Power Pros Forum

The MLB trade deadline is coming up on the 31st of July, leading many to speculate whether teams will be “buyers” looking for help in certain areas, “sellers” looking to rebuild and unload salary, or simply stay put. Several players have already seen their names come up in trade rumors, and I wondered where everyone thought teams would end up — buying, selling, staying put?

I will include each team’s record, games back, and key players.

Rays (38-49, 9.5 GB): David Price, SP (7-7, 3.50, leads MLB with 153 K, FA 2015)

Cubs (37-46, 12.5 GB): Jeff Samardzija, SP (2-7, 2.83, FA 2015), Jason Hammel, SP (7-5, 2.98, FA 2014)

Rangers (37-47, 14 GB): Alex Rios, RF (.305, 35 RBI, 13 SB, club option 2015), Elvis Andrus, SS (.262, 46 R, 18 SB, signed long-term)

Phillies (36-48, 10.5 GB): Jimmy Rollins, SS (.252/8/31, 15 SB), Chase Utley, 2B (.288/6/38, 45 R), Ryan Howard, 1B (.235/14/51), Cliff Lee, SP (4-4, 3.18, on DL), Jonathan Papelbon, RP (18 SV, 1.39 ERA)

Padres (38-47, 9.5 GB): Huston Street, RP (22 SV, 0.90 ERA), Ian Kennedy, SP (6-9, 3.87, 118 K), Chase Headley, 3B (.202, 6 HR), Carlos Quentin, OF (.185, 4 HR in 92 AB)

Diamondbacks (35-51, 13 GB): Brandon McCarthy, SP (2-10, 5.11, 87 K), Oliver Perez, RP (2.27 ERA, 32 K), Cody Ross, OF (.224)

My predictions:

Rays — end up not only keeping, but re-signing Price
Cubs — ditto with Samardzija, move Hammel
Rangers — massive fire sale, only Darvish, Beltre, Choo, and young guys stay
Phillies — Rollins, Utley, Howard don’t waive no-trade clauses, nothing happens
Padres — massive fire sale, no one is safe
Diamondbacks — McCarthy gets traded, Ross gets shopped, but no buyers

The thought of Price and Shark being resigned is nearly laughable. They provide so much more value on the trade market where they can be shipped to a contender for a metric *(censored)* of prospects. Plus, neither team is going to pony up possibly 100 million dollars. Both organizations are too smart (and too cheap) for that. That's just not how they operate business.

And you're totally over-reacting about the Rangers. They've been hit hard by the injury bug. They'll be good again next season.

I'm pretty sure the Rays'll keep Price.

Oh

I disagree with most, if not all, of these.

Price and Samardzija are most definitely getting moved. The Rangers won't be selling now, maybe in the offseason Andrus will be traded but I doubt it. Rollins is going to waive his NTC. Nobody is going to want to trade for Ross or McCarthy. They'd get released, if anything.

As much as I love him, Price is gone for sure