The July 31st trade deadline has come and gone, and there was a flurry of activity. However, impact trades frequently occur after the waiver deadline. The mechanics of an August trade are a little more complicated, as players have to clear waivers, but don’t think general managers have put down the phones yet. Here are a few players that could be moved this month.
Matt Kemp
The Los Angeles Dodgers are stilling shopping outfielder Matt Kemp. With his hefty contract, Kemp is a good candidate for an August trade.
As of late, Kemp has been a potent force with the bat. He’s the owner of a .284/.351/.458 slash line for a 131 wRC+. Even so, he’s a poor defensive outfielder, and the Dodgers would have to eat a lot of cash to move him.
Alex Rios
Alex Rios is under contract through 2015 and while the 33 year-old outfielder’s skills are on the decline, he’s still a useful player.
He has just four home runs in a hitter-friendly park, but with his .300 batting average and the 7.4 fWAR he totaled from 2012-13, a contender would claim him if the Texas Rangers placed him on waivers.
Marlon Byrd
Marlon Byrd did not get moved, as interested teams worried about his $8 million vesting option for the 2016 season, when he will be 38.
However, after having one of the best years of his career in 2013, Byrd is hitting .271/.319/.481 with 21 home runs this year. He’s a lock to be claimed if the Philadelphia Phillies place him on waivers, but they have been difficult to deal with the last two years.
Cole Hamels
Cole Hamels is owed $90 million through the 2018 season, and the Phillies are supposedly asking for multiple top prospects. While his contract doesn’t have the potential for much surplus value, he’s throwing the ball very well, and could make an impact this year and beyond.
The Phillies might be unrealistic about their chances of competing, and appear inclined to hold onto the left-hander.
Neal Cotts
Neal Cotts is posting a high strikeout rate for the second straight season after not seeing big league action from 2010-12.
A bevy of relievers tend to change teams in August, and Cotts is a strong candidate to be one of them.
Joaquin Benoit
It looked like Joaquin Benoit was going to get moved before the deadline. If the San Diego Padres place him on waivers, you can be sure the Dodgers will put in a claim, as they are in need of relief help.
For some reason or another, the Padres have expressed reluctance to deal Benoit within the division.
Josh Willingham
Josh Willingham is a right-handed hitter with some power, and he’s owed $2.3 million over the remainder of the season.
The 35 year-old outfielder has a low .223 batting average, but he carries a 16.1 percent walk rate and a .463 slugging percentage.
Byrd might be drawing most of the interest, but Willingham is a good option that doesn’t come with a multi-year commitment.
Gordon Beckham
Gordon Beckham could be an option for the San Francisco Giants if they can’t find a second baseman.
He’s heading towards being non-tendered, and hasn’t been worth more than +1 fWAR since his rookie year, but the Giants are looking anywhere at this point.
John Danks
John Danks is owed $14 million in each of the next two years. Making a trade would require the Chicago White Sox to eat some cash.
Several teams have expressed interest in Danks, who was very good from 2008-11.
Adam Dunn
Adam Dunn is in the last year of his contract, and the White Sox still owe him $5 million this year. He has an astronomical strikeout rate but still hits for power and draws walks.
He owns a solid 125 wRC+, and if a contending teams such as the Toronto Blue Jays or Baltimore Orioles sees a designated hitter go down, Dunn might draw interest.
The bulk of the activity has already occurred, but significant trades are still in the works. Don’t be surprised if several of the names from this list change teams before the end of the month.
