strike out the opposition if their lives depended on it.

Pitching has been God awful for the Twins. They’re ranked right near the bottom of the league (5.01) with several other bottom feeders in that department such as the Baltimore Orioles and Arizona Diamondbacks.

If possible, the Twins may want to inquire about Tyler Glasnow of the Tampa Bay Rays. Granted, the Rays are firmly in the thick of things for the AL crown. Still, at the age of 27, he’s the exact sort of player the Twins could use to become title contenders or at least, perpetual playoff threats.

Glasnow holds an ERA of just 2.66 and currently ranks 12th in strikeouts with 123. The Twins are always fun to watch, they have a propensity to hit homers but they also tend to give up a ton as well. With the help of Glasnow and a few other pitching moves, the Twins could go from just a fun team to a scary one.

Must make trades for each American League West team: Houston Astros

Trade idea: Acquire Max Scherzer

The Houston Astros have a track record of bringing in huge pitching talents to take them over the hump. In 2017, they got their hands on future Hall of Famer Justin Verlander. It immediately paid off as he went bonkers that season, he pitched a ridiculous 1.06 in the regular season. He also pitched out of his mind in the postseason, including winning the ALCS MVP against the New York Yankees after shutting them down with an ERA of 0.56. The gaudy stats ultimately resulted in a championship.

They also attempted to repeat history when they nabbed Zack Greinke in 2019. That move resulted in a Game 7 World Series loss. Now, following their two-year tradition, it’s time for the Astros to keep their ritual going. With the Washington Nationals going nowhere fast and Max Scherzer still playing at an outrageously high level, it’s officially time for him to move on.

Consider this, although Scherzer has multiple All-Star appearances, three Cy Young awards, a World Series ring and is a lock for the Hall of Fame, his ERA, which currently stands at 2.10, has never been better.

The Houston offense is ranked at the top of the league in just about every statistical category including RBI, hits and batting average. Pitching isn’t a problem as they rank 8th at the moment but still, with Verlander still recovering from Tommy John surgery and with their track record when adding great pitchers, if they managed to get their hands on Scherzer, they could become a World Series lock.

Must make trades for each American League West team: Oakland A’s

Trade idea: Acquire Jonathan India

Something just appears to be missing from the Oakland A’s formula. Sure they have a good record as their currently ten games over .500 but nothing about them truly scares the opposition.

In terms of their overall offensive numbers, they’re all middle of the pack, not a bad place to be. But to go from decent playoff contenders to true title threats, they’ll need to make a few tweaks before the trade deadline. In the end, opportunities come to those that take them and for the A’s, they simply need to up their chance of getting someone on base.

Here to check that box and fill a need, is 24-year-old Jonathan India. The right-handed batter from the Cincinnati Reds doesn’t generate the sort of power that makes his trips to the plate end in a walk-off home run but he keeps the line moving by getting on base. At the time of writing, his on base percentage is tied for sixth-best in the league at .392. That number would easily surpass Oakland’s team-leading Tony Kemp and his .382. It would also do wonders for a squad that only averages .315.

With five guys in double digits for total home runs, the A’s don’t necessarily need India’s bat to light up the scoreboard. They simply need him to help elevate a below-average on base percentage.

Must make trades for each American League West team: Seattle Mariners

Trade idea: Acquire Shane Bieber

The Seattle Mariners were hit by the injury bug early. Despite losing James Paxton to the dreadful Tommy John surgery, they’ve been below average on the mound but not the worst team in the league in that department.

Heading into the 2021 season, Mariner fans weren’t optimistic about making the playoffs. Conceding that they hadn’t earned a spot under baseball’s brightest lights in two decades, missed trips to the postseason had become routine. But, as the trade deadline draws closer, they’ve got a solid shot of ending their unfortunate luck.

It’ll be difficult to pry away any good pitcher away from a ball club looking to make a push of their own. But what Cleveland Indians righty Shane Bieber? At .500 and seemingly getting worse, they figure to be sellers at the trade deadline. Bieber could take his 130 strikeouts, tied for fifth-most in the league, and help the Mariners get over the hump.

Must make trades for each American League West team: Los Angeles Angels

Trade idea: Acquire Giancarlo Stanton

It isn’t set in stone just yet but by all accounts, it appears as though Mike Trout and the Los Angeles Angels once again won’t make it to the postseason.

For most of this year, Trout has dealt with nagging injuries but still, even if he were available and ready to go, the chances of the Angels sneaking into the playoffs were slim to none. In the mind of most, Trout is the best player in the league today. Not only that, but he also has a chance to become the greatest player to ever step on the baseball diamond.

But no matter how great Trout is in the regular season, and at this point, great seems like an understatement, he hasn’t had many opportunities to play when the lights are at their absolute brightest. Trout has only played in three playoff games in his entire career and smacked only one home run in a losing effort. Shohei Ohtani has been a major help but the Angels need more. If possible, they should pick up the phone and give the New York Yankees a call and do whatever they can to get their hands on Giancarlo Stanton.

Sure he’s come up small in big spots at times and his failure to stay healthy is always a concern. But, when Stanton is right, he’s just as good if not a notch below Trout. The Angels need more than just two guys who can consistently drive in runs. Stanton can help in a big way. Considering that Yankee fans never quite warmed up to him, prying him away shouldn’t be that difficult.

Must make trades for each American League West team: Texas Rangers

Trade idea: Get rid of Ian Kennedy

The Texas Rangers are at the bottom of the barrel in the American League West, a familiar position.

Ten games behind the underwhelmingly average Los Angeles Angels and 20 games behind the uncatchable Chicago White Sox, the Indians need to make changes. All isn’t completely lost though. They do have a few good young players in Nate Lowe, Joey Gallo and Adolis Garcia. Since we’re focused on one trade each team should make, we’re going to address the elephant in the room. The Rangers have to find a team gullible enough to take Ian Kennedy off their hands.

The need to get rid of their reliable closer has nothing to do with his performance this year. Kennedy has been rock solid. He’s saved 14 ball games, produced an ERA of 2.86 and currently, he’s only allowed five home runs all season long. It’s everything outside of his play that makes Kennedy undesirable.

For starters, the Rangers haven’t made the playoffs in five seasons. Second, they clearly need to continue to get younger and at the age of 36, Kennedy doesn’t fit that mold. Lastly, Kennedy is on an expiring contract which will entice plenty of teams for his services. Could a team like the New York Yankees be interested? Aroldis Chapman has been unbelievably bad. Manager Aaron Boone has already stated that he’s sticking with Chapman but would he be willing to renege on that statement if they can get their hands on Kennedy? Regardless of what that answer ultimately is, the Rangers should be dangling Kennedy as much as humanly possible.

Must make trades for each National League East team: New York Mets

Trade idea: Acquire Kris Bryant

Kris Bryant appeared to be just about done and over with in Chicago. The 2016 season was picture-perfect. Bryant crushed a career-high 39 home runs, batted .292 at the plate and was named the NL MVP.

Fan’s vividly remember a smiling Bryant throwing it to his good friend Anthony Rizzo for the final out of the 2016 World Series which ended a drought that lasted well over 100 years. Although he’s had several extremely productive years since then, everything appeared to be going downhill in 2020. Bryant played in only 34 games, registered just four homers and batted a horrendous .206 at the plate.

Despite his lack of production, the New York Mets attempted to get their hands on him this past offseason. They ultimately couldn’t consummate a deal, believing they had enough fire and star power after signing Francisco Lindor to a 10 year $341 million dollar deal.

It might be early, but Lindor has been a colossal bust. With nearly 100 games played already in the season, Lindor hasn’t cracked double-digit home runs yet. He also ranks near the bottom on his own team in batting average, failing to break .220.

The Mets can use Bryant right about now. So far, he’s batted in 49 runs, 16 homers and is currently hovering around .271 from the plate. In short, Bryant is giving the Cubs the type of production that the Mets thought they were going to get from Lindor. Now, by no means are we saying to give up on Lindor completely but the Mets can surely use a big-time bat at the moment.

Must make trades for each National League East team: Washington Nationals

Trade idea: Let go of Max Scherzer

As time continues to go by, the 2019 World Series rings of the Washington Nationals appear to be made out of zirconium.

Heading into that postseason, the Nationals weren’t given a snowball’s chance in hell of even advancing to the World Series, let alone winning it. Yet, on the backs of great hitting and unbelievable pitching from Max Scherzer and Stephen Strasburg, they pulled off the unthinkable. Two years later, and they’ll now be on the outside looking in for a playoff berth in back-to-back seasons.

It’s time to blow it up and start over again. Their biggest and best trade chip would be none other than Mad Max. Since arriving in 2010, he’s been unreal. If we set aside the pandemic-stricken 2020 season, he’s been arguably the best pitcher in the game. He’s never recorded an ERA over 2.96. Scherzer has led the league in strikeouts on three occasions and has been a consistent All-Star selection.

Like always, he’s having another ridiculous season, registering an ERA of 2.10. But at the age of 36, he’s not only long in the tooth but it’s time the Nationals got more help across the board. It’ll be difficult to let go of a player who’s been arguably the face of their franchise for the past half-decade. Still, considering where they are as a team, it’s ostensible that it’s time to move on.

In return for his services, the Nationals could get a boatload of prospects for the future and a few win-now players as well. Sorry National fans, it’s time to move on.

Must make trades for each National League East team: Atlanta Braves

Trade idea: Acquire Anthony DeSclafani

The National League East is somewhat of a jumbled mess. Only one team amongst them, the New York Mets, has a winning record. The rest of the group has been floating in mediocrity all year long.

Still, every single one of those teams has a chance to win the division. The Mets haven’t built an insurmountable lead and with the right move, a team like the Atlanta Braves can snatch the division crown.

While young guys such as Shohei Ohtani, Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Fernando Tati’s Jr. continue to soak up the spotlight, Ronald Acuna Jr. is still right up there with them all. What the Braves could use more than anything else, is a bit of reinforcement at the pitcher position.

None of their starters strikes fear into the hearts of any batters. To change that, the Braves need a bonafide ace. Maybe a guy like Anthony DeSclafani of the San Francisco Giants could become the play. He has an ERA of 2.84 and his 1.02 WHIP checks in at 16th in the league.

Getting him though, could prove to be a lot more difficult than they imagine. The Giants currently have a slim lead on the LA Dodgers for the National League West crown. If the Braves were willing to part ways with some of their strong offensive talent not named Robert Acuna Jr., they could pry DeSclafani away.

Must make trades for each National League East team: Philadelphia Phillies

Trade idea: Acquire Alex Reyes

Accessing the problem of a few teams can be a bit difficult. Either there are too many holes to fill or their glaring need is difficult to fully comprehend. In the case of the Philadelphia Phillies, they have one ridiculously large issue, closing the show.

This isn’t basketball or football where you can milk the clock and gain more possession time. At some point, the other team is going to get their chance. As been the case all season long, when push comes to shove, the Phillies just can’t get it done when it matters most. With only 11 total saves on the year, the Phillies rank in the bottom ten in the league. Their six blown saves top the charts in that department. Also, their save percentage of 64.7 is second-worst in all of baseball.

Last time we checked, Alex Reyes isn’t helping the St. Louis Cardinals get over the postseason hump. Instead of allowing him to sit around and continue to watch his season go to waste, the Phillies could attempt to get their hands on him. The 20 saves of Reyes not only tie him for fourth amongst league leaders but his ERA of 1.52 is off the charts.

All around, the Phillies are good just about everywhere. If they can simply find a player to close the show when needed, that’ll give them an outside chance of catching the Mets for the division lead.

Must make trades for each National League East team: Miami Marlins

Trade idea: Find a suitor for Starling Marte

It’s time for both Starling Marte and the Miami Marlins to cash in. Unsurprisingly, it’s been another poor year for this ball club. The National League East isn’t the most competitive division. Yet, the Marlins are the only team who can’t seem to vie for the top spot.

The holes are obtrusive. Multiple trades, numerous prospect call ups and a whole lot of prayer is what the Marlins need. But before that process takes place, the Marlins can unload the expiring contract of talented outfielder, Starling Marte. There are plenty of contenders looking to get over that championship hurdle that could use his bat in the lineup.

In return, the Marlins can seek a strong young bat in the lineup. At the moment, only Jesus Aguilar and Adam Duvall have cracked double-digit home runs this year. The Marlins can surely use Marte as a trade chip to help in that department. Otherwise, they’ll risk losing him for nothing in the off-season.

Must make trades for each National League Central team: Milwaukee Brewers

Trade idea: Acquire Trea Turner

When discussing the Milwaukee Brewers, fans can become a bit incoherent. At first glance, they appear to be right where they’re supposed to be. Not only do they lead the National League Central by a healthy margin but also, they have one helluva chance to finish the regular season with the best record in the league.

They check pretty much all the boxes. Their pitching is terrific, ranking in the top five in ERA with 3.50. Josh Hader has made sure they don’t miss many save opportunities as they have 24, good for sixth-best in the majors. They also produce plenty of home runs, checking in at 11th with 107. While superlative words are needed to describe their overall play, their batting percentage is very much surprising. The brewers rank second to last with an average of .220.

With a possible World Series on the line, it’s time to go big or go home. The Brewers should pick up the phone and give the Washington Nationals a ring. For the second straight season, they won’t be making a playoff appearance and could be looking to unload a few players. Trea Turner would be a Godsend for the Brewers. He’s ranked sixth in the league in batting average at .317. The Brewers will undoubtedly need to make more moves if they want to become a nightly threat at the plate. But in the meanwhile, Turner would be the perfect option.

Must make trades for each National League Central team: Cincinnati Reds

Trade idea: Acquire Aroldis Chapman

Although the Cincinnati Reds are currently sporting a record above .500, just being middle of the pack isn’t good enough. In all likelihood, the Reds won’t be catching the Milwaukee Brewers in the Central which ultimately could leave them on the outside looking in for postseason play.

Whether they decide to push all their chips to the middle of the table or not, the Reds have the type of talent that can compete with anyone. Yet, no matter how many strikeouts their pitchers manage to register or how many home runs their batters put on the board, when it comes to preserving a lead, the Reds have been awful. Tejay Antone and Brad Brach have been really good this year but haven’t played enough to consider them top notch.

The seemingly always consistent Sean Doolittle has been anything but that this season. His ERA is just north of 4.00, the second-worst of his career. If possible, the Reds should strive to get their hands on Yankees closer, Aroldis Chapman. Granted, the big lefty is having by far the worst year of his career as his ERA is just over 4.00 but, everything still appears to be there. Just earlier this season, Chapman registered the fastest thrown pitch, clocked at 103.4 mph.

Although he isn’t exactly a guarantee when he walks up to the mound anymore, a change of scenery would do Chapman some good. All of the tools are still there, Cincinnati could be the best spot for him to re-find his touch.

Must make trades for each National League Central team: Chicago Cubs

Trade idea: Get rid of the core

We fully understand how special it was. In 2016, the Chicago Cubs ended a World Series drought that lasted 108 years. Not only did they end their drought but they also became perpetual playoff contenders and bonafide contenders for the next few years. Fast forward to today, and they’re a mess.

It wasn’t that long ago where the Cubs were neck and neck with the Milwaukee Brewers for the top spot in the division. Unfortunately for them, they hit a gigantic pothole and lost ten games in a row. Their chances of making the playoffs are now slim to none. To make matters even worse, all of their top players, including Javier Baez, Anthony Rizzo and Kris Bryant will all hit the free-agent market in the off-season.

Could everyone re-sign? There’s a possibility, but why chance it? There will be a long line of title contenders vying for each of their services. Trade them all now and get the best value that you can. Fans waited 108 years for a World Series. The wait won’t be as long if they make the right trades now and grab a few good young prospects.

Must make trades for each National League Central team: St. Louis Cardinals

Trade idea: Acquire Madison Bumgarner

The St. Louis Cardinals seem to always be in the mix. While they haven’t officially won a title in a decade, they’ve consistently made deep playoff runs. This season, however, they’ve been up and down.

Currently, they’re floating just beneath the .500 mark and could be on their way to missing the postseason. With that said, they could turn their season around and become bonafide contenders if they can make some upgrades to their starting pitching. They’re a middle-of-the-pack team in terms of overall ERA (4.22).

Their usually effective bats have mostly been ineffective this year as they rank towards the backend of the league in batting average. While it may appear as though they need more help in that department, the Cardinals should look to bring onboard former ace, Madison Bumgarner.

Admittedly, Bumgarner hasn’t been the same since 2016 when his ERA routinely flew under 3.00. Even now, with an ERA over 5.50, Bumgarner can still help push the Cardinals over the hump. Could he be a shell of his former dominant self at this point? All signs point to that but he was once one of the game’s great pitchers. Maybe if he found himself on a playoff contender, he can recapture some magic.

Must make trades for each National League Central team: Pittsburgh Pirates

Trade idea: Acquire prospect Nick Allen

The Pittsburgh Pirates have been God-awful this season. At the moment, simply identifying all of their weaknesses is essentially an impossible task. The holes are everywhere on both offense and defense.

What the Pirates should ultimately do is look to get their hands on several top prospects such as Oakland Athletics infielder, Nick Allen. It could be nearly impossible for the Pirates to get their hands on him considering that he’s batting .340 and has a slugging percentage of .503 in the minors. In fact, the Athletics would be crazy to give him away. But, despite their horrendous record, the Pirates do have a few good players that the As could find intriguing such as Bryan Reynolds.

More than anything, the As are right in the thick of things in the American League West and could be looking to solidify a top spot by adding a few good players. As for the Pirates, they have absolutely no hope of making the playoffs and their future postseason hopes aren’t too bright either. It doesn’t matter what the Pirates have to do, they have to get their hands on Nick Allen or any other top prospect.

Must make trades for each National League West team: San Francisco Giants

Trade idea: Acquire Charlie Blackmon

The days of Charlie Blackmon crushing the ball out of the park could be over with. At the age of 34, he currently has only four homers on the year. His batting average of .267 is the second-worst of his career as well.

Still, his OBP numbers (.364) and OPS (.738) are right in line with what he normally brings to the table. With the Rockies seemingly clearing house, Blackmon could be available for a low price. The San Francisco Giants should do their due diligence and poke around to see what they would be willing to give him up for him. In a new and most importantly, winning environment, Blackmon could spring back to life. Also, adding Blackmon will show that the Giants mean business.

Before the season began, no one would’ve guessed that the Giants would currently be leading the Los Angeles Dodgers this late in the win column. In fact, if the Giants can hold onto their lead over the Boston Red Sox, they can ensure that the road to a World Series goes through San Francisco. There’s still plenty of time left and multiple teams are nipping at their heels but with the addition of Blackmon, the Giants can ensure that everyone is kept at bay.

Must make trades for each National League West team: Los Angeles Dodgers

Trade idea: Nothing…for now

The rollercoaster ride for the Los Angeles Dodgers has been a long one. Before the season even began, many were already crowning them back-to-back champions. The addition of pitcher Trevor Bauer had the Dodgers looking practically impossible. But, as the saying goes, you play the game on the field, not on paper.

The Dodgers hit a bit of a rough patch and the expectations came crashing down. After picking things back up, the Dodgers are now in the thick of things to finish with the best record in the league, or, at the very least, nab a wild card spot.

What more can they possibly need? They rank first in the majors with an ERA of 3.12, tied for third in saves with 29, number two in strikeouts with 876, seventh in the home run department with 112 and tied for second in RBIs with 419. This team is loaded.

The one major issue that could derail them, is the ongoing legal issues with Bauer. If his seven-day administrative leave turns into a much lengthier hiatus, they’ll need to grab another pitcher. For now though, they’ll have to play the waiting game.

Must make trades for each National League West team: San Diego Padres

Trade idea: Acquire Craig Kimbrel

What a year it’s been for the San Diego Padres. Not only are they a great team positioned for the here and now but they’ll be ready to make noise in the near future as well. When Manny Machado signed in 2019, almost no one believed they would be contending for a title so soon. Even more unbelievable, almost no one could’ve wrapped their head around him not being their best player. That distinction goes to Fernando Tati’s Jr.

Good luck finding many holes in this team. They’re ranked in the top five in ERA at 3.40 and when it comes to offense, thanks to their two stars and a great supporting cast, they routinely light up the scoreboard.

The Padres could easily stand pat and find themselves hoisting the World Series trophy at the end of the season. But just to make sure, the Padres should do their best to get their hands on Craig Kimbrel. Imagine taking his nearly unhittable 0.59 ERA and adding it to a squad that’s already second in the majors with 30 saves. That’s a scary thought for everyone else, including the Dodgers.

Must make trades for each National League West team: Colorado Rockies

Trade idea: Move on from Trevor Story

Another lost season? Not surprising.

For what will be the third campaign in a row and the tenth in the past 12 years, the Colorado Rockies will not be making a postseason appearance.

Throughout all of the ups and downs, Trevor Story has stood firmly behind his squad. In the process, he’s put together a few fabulous seasons. In 2018 and 2019 in particular, he was outstanding, he registered at least 35 homers and 85 RBIs.

If the Rockies hadn’t already traded away Nolan Arenado in February, maybe we wouldn’t be focused on Story here. However, with the Rockies clearly showing that they’re ready to start over, it’s time to push Story out the door to the highest bidder. Like normal, he’s having a pretty strong year. At this point, he’s crushed 11 home runs, stolen 16 bases and brought in 41 RBIs.

Story is only 28, so a team with higher postseason hopes can grab him for not only this season but for the foreseeable future. It’ll be hard for fans to accept it but it’s about time the Rockies took their rebuild seriously and go all in.

Must make trades for each National League West team: Arizona Diamondbacks

Trade idea: Acquire prospect Wander Franco

It’s difficult figuring out where to begin with a team like the Arizona Diamondbacks. They’ve been so bad this year. Rebuilding them feels as though it’s going to take a lifetime to accomplish.

Currently, they rank 22nd in batting average at .232. They’re also second to last in home runs with only 77. Their pitching isn’t something to be proud of either, ranked second to last with an ERA of 5.22. The holes are just everywhere on this ship and it’s sinking faster with each passing day.

The Diamondbacks best bet would be to see if they can entice the Tampa Bay Rays to let go of shortstop Wander Franco. He’s currently the number one rated prospect in all of baseball according to MLB.com. He has power, hitting ability and swag, something the Diamondbacks desperately need.

Although the Rays are likely to hang up the phone as soon as the Diamondbacks mention his name, if they can offer a boatload of picks and several established players, maybe that can get the ball rolling. The Diamondbacks simply shouldn’t be looking for older vets right now. Go young and build your team from the bottom up.