The dichotomy between buying and selling may no longer hold quite the same meaning that it once did. We saw numerous deals last summer featuring major league players heading in both directions — the David Price, Jon Lester, and John Lackey deals among them. And it’s been widely observed that there are few clubs completely out of contention heading into this year’s deadline.
That could mean that the market will feature more reshuffling of rosters than true selling situations. But with a relative dearth of impact players available for prospect talent, there could also be enticing opportunities for teams willing to give up on the current season to improve in the future.
After all, it’s not as if such deals have disappeared completely. Jeff Samardzija has twice been moved for controllable talent, and could be again. The Red Sox (Andrew Miller to Orioles) and Rangers (Joakim Soria to Tigers) picked up quality young arms last summer, while the Diamondbacks got power-hitting prospect Peter O’Brien in exchange for Martin Prado. Infielder Dee Gordon brought back players who lacked significant major league experience. The Braves received prospects in return for Justin Upton and Craig Kimbrel, while the Phillies acquired minor league depth in deals involving Jimmy Rollins and Marlon Byrd.
All said, then, it’s quite possible that some teams will continue to profile as sellers in the traditional sense. Only a few are obvious, with the Phillies, Brewers, and perhaps the Braves (who’ve already moved most of their short-term assets) leading the way.
Other organizations have somewhat less clarity. Some of those — the Orioles, Blue Jays, and Tigers come to mind — have seemingly made clear that they have no such intentions, at least at present. We’ll define a true “seller” as a team that is looking to acquire pre-major league talent in exchange for veteran assets.
With that understanding, and excluding the teams already mentioned above, let’s see what the consensus is among MLBTR readers. Which of the following teams should consider themselves traditional trade deadline sellers over the rest of the month of July? Pick as many as you think apply.
The original version of the poll mistakenly did not permit multiple selections. Apologies to all those who voted.
The way the question is worded, I would think we’d be able to vote for more than one team…
Dang it, I messed it up. Going to re-do.
The Indians will not be sellers. They are going to play in the 2015 World Series.
cough cough…….right
You coming down with something? Yeah, I know I’m right. Great pitching and something that somewhat resembles hitting… that’s the key.
Henry did you forget those where only preseason projections for the Indians….something real knowledgeable fans never believed at all….
Oh I see… I thought it was 100% factual.
Thanks for clarifying. I’m not as worried now… 4 games under .500 isn’t too bad, but they have their work cut out for them in order to get to the WS. I’m glad that it might not be true. Now I can sleep at night.
You’re right on the line between seriousness and sarcasm, and it’s really unclear which side you were intending to be on.
It was a little of both. Sarcasm combined with some hope of it actually happening.
It could happen with that pitching staff they have.Royals are going to choke.Royals have a tough schedule in second half including 12 with Detroit and 6 with Cleveland.
Sellers…Reds,Tigers,Rockies,Indians,Marlins,Dbacks,Padres,
Phillies,Brewers,White Sox,Mariners,A’s,Red Sox,Braves,Rangers……
The Rangers are doing better than expected and don’t have very many players set to hit free agency. Even if they drop out of contention this year I dont see why they would sell instead of trying to compete in 2016.
There is no way on earth 15 teams should be selling, not with 10 teams making the playoffs and half a season to go.
Padres should be sellers. Don’t know if they will.
Upton, Kennedy, Venable, Kimbrel, Cashner, Ross, Benoit.
Trade them, get young assets to fill team holes, and let the young assets play win or lose the rest of the season. Then fill whatever we need next off season and try to put together a good season for the all star campaign.
The Braves should have been included in this list…They should sell,sell,sell
Addressed them in the post. I think they’ve made clear that they will be willing to move whatever short-term assets they have left. So no need to really ask about them.
It’s a miracle what Hart has done with this team, they are almost contenders while reloading!
I checked all of them lol. I don’t think they should all sell anything not nailed to the floor but some of these teams could make swaps or make a few trades to boost their chances down the stretch.
The A’s have been really unlucky. Their run differential suggests they should have a much better record.
You are what your record says you are.
– Bill Parcells
At the end of the season, yes. That’s why there are 162 games.
I agree, that’s why they should award home field to the team with the best season record and play a balanced in league season. Add a team in Charlotte and Montreal, and relocate Tampa.
Parcells said that in a sport that only plays 16 games and is full of randomness and parity. Baseball, given its length, has a way of evening out some of its randomness. Don’t be surprised to see the As make a push.
Is it easy to compare a game with a 16 game season to one with an 162 game season?
The playoffs in football and baseball are outleir, the best team rarely wins. It’s all about making money.
Spoken by a real saberametician!
There are plenty of team that can be BOTH Buyers and Sellers…. I don’t believe just because a team may be out of the race, they become pure sellers, and vice-versa.
Certainly. That’s pretty much what the post was about. Question is which of these teams readers believe SHOULD be sellers in the traditional sense.
Lackey’s contract was signed with the Red Sox, and after making millions the first 5 years, the 6th year was for a paltry $500K. I’m really surprised the Cards didn’t call him into the office and tell him they weren’t going to embarrass him by forcing him to pitch for that amount—that they were going to give him a :kiss” for the 2015 season. Seems only fair.
The extra year at league min was added if he lost time to an elbow injury, he lost a year to TJ so he has to honor the piece of paper he signed, how is that an embarrassment?
I don’t remember him giving a :kiss to the Red Sox when he missed a year with arm trouble. Fairs, fair.
Even though Beane hasn’t publicly said it, he’s not going to let both Zobrist and Kazmir go for just a QO pick. No way…
Those guys will be gone, making Oakland sellers. The trade I can see happening is Oakland moving Zobrist to the NYY’s in a package that nets back Aaron Judge as the centerpiece. For NY, it’s a huge upgrade @ 2B and while I know that Judge is a coveted prospect, the Yankees can plug and play a corner outfielder in free agency.
The A’s get a controllable LFer who will be given the opportunity to start in ’16.
Along that line of thought: they aren’t going to offer Clippard $14M to stick around next year, either.
The Yanks won’t give up Judge for Zobrist, he has been a shell of himself this year, Refsynder will have a better WAR for the last 77 games.
I don’t see this love for Zobrist. He’s not having a very good year and is hardly worth giving up a top prospect at this point.
I have a hard time seeing any team in the AL west as sellers, that division, though it isn’t up to par like many hoped, is really close.
Seems more and more that Samardzija’s career will probably be more summed up about the guys he was traded for than what he does on the mound. Baseball is weird like that, the gods do funny things with careers. Do we actually think he will top the 5/85 deal the Cubs supposedly offered him last June?
A lot depends on 2nd half, of course, but Porcello and Homer Bailey extensions are interesting to consider. Samardzija is already 30, of course, but he’s athletic and has relatively low mileage on his arm.
Presumably, 5/85 would’ve included the last arb year, too, so have to bear that in mind.
I think he will either get something close to that, or will sign a 1-year deal with SD or Oakland to build value. Chicago isn’t the best place for a power pitcher like him.
might be a more affordable option for Detroit than Price is.
Henry not to worry Joe Kelly was telling everyone willing to listen in Red Sox camp he was going to win the Cy Young. Positive Thinking.
You are right. He just never said what year!
The Tigers should really consider being sellers (with their pending FAs) if they slide much further after the ASB.
I agree, there’s zero reason for them to keep Cespedes who they wont even get a draft pick for due to his contract clause.
The Red Sox already threw in 2 pitchers to make up for that. Alex Wilson has been huge in the bullpen so far.
Except for making the playoffs this year
I don’t get it: the A’s have only 3 players to “sell” but otherwise have a young squad signed for the foreseeable future with a clear plan in place – imagine if Doolittle had been on the team at closer all year, where they’d be? You can’t decide to have a full rebuild based off one injury.
But if you mean they should sell the 3 FA’s-to-be then maybe you have a point, but they’re only 8 games out and have been historical-level unlucky—that level can’t last.
The funny thing is they could sell and buy at the same time, obtaining pieces that have longer-amounts of team control in exchange for Kazmir, Clippard & Zobrist.
If you think Doolittle being healthy would have corrected all the pen woes… It’s possible, but unlikely.
That’s the plan man!
A’s sell: Zobrist / Kazmir / Clippard / O’Flaherty / Mujica
Mariners sell: Iwakuma / Happ / Jackson / Rodney / Beimel
White Sox sell: Samardzija / Bonifacio / Beckham
Tigers sell: Price / Cespedes / Simon / Davis / Avila / Soria
Orioles sell: Davis / Wieters / Matusz / Hunter / Pearce / Chen / Norris
Red Sox sell: Napoli / Victorino / De Aza / Breslow
Blue Jays sell: Navarro
Rockies sell: Stubbs / Hawkins / Bentacourt
Padres sell: J. Upton / Venable / Kennedy / Kelley
Brewers sell: A. Ramirez / Lohse / Parra / Cotts
Reds sell: Cueto / Leake / Pena / Marshall / Parra / Badenhop
Phillies sell: Hamels / Harang / Howard / Utley / Ruiz / Revere / Francoeur
Billingsley / Williams / Brown
I would also put: Brewers: Lind / K-Rod / Gomez / Lucroy
looks like a buyers market to me. also leaving off Rangers & Rockies.
They’re all selling!
I think you forgot to put the Brewers on the poll.
I addressed that in the post. They are too obvious to ask about.
I’d replace the Tigers with the Indians on there. Their not too far apart in the standings, I think only like 2.5 or 3 games and I like the Indians chances in the second half a lot better then the Tigers.
As noted in the post, the Tigers have said very publicly that they don’t intend to sell. The merits of that approach are certainly up for debate, but I decided to keep them (and the Jays and O’s) out of the poll for that reason.
Are the Phils not listed because they are 100%?
Yes.