When Ian Kennedy is the biggest name dealt, you know the Major League Baseball Trade Deadline passed rather quietly. Kennedy, who won 21 games and finished fourth in the National League CY Young Award voting two years ago, was traded from the Diamondbacks to the Padres in exchange for relief pitcher Joe Thatcher.
Ian Kennedy Diamondbacks pitcher was recently traded to the Padres.
This deal defined the deadline as teams desperately searched for missing pieces but to no avail. Only four deals were made on the deadline this season. Last year there were four trades that featured All Stars (Ryan Dempster to the Rangers, Hunter Pence to the Giants, Shane Victorino to the Dodgers and Jonathan Bronxton to the Reds) and twelve total deals that took place on the deadline. For those of you that love trades like I do, the deadline this year was somewhat anticlimactic. Thankfully, trades can still happen in August through the waiver wire. Teams can put a player on waivers where he is awarded to the team with the lowest record that claimed him who must then work out a trade with his team. If no claim is submitted, the player can be traded to any team. While it is unlikely we will see a megatrade like last year’s that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett to the Dodgers, here are five notable players who could be on the move.
Justin Morneau (1B) and Josh Willingham (OF), Minnesota Twins
A number of teams were rumored to be interested in Morneau, including the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburg Pirates. Morneau, a left-handed hitter, is batting .264 with 9 homeruns and 54 RBIs this season for the Twins. In 2008 he finished second in the American League Most Valuable Player voting, but has struggled to stay healthy since and is still owed $4.6 million for the rest of the season. Willingham was also rumored to be available until he landed on the disabled list with a torn meniscus. The Twins outfielder has hit just .224 this season but did hit 35 homeruns last year. The Texas Rangers were said to be interested in Willingham, and could need another bat in their lineup as Nelson Cruz likely faces a suspension.
Michael Young (IF), Philidelpia Phillies
Young was linked to a number of teams leading up to the deadline, but has a strict no-trade clause that he must waive if he is to be traded. Young has said he would accept a trade to his former team, the Rangers. He would also waive the clause for the Red Sox, who need a third baseman, or New York Yankees who would also be in need should Alex Rodriguez be suspended. Young, a career .300 hitter, is batting .279 for the Phillies this season.
Michael Morse (OF/1B), Seattle Mariners
Morse’s first year with the Mariners has been somewhat disappointing for the 31-year-old outfielder. Morse is batting just .241 for the Mariners, although he does have 11 homeruns in just 58 games despite playing in the pitcher-friendly confines of Safeco Park. Morse was rumored to be headed to the Orioles at the deadline before the deal fell through. If he can prove he is healthy, a big if, then a team like Baltimore, Texas, or Pittsburg should be willing to take a chance.
Alex Rios (OF), Chicago White Sox
Rios is in the fifth year of a seven-year contract with the White Sox and was largely expected to be the first bat traded at the deadline. Rios is batting .272 with 12 homeruns and 50 RBIs for the last-place White Sox. The Sox have already traded former All Star pitcher Jake Peavy this season and have officially entered a rebuilding phase. Rios is still owed nearly $18 million between this season and next, so it finding suitors could be difficult. If a team wants an impact bat though, Rios could be the best bet.