The July 31st trading deadline is fast
approaching here for the 2018 MLB season, so let’s take the chance to post a
few bold predictions for every team in the National League West before the
deadline next Tuesday. Enjoy, and leave your comments and thoughts below in the
comments section.
The Arizona
Diamondbacks need a shortstop and a catcher, but their biggest issue will
be the lack of prospects that their farm system has available in order to
acquire either one of these positions of need. Another area of concern for
Arizona this summer will be money, especially with the bulk of their allotted salaries
going to RHP Zack Greinke. The window to win in Arizona is quickly closing as
Patrick Corbin will hit the free agent market after the season leaving Arizona
with no choice but to take advantage of the slow start by the Los Angeles
Dodgers in 2018. The team will need to go all-in, but unfortunately the market
for both shortstops and catchers is dry and barren. The team needs to make some
additional moves in my opinion to hold off the rest of the National League
West, but I just can’t see them having the pieces and the dollars to make any substantial
moves.
The Los Angeles
Dodgers have already made the biggest splash to date in the July 31st
trading deadline season and you would be a fool if you thought that they were
done. The Dodgers stumbled coming out of the gates here in 2018 and have a lot
of ground to make up, but the good news for Los Angeles is that now they are
back within striking distance of not only the playoffs, but the division as
well. The team needs second base help and could look at a veteran rental like
Brian Dozier to team with Chase Utley and others as well as a relief pitcher or
two to help get the ball to Kenley Jansen. The Dodgers are not done though, not
by a long shot, so stay tuned.
The Colorado Rockies
need a first baseman or an outfielder as well as more pitching, much like every
single contender and potential playoff team here in 2018, so why wouldn’t the
team get all that done in one major deal with the Cincinnati Reds. I truly
think these two teams can matchup for a blockbuster trade that could bring in
outfielder and first baseman Adam Duvall along with reliever Raisel Iglesias. If
the Rockies truly want to get greedy they could also try and pry away Matt
Harvey in the deal as well to plug in a hole at the back end of their rotation.
The Rockies window for winning is closing as Nolan Arenado, their third
baseman, inches closer towards free agency so the time to strike for this club
may be now. They have already solidified the bullpen some this trade season,
but this move may finally push the Rockies to the “All in” category. The team
is close not only to clinching a postseason berth, but also close enough to
potentially snipe the National League West away from the Dodgers and the Diamondbacks.
The San Diego Padres
will trade Kirby Yates, Tyson Ross and Craig Stammen. The Padres are not going
anywhere this season and will likely trade away all their valuable arms before
the deadline much like the team did with Brad Hand and Adam Cimber. Kirby Yates
is a true rental and is having a career-year, which to be honest was likely
aided by pitching in baseball’s equivalent of Yellowstone Park, while Ross came
back to San Diego this season on a Minor League deal. I could see a team like
the New York Yankees taking a waiver on Ross just because of how cheap he is in
terms of dollars and cents, or any other team for that matter who needs a
starter including the Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals or the Milwaukee
Brewers.
The San Francisco
Giants will trade Jeff Samardzija. Yes, I said it. The team went out and
aggressively acquired Evan Longoria and Andrew McCutchen before the season, but
to date their efforts have been for nothing as the team is once again on the
outside looking in at the postseason as we stand here today. I don’t think the
Giants are out of it enough to completely tear everything down, and I don’t
think they are at the point yet where they will or where they need to trade
Madison Bumgarner, so a simple trade that could net them a prospect or two in a
weak pitcher’s market while also clearing some money off the luxury tax cap
could be in order in San Francisco. Sorry, Giants fans… I know you expected more.
Disclaimer: BOLD predictions are meant to be BOLD for a
reason. Keep that in mind before directing hate mail towards me or any of my
writers on the blog or on Twitter. Thanks in advance.
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Sorry for the Capatcha... Blame the Russians :)