This might shape up to be one of the least exciting non-waiver trade deadlines in Major League Baseball’s recent past, but that doesn’t change the fact that teams still need to add to their rosters.
And, more specifically, many contenders are pretty desperate for pitching help.
The market for pitchers isn’t exactly loaded with aces, and the playoff race in both the American and National Leagues is tight, so it’s mostly the worst teams that are willing to sell before Monday. Still, some serviceable talent is available, and here’s where those pitchers would be a good fit.
Andrew Cashner: Miami Marlins
The Marlins have showed up to the race this season, and they’re hungry for their first playoff trip since 2003. They’ll need another starter if they want to hold on to the NL’s second wild-card spot, though, and Cashner could be that guy.
Miami reportedly has interest in the right-hander, and the San Diego Padres likely wouldn’t mind taking first base prospect Josh Naylor off the Marlins’ hands. Cashner isn’t having a great season at 4-7 with a 4.76 ERA for the struggling Padres, but he could find a home in the pitcher-friendly confines of Marlins Park.
Chris Archer: Houston Astros
The Astros’ rotation needs help, and they might be able to wrangle the Rays’ No. 1 starter out of Tampa Bay. Archer has struggled this season and probably wouldn’t cost nearly as much as he would while at the top of his game, as the right-hander at his best is great.
Houston has a good farm system to dip into or fall back on if it’s going to add major-league talent to any deal, and Archer might settle in if he’s not expected to shoulder the load in the No. 2 spot. Of course, 2015 AL Cy Young winner Dallas Keuchel also is having a rough season for the Astros, but who knows? Maybe the duo would take some pressure off each other.
Plus, Archer would be staying at a park named after orange juice in going from Tropicana Field to Minute Maid Park, which has nothing to do with anything but is a very fun coincidence.
Rich Hill: Baltimore Orioles
The Orioles likely would love to add Hill to their rotation, which is one of MLB’s worst, and the veteran left-hander would fit in well there. In fact, he already played in Baltimore, in 2009.
Camden Yards is a bandbox, but Hill has given up just two home runs for the Oakland Athletics this entire season and sports a 9-3 record with a 2.25 ERA. However, the O’s might not have what the A’s want to land Hill. Oakland reportedly asked the Boston Red Sox for Anderson Espinoza, their best pitching prospect, in exchange for the 36-year-old, who’s only a rental. Baltimore’s farm system is bad, so if the A’s want Espinoza-level talent, the Orioles won’t be able to pull this deal.
Matt Shoemaker: Texas Rangers
The Rangers easily could make a run at the World Series if they solidify their rotation, and Matt Shoemaker could do that for them. The Los Angeles Angels reportedly have made the right-hander available, and with the league’s worst batch of prospects, they’d likely love to pick from Texas’ plentiful farm system. Shoemaker’s stats don’t look great with a 5-11 record and 4.17 ERA, but his 3.29 FIP tells a different story.
Edinson Volquez: Pittsburgh Pirates
Volquez had his best season with the Pirates in 2014, so why shouldn’t Pittsburgh try again? Volquez’s current teams, the Kansas City Royals, is 8 1/2 games out of first place in the AL Central, and the Pirates are eight games out of first in the NL Central, so these are two teams that wouldn’t mind helping each other out. Volquez is another rental, too, so Pittsburgh and KC both could be safe with what they’re giving in return.
Bonus — Chris Sale: Rangers or Los Angeles Dodgers
This one is a bonus because, in all honestly, Sale probably won’t leave the Chicago White Sox. That’s not necessarily because the club isn’t willing to trade him, but the White Sox probably won’t get the haul they want for Sale after he went all Norman Bates on their throwback uniforms. If any team is successful, though, it would be either the Rangers or the Dodgers, who have two of the best farm systems in baseball and a need for another starter.
Thumbnail photo via Gary A. Vasquez/USA TODAY Sports Images
