Trade speculation is tricky business, especially with more than a month before the Aug. 1 non-waiver deadline.
Who’s selling? Who’s buying? And which impact players are available?
With the second wild-card slot keeping fringe contenders afloat—and parity leveling the field, particularly in the American League—those are hard questions to answer. To quote the Dude, there’s “a lotta ins, a lotta outs, a lotta what-have-yous.”
Let’s give it a crack anyway, highlighting the top potential trade target at each position, including a starting pitcher and a bullpen arm.
We’ll skim the best names from obvious sellers such as the Milwaukee Brewers. But we’ll also raid the rosters of on-the-bubble clubs like the New York Yankees, who could be a hot July away from going for it or a few cold weeks from a fire sale.
That said, we’re giving priority to guys with a semi-reasonable chance of being moved, so you won’t find any pie-in-the-sky, fever-dream fantasy candidates (cough, Mike Trout).
Strap on your general manager’s thinking cap, pick up the proverbial phone and proceed when ready.