It’s never too early to start thinking about trades.
With the regular season’s first month behind us and baseball’s rumor mill well-rested after an offseason of activity, each passing week will see an increase in rumors and speculation surrounding some of the season’s biggest potential trade targets.
From sluggers like Cincinnati’s Jay Bruce and Milwaukee’s Ryan Braun to young hurlers like Atlanta’s Julio Teheran and veteran arms such as San Diego’s James Shields, there is sure to be a plethora of options available for contending teams as the August 1 trade deadline approaches.
Whether those contenders will be willing to meet the asking prices teams have for their most valuable trade chips, however, remains to be seen. Over the next few months, those asking prices will rise—and fall—depending on how those players perform.
One month may be a small sample size, but it’s enough to push the needle in one direction or another for a slew of potential trade candidates. Whose value has increased—or decreased—as the season’s second month gets underway?
Let’s take a look.