With under a week to go until the MLB trade deadline, teams are settling their plans. What should each NL West team look to do by August 1st?
The National League West has contained a few surprises this season, and four of the five teams are looking to augment their rosters for a playoff push. The first-place Dodgers are more vulnerable than they’ve been in years and have already begun adding to their roster. Four games behind Los Angeles sit the Giants and the surprising Diamondbacks, both holding a wild-card spot. The disappointing Padres are within shouting distance of a playoff spot, and the Rockies bring up the rear. With four teams looking to earn playoff spots down the stretch, the NL West will be active participants at the MLB trade deadline. Let’s identify one move each team should look to make in the next week.
Arizona Diamondbacks – Jack Flaherty
The Diamondbacks have emerged as one of the top young teams in the National League, with rookie Corbin Carroll leading the charge. Arizona spent a sizable amount of the early season in first place, though they’ve fallen off a bit as they approach the MLB trade deadline. Offensively, their lineup is solid, but the Diamondbacks have struggled to field a viable rotation for much of the season. Enter the Cardinals‘ Flaherty, who is an impending free agent. Despite his injury history and inconsistency in recent years, Flaherty presents an upgrade behind Zac Gallen. With Merill Kelly’s recent injury, pitching will be even more of an issue down the stretch for Arizona, who has a strong farm system to offer pitching prospects to St. Louis in return.
Colorado Rockies – Trade Daniel Bard
Last deadline, the Rockies elected to extend the 38-year-old Bard to a two-year contract rather than trading him away. Colorado cannot afford to make the same mistake at this year’s MLB trade deadline. Bard has put up a 2.02 ERA this season in 35 2/3 innings pitched, despite not acting as the Rockies closer this season. His experience in high-leverage spots will aid a club looking to bolster its late-inning relief corps. Bard is at the top of a thin back-end reliever market and should command a solid return for a club that has struggled to rebuild. Teams like the Rangers, Twins, and Dodgers will figure to be in the market for Bard.
Los Angeles Dodgers – Lucas Giolito
The Dodgers and Giolito have been identified as a trade match for months. A native of Southern California, Giolito would immediately be comfortable pitching in Los Angeles. The former All-Star has been rocky for the past two seasons but has still been effective this year, with a 3.79 ERA in 21 starts for the White Sox. An impending free agent, Giolito will certainly be on the move at the MLB trade deadline, and the Dodgers figure to key in on acquiring him. Injuries to Los Angeles’s entire rotation have forced multiple rookies into service, with mixed results. With the strength of their farm system, the Dodgers have the prospect capital to get the deal done, even with other suitors in the mix.
San Diego Padres – Joe Kelly
The underperforming Padres have been one of the surprises of baseball this season. Just, not in a good way. Currently six games behind the third wild card position, the Padres have hinted at selling. However, with the cost of their roster and the depth of talent, San Diego cannot afford to sell and waste a season of their stars. Unfortunately, the Padres lack payroll flexibility and have decimated their farm system in recent years. Joe Kelly, owner of a 4.66 ERA for the White Sox this season, is a low-risk deal with upside. Despite his struggles this season, he brings playoff experience and a late-inning pedigree. Though the White Sox are locked into seller mode, Kelly’s market has significantly shrunk through this season. This will allow the Padres to be in the market for his services at the MLB trade deadline, without the price of a top-100 prospect.
San Francisco Giants – Marcus Stroman
Though the Giants are in playoff position, their play after the All-Star Break has exposed some holes in the roster. None are more apparent than in the starting rotation, which has been reliant on Logan Webb and Alex Cobb at the top. Stroman was an All-Star this season and fits the Giants’ organizational philosophies well. Limiting home runs and prioritizing ground balls is a focus in San Francisco, and Stroman is a top candidate to be traded by the Cubs. Such a roster fit cannot be discounted; however, Stroman’s market figures to be high. A deal like this will likely cost San Francisco a former top prospect like Joey Bart, and some lower-level prospects as well. However, this is an essential move for the Giants to make at the MLB trade deadline.
In the final week before the MLB trade deadline, teams in the NL West have limited time to supplement their rosters. With four of the five teams in the middle of playoff races, the division figures to have a major impact on the MLB trade deadline. Throughout the rest of the week, we’ll take a look at who each team from the American League should target.
Main photo credits:
David Banks-USA TODAY Sports
Players mentioned:
Jack Flaherty, Corbin Carroll, Zac Gallen, Daniel Bard, Lucas Giolito, Joe Kelly, Marcus Stroman, Logan Webb, Alex Cobb, Joey Bart
