Trade Deadline Fits

After a brief hiatus from the blog, I'm back, and just in time for one of the most exciting parts of the year in the baseball world: the MLB Trade Deadline. In this post I'll be going over several names I've seen repeatedly in the rumor mill and what team would be the best fit for them. Please note: this is not meant to be predictions of where I expect players to go. Rather it is solely about fit, type of player, and where a given team is in terms of their championship window. In any case, I have no doubt this is going to be a trade deadline to remember, as I've seen plenty of big names being thrown around.

Kris Bryant: New York Mets

In my mind, the Mets fit the bill perfectly for Kris Bryant. They definitely could use another bat, especially one in the prime of his career who also has previous playoff experience, something the Mets don't really have. By adding Bryant New York gets a type of hitter that outside of Pete Alonso is non-existent on the team. Additionally, Bryant is a player who would shine under the bright lights, and certainly wouldn't mind resigning with the team come the offseason should the trade work out. I also see J.D. Davis as more of a utility depth piece than an everyday third baseman, providing an acquisition that makes perfect sense in all facets.

Starling Marte: Boston Red Sox

After declining an embarrassingly low extension offer from his front office, Marte's short tenure with Miami looks to be coming to an end. Personality-wise, Marte could be considered a veteran at this point in his career, being 32 years old, and loving being that veteran presence around a young team. Early on this year he had said he wanted to retire as a Marlin, making it even more laughable that the Marlins couldn't get an extension done. In my mind, this persona, along with his actual on-field product, screams Boston. With young players such as Alex Verdugo, Christian Arroyo, Jalen Duran, and Rafael Devers, Marte could be a leader in that clubhouse. Jalen Duran stands out to me, as Marte could take the reigns in centerfield and coach up Duran in the process. And while the Red Sox currently boast one of the league's best offenses, getting another great outfield bat could be the piece that puts them over the top.

Joey Gallo: New York Yankees

A power-hitting, left-handed, outfield bat. A great excuse to not start Brett Gardner. This guy has Yankees written all over him. The Yankees desperately need not only offensive production, but specifically left handed bats. Their lineup is almost entirely righties--a recipe for disaster if this team wants to make a playoff push. He's also not a free agent until 2023, and is 27 years old. I'd imagine New York would want to keep Gallo for the long haul, and that could certainly work given Gallo's current contract and their willingness to spend more money. There's really nothing else to say here, he's the perfect fit in the Bronx. All the Yankees have to do is pull the trigger.

Trevor Story: Oakland Athletics

Of the six players I'm discussing/about to discuss, Story seems like the least likely to be traded, mostly due to the front office's ineptitude in Colorado. That being said, Oakland would be a great fit for Story. Trading for a big name goes against a lot of what the A's have consistently done over the past couple decades, but here's why Story makes sense. The A's are in a tough spot. Their stars Matt Olson, Matt Chapman, Ramon Laureano, and more are only getting closer to their paydays (which the A's usually can't afford). They need to make a deeper playoff run soon before this core runs out and before they have to churn out new prospects. Story makes sense as he's an expiring contract, so they'll only have to commit to him for two months. He could be the piece they need to take the next step and actually make a run in October by filling in the Marcus-Semien-sized hole at shortstop. This is the perfect time for Oakland to go all in, especially with all signs pointing to it being their last year in Oakland.

Jose Berrios: San Francisco Giants

Berrios is in a similar situation to Gallo: both are 27 years old, and both have until after the 2022 season to become unrestricted free agents. A team that trades for Berrios isn't just looking to win this year, they're looking to add a piece for the future. Behold: the San Francisco Giants. A starting-pitching needy team who could definitely use Berrios both now and in the future. In fact, I wouldn't be surprised if they pull off a blockbuster and throw reliever Taylor Rogers into the deal (not to be confused with submarine pitcher Tyler Rogers, who is Taylor's brother and is already on the Giants). Berrios has been arguably having a career year this season, and since the Giants' starting arms have looked a bit inconsistent of late, Berrios would be the perfect acquisition.

Craig Kimbrel: Los Angeles Dodgers

Lastly, we have the biggest-name reliever of this year's market: Craig Kimbrel. I doubt the LA Dodgers expected to be 3 games behind San Francisco this late in the season, and Kenley Jansen has been having his fair share of struggles of late. I imagine the Dodgers would be willing to pounce on Kimbrel and get the bullpen help they need. Right now, that's really all they need. They have the hitting, they have the starting pitching, they just need a guy who can close out games reliably, and that isn't Jansen. It's Kimbrel. This is nearly identical to the Joey Gallo situation: it simply makes too much sense.

Other Names:

These names aren't as likely to be traded as the names above, but definitely have a shot at being traded. Again, this is about fit and not about actual trade projections.

Max Scherzer: Dodgers

Whit Merrifield: Mariners

Jose Ramirez: Giants

Byron Buxton: Marlins

Kyle Gibson: Red Sox

Richard Rodriguez: Phillies

Danny Duffy: Astros

Eduardo Escobar: Yankees

Adam Duvall: Rays

Jon Gray: Mets

Ian Kennedy: White Sox

Taylor Rogers: Giants