MLB Trade Deadline 2015: Players Most Likely to Be Dealt

Just a few days remain before MLB's July 31 trade deadline, and the rumor mill is swirling.

Which potential stars are likely to be wearing a different jersey this time next week? There is a nice mix of rental players and stars under control for a few more seasons who are on the trade block, and there will also be some surprises as well.

I've compiled a list with the latest news regarding players most likely to be traded over the next few days. Factors, such as team position, news reports, player contracts and player production have all been taken into account. Aces, such as David Price and Cole Hamels, are widely speculated to be trade candidates. 

Be sure to comment if you would want your team to trade for anyone on this list or if you have any input in the days leading up to the deadline.

One name being tossed around is Carlos Gonzalez, who has been the subject of trade rumors in the past as well.

The Colorado Rockies are just 42-54 on the season and are in last place in the National League West. Trading Gonzalez may be the team's first real step toward starting fresh with new prospects and regrouping for 2016.

Some of the trade rumors are unsubstantiated, however.

"I’ve seen CarGo linked to the Angels, Royals and Mets," wrote Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post. "But, again, there is nothing concrete to suggest that CarGo is close to being shipped out of Colorado."

Gonzalez has certainly raised his trade value over the last few weeks, hitting .377 in July. He also has eight home runs and 19 RBI during the month, which has been his best of the season.

Gonzalez's injury history and home/road splits are two issues that could turn interested teams off, however.

For his career, Gonzalez is a .326 hitter at Coors Field and a .256 hitter everywhere else. It is unclear what kind of numbers he can produce without playing his home games in Colorado. Additionally, Gonzalez has been one of the most injury-prone players in recent history. The 29-year-old has never played more than 150 games in a season and has appeared in less than 130 in five of seven seasons prior to 2015.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that the New York Mets are "under the impression" that the Rockies don't want to trade Troy Tulowitzki, which also leads me to believe that they are hesitant to trade Gonzalez.

Although he is due $37 million over the next two seasons, the Rockies have already prolonged their rebuild for a few seasons now, so it wouldn't be surprising if Gonzalez stayed put.

Carlos Gomez, a two-time National League All-Star and 5-tool player, might be headed out of Milwaukee.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported that Gomez was on the trade block. 

"Gomez's possible move is born of pragmatism, as the person mentioned how there's no way the Brewers would be able to afford to keep Gomez long-term considering Jacoby Ellsbury's $153-million deal," Heyman wrote. 

Gomez is due just $9 million next season, but perhaps the Milwaukee Brewers think they can get top value if they traded him now with the mindset that they can't pay him beyond next season anyway. It's certainly a seller's market, and there will be a long list of teams inquiring about his services if he truly is available. 

Originally a Mets' prospect involved in the Johan Santana trade, Gomez took a few years to develop. His first five seasons were all underwhelming, but he eventually figured it out and evolved into a dynamic player atop a lineup. He has four seasons with more than 30 steals and three seasons with more than 15 home runs, possessing a speed and power combination that has become rare among center fielders.

Gomez can change a team's lineup, and his gold glove defense in center field doesn't hurt, either.

It was a shock when the Atlanta Braves sent Craig Kimbrel to the San Diego Padres right before the 2015 season began, and it's equally as surprising that they are already looking to deal him.

The Padres swung hard in the offseason, making one splash after the next, but their moves haven't translated to wins. With a mediocre 47-52 record, it appears as if the Padres are ready to hit the reset button once again.

"Kimbrel is one of the game's best closers, so he should have very good value, though they may have difficulty bringing back what they gave up for him in the monster trade with the Braves," Jon Heyman of CBS Sports wrote.

Kimbrel will be a hot commodity on the market, although his current 2.75 ERA is the highest of his career. He is signed for $24 million over the next two seasons and has a $13 million team option in 2018. His contract is certainly team-friendly, offering the club some control at a price point lower than current free-agent market value. 

Contenders looking for bullpen fortification at the deadline will be calling San Diego, as Kimbrel is one of the game's best closers when he is right.

If Detroit Tigers ace David Price gets traded, don't expect it to be soon.

"I have no doubt that [Tigers GM] Dave [Dombrowski] is going to drag it to Thursday or Friday," Price's agent, Bo McKinnis, said, per Jason Beck of MLB.com. "If I was in his shoes, that's what I would do, because this team was set up to win, and it's just kind of hard to throw in the towel."

The Tigers have been in win-now mode for several seasons now, so it is understandable if there is some hesitation to pack it in this season. They are four games behind the Minnesota Twins for the second wild card, so if Miguel Cabrera were to return and the Tigers were to get hot, they are still in striking range of the postseason. 

ESPN's Jim Bowden thinks the Tigers will be buyers rather than sellers:

"There's plenty of time left in the season, and if they bring home a wild-card spot, they'll have Price to pitch the wild-card game and a lineup that can beat October pitching. That was what my gut said -- and Tigers president/GM Dave Dombrowski personally backed that assertion with me Sunday night, saying the team will continue to try and win."

The trade of Johnny Cueto raised speculation that Price would be the next ace to be dealt, but the Tigers will likely evaluate the standings on July 31 and assess their position as a franchise.

Either way, the Tigers will be in a tough position, so this is not an easy decision by any means.

"Keeping Price would mean that the Tigers are committing enormous resources into the possibility that the team could rebound and claim one of the two wild-card spots in the American League and reach the one-game playoff," ESPN's Buster Olney wrote.

That would certainly be quite the gamble. 

If "Big Game" James Shields is going to find himself in meaningful games down the stretch, it won't be as a member of the Padres.

ESPN's Jayson Stark first reported that the Padres “really want to move” Shields.

Shields has three years and $63 million left on his deal after this season but can opt out after 2016. That opt-out clause may be picked up if Shields has a big year next year and thinks he can cash in on the open market. With that in mind, it is possible that a team may only be on the hook for one and a half years of his contract.

In his first year in San Diego, Shields is 8-3 with a 3.77 ERA and 144 strikeouts in 126.2 innings pitched. His 10.2 K/9 rate is the highest of his career and is likely due to the fact that he is now in the National League. 

Shields can help a fringe team make a run to the postseason, but his effectiveness once they get there is unknown. In 11 career playoff starts, Shields is just 3-6 with a 5.46 ERA and hasn't lived up to his nickname.

Cole Hamels' name continues to be raised in trade talks, but his case is very complicated.

The lefty has three years and $70.5 million on his contract after this season, and it is unclear what type of prospects opposing teams are willing to move for that type of investment. The Philadelphia Phillies are reportedly keeping their asking price high.

"The Phillies continue to seek at least one very high-end prospect for Hamels," wrote Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

It makes sense that the Phillies want one high-end prospect, as the Chicago Cubs got Addison Russell for Jeff Samardzija last season. Russell was ranked the No. 3 prospect prior to the 2015 season by Baseball America and No. 2 by BaseballProspectus.com.

Hamels would likely have more value than last year's Samardzija, who was a rental player. Additionally, Hamels is coming off of a no-hitter of the Chicago Cubs, which lowered his season ERA to 3.64, although it is still his highest since 2009.

"Now it's only a matter of time before he's dealt, with the Dodgers, Cubs, Rangers and Red Sox being the four most likely destinations, in that order," ESPN's Jim Bowden wrote.

My gut tells me a contender will take a chance on him, hoping that the chance to play for a winning team again will boost his morale and production. The Phillies' rebuilding process is long overdue, so trading Hamels would be the first step toward a youth movement in the City of Brotherly Love. 

Yoenis Cespedes is facing the possibility of being dealt on consecutive trade deadlines.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today reported that the Detroit Tigers were going to be sellers at the deadline and that Cespedes is on the trade market. 

If a Cespedes deal comes to fruition, it would be the third time in a calendar year that the Cuban will have been traded.

The strange thing is that Cespedes has produced in all of his stops; he has just been unlucky in that he is a great outfielder on teams in selling positions. Coming off his All-Star season in 2014, Cespedes has hit 15 home runs and driven in 55 RBI in his first season in Detroit. His production has been overshadowed by the stellar season of fellow outfielder J.D. Martinez, who leads the Tigers in home runs and RBI. 

Cespedes is likely in line for a big contract extension as a free agent this offseason, so if the Tigers decide 2015 isn't their year, Cespedes would likely be a casualty at the deadline. His power can be a difference-maker in a pennant race.

The New York Mets have discussed trade scenarios with the Cincinnati Reds, which have included right-handed pitcher Zack Wheeler, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

I'm a huge fan of Bruce, but I think the Mets are crazy for offering that deal, especially when their current right fielder Curtis Granderson is signed for two more seasons and owed $30 million. Wheeler is currently rehabbing from Tommy John surgery but has front of the rotation potential and can be a true ace one day.

Bruce has picked it up lately and is now hitting .258 with 16 home runs and 53 RBI for the year. While he has been linked to the Mets, I think he's an even better fit for their crosstown rival. Bruce's lefty power stroke would translate well to Yankee Stadium, and he can replace Carlos Beltran as the everyday right fielder in the Bronx.

With the Reds already trading ace Johnny Cueto to the Kansas City Royals, a Bruce trade seems inevitable. It'll be interesting to see where he lands, as he is owed just $12.5 million in 2016 and his power can help a contender. 

If the San Diego Padres throw in the towel on the 2015 season, outfielder Justin Upton is the most likely to be traded.

"The Padres, of course, also have a few free agents who are seen as likely to go," wrote Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. "Outfielders Justin Upton and Will Venable and starter Ian Kennedy are among the free agents who will likely find a new home."

Since Upton has an expiring contract, the Padres may look to deal him if they think his price on the open market will be too high, lessening their odds of re-signing him in the offseason. 

"Trading outfielder Justin Upton is their biggest priority since he's a free agent at season's end and probably would bring the biggest trade return of any position player at the deadline," wrote Jim Bowden of ESPN. "The Mets, Angels, Astros, Cubs and Royals have all been linked to Upton."

Although the Padres have been a disappointment this season, Upton has not. The 27-year-old has hit .251 with 16 home runs and 50 RBI in his lone season in San Diego. His batting average has dropped from .302 on June 1, but a change of scenery will allow Upton to be in a better lineup and see better pitches to hit. 

The Oakland A's are drawing "heavy interest" from other teams regarding Ben Zobrist, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Rosenthal also reported that a deal will likely not happen quickly, as the A's will need to "sift through" the trade offers. 

After trading Scott Kazmir, the A's (44-56) have nothing left to play for, as they are already 12 games behind the Angels for the division lead. GM Billy Beane will likely chalk up 2015 as a rare lost season for Oakland and look to move spare parts for young players.

For Oakland, this trade deadline will look very different than a year ago, when they acquired Jeff Samardzija and Jon Lester in an effort to make a World Series run.

Zobrist is the type of utility player who can fit with many teams because of his ability to contribute at different positions and in different ways. He has played four positions this season and has played every position besides pitcher and catcher in his career.

Zobrist's name has been linked to many teams, but one analyst wonders if the Kansas City Royals would shift their focus to him after dealing for Cueto.

"Question now for Royals: Do they go and get Ben Zobrist, too? The fit is absolutely perfect. Nationals and Mets, among others, are in play," Yahoo's Jeff Passan tweeted.

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