Predicting the 2018 Trade Deadline: Joakim Soria

The Chicago White Sox are not going anywhere here in 2018 and when teams are struggling in the midst of a rebuild they tend to sign veteran players only to trade them at a later time. It happens all the time, and it will likely happen again this summer when the White Sox trade away closer Joakim Soria to a contending team in need of bullpen help. The Milwaukee Brewers will need bullpen help if they want to stave off the Chicago Cubs and the St. Louis Cardinals making them a perfect match for a trade and for Soria’s services.

Milwaukee lost their closer Corey Knebel for a month due to an injury and while he has been solid since his return he is still sporting an ERA north of 4.00 this season. Having an inconsistent closer may win you some games in what many determined as a weak National League Central division here in 2018, but that will not win you many games in the postseason. Soria would give the Brewers the edge they need to not only reach the postseason, but to possibly advanced past the first round of the playoffs if they were to win their division.

Soria would come relatively cheap given that the White Sox are rebuilding in terms of prospects and will likely be atop the Brewers radar here in about a month. It is a foregone conclusion that Soria will be traded, and at this point it is also as close to 100% as you can get that the Brewers will look for bullpen help at the end of the game. Whether that search leads them to Soria, or another veteran closer, remains to be seen, but my money is on Soria pitching for Milwaukee before the end of the 2018 season and adding to his miniscule 2.0 innings pitched in the postseason throughout the 34-year old’s career.

Predicting the 2018 Trade Deadline: Mike Moustakas

"I am out of here!!"

Mike Moustakas has been about the only bright spot in the entire Kansas City Royals organization this season, at least as far as the Major League team is concerned. The team has struggled as a whole with the exception of Moustakas, who came back on a one-year deal after failing to find another suitable team to play for here in 2018 as a free agent this winter, and the Royals will undoubtedly cash in on his successes before this year’s July 31^st trade deadline. There will be many teams interested in his services but ultimately, I believe it will be the Boston Red Sox, as much as that pains me to say, who will acquire the man they call “Moose Tacos.”

Why would the Red Sox need to go out and acquire Moustakas from the Kansas City Royals when the organization feels like they have their third baseman of the future already on the team in Rafael Devers? Recently Kansas City has allowed Moustakas to play some first base, albeit just in a pair of games, presumably as a showcase for the natural third baseman in trades. The Red Sox recently let go of a first baseman in Hanley Ramirez in order to not only avoid his 2019 option from triggering, but also to give Mitch Moreland some more at-bats at the position. Since the designation of assignment for Ramirez the Red Sox first baseman has struggled mightily giving the team a need at first.

Moustakas could fit the bill rotating between first base, third base and the designated hitter position for the Red Sox while giving the team a much-needed boost in offense. Moustakas is well on his way to another 30+ home run season and he could touch 40 home runs and 100 RBI if half his games were being played inside Fenway Park. This would not only be great for Moustakas as it would give him an opportunity to play in a pennant race as well as showcase his talents for teams on a grand stage before his impending free agency, but it would also be a huge upgrade for minimal prospects for the Red Sox because he is a rental.

Moustakas comes with a $15 million mutual option for the 2019 season with a $1 million buyout that the Red Sox could easily either buy out, or exercise for next season without blinking an eye. As much as it pains me to say this as a Yankees fan, I truly believe that Moustakas will be playing for the Boston Red Sox once the calendar turns to August 1, 2018.