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It’s highly doubtful that any minor league player is going to have the type of impact Mike Trout had on the Los Angeles Angels when he joined the team in late April of last year and went to have one of the best rookie season’s ever (.326 BA, 30 HR, 83 RBI, 129 R, 49 SB). His team went 83-59 the rest of the way.

It’s also unlikely that any trade acquisition will have the same impact that Fred McGriff had on the 1993 Atlanta Braves when he came over from the Padres and played a huge part (.310 BA, 19 HR, 55 RBI in 68 games) in the team’s 51-17 finish and memorable late-season overtaking of the San Francisco Giants for the NL West title.  

Still, it’s worth trying to find that spark to get a team headed in the right direction. Here’s one quick-fix idea for six contenders.  

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Yesterday, I wrote about the disappointing starts of the Angels (12-22, 9 games back in the AL West) and Dodgers (13-20, 6 games back in the NL West), and why ESPN.com’s Jim Bowden’s ideas on how to fix them probably weren’t realistic due to the lack of impact prospects and overall depth in each team’s farm system.

The best bet at this point is for each team to hang on long enough until they’re back to full health and then make a late-season run. In case you haven’t been paying attention, both teams have lost key players to injuries and haven’t been able to replace them adequately because of the aforementioned lack of depth.

By the end of this month, though, the Angels should have ace Jered Weaver, out since the sixth game of the season with a fractured elbow, back in the rotation. Dodgers right-hander Zack Greinke, also out since his second start (fractured collarbone), could return as soon as next week. 

Will either pitcher’s return be enough to ignite a fire the way that Mike Trout did when he joined a lackluster Angels squad in late April 2012? 

Jered Weaver’s Impact on the Angels

The Angels’ left side of the infield, Erick Aybar and Alberto Callaspo, have already been on the disabled list with injuries.

Albert Pujols has avoided the disabled list but has been playing with plantar fasciitis, a painful foot injury, and has recently been dealing with soreness in his surgically-repaired knee. The 33-year-old has a .722 OPS overall and is five for his last 32 since getting a four-hit game (nine plate appearances) in a 19-inning loss on April 29. At some point, he could miss some time.

Free-agent signee Josh Hamilton isn’t hurt, but he might as well have been. Through Tuesday, the 31-year-old was hitting .202 with a .535 OPS. He’s homered in back-to-back games, though, and also doubled, singled and walked so there’s a chance the offense could be in the midst of a much-needed boost.

It won’t be enough, however, if the pitching staff doesn’t get it together soon. The rotation is 26^th in the majors in ERA (4.90). The bullpen, without projected closer Ryan Madson as he recovers from Tommy John surgery, and top setup man Sean Burnett (forearm inflammation), is 23^rd in the majors with a 4.24 ERA.

There are problems throughout the roster, but can Weaver’s return make a significant impact?

If he pitches like he did in 2012, then the answer is “yes.” The 30-year-old, who signed a five-year, $85 million contract extension in August 2011, pitched into the seventh inning and beyond in 19 of his 30 starts and allowed more than three earned runs just five times. That’s how you indirectly help your offense and your bullpen—by taking pressure off of them to do too much. It’s not a surprise that the Angels won 23 of Weaver’s starts.

Zack Greinke’s Impact on the Dodgers

The Dodgers are the 2013 poster child for the “you can never have enough pitching” cliché. With eight big league starters on their roster to start the year, they had the sort of problem that most teams would love to have.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last.

Since none of the eight could be stashed in the minors, one began the season in the bullpen before being traded shortly after for a backup catcher, Ramon Hernandez, who had been designated for assignment.

Chad Billingsley and Ted Lilly began the year on the disabled list. Both returned since and then went back on with Billingsley undergoing season-ending Tommy John surgery and Lilly straining his rib cage. Chris Capuano has also spent time on the disabled list.

But the biggest loss has been Zack Greinke, their prized free agent, who formed half of what could be, arguably, the best one-two punch in the majors along with Clayton Kershaw. Since Greinke fractured his collarbone during a bench-clearing brawl, the Dodgers have gone 7-17 and dropped into the NL West cellar.

A lineup that is 28^th in the majors in runs scored certainly hasn’t helped much. Neither has the bullpen, which is 27^th in ERA (4.71 ERA). But a rotation led by Kershaw, Greinke and Hyun-jin Ryu (3.71 ERA, 43.2 IP, 41 H, 12 BB, 48 K) has the ability to make up for the other deficiencies on the roster, at least until they can improve. 

In 2012, Greinke pitched into the seventh inning and beyond in 20 of his 34 starts and allowed three earned runs or less in 24 of those. His teams (Brewers/Angels) went 21-13 when he started. If you don’t think having the 29-year-old Greinke on the mound every fifth day will make a huge difference, you’re mistaken. 

For one, they can send the rookie Matt Magill back to the minors.

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As the contenders begin to separate themselves from the pretenders, it’s important to remember that it’s a long season, and that the 25-man rosters taking the field in May could look much different in August and September, when each win and loss at least feels like it has more meaning.

Some teams get healthier. Others call up reinforcements from the minors. And then there are the fortunate teams who are rich in prospect depth and can add impact talent in a trade.

Of course, a team doesn’t need to have the deepest farm system to acquire a front-line pitcher or impact bat. The Angels, considered to have very little prospect depth at the time, gave up three of their best prospects, including shortstop Jean Segura, for two months of Zack Greinke. A weak farm system got even weaker, but they were willing to take the risk.

The Texas Rangers added a pretty good starting pitcher in Ryan Dempster without giving up much from one of the deepest farm systems in baseball. They could’ve easily outbid the Angels for Greinke, but chose to hold onto all their best prospects.

So not all teams with prospect depth are necessarily in a hurry to unload that depth. But sometimes they have to “go for it,” if they feel it’s the right time and the right situation.

Here are five contenders that could go to the trade market with the resources to acquire a player who could reshape their 25-man roster.

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Now a month into the MLB season, it’s as good a time as any to take a look at the latest trade buzz around the league.

Phillies Itching to Sell?

The Philadelphia Phillies could possibly shape the trade market it they fall out of content and go into ‘sell mode’. Currently sitting at 14-16 and three-and-a-half games back in the NL East, they are by no means anywhere near that point.

And considering that they probably gave up too early in 2012, trading two starting outfielders at the trade deadline when they were in last place and 15.5 games out, it could take an even more hopeless situation this time around.

After trading Hunter Pence and Shane Victorino on July 31, the Phillies finally started clicking in other areas of the ballclub and made a legitimate run at a wild-card spot late in the season.

At this point, they seem focused on 2013 and have reportedly inquired multiple times about Marlins outfielder Giancarlo Stanton, according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com. The 23-year-old Stanton would help them immediately and for at least the next three seasons.

Stanton, currently on the disabled list with a strained hamstring, is not available at the moment, but the Phillies’ interest shows that they’re willing to sacrifice what would probably amount to three or four of their best prospects in order to upgrade their outfield now. That’s not the mindset of a team that expects to fall out of contention.

If they do, however, there are several veteran players who would be valuable trade chips in July. Salisbury mentions players with partial no-trade clauses like Roy Halladay, Cliff Lee, Jonathan Papelbon and Chase Utley, as well as Jimmy Rollins, who has a full no-trade clause.

Utley is the most likely to be dealt since he is a free agent after the season.  Roy Halladay is a free agent after 2014. It’s hard to see them passing up the chance to move over to a contender if the Phillies are out of it, so it shouldn’t be too difficult to convince either to waive their no-trade clause, if necessary.

Catcher Carlos Ruiz, a free agent at season’s end, could also be on the move if the Phillies aren’t in contention. The 33-year-old is 2-for-15 since his return from a 25-game suspension for a positive amphetamine test, but he had a career year at the plate in 2012 (.934 OPS in 114 games).

Salisbury mentions that the Phillies could then begin the transition to prospect Tommy Joseph as Ruiz’s successor, although easing him in with Ruiz still around to mentor him could be more beneficial.

Lucas Harrell vs. Bud Norris

In Jayson Stark’s latest Rumblings & Grumblings column for ESPN, he opines that Lucas Harrell would be the preferred Astros starting pitcher in a deal by most teams. Harrell has two more years of team control (free agent after 2017) than Bud Norris (free agent after 2015), who is also considered by some teams to be better fit as a late-inning reliever on a contender rather than a starter.

I mentioned both as potential early-season trade candidates in a recent article. The Astros are 6-7 when Harrell or Norris start and 2-15 when they don’t. 

Chase Headley Watch

San Diego Padres executive chairman Ron Fowler is still hopeful the team can sign Chase Headley long-term despite Headley not wanting to discuss an extension during the season. Fowler said he doesn’t feel extension talks would be a distraction and a deal could be done relatively quick if Headley and his agent were interested.

While Headley‘s resistance to contract talks doesn‘t necessarily mean the Padres will trade him during the season, it definitely makes it more likely that they’ll deal him if they get the return they want. More teams will be interested in the offseason, however, which could drive up the price. It’s also beneficial to wait if the Padres wanted major league talent in return. That’s highly unlikely during the season.

It’s also important to point out that the Padres aren’t ready to give up on the season. They’re 12-17 and five games out in the NL West, but the division doesn‘t seem as strong as expected. They’ve won seven of their last 10 and proved in the second half of last season that they are capable of stringing together a few really good months.

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Maximizing a player’s trade value usually involves a team waiting until the last possible moment, hoping a team with some interest gets desperate as its roster hole becomes more evident. It also doesn’t hurt if the player being shopped gets red-hot leading up to the trade deadline.

But what if that player is reaching his seasonal peak in early May? Should a team cash in its chips now and potentially get much more in return than it will 12 weeks later? It’s worth considering, although it does “take two to tango,” as they say.

For a team to make a trade to upgrade its roster this early in the season, it’s usually exhausted all internal options and discovered that it’ll likely have to sacrifice some minor league talent to help out the major league ball club.

In case those two factors—a team deciding a player is at max value and another team ready to make a deal to upgrade its major league roster—can align, here are seven players that could fit the description.

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While the Chicago Cubs didn’t head into the 2013 season with the expectation that this would definitely be a rebuilding season, they knew it was at least a reasonable possibility—one that’s looking more likely after an 8-14 start.

The rebuilding process took a big step last season as three of the top four prospects in the organization, according to Baseball Prospectus (Albert Almora—draft, Jorge Soler—international free agent, Arodys Vizcaino—acquired in 2012), were added to the farm system after Theo Epstein took over as president of baseball operations in Chicago.

Along with the team’s first-round pick in 2011, shortstop Javier Baez, the Cubs’ quartet of prospects at the top of the list are quite impressive. In less than a year, the future of the team is already looking much brighter.

The rebuilding plan, as it pertains to the second year under Epstein and general manager Jed Hoyer, could revolve around the trade value of starting pitcher Matt Garza and whether they can add another high-caliber prospect to the organization.

The 29 year-old Garza, who will be a free agent after the season, missed most of the second half of 2012 with a stress reaction in his elbow and has been on the disabled list with a strained lat muscle since the start of this season. 

Recently scratched from his first rehab assignment start with what is being described as a “dead arm”, Garza is now set to make his first rehab start on May 1. If he can get back on track and rejoin the Cubs’ rotation in the next three weeks or so—a very realistic timetable if there are no further setbacks—his value should hold strong as interested teams will be able to get at least 12-15 starts to determine if he can help and if he’s worth the Cubs’ asking price.

My guess is that it will cost a team a top-five prospect—the same as what the Braves had to pay for Paul Maholm and Reed Johnson last July when they traded away their third-ranked prospect, Vizcaino, in the deal.

A strong two months from Garza would likely ensure that the Cubs ask for a prospect of the same caliber as Vizcaino.  

By comparison, Ryan Dempster spent two separate stints on the disabled list (strained quad, strained lat) before he was traded to Texas at last year’s deadline,. The 35 year-old pitcher made 16 starts with the Cubs, however, and was able to showcase his health in four starts after returning from the lat injury in early July.

In those 16 starts, Dempster had a 2.25 ERA, 7.0 H/9, 2.3 BB and 7.2 K/9 in 104 innings pitched. Garza’s 18 starts in 2012 resulted in a 3.91 ERA, 7.8 H/9, 2.8 BB/9 and 8.3 K/9 in 103.2 innings pitched.

Considering that age isn’t likely to make a big difference when comparing two-month rentals, the value of Garza and Dempster shouldn’t be much different, but it doesn’t seem that way for some reason.

Maybe it’s Garza’s reputation as someone who has had success in the AL East. Maybe it’s because several contending teams will need pitching help and Garza could top the list of available pitchers.

Whatever the reason, it’s hard to see the Cubs not getting more for Garza than they received from the Rangers did for Dempster in third baseman Christian Villanueva and a fringe pitching prospect. 

As of now, the list of starting pitchers who will likely be available in July is thin. Struggling teams expected to be “sellers” include the Astros, Marlins and Padres. The Mariners and Twins are also likely headed in that direction.

Lucas Harrell, Jason Marquis, Ricky Nolasco, Bud Norris, Mike Pelfrey, Joe Saunders and Edinson Volquez would likely head the list of available starters from that group. Cubs starter Scott Feldman could also be on the list. 

From a contender’s perspective, Garza would be the top pitcher of that group. If other teams with current losing records, including the Angels (Jason Vargas), Blue Jays (Josh Johnson), Indians (Justin Masterson), Phillies (Roy Halladay), Rays (David Price), and White Sox (Gavin Floyd) can’t turn things around, then Garza would have some competition for the “best starter available” at the trading deadline.

Adding another good prospect in a Garza trade will continue to put the Cubs on the right path to have a young and talented squad in 2015. As for 2014, the third year of the Epstein/Hoyer era, things could get ugly in Chicago if they’re not at least a .500 club.

Expect another busy offseason in free agency and possibly a big trade with one of their top prospects utilized as a centerpiece in a deal.

Getting a good return on Garza would make that even more likely.

I recently wrote about the Cubs being a possible fit for Rays starter David Price and the trade package it might take to acquire him.   

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As always, we’ll start by taking a look at all the latest injuries around the league and whether a team will have to go outside the organization for a replacement. 

Derek Jeter, SS, New York Yankees 

The initial expectation was that the 38-year-old would be fully recovered from ankle surgery and activated from the disabled list no later than May 1. But, as reported by ESPN’s Andrew Marchand, it was discovered yesterday that Jeter has a small crack in the bone and would be out until sometime after the All-Star break.  

General manager Brian Cashman says the club is happy with fill-ins Eduardo Nuñez and Jayson Nix, but neither is lighting the world on fire (combined .190 batting average). They might have to look outside the organization for some help. (I threw out some ideas on the subject.)

The Blue Jays could be in the same boat with Jose Reyes out up to three months with an ankle injury. They’re currently going with Maicer Izturis and Munenori Kawasaki as his replacements.

Matt Harrison, SP, Texas Rangers 

The lefty will undergo surgery for a herniated disk in his back and won’t return until after the All-Star break.  

Already without Neftali Feliz (Tommy John surgery), Martin Perez (fractured wrist) and Colby Lewis (flexor tendon surgery), the Rangers say they’ll stay in house; rookies Nicholas Tepesch and Justin Grimm are currently in the rotation. At least that’s the plan, for now.

But if things get ugly, the Rangers have one of the deepest farm systems in the game and are capable packaging prospects in order to deal for a starting pitcher. The question is whether any team considered to be a non-contender would make a trade in April or May. 

On Friday, I discussed why it would make sense for contending teams to try and acquire players earlier in the season, as opposed to waiting until July.  

Chase Headley Watch 

No. 3 on my top 10 trade deadline candidates list, Headley returned from a thumb injury on Wednesday and is now 2-for-7 with a homer and three RBI through his first two games. 

The 5-11 Padres could have nothing to play for by early July, if not sooner, so teams are sure to be asking about Headley’s availability. The Padres don’t have to trade him—he’ll be a free agent after 2014—but I’m certain they’ll at least be willing to listen. 

Struggling Offseason Trade Acquisitions 

A change of scenery can help in certain cases. So far in 2013, the following players acquired in offseason trades haven’t impressed their new fanbase:

Emilio Bonifacio, IF/OF, Blue Jays: .192 BA (10-for-52), 6 2B, 3B, 4 RBI, 2 BB, 17 K

Collin Cowgill, OF, Mets: .194 BA (7-for-36), 2 HR, 6 RBI, 0 BB, 8 K

Yunel Escobar, SS, Rays: .125 BA (7-for-56), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 5 BB, 12 K

Cliff Pennington, SS/2B, Diamondbacks: .211 BA (12-for-57), 0 HR, 3 RBI, 6 BB, 15 K

Ben Revere, OF, Phillies: .221 BA (16-for-68), 3B, 3 RBI, 4 BB, 11 K, 5 SB

Chris Young, OF, A’s: .179 BA (10-for-56), 2 HR, 9 RBI, 7 BB, 15 K, 4 SB

Jason Vargas, LHP, Angels: 6.75 ERA, 14.2 IP, 27 H, 7 BB, 8 K 

Closer Watch

With plenty of closing situations up in the air at the moment, it wouldn’t be surprising if three minor league signings from this week all ended up with some save opportunities before the season ends.  

The Brewers are currently on their backup closing option (Jim Henderson) as John Axford struggled coming out of the gate. To bolster their pen, they signed Francisco “K-Rod” Rodriguez. The Cubs, who have some sort of closer committee going on with Carlos Marmol being demoted, signed Kevin Gregg, who saved 23 games for them in 2009. And the Marlins signed former Mariners closer David Aardsma. 

Jose Valverde, who signed a minor league deal with the Tigers earlier in the month, pitched a scoreless inning for High-A Lakeland on Friday. He could be back in the majors in the next few weeks. Former Giants closer Brian Wilson, who is on the mend from Tommy John surgery, could also sign with a team in the near future. The Cardinals are among the teams who could be seeking help in the late innings.  

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Last week, two of my three “Buy Low” picks, Carlos Gomez (10-for-18, HR, 3B in last week) and Homer Bailey (8 IP, 0 R, 2 H, 0 BB, 10 K in last start), came through while the third, Ike Davis, finally broke out on Friday with a two-homer game. One of my “Sell High” picks, Barry Zito (2.2 IP, 9 ER, 8 H), also made me look pretty smart in my first week of this feature.  

Just in case last week wasn’t a fluke, here’s some advice for next week  …

Sell High

J.P. Arencibia, C, Toronto Blue Jays 

His six homers and 11 runs batted in this month shouldn’t be much of a surprise. He had eight homers and 19 runs batted in last May and also hit six more long balls in July. 

The other months when he’s not red-hot, however, are when you need to be concerned as an J.P. Arencibia owner. In April, June, September and October of 2012, he combined to hit three homers with 13 walks and 72 strikeouts in 204 at-bats.

You have to figure that cold streak will return very soon, and it won’t be the last of the season. The question is whether it’s worth it to ride out another homer binge. The catching depth is too deep to wait out the streaky Arencibia, in my opinion. Sell now. 

Chris Johnson, 1B/3B, Atlanta Braves 

Before anyone realizes Chris Johnson will go back to a platoon at third base with Juan Francisco once Freddie Freeman returns from the disabled list early next week, see if someone wants to give up something of value to acquire him and his .412 batting average (21-for-51). 

The 28-year-old is a career .282 hitter, coming off of a season in which he set career highs in homers (15), runs batted in (76), doubles (28) and several other categories. He’s a pretty good major league hitter.

Unfortunately, though, he’ll see most of his playing time in Atlanta versus left-handed pitching. The problem is that he doesn’t hit lefties (career .702 OPS) as well as right-handers (.780 OPS).

Buy Low

Victor Martinez, DH, Detroit Tigers

Slowly but surely, Victor Martinez appears to be getting more comfortable at the plate. He is, after all, coming back after missing all of 2012 with a torn ACL. 

In case any Martinez owner in your league doesn’t realize that and is disappointed with his 11-for-56 start without a homer, it probably wouldn’t be too hard to convince them to make a trade. 

Now, in case you did need a reminder, the 34-year-old switch-hitter has a .304 batting average since 2004. During that span, he’s averaged 18 homers, 90 runs batted in and 34 doubles per season. He can flat-out hit. He’ll figure it out soon enough.

Carlos Marmol, RHP, Chicago Cubs 

This may sound familiar if you were paying attention to the Chicago Cubs last year. Remember when Carlos Marmol’s shaky performance had him demoted from the closer’s role. He moved into a lower-leverage role and pitched much better. The “closer-by-committee” isn’t terrible, but no one in the group is exactly striking fear into opponents or making as much money as Marmol, so they eventually give him the job back. 

In 2012, he was really good in his second stint as closer (1.52 ERA, 12-for-13 in save opportunities, 29.2 IP, 20 H, 17 BB, 39 K). He’ll get another chance in 2013 for the same reasons. 

Kyuji Fujikawa, once he returns from the disabled list, gives the team another solid option in the ninth inning, but the Cubs would much rather see Marmol build his value and then trade him to open the spot first.

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Several potential trade-deadline candidates had question marks coming into the season. Are they healthy and can they stay healthy? Can they bounce back from a poor season? Will they even be available in July, or will their teams be contending for a playoff spot?

A few weeks into the season, the picture is starting to clear up slightly, with a few players forcing their way onto the list after hot starts. 

As a rule, I’ll only include players on teams with losing records. Later in the season, I’ll include a player on a winning ballclub if the the team happens to be a long way from a playoff spot. 

Here are my top-10 current candidates.

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It’s only two weeks into the minor league season, but that doesn’t mean a prospect’s trade value can’t increase or decline based on performance thus far.

Many prospects have questions surrounding them heading into a new season, especially in regards to their ability to handle a new level or bounce back from a poor season. Getting off to a great start can ease the minds of their own organization and open up the eyes of teams potentially interested in acquiring them.

Either way, the trade value of that particular player rises because of the increasing demand on the trade market and increased asking price. 

Here are five prospects, all ranking near the top in their organization, who are doing everything they can to maximize their trade value so far and might even be as close to “untouchable” as a player can be on the trade market.

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