Kuzul

The Chicago White Sox are in the thick of things early on in the AL Central, and acquiring Kevin Youkilis could be a nice boost to their playoff hopes. Per ESPN, the Southsiders are considered the favorites to acquire the apparently very available Red Sox‘s third baseman.

Most didn’t expect the White Sox to contend in the AL Central, and now that they are in good position (only 1.5 games behind division-leading Cleveland), they must make the best of their contending status.

Youkilis is known as the Greek God of Walks due to his patience and eye at the plate. That approach could benefit the White Sox. The team has drawn only 213 walks this season, which is just below the leave average of 218.

Youkilis’ ability to draw the free pass has waned over the past couple years, but I attribute much of that to him battling injuries. I believe that the recent decrease in playing time and the rehab assignments have allowed him to get as healthy as he’s been in over two years.

Now, he just needs the at-bats. 

With the White Sox, Youkilis would get an opportunity to play regularly, if not every day.

The current player logging the most time at third base for the White Sox is Orlando Hudson. The O-Dog has been a huge disappointment, as he is almost literally hitting his weight. If he were Prince Fielder’s size, then that would be acceptable. But Hudson is 190 pounds, and that isn’t cutting it.

Wouldn’t this be a more promising site at the plate than Hudson?

Landing with the White Sox would give Youkilis a fresh start without the presence of a player breathing down his neck. In Boston, it’s obvious they want Will Middlebrooks to be the man at third base, and rightfully so.

Honestly speaking, the bar isn’t that high to reach improvement in Chicago. They have a gaping hole at third, and it’s almost certain that Youkilis would, at the very least, be an improvement.

The time has come for Youk to move on—or should I say, change his Sox.

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The Boston Red Sox must move struggling third baseman Kevin Youkilis this summer if they are going to contend for a World Series title this fall.

According to ESPN The Magazine‘s Buster Olney, a trade involving Youkilis could happen at any moment based on the Red Sox’s interest to move him, opening up an infield position for talented rookie Will Middlebrooks.

According to the report, the Chicago White Sox appear to be a contender in a potential trade for Youkilis, as they have expressed interest in acquiring the veteran.

Youkilis responded to the swirling rumors via fullcount.weei.com:

“I have no thoughts on anything. I haven’t been told anything. Until I’m told anything, I can’t really respond.”

The rumors have been flying since the start of the month, and the 33-year-old Youkilis has not been offering up a solution, hitting just .174 this month with zero home runs and 10 strikeouts with a week left before the start of July.

The veteran is now batting just .225 on the season, while Middlebrooks, who is 10 years younger, is hitting .319 with eight homers and 31 RBI. Middlebrooks also boasts an impressive .558 slugging percentage in 39 games with the Red Sox in 2012.

Only one player can hold down third base for Boston, and right now the better option for manager Bobby Valentine is the surging Middlebrooks.

Boston can trade Youkilis and acquire some value in return. The move will not only reduce the drama on Valentine’s daily plate, but also allow room for a potential star to grow at third base. Middlebrooks has thrived since being called up to the Red Sox.

Although fans would likely be disappointed to watch Youkilis leave Beantown, the only city he has ever represented in the majors, the Red Sox faithful are surely aware of the young piece they have to take over in the infield.

Youkilis has been in a slump all season long and has already butted heads with Valentine this year. If the Red Sox want to position themselves for the future and eliminate some of the drama that led to their demise in 2011, they must trade Kevin Youkilis this summer.

Follow Patrick Clarke on Twitter for more takes on the latest MLB trade rumors.

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With the upcoming MLB non-waiver trade deadline comes much speculation about a bevy of players likely to be changing destinations.

As such, they essentially lose their jobs, but not quite like getting canned.

Some hitters will lose their current standing because of payroll constraints, others to make room for upcoming prospects, and still others because they are underperforming.

Whatever the case, here is a list of hitters from each MLB team who will be cashing a paycheck for a new team sometime in the future.

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The San Diego Padres are going nowhere fast, and unloading Carlos Quentin needs to be a priority.

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, most “in the industry” expect Quentin to be dealt before the July trade deadline, and it makes plenty of sense.  

He is making $7.025 million in the final year of his contract, and at the age of 29, he is unlikely to be a part of the youth movement currently moving forward in San Diego.

Since coming back from a knee injury, Quentin has hit .400 with six doubles and 11 runs in only 69 plate appearances. He still has substantial value, even if we will never see the 2008 version of Quentin ever again.

The Padres’ payroll is expected to stand around the $55 million mark next season according to Rosenthal, and signing Quentin to a long term deal doesn’t make a ton of sense.

While Rosenthal doesn’t completely discount the notion of Quentin returning next season, the Padres are better off moving him now, saving the payroll and acquiring more young talent in return.

Here are the three teams that could use Quentin to propel them for a deep playoff run this fall.

3. Baltimore Orioles

Are they for real?

If the O’s plan on sticking around atop the AL East all summer, they have to beef up their production in left field.

Converted third basemen Steve Tolleson started in left for the Orioles on Tuesday. He is currently hitting .214 with a .267 OBP. This comes one night after converted first basemen Steve Pearce was manning the position.

Adding a proven veteran with the ability to hit for power is exactly what the O’s offense could use right now. They also have a sizable amount of depth lurking in their minor league system and could certainly entice San Diego to make a deal.

2. Cincinnati Reds

While the budget may be tight, they have a recent history in dealing with the Padres with the Mat Latos megatrade.

The Reds have been platooning Ryan Ludwick and Chris Heisey in left field all season long and the results have been less than stellar.

It’s the biggest weakness in an otherwise potent lineup, and if the Reds are looking to cash-in on their early season success, surrendering another talent in their strong farm system makes plenty of sense.

1. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates quietly have one of the best pitching staffs in all of baseball. They are pushing the Reds for NL Central supremacy, but they have to do something about their offense.

They currently rank dead last in all of baseball in runs (222) and on-base percentage (.283) and are 29th  in batting average (.228).

Sure this team never adds payroll midseason, but they have a loaded farm system and could make for an enticing trade partner with San Diego.

Besides, the Pirates have to show their fans they give a crap about winning at some point. Right?

Quentin’s seven years of big league experience, ability to hit for average and strong defense make him just the kind of player Pittsburgh needs right now. 

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The San Diego Padres have succeeded in being one of the worst teams in the majors thus far in 2012. And, with the Padres payroll at 55.2 million (the lowest in the majors), how can anyone blame them?

Still, the Padres have some gems on the roster, and these players could be targets of playoff-contending teams in July. Many fans are—like always—totally against the Padres’ “rebuilding” strategy. But with the current ownership status, selling big names for prospects is regrettably the only real option for the team.

John Moores’ selling of the Padres comes at an uncanny time. The sale could affect how the team approaches the trade deadline, in addition to who goes and who stays. We know the Padres will be sellers, we just don’t know who could be leaving San Diego.

As we speak, two or three contenders remain in the race for the Padres, a team that’s worth up to $458 million, according to Forbes. But in order to become the next owner of the Padres, that entity should be willing to spend more: Moores wants a minimum of $800 million in exchange for his club.

Currently, the O’Malley family—featuring Phil Mickelson—is a finalist for the club. At this point, the identity of the one (or two) other potential buyers is still unknown.

In as little as three weeks, Moores could announce the winners of the bid for the Padres. And following the announcement should be, like always, trade rumors surrounding the big stars on the Padres. Here are a few potential trade candidates.

Huston Street: Street was the great successor to Heath Bell when he signed a contract to leave San Diego for the Miami Marlins. Street, who was originally in Oakland, had played in Colorado beforehand. Coors Field is hardly a pitcher’s park, so his move to PETCO Park was a happy one. However, the injury bug bit the veteran closer, and Street found himself on the DL with a shoulder injury.

Huston was recently added back on the 25 man roster, and his apparent future successor Miles Mikolas was optioned to Tucson. Along with Mikolas is the 23 year old Brad Boxberger, who was dealt in the Mat Latos trade. Both are closers for the future.

The Padres are reliever-rich, and Street’s $7.5 million contract is a burden. Street has a pricey $9 million option for the 2013 season as well.

Carlos Quentin: Quentin, a San Diego native, was traded to the Padres in the offseason to add some life to a nearly dead lineup. However, with the poor performance of the team, using Quentin as trade bait could net the Padres some excellent prospects. The Tigers today announced their interest, while Cincinnati and Cleveland could also be potential traders.

The Padres would like to resign Quentin for the long term, and a contract extension could be presented before the deadline. That, and the new ownership, could easily change everything.

Nick Hundley: Hundley, 28, has played four major league seasons in San Diego. And when Hundley signed a new deal in the offseason, we though he was here to stay. But the young Yasmani Grandal is one of the best catching prospects in the MLB. He made his debut earlier in June, going 0-1 in a pinch hitting situation. Grandal is another prospect the Padres lured for Mat Latos.

Both Hundley and his backup John Baker have performed poorly. You can blame PETCO Park for the poor hitting numbers, but one thing is for sure: a catcher must be dealt at the deadline to make room for Grandal, who is lighting it up in Tucson.

Chase Headley: Headley, who was the former Texas League Player of the Year, is another potential Padre to be dealt in the near future. Already, the Pittsburgh Pirates have inquires about the third baseman, who has also spent time in left field.

Headley’s ability to switch hit is an asset for any team, and the 28-year-old could be a productive hitter in any lineup. While he doesn’t hit many homers in San Diego, his .267 average is promising, and he currently has an 11 game hitting streak. The Padres have James Darnell to fill Headley’s place should the Pads deal him, and San Diego has a potential star in Jedd Gyorko in the farm system.

The veteran Headley is due $3.45 million this year and is arbitration eligible next year.

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Could Ryan Dempster actually be the best player traded prior to the 2012 MLB Trade Deadline? According to David Schoenfield of ESPN.com, that may be the case. 

Not only does Schoenfield think that Dempster could be the best player dealt, but he also believes that teams should start pursuing Dempster now, as opposed to waiting until it is closer to the deadline.

Schoenfield has come up with seven different contenders he believes could be interested in acquiring Dempster this year. Additionally, Schoenfield provides possible trade scenarios.

This article will take a look at the potential contenders Schoenfield mentioned, as well as a few other teams that could be interested in him, and it also provides each team’s odds of acquiring him. 

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As the summer continues to heat up, so will talk of trade potentials and teams looking to make adjustments for a late-season push.

Although it is still fairly early, injury, slumps and poor records have already began to plague major league clubs.

Some teams like the Chicago Cubs, the Houston Astros and, perpetually, the Oakland Athletics will enter rebuilding mode and begin to sell off contracts for prospects.

Others, such as the San Fransisco Giants, Los Angeles Dodgers and Miami Marlins, who are in the hunt for October, will take on loaner veterans to help get their teams over the hump.

Here is a look at some possible trade talks before the All-Star Break.

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The San Francisco Giants have started the season well, as they are in second place in the NL West at 34-27.

However, they still have one gaping hole: shortstop.

While you could argue that they have a hole in the rotation because of Tim Lincecum’s slow start, Brandon Crawford’s inconsistent play at shortstop has hurt the Giants. He has a .219 batting average and a 24.5 percent strikeout rate.

Oh, and his defense hasn’t been too great either (as you may have noticed from the picture above). 

Crawford is an above-average defensive shortstop, and he makes a lot of hard plays. However, he has struggled to field easy grounders, and he’s even dropped pop-ups (again, see above).

Overall, Crawford has been a disappointment for the Giants. Here are three reasons why they must trade for another shortstop as soon as possible.

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Adding a pitcher before the trade deadline can be the difference between a playoff berth and an offseason of disappointment.

There are plenty of teams in the league that will need a starting pitcher if they want to make the postseason in 2012. Fortunately for those teams, there are a few starters on the trade market who would be able to step in and make an immediate impact on the playoff race.

Joe Saunders, Matt Garza and Zack Greinke have all been the subject of trade talks over the last month or so, and it’s likely that one of the three will be playing in a different uniform after the July 31 trade deadline.

Here is a suitor for each of those players:

Joe Saunders: Boston Red Sox

The Arizona Diamondbacks are shopping Saunders because they’re looking to make a spot in their rotation for their top pitching prospect Trevor Bauer.

That means that they probably won’t be looking for a king’s ransom in return for the 30-year-old left-hander. That opens the door for the Boston Red Sox to bring another lefty to their rotation.

The Sox pitching staff hasn’t been too stellar this season, and they won’t make the playoffs at the rate they’re going unless they bring in a starting pitcher.

John Lackey is on the disabled list, and he wasn’t very good for the Red Sox when he was taking the mound every fifth day. Daisuke Matsuzaka just came off the disabled list, but Bobby Valentine has no idea what he’s going to get out of him. Clay Buchholz isn’t pitching like the pitcher we thought he was. Josh Beckett is a ticking time bomb. Jon Lester is the only guy in the rotation you’d be comfortable with right now, but his ERA is still 4.64.

Enter Joe Saunders. He’d be perfect for the Red Sox in a few different ways. He pitched 212 innings last season, so they know he can eat up some innings for them. He’s a lefty, so he’ll be able to get the lefty-heavy lineup of the Yankees out (something that can never hurt a pitcher in Boston). And he’s had playoff experience with the Los Angeles Angels in the past.

The Sox seem to be rising from the ashes now, and the acquisition of Saunders would only accelerate that.

Matt Garza: St. Louis Cardinals

The Chicago Cubs are never relenting in their talks about Garza. It doesn’t make much sense, considering how hard they worked to get him from the Tampa Bay Rays, but they are looking to deal him nonetheless.

I know an intradivision trade doesn’t seem likely, but it would work out for both teams. The Cubs aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. The Cardinals need a starting pitcher after Jaime Garcia went down with a torn rotator cuff and labrum. They’re saying he’ll be out for two months, but that’s obviously an optimistic expectation, as his shoulder appears to be completely shredded.

The Cardinals would have to give up a decent amount of prospects to get Garza, but he would turn them into more of a contender in the NL Central than they already are.

Jake Westbrook has faltered a bit. And who knows when Lance Lynn is due to implode?

Collectively, they can get it done at the dish. Second in runs, batting average and on-base percentage and fourth in slugging will get you past a lot of teams. 

Garza is nearly a top-notch starter, and the Cardinals would be wise to make a bid for him.

Zack Greinke: Chicago White Sox

The Milwaukee Brewers are letting teams inquire about Greinke. General manager Doug Melvin reportedly hasn’t decided whether he wants to buy or sell this offseason, but if the team decides to sell, Greinke will most likely be on the market.

The White Sox are in first place now, but they could use one more arm in their rotation to be comfortable atop the AL Central. Sure, Jose Quintana pitched well his last time out, but he hasn’t yet showed that he belongs in the majors for the duration of the season.

Chris Sale has been great, but he’s a newcomer so the White Sox have to consider the prospect that he will tail off significantly. Jake Peavy’s arm could fall off any day now, given his history. Philip Humber threw a perfect game, but he had a 5.79 ERA in May. Gavin Floyd is the picture of mediocrity and has been consistent in his average performances.

Greinke can be lights out, and Chicago is the perfect-sized market for him. He’s had anxiety issues, and nobody knows for sure if he can get the job done in a huge media market. Chicago loves their sports, but it’s a step down from New York and Los Angeles.

He can shut down some of the best teams in the league and would be a huge boost for the White Sox heading into the dog days of summer.

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Kevin Youkilis is a hometown boy—born and raised in Cincinnati and a product of the University of Cincinnati. What a story it makes for the hometown boy to make good on his hometown team. But, unfortunately for Youk, the Cincinnati Reds don’t need him, nor should they pursue him.

The Boston Red Sox third-baseman has been linked to numerous trade rumors this season, and articles such as Jon Heyman’s Baseball Insider column and ESPN affiliated Fire Brand of The American League  link him to Cincinnati.

The only hometown story that could be made with Kevin Youkilis is a recap of the major blunder Cincinnati made in trading for him. I’m sure that you are asking yourself why? The answer to this is two fold and very simple.

First, Youkilis is past his prime and injury prone. Look at Scott Rolen—the Reds do not need two Scott Rolen’s on their club. Yes, Youk is younger, but he has also never played more than 147 games in a season and will continue to only break down more often with his advanced age. 

Remember Ken Griffey Jr.? 

Second, Todd Frazier is the third-baseman moving forward. He is a former Reds first-round draft pick from 2007, has the talent and has proven himself.  He is second on the club only to Joey Votto with a .611 Slugging-percentage, and there comes a time when you need to trust your top prospects—that time is now.

It’s time to stop playing games with trade rumors and time to focus on continually winning games with the team on the field.

There will be individuals that believe Youkilis could play left-field. To those people I say, Kevin Youkilis is a below average left-fielder and does not look to be improving anytime soon. The Reds suffered through Adam Dunn and others in left for years—do you really want to go back to that?

If the Reds intend on being serious contenders all year, then they must address their actual needs and not fool with false needs. Third-base is actually on the rise with the development of Frazier. Chris Heisey and Ryan Ludwick provide pop at the plate and excellent defense in left.  

An improved left-handed bat off of the bench is a true “need.” 

Chime in with your thoughts: 

Do you agree with this analysis?  What do you believe are the true “needs” for the Cincinnati Reds?

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