It’s not immediately clear how many contenders will be pushing for upgrades at first base, with the Yankees perhaps representing the team with the clearest need. But other teams may still see an opportunity to add some pop with a platoon or bench option. Here are the first basemen that may be available over the next several weeks:
Rentals
Yonder Alonso, Athletics | $4MM in 2017
One of the breakout hitters of the current season, Alonso has exhibited fundamental changes in his approach that give cause to believe he’ll keep destroying baseballs down the stretch. While there has been some chatter about a possible extension with Oakland, the smart money remains on a trade. Teams that buy into Alonso as a middle-of-the-order bat with patience and power will no doubt see real value in pursuing him as an affordable rental player.
Lucas Duda, Mets | $7.25MM in 2017
An underappreciated offensive force, Duda has returned from an injury-riddled 2016 season as a potent left-handed bat. His batting average will never impress, but he draws plenty of walks and brings top-end power. Thus far in 2017, Duda has carried a career-best .286 isolated slugging mark and has swatted 14 long balls in 62 games. He’s not all that expensive, either.
John Jaso, Pirates | $4MM in 2017
Once quite an underappreciated hitter in his own right, Jaso hasn’t kept up his productivity since landing in Pittsburgh. He’s now a solid-average hitter on the whole, and that has held true even as he has swapped out some of his legendary plate discipline for power this year. Though Jaso has seven dingers in 203 plate appearances, putting him on pace to easily set a career high, he has uncharacteristically posted a 46:20 K/BB ratio and is reaching base at only a .320 clip. While he has mostly played the outfield this year, Jaso would most likely be targeted as a bench bat who could factor into the mix at first.
Controlled Through 2018
Matt Adams, Braves | $2.8MM in 2017; arb-eligible in 2018
We haven’t seen a large enough sample of Freddie Freeman at third base to know how long that experiment will continue. But the Atlanta front office won’t just be measuring the star’s capacity for the hot corner; it’ll also be weighing Adams’s trade value. With another year of control remaining, the 28-year-old could command a somewhat higher price than some of the pure rental options. Adams has produced at a .292/.339/.608 clip, with 13 homers, in his 186 plate appearances in a Braves uniform.
Mike Napoli, Rangers | $6MM in 2017; $11MM club option ($2.5MM buyout) in 2018
The 35-year-old isn’t hitting well at all in his latest run with the Rangers. Despite a healthy tally of 18 home runs, Napoli carries a .194/.273/.437 batting line over 283 trips to the plate. That’ll surely improve as his .215 BABIP moves north, but if the Rangers end up turning into a seller, Napoli would likely end up being moved mostly for some cost savings. (Note: I thought about including Joey Gallo on this list, but he seems lined up to step in for Napoli in 2018.)
Victor Martinez, Tigers | $18MM in 2017; $18MM in 2018
He’s obviously not really an option to play first base, but Martinez gets consideration here since he doesn’t fit anywhere else. At 38 years of age, VMart has stumbled to a .253/.322/.366 slash with just six long balls in his 286 trips to the plate. He is still producing a 40.0% hard-hit rate, so perhaps there’s hope of a turnaround yet, but the contract is obviously well under water.
Longer-Term Assets
Jose Abreu, White Sox | $10.825MM in 2017; arb-eligible in 2018-19
Though he finished strong last year, Abreu faced some questions entering his age-30 campaign. He has answered with a .299/.349/.522 batting line and 16 long balls over 375 plate appearances. While Abreu probably won’t ever be quite the force he was in his debut campaign, back in 2014, he looks like a good bet to continue producing high-end offensive numbers through the end of his contract. The White Sox haven’t seemed as inclined to deal Abreu as other stars, but it’s hard to imagine the organization wouldn’t be amenable to trading him in the right circumstances.
Justin Smoak, Blue Jays | $4.125MM in 2017; $4.125MM in 2018; $6MM club option ($250K buyout) in 2019
The former top prospect has turned his extension from a perceived head-scratcher to a huge win for Toronto. Smoak has already set a personal high with 23 home runs and made his first All-Star appearance. Even if the Jays remain mired in the AL East cellar, though, it’ll be hard for them to part with a player who now looks like a solid bet to provide good value on an affordable contract over the next several seasons.
Kendrys Morales, Blue Jays | $10MM in 2017; $11MM in 2018; $12MM in 2019
Already 34 years of age, and hardly a bargain, Morales doesn’t look like a terribly appealing trade candidate. He’s hitting at an unimpressive .252/.300/.454 rate since arriving in Toronto. While it’s reasonable to hope for improvement, it’d also be hard for rival organizations to stake such a big commitment on an aging player — particularly given the alternatives.
Justin Bour, Marlins | First-time arb-eligible in 2018
Entering the year, Bour had established himself as a surprisingly effective slugger — though he was limited both by an inability to play anywhere but first and questions about his abilities against left-handed pitching. He has responded with a huge arbitration platform season in which he has not only continued to pummel right-handers, but owns a .333/.412/.667 slash in 68 plate appearances without the platoon advantage.
Tommy Joseph, Phillies | First-time arb-eligible in 2020
With Rhys Hoskins clamoring for a promotion, it’s possible to imagine the Phillies shopping Joseph. But will there be much demand? He’s hitting at a solid .252/.313/.466 rate on the year, but that’s not quite the level he showed last year and surely not enough to warrant a regular job on a first-division club. As a righty bat that can only play at first base, Joseph is a limited player.
C.J. Cron, Angels | First-time arb-eligible in 2018
Much the same is true of Cron, who has stumbled badly this year after putting up slightly above-average offensive numbers over the prior three seasons. He’s back in the majors after a stint at Triple-A, but could be sent elsewhere if improvements are not forthcoming.
Brandon Belt, Giants | $2.8MM in 2017; $64MM from 2018-21
A polished and extremely steady hitter who only just turned 29, Belt looks like a solid asset for San Francisco. He’s not exactly cheap, but the future commitment is more than fair for a still-youthful player who owns a lifetime 127 OPS+. While the Giants will likely at least consider proposals, there’s little chance they could reliably replace his production without spending more in the upcoming offseason.
Joey Votto, Reds | $22MM in 2017; $157MM from 2018-23 (including $7MM buyout on 2024 club option)
Still an awesome hitter, Votto has full no-trade rights and doesn’t appear to be on the market this summer. But nothing is bolted to the floors in Cincinnati, and the contract is perhaps aging better than has been feared, so he has to be mentioned.
Miguel Cabrera, Tigers | $28MM in 2017; $192MM from 2018-23 (including $8MM buyout on 2024 vesting club option)
Cabrera is currently in the midst of his worst season since his debut campaign. And he’s 34 … and is owed gobs of cash over the next six years. It’s far too soon to count out a full-blown turnaround at the plate from the outstanding slugger, but this is a tough contract to move at present. Cabrera also controls his own destiny and can veto any deal.
Currently in the Minors
Pedro Alvarez, Orioles | Minor-league contract
The 30-year-old has attempted a move to the outfield at Triple-A. It’s doubtful that a contender will play him on the grass late in 2017, though perhaps Alvarez could end up functioning as a power source off the bench. He has not hit particularly well at Norfolk this year, but has a long history of solidly above-average output with excellent power against right-handed pitching.
Byung Ho Park, Twins | $2.75MM in 2017; $6.5MM through 2019 (including $500K buyout of 2020 club option)
Things just aren’t going well for the former KBO star. He showed plenty of pop, but also big holes, in his MLB debut last year, leading to a demotion. While he no doubt hoped to resolve some of the lingering on-base issues, it has all fallen apart thus far in 2017. Park is hitting just .243/.301/.391 with four home runs in his 249 plate appearances in the highest level of the minors.
“Alonso has to be traded! His one year of dominance is obviously the real thing and teams will give up a ton to get him!” In reality, this is a fluke year and anyone who believes otherwise needs to re-evaluate themselves as baseball fans.
You know nothing.
think there is an in between. Yes he has been slightly lucky but some in the industry predicted a breakout in spring training after seeing the changes he made to his swing.
A’s are not asking a ton for Alonso. A safe bet is he will hit better the next 5 years than Jason Heyward has ever hit in the last 5 years.
How? Jason Heyward hit .290 two years ago and has hit over 20 HR in a season which Alonso has not ever come close too. Plus Alonso is getting old while Heyward is getting into his prime.
Alonso is hitting 35+ homers this year and is only 30, that’s not “getting old.” 35+ is “getting old”. Reassess your boundaries for what “old” is please.
How to spot the Cubs fans,
Find them defending Heyward’s lack of offense.
Yea he didn’t even mention his stellar defense or the fact he has a WS ring. Cubs fans act as if though he was perennial MVP candidate when they signed this hype,and last year was so far from the norm.
Wow .290 is amazing!!! Plus it was only TWO years ago he did that!! After knowing that I think he must be better than trout!
30 is old….steroid era is over. rolling average from here on out is down. he also doesnt have the lef or defensive value of heyward.
Heyward has been a better hitter than Yonder Alonso every year except for last year and this year go look at the stats before you start making claims like that
Except for last year and this year and next year and the years after that, lol
Alonso is not making over $15 million and sitting on the bench against good pitchers. Funny thing is that both been putting up almost the exact numbers through their careers avg, oba, slg% and ops… So if Alonso is over rated than Heyward is vastly over rated. Alonso next contract will not be even half of what Heyward signed.
“So if Alonso is over rated than Heyward is vastly over rated. ”
Comparing a player who’s value all comes from his bat to one that provides it else where, while only looking at hitting stats is a pretty poor comparison.
Alonso has been known as a very good 1B for a long time. Heyward need to get on base to make it a big factor. If base running is a big factor for you the A’s have Raja Davis available real cheap. So try again cherry picking stats to win a argument.
Wouldn’t all of heyward’s value come from his glove then???
“Very good”? No. Before this year he has widely been viewed as a replacement level first baseman. I get you feel this year has obliterated that viewpoint but first basemen that can hit are generally easy to find in the past several offseasons and will once again reinforce that this winter. I will be shocked if any 1b rentals return a top 80-100 prospect.
Last 3 years his defense was above average at 1B. 80 – 100 prospect is not at all a top prospect. They are called fringe prospects. That is the problem that fans consider a 4th outfielder a top prospect or a back of rotation starter a top prospect. Baseball America top 100 already at the mid-season lost 27 players out of their top 100. Half of 80 – 100 are no longer considered in the top 100.
I would hope that a 1b only and limited baserunner would be putting up a 120 wrc+….Not much value otherwise
I remember people saying that about Daniel Murphy back in the day, and look at him now. Also, you obviously Don’t know a lot about baseball, and how it works
If it is a fluke year, it is a rental year. So who cares?
downvote
Reality is you outed yourself as someone who’s only cared about baseball for 2 years max.
Two years over all
Rookie year and his year
He will take a step back next year
I understand the concerns about Alonso. If you look at his splits and his game logs this year most of his stats come from a three week stretch in May. Over the last 30 days he’s hit .207 with 4 HR’s and all of 7 RBI’s. No doubt that this season he’s a bit better overall hitter than he has been in the past, but it would be foolish to base his trade value on that great 3 week stretch he had in May. He’s a slightly improved player, not a career breakout player.
if the yanks wanted to make a real big splash they could consider a hicks, bird, torreyes, sheffield package along with another top 20 pitching prospect for Quintana and Abreu.
it would address significant gaps for this team (though 3b is still an issue) and neither player is a rental.
Only one of the players you mentioned is even a prospect. Why would the White Sox ever do that?
That’s why he said “another top 20 pitching prospect”…
So technically, he mentioned two prospect.
As a Sox fan… i’d probably take that deal if its ….Torres, Rutherford, Bird, Adams
You’re crazy if you think you think you’re getting anything close to that pilzvtydroboy
Sox would never give up Quintana and Abreu for that Package. Yankees would have to give up at least Torres, Rutherford, Adams and another top 20 prospect in their organization
But It would not happen. Sox are better off trading them in seperate deals. They will got alot better return that way. IMO Quintana alone should get back Frazier, Mateo, Adams and a top 20 in the yanks farm. Or Rutherford, Mateo, Adams top 20 in the farm
Hahn may have missed his window on Frazier, Robertson, and Quintana.. Frazier will be for cash, and Quintana won’t get traded until the winter for less than the Sox want.
The Yankees and their fans would rather play the kids than take on both of these players who just may have already had their best seasons.
Yea ive noticed theres some of the dumbest yankee fans on here
No way, the Yanks are trading with the Sox, nobody views Quintana as they do.
There are like 8 teams rumored in on Quintana. Doesn’t matter if the Yankees don’t trade for him, someone else likely will.
Dumbest? It’s more realistic not to mortgage the future. Play the kids and find out what they have.
That package is about what Quintana would cost by himself.
Well i know yankees are not gonna give up Torres and Rutherford for Quintana alone. But the Sox would definetely get alot better package in seperate deals.
Well at least you White Sox fans are consistent in your constant and continual over valuing of Quintana
No way the Yankees clear out the farm for an middle rotation pitcher, who’s best attributes are that he’s 200 inning, cost controllable asset.
If he’s so valuable why don’t you just keep him and build around him?
The Sox could keep him and build around him. But its a smarter move for the Sox to trade him and Aquire more position players for the rebuild. Whitesox have a loaded farm for pitching prospects in case you have not noticed and the Sox already have Carlos Rodon in the majors… Quintana is on the market to hear offers
Not as much as you over value prospects. Although not an ace, he would be #1on the Yankees. Sox are rebuilding, that’s why you trade him. Same reason they traded Sale and Eaton.
There is no point to argue with Yankees fans. They are gonna end up like the cubs… a bunch of position players and no pitching…. or their gonna end up finding out that all these superstar prospects dont pan out
Yeah I saw him yesterday saying pretty much every Yankee prospect was untouchable. Apparently they have like 20 future all stars in the minors right now.
I love when fans tell me what prospects are untouchable, but I can’t find anything from a GM saying that.
Every prospect is available for the right price = fact.
That’s Billyballz please don’t lump us all in..guy lives in a fantasy land!
Wait a minute the Cubs won the world series last year, and the Yanks prospects have put them in the wild card. The Sox are in last place.
Exactly! I can see if a guy is top 10 prospect in baseball but so many fans say that their teams top 15 prospects are all untouchable. It’s just not the reality. Most GM’s are willing to trade just about any prospect if it makes their team better.
Nahhhh thats not we are saying, we are saying many of our top prospects are untouchable for Quintana! LOL, very simple.
you are a annoying pal. You know what I said and you can twist it with your Bryce Harper is coming nonsense. I said we have top prospects that are untouchable for a mid rotation arm such as Quintana this year.
Heres the list fanboy:
1-Frazier
2-Torres
3-Rutherford
4-Sheffield
5-Florial
We have tons of big prospects not on this list who would be many teams best prospect such as Mateo, Andujar, Fowler, Adams, Acevedo.
And amongst them I would not trade a combo of 3 for Quintana because thats way too much, just my opinion. Your turn Cheerios?
So in other words your team isn’t getting Quintana. And how would you know they’re untouchable?
Quintana would definitively cost at least 1 of the players you mentioned as “untouchable”, 1 of the proposed prospect list, and probably 1 of a lower tier.
Quintana WILL NOT be traded for Mateo and 2 lesser prospects.
Not a Sox fan, just a baseball fan giving a taste of reality to delusional Yankee fan.
He thinks he knows conversations that GM’s are having apparently. He doesn’t want them traded therefore the organization views them as untouchable.
I’ve certainly disagreed or misunderstood you in the past,but not on this. Guys probably like 20 and like so many his age these days thinks everything is supposed to work out.. no matter what.
This is the last time I’ll say it..I DONT WANT QUINTANNA,MURPHY,Alonso,or TODD FRAZIER. I want quality controlled starting pitching and would be willing to move prospects for that,because that’s what they are PROSPECTS. That being said I wouldn’t move Clint Frazier,Fowler,or Torres. Billy-Billy-Billyboy why do you have Frazier #1 on your all untouchable list? You have never answered my question about understanding Low A ball level as it applies to your future superstar Rutherford.
I can say this one more time and you can keep avoiding my answer and stay stupid crap like I’m 20! Trust me pal I’ve been following the Yanks since 1978!
I understand what it takes to not have a good farm and to throw money at older free agents only to watch them suck up the lineup. Quintana is a nice mid rotation lefty arm but the Sox want to trade him for top prospects as if he were an ace and I don’t view him that way. To answer your question one last f#%ing time about lower A ball, do you understand that Rutherford is suppose to shoot up through the minors based on his talent alone and for a kid in low ball he’s already the number two rated prospect in the system! In the SYSTEM! How many times do I have to spell it out for you. Are you a child?
Why do you keep bringing up Q. You are either slow or the slowest. Even if he’s supposed to shoot up the system he won’t reach the majors like in your fantasyland. You’ve gone way past stupid with your prospect crap into a whole new stratosphere. You are the true example of a bandwagoner..1978 yea right.
Wow, lol I’m speechless. This stupidity started with you telling me that Rutherford was not untouchable in regards to Quintana and recently you posted emphatically that you don’t want Quintana. I actually think Q is a very good number three and last year a number two but Like I said 100 times the Yanks are not one pitcher away and if I’m trading my second best prospect, that’s right second best cheerios as he is shooting up prospect rankings while in low ball I’m dealing him with others for a legitimate ace. Your trolling pal and as a Yankee fan your embarrassing us. I’m seriously wondering if your trolling as a Yankee fan now. Please admit now that your not because your making zero sense. Stop already as your embarrassing actual Yankee fans troll.
This guy again ☝️we already know. Your the guy who thinks yankees prospects are all superstars and untouchable
Oh great, the Boston fan is back suggested my what it will take to get Q insisting it has to happen as if he knows the Yanks will gut the system for the Ace Quintana. Go ahead, give us your next trade proposal. The last one was Frazier, Rutherford, Adams, and another prospect? This guy wants the trade to happen for reasons all too obvious. Root for your first place team and be happy .
Haven’t you heard on BillyBoys floor at the hospital everyone’s a superstar!
You would know room-mate but thankfully with meds I was released but unfortunately your still there. I’ll write.
The only way that package would make sense for Quintana ALONE is if they have someone lined up to take Hicks for at least 1 great prospect. Dude is 27 already and has been trash until this year. Not interested in him as a headliner.
Great article. Greg Zaun says to trade Justin Smoak now while his value is highest. I agree. The Blue Jays either need to load up on talent, they are not winning anything this year or next with this aging core and blow it up now or sell the farm to acquire elite Major League pitchers and another right handed powerbat to get them deep into the playoffs again..
As a longtime M’s fan Smoak will do the same thing Saunders did last year. We saw it many times from both these guys. They had these mini runs that they looked really good then went back to their norm. Toronto would be smart to get as much as they could for him right now by the end of the season he will be worth what Saunders was last year.
matt carpenter is the major hold up of the st louis cardinals breaking out of their funk. trade him.
I agree. Once Wong is off the DL, keep Voit at first, trade off carp and possibly one of the outfielders for a better one and the team certainly will look better.
Carpenter is a proven above average MLB hitter who’s hit .286/.438/.546 since being moved to lead off for the past 30 games. Voit is definitely playing well but you’re gonna just go with him after a whopping 14 MLB games? Carpenters hot streak has coincided with the cards playing better baseball. He’s also played good defense at first according to fan graphs at 4 DRS and a 2.2 UZR/150. He’s also leading the MLB in walks.
Cards have minor league outfield and pitching depth to trade from, no use trading one of their best players.
Todd Frazier is listed as a 3B possibility in another thread, but should also be listed here as a 1B. He plays a solid 1B.
Do you think the A’s could get a top 100 player for Alonso? I feel like the answer is no despite his numbers
I think they can. I think it’s gonna heat up (the market) pretty quick and people will over pay. Now, if they packaged Sonny and Yonder together to the Yankee’s… you can kiss a lot of talent goodbye.
Nothing in the top 80 prospect but any prospect after the top 80 is a question mark. The problem is many fans think a OF having a good year in AAA is a prospect when in reality they might be a 4th OF if they are lucky. Just like most pitching prospects are back of rotation starters not aces. Unless a player is in the top 50 prospects they are more likely bench players.
I think they will get a couple top 100 guys if they package Alonso with Madson or Doolittle, who are both dominating this year.
Remember, they got 3 top 100 guys for 2 rentals last year.
It would need be a package deal. Only problem is not many teams are looking for a 1B. Madson could bring in a prospect since he is not a 1 year rental.
Right, Alonso & Madson/Doolittle to the Yankees makes perfect sense. Alonso gets to launch bombs at the short porch in RF this year and doesn’t block anyone in the system next year, and the Yankees get super-penny again by adding another elite reliever who’s under control past this year.
It’s not ideal, ideally the A’s could trade Madson and Doolittle separately for big time packages like, a little less than Miller/Chapman ones, then on top of that, get a top 100 guy for Alonso, but I just think the Yankees are a particularly good fit for Alonso, who is the most-loved player in the game around the league and a fantastic team guy, as well as a solid defender and finally-elite hitter. Barreto saying that Alonso got in his ear about how he was approaching the pitcher and then he tripled and homered says a lot about Alonso’s off-field importance.
How did you come up with these guidelines for prospects?
Good, not elite. They don’t even close or collect wins.
The Yankees are the only serious spot for a 1B. There are more sellers than buyers in this case. A’s aren’t going to get a top 100 prospect without much more demand.
If they can’t, then they should just extend him instead of trading him.
I would have to say yes, Despite the high supply and not so high demand of 1B, he’s having a very strong year. somebody will budge.
Agreed
lmao who downvoted this
Tommy Joseph does have value. Controllable and would be a perfect 2nd guy in a deal for a pitcher by a contender. Unfortunately everyone knows phils need to move him lowering value
How does a. 250 hitter have value for a contender unless their current guy is hitting worse than him. He’s playing for a crappie team under no pressure and that’s his best? And rule the Yankees out, they’re iffy at best for a sustained run into the playoffs.
rocky exactly..White Sox fans although having valid points on a few Yanks fans and prospects,are still delusional on what Q is worth..lol.
I could see the Yankees possibly going for Jospeh. He wouldn’t take much to get. Jospeh could be a .270 hitter that can get you 25-30 HRs. He had a rough start and has pulled things around. He could be nice piece for them
For the love of god the Jays need to get rid of smoak before he goes all Saunders on us and has an epic second half collapse
I feel like Saunders was more fluky based on his babip and past career. Smoak has made mechanical adjustments, has a sports counsellor, and was once one of the leagues top prospects. Much more likely that he’s actually figured it out than Saunders did
I don’t beleive a word of smoak’s success this year comes from swing corrections. What garbage. He swing has going faster, his eye-hand co-ordination has improved, he can now see a cruve ball out of the ptichers hand when he couldn’t for the past 6 years and 3000 ab’s. No way Jose. not naturally. I am with Greg Zaun. Trade him now at his peak.
If you ignore the facts that’s true
What so called “facts” are you referring too?
Stats do say Smoak is due for regression.
Too bad Votto is owed that ton of money which makes his market much tougher!
Maybe a bad contract plus a prospect and Cindy eats some of the money.
Votto is so sick its ridiculous. Like, HE decides when he wants to lead the league in homers. Before he was just trying to be an all-round player or get on base. The game is easy to him, he’s a 1st ballot HOFer no doubt, even if his career ended tomorrow. He’s making $25M a year until he’s 40 and he’s actually been totally worth the money, which is rare.
First ballot if he ended tomorrow huh. Hmmm
Career .313/.425/.542/.967 slash line over 1350 games, not one scandal
– absolutely.
You need to be in the league ten years to be in HOF
Votto has been in the league for 11 years, genius.
Dude..this guy! Wow
Votto is an amazing player and very well may be the rarest of rare – the player that lives up to long term big money contract. That said , if he quit tomorrow I can see the argument for HOF but def not 1st ballot. When all is said and done by the end of this contract he will be a first ballot guy – just not right now. Right now the only players I think could walk away now with 5+ years of baseball in them and still make HOF would be Miggy and Kershaw
You neglected to mention Joe Mauer.
Don’t mean to be snarky, but am interested in understanding characterizations:
“He’s hitting at an unimpressive .252/.300/.454 rate since arriving in Toronto.” (Morales)
“He’s hitting at a solid .252/.313/.466 rate.” (Hoskins)
Yes but those numbers are in context. Morales’ batting line is unimpressive given his contract and expectations w/ that contract. Hoskins’ batting line is “solid” because he owns an extremely affordable contract.
I like Bour or Alonzo for the right price, as for a relief pitcher I like Hand.
What about Matt Adams
3 very affordable players I hope the Angels pursue this deadline.
1. Dee Gordon in exchange for a low level prospect and we take on the contract.
2. Tommy Joseph for a few low level pitching prospects.
3. Tony Watson in exchange for Valbuena or a couple of prospects in the form of Nonie Williams and Connor Justus.
I think the Phillies end up trading Jospeh to either the Angels or the Yankees. Maybe even the Cardinals, if they trade Carpenter or move him back to 3b
maybe. If Oakland trades Alonso, that could be a landing spot for him as well. same with Toronto if they trade Smoak.
Seattle?
would just like some young low A lottery ticket- cant expect more than that.
I wouldn’t expect any top prospects from any of those teams. I think the most Phillies could get would be around the tail end of the teams top 30, just because of his age and long term control
If Alonso or Smoak get traded that could open up talks for the Phillies to try and trade Jospeh there. But I think Oakland might have enough in-house options to handle 1st if they trade Alonso. Seattle could be a decent fit for Jospeh, that would give the Ms a cheap option at first both salty and prospect wise. Also give them the option to spend money elsewhere to help them contend
Salary*
As a Red Sox fan I wish Alonso could play third
That would easily help them out
Red Sox are going to acquire someone to play third, it just comes down to whether they want a rental or a more controllable player.
If they go rental I think Frazier would make the most sense.
If they go the controllable route, I could see them going for josh Harrison or the guy from Detroit, I forget how to spell his name
Yanks don’t think Quintana is a number one pitcher to put them over the top. He might be better for a team like Houston. They are closer. Cashman will do two things right now, keep improving the team to get them in the playoffs and not trade any of his top prospects unless it’s for an ace pitcher. who is controllable. Since their isn’t one out there they upgrade first base and get a relief pitcher both as rentals. This makes sense to me, they pick up Alonzo and either Hand or Neshek. Cashman goes after an ace in the winter, with Darvish and possibly Ohtani.
I think the Yankees will wait it out mostly and see how the next few weeks play out if they further back and Cashman thinks they just aren’t ready this year they may even become sellers.
If the Os become sellers you better believe Trumbo and Davis are available