Jeff Samardzija and David Price are the two best pitchers on the trade block. However, for teams not looking to sell the farm, Jason Hammel, Ian Kennedy and Brandon McCarthy are attractive options. While these pitchers have an up and down history, they have been very good this year and could make a significant impact in the stretch run.
Jason Hammel was signed by the Chicago Cubs this offseason to a modest one year deal worth $6 million. After a strong 2012 season where he established a career-best 22.9 percent strikeout rate, his 2013 campaign with the Baltimore Orioles was underwhelming.
This year he’s been excellent over 16 starts with the Cubs. He owns strikeout and walk rates of 24.0 percent and 5.2 percent for a K-BB% that is more than double last year’s 7.9 percent mark.
Ian Kennedy was swapped by the Arizona Diamondbacks last season for a couple of relief pitchers. Following a 2013 campaign where he authored an ugly 4.91 ERA, Kennedy has been much better for the San Diego Padres.
Though his ERA is a rather pedestrian 4.02, he’s pitched much better. He has career-best strikeout and walk rates of 25.8 percent and 6.3 percent. His K-BB% is one of the best in baseball, as is his 84 xFIP-.
It’s best to look at 2013 as an outlier, as Kennedy has compiled at least 2.4 fWAR in every other season. Furthermore, his fastball velocity is up to where he is sitting at 91-93. The Padres bought him for pennies on the dollar last year, if he’s moved again this season he’ll be more expensive.
Brandon McCarthy owns a 4.11 ERA that, when adjusted for park factors is more than 30 percent worse than the major league average. However, he’s done the three things that pitchers have the most control over. He’s managed very good strikeout and walk rates of 19.7 percent and 4.1 percent, and his ground ball rate of 55.6 percent is also very good.
In fact, McCarthy’s xFIP- of 78 is one of the best in baseball. It’s unrealistic to expect him to maintain that level of performance, but it’s also unlikely that batters will have a .338 in-play batting average against him or that 20 percent of the fly balls he allows will leave the yard.
The tall right-hander’s fastball is humming in at 93 miles per hour, which is a significant jump from prior seasons and his curveball is also missing more bats.
Samardzija and Price are the big prizes on the trade block. But, they’ll also come at a high cost, as either one will likely command at least one big name prospect. Any of those pitchers could be obtained for a solid if not spectacular prospect. Sometimes it’s the less flashy acquisitions that make a big impact. The team that acquires Hammel, Kennedy or McCarthy could come away very happy that they decided not to break the bank for a bigger name.
