Each season there is a time of year when everyone cannot stop talking about baseball, the MLB trade deadline. During this time everyone is talking about who could be on the move and who they think their favorite team should sign.
It’s one of the busiest times of the year for MLB writers and bloggers alike, but why should we have to wait till the middle of the summer to speculate.
In this article I will take a look at players who not only have a risk of being traded, but have a higher risk because they are in their contract year.
I am going to avoid the guys who have been talked about a lot lately because they lost their starting jobs like Didi Gregorius and Nick Franklin and focus on guys who could be out for multiple reasons, but most importantly because they are about to be free agents anyway.
Pablo Sandoval - San Francisco Giants
This would be tough on fans of the Giants as over the years Sandoval has earned the love of the local fanbase causing the Panda hat craze in the Bay Area because of his nickname Pandoval that he earned for looking eerily similar to the ‘Kung Fu Panda.’
His popularity is warranted, though, as he is a two-time all-star, finished in the MVP voting twice (Highest was seventh in 2009) and won the World Series MVP award for his heroics in the 2012 series. What could go wrong for him is the fact that the team seems to be constantly concerned with his weight and it is a subject he himself doesn’t seem to be too concerned with.
He did cut weight this offseason knowing that this will be a big season for him, but he has cut weight before in the past only to gain it back during trips to the disabled list. The team and his agent have been rumored to be in extension talks, but if the team struggles again like it did in 2013 you can expect Sandoval’s name to be floated around in trade talks and possibly moved.
Jed Lowrie - Oakland Athletics
Lowrie is going to get a lot of money in free agency, and although the A’s have shown an interest in spending a little more money on free agents lately they have a young stud waiting in the wings, Addison Russell. It looks like Rossell will start the season in AA Midland for the A’s this season, but if he continues to show what he has shown so far in the minors he could be climbing the ranks fast, and you can bet if he is ready to come up near midseason Billy Beane will have no problem shopping Lowrie’s name around to see what he can get back for him.
The other thing that hurts Lowrie is the amount of depth that the A’s have built in the infield. Nick Punto and Eric Sogard are locks for the opening day roster and both can play either middle infield position and newly acquired Jake Elmore has looked very good in spring to the point where he could push for a spot on the big league roster. So he could come right in and fill a utility role if Beane decides to trade Lowrie at the deadline.
The team also has Alberto Jose Callaspo on the roster, and while he could also be traded because of the depth it is just one more person who could fill Lowrie’s spot if the right deal comes along. In the end I think Lowrie’s bat is too important to the team to trade, but Beane has made more shocking moves in the past so don’t be surprised if he’s gone by the deadline.
Chase Headley - San Diego Padres
For the last two seasons Headley’s name has been floating around at the trade deadline. In 2012 it was because of the great season he was having and the poor season the Padres were having. In 2013 it was because of the poor season he was having and the Padres were right on the edge of being a quality team.
This season his name will be floated around because of a different reason, because his contract is going to be up. Both sides have been working on an extension for what seems like forever now, but they don’t seem to be close to hatching out a deal.
If an extension doesn’t happen by midseason there will be teams asking about Headley at the deadline, again, and again he could be traded to a contending team in need of a third baseman. Third base use to be such a hard position to fill in the past and although quality players at that position aren’t as scarce Headley and Sandoval could be in huge demand as two of the top teams in the American League East both lack a quality third baseman right now.
Michael Cuddyer - Colorado Rockies
Last season’s National League batting champion is in the final year of his three-year contract and his flexibility to play outfield or first base will make him attractive to a lot of teams at the deadline if the Rockies again fall to the bottom of the National League West.
The two things that hurt Cuddyer most are the fact that the Rockies other stars seem to get hurt every year and derail the team’s success and the fact that he continues to be one of the best under the radar players in the league.
If he continues to hit the ball like he did last season with his team record 27-game hit streak he will not be under the radar anymore as every contending team will be looking after a guy who can hit like that to be the final piece to their offensive puzzle. Even teams who seem complete like the Detroit Tigers and the Boston Red Sox could find a place to put a guy who can play the corner outfield positions, first base, and fill in as a designated hitter and still get the job done.
Asdrubal Cabrera - Cleveland Indians
The Indians love to hold on to players who have been stars for them, but in the past it has backfired with Grady Sizemore's inability to stay healthy. Cabrera is in the same boat as he just can’t seem to stay on his feet, which is why it would be wise for them to trade him this summer if he is healthy at the deadline.
They have a capable backup in Mike Aviles would could fill in and a youngster Jose Ramirez who may be ready to come up soon and take over the role.
The Indians made the playoffs last season and hope to be back there again in 2014, and while most playoff teams aren’t trading away key pieces at the deadline this could be the perfect move for them as he could bring back a quality bullpen arm for the stretch and possibly more if he is performing like he has in the past.