Written by Jonah Keri at CBSSports.com
The August 1 non-waiver trade deadline is just two weeks away, meaning the clock is ticking for teams to complete trades that will either help position themselves for a playoff push this year or set themselves up for a brighter future.
Last week, we looked at all 15 American League teams, examining what each of them might (and should) do between now and the trade deadline. Today, the National League!
NL EAST
Atlanta Braves
For a team that’s in full rebuilding mode, the Braves are highly unlikely to move any big-name veterans. That’s because they’ve already traded away many of their shiniest assets over the past couple years, with Shelby Miller,Evan Gattis, and others bringing in big returns.
Julio Teheran would seem the most obvious choice among the players still on the major league roster, but he’s also 25 years old and controllable via a bargain contract through 2020. Add Freddie Freeman to the (more or less) untouchable list, and we’re down to role players as potential trade candidates.
Look for always aggressive general manager John Coppolella to shop relievers, with sinkerballer Jim Johnson and young, effective lefty Ian Krolboth offering decent bait for B-level prospects.
Miami Marlins
The Fish are right in the middle of the NL wild-card race, and the starting pitching rumors have been out there for a while, so we might be talking more about what kind of deal they’ll make, as opposed to whether they’ll make one at all.
The bargain aisle includes pitchers like Jeremy Hellickson, an innings eater having the best season of a mostly unremarkable career who’s also making $7 million this season and can test free agency at season’s end, thus making him an inexpensive trade target. The Marlins could also target one of Pittsburgh’s surplus starters (Jon Niese or Jeff Locke) or one of the Twins’ high-priced mediocrities (Ricky Nolasco, Ervin Santana) if they want to go cheap.
Acquiring a more coveted starter like one of the Rays’ 20-somethings (Matt Moore, Drew Smyly, Jake Odorizzi) or Rich Hill (if he’s healthy) might be tricky, given how motivated teams higher up in the standings (Rangers,Orioles, Dodgers, etc.) might be to make a splash.
New York Mets
The Mets are in a weird spot. Their offense has struggled to score runs, but much of that looks like a statistical fluke, with the team sitting last in the majors in batting average with runners in scoring position. The supposed strength of the team has taken multiple hits, with Matt Harvey out for the year, and health questions surrounding Steven Matz and maybe even Noah Syndergaard.
Some of the answers to the team’s erratic play the past few weeks might come down to players already on the roster coming through. If Michael Conforto can return from the minors, hit the way people hoped coming into this season, and also play a passable center field, that would give the club a big lift. The same goes for Travis d’Arnaud hitting up to his potential and also staying healthy; Jose Reyes being a capable option at third base for the rest of the season; and Zack Wheeler returning from Tommy John surgery to give the Mets some quality innings.
With the farm system thinner it was a year ago after top prospects likeMichael Fulmer were shipped to other clubs, the best course of action might be to root for the players they already have to live up to expectations.
Philadelphia Phillies
Like the Braves, the Phillies have already sold off many of their most tradeable assets over the past year. Of the possible trade chits left, Hellickson seems like a mortal lock to go elsewhere, unless the offers are so underwhelming that the Phillies decide to keep him as a way to soak up innings and protect their younger arms.
After that, you’ve got Peter Bourjos, the excellent fly-chaser who’s having an unusually good year at the plate; Jeanmar Gomez, the stopgap closer who’s done a surprisingly good job and could profile as a capable setup man for a contender; and David Hernandez, the journeyman right-hander who’s been cuffed around this season but also owns one of the highest strikeout rates in the league, with 55 punchouts in 44 innings.
Washington Nationals
Much of the buzz in D.C. revolves around the Nats’ quest for bullpen reinforcements, specifically a wipeout lefty. With Aroldis Chapman andAndrew Miller on the market, there are some sexy hypotheticals in play. Still, the Nationals boast one of baseball’s most productive pens, making another big arm a bit of a luxury item.
The club’s biggest weakness is center field, a Ben Revere-led position that has yielded an awful cumulative line of .221/.274/.337. The Rockies’ Charlie Blackmon has seen his name floated in multiple trade scenarios. Even adjusting for a post-Coors Field existence, Blackmon would likely offer a substantial offensive upgrade, he’s controllable through 2018, and last summer’s trade of Troy Tulowitzki showed that Colorado GM Jeff Bridich isn’t afraid to trade popular veterans if the price is right.
To continue reading this article, click here.
