Philadelphia Phillies: They are that poker player wearing the dark shades, devious grin and a blank face. In or out? The Phillies, with a $175 million payroll, five consecutive division titles and three-year sellout streak, aren’t saying whether they will try to make a run at the playoffs or start selling off players.
At 13 games out in the NL East and 9.5 games behind the wild card after Tuesday’s games, the challenge is sizable. But with Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay healthy and supposed to be in the same lineup for the first time this season Tuesday, it’s easy to see why they may give this group a chance.
If they decide to dump, it could be the greatest collection of players on the market since Charlie Finley tried to sell off the 1976 Oakland A’s. All-stars Cole Hamels, Jimmy Rollins, Shane Victorino and Juan Pierre could all be available. It’s possible the Phillies retain Hamels — giving the free-agent-to-be a five or six-year deal worth around $130 million — and put the others on the market. Victorino would fit with the New York Yankees, Rollins with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Pierre with the Cincinnati Reds.
Chicago Cubs: Outside of Philadelphia, the Cubs have two of the top pitching prizes on the market in Ryan Dempster and Matt Garza.
Dempster, whose contract is up after the season has a 33-inning scoreless inning streak and could be gone by the end of the week. Garza, under team control through 2013, is coming off a seven-inning scoreless performance.
The Dodgers are reportedly the leaders for Dempster. The Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers would love to have Garza. And, if anyone is in need of a hitter, Alfonso Soriano, with 17 homers and 53 RBI (heading into Wednesday’s games), can be all yours for a decent prospect, with the Cubs taking on most of the remaining $36 million on his contract after this season.
Zack Greinke: The Brewers have shown no proof they can contend with Greinke, and it appears they’re getting him ready for a trade after announcing Monday the right-hander would sit for 10 days to deal with fatigue.
The Brewers will try for two strong starts out of Greinke before July 31, and then unload him, perhaps to the Atlanta Braves.
Cincinnati Reds: You knew they were going for it the moment they traded four prospects to the San Diego Padres for ace Matt Latos last winter.
The Reds opened play Wednesday in first place in the NL Central, one game ahead of the surprising Pittsburgh Pirates. But they also opened the week by announcing that MVP candidate Joey Votto would miss three to four weeks as a result of knee surgery.
It seems they have no choice but to keep gutting their farm system in hopes of overcoming the loss of Votto and making the playoffs for the second time in three seasons. Victorino or Pierre would be nice fits. Minnesota Twins left-fielder Josh Willingham, in the first year of a three-year, $21 million deal, might be perfect if they can pry him away.
Los Angeles Dodgers: If you can drop $2.15 billion on a franchise, you’re not going to let a few million dollars get in the way of being a contender.
The Dodgers are reeling, falling after Tuesday night to a season-high three games behind the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. They have targeted Dempster, and desperately need a power-hitting first baseman.
Ichiro Suzuki: Trading Ichiro from the Mariners might be a bigger surprise than closing down the Starbucks stores in Seattle. Yet, the time has come for the face of this franchise to move on.
The right-fielder, in his 12th season in Seattle, is hitting a career-low .260 in the final year of a contract that is paying him $17 million.
Who could blame the Mariners front office for desperately wanting to deal him, but it’s more complicated than that, with being Ichiro as an icon and somebody who draws fans to the game.
Justin Upton: Upton will be traded. The only question is whether it’s now or during the winter.
The Diamondbacks need a shortstop and third baseman, with plans to trade shortstop Stephen Drew by the end of the month. They have talked to Seattle, but the Mariners won’t part with infielders Dustin Ackley or Kyle Seager, let alone their prized trio of pitching prospects.
The Tigers won’t talk about top hitting prospect Nick Castellanos. Texas could be a good fit in the offseason if Josh Hamilton doesn’t re-sign.
New York Yankees: Sure, they have the best team in baseball. GM Brian Cashman says there are no real holes. But do you think they’ll sit idly by at the deadline with outfielder Brett Gardner possibly out for the rest of the season with more elbow problems, and a starting rotation of CC Sabathia and the four dwarfs?
They’ll make a move. Come on, they’re the Yankees.
Hanley Ramirez: The Miami Marlins may be stars on Showtime, but they’ve been a flop on the field.
The Marlins have shown no signs of contending, so why not save a little face and build for the future? Ramirez, who converted from shortstop to third base this season, is hitting just .246 with a .323 on-base percentage and is still owed $31.5 million after this season.
Too many contenders need a shortstop not to listen, and he just might be the perfect piece to trigger a bidding war between the Giants and Dodgers.
Pittsburgh Pirates: The curse of Barry Bonds looks like it may be coming to an end after 19 consecutive losing seasons. The Pirates not only are winning, but are contending in the NL Central.
The fans are starting to believe, and now they need to see a big trade to make them stay. The team needs an impact bat or front-line starter. Upton, who is under contract through 2015, makes sense, but the Pirates may need a third team to get a deal done.
USAToday
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