Top MLB Trade Deadline Possibilities for 2010

Now that we are past the All Star break, teams are starting to look at their rosters and deciding whether or not they are going to be contenders. Some teams that have not been in this position in a long time (Reds, Padres) need to decide if they are willing to spend some money – while other teams are in the opposite position looking to unload on some of their expensive talent (Cubs, Brewers) – Moves that will undoubtedly change the outlook of some of these teams for the next couple years. Or in the case of the Royals, just continue to be miserable.

But with October baseball just around the corner, and with absof**kinglutely nothing else going on, here are some of the top players that could be moved before the July 31^st trade deadline, in no particular order.

Adam Dunn – 1B/OF – Washington Nationals– As someone who was forced to watch the Adam Dunn strikeout hundreds of times year as a member of the Reds, it is hard to imagine that this piss-ant is one of top valued trade pieces in 2010. His average has jumped rather dramatically as a member of the Nationals, but his poor fielding and lackadaisical demeanor make him a perfect fit for an AL team. He has always been a DH in the making, so I am surprised it has taken him this long to make it to the AL. The White Sox are the best option to take over his services, but I wouldn’t be surprised if a team like the Tigers would be willing to take him on as well.

Prince Fielder – 1B – Milwaukee Brewers– Prince Fielder is a guy that as an everyday player could step in immediately and help any team that needs a 1B or DH. With the Brewers basically being out of the race in the NL Central, and the fact that his contract is rather large for a smaller market team like the Brewers, I wouldn’t be surprised if they are shopping him around – plus it’s not exactly a secret. His defensive ability and athleticism is a good fit for the NL, but with most contending NL teams not in the need for a First Baseman, the AL might be a better fit. A team like the Angels, who are going to be looking to make a run in the second half of the season, would be a perfect fit – especially with Kendry Morales still on the DL.

David DeJesus – OF – Kansas City Royals– Once again, the Royals are more than likely looking to be sellers this trade deadline, and their most desirable player is probably going to be DeJesus. DeJesus is currently batting .320, and would be a welcome addition to any team needing a spark at the top of their line-up. A team like the Mets, who currently have Jeff Francoeur playing right field, should definitely consider adding a piece like DeJesus. With this being the last year for DeJesus’ current contract, he would also be a perfect fit for a team like the Giants just looking to bolster their line-up for the stretch-run.

Roy Oswalt – P – Houston Astros– Roy Oswalt, if given a good team to play behind him, can be one of the most dominating pitchers in baseball – just ask the Reds. And even though he does have a no trade clause, Oswalt has made it pretty clear that he would like to play for a contending team, which the Astros certainly are not. The Phillies are still wishing they never would have gotten rid of Cliff Lee this off-season, and Oswalt could very well be the next best thing. You can also never count out a team like the Yankees going after Oswalt, and with a $15 million contract behind him, he will have to be traded to a team that is willing to spend that kind of money. So even though he would fit perfectly in Minnesota, I wouldn’t expect that to happen anytime soon.

Derrek Lee  – 1B – Chicago Cubs– The buzz around Lee is that the Aneheim Angels are extremely interested. And even though I earlier said that Fielder would be a good fit for Anaheim, it would seem that Lee might be the type of player that would fit into Manager Mike Scioscia’s plan a little better. The Cubs have so much garbage that they need to get rid of (Zambrano, Soriano) that you would think they would like to keep Lee around. But with this probably being the last year for Lou Piniella, giving a good guy like Lee a chance someplace else might be a good idea. Especially since the Cubs may have to start rebuilding. And even though Lee has not had the type of year that he usually produces, if you are a team that is serious about winning this year, Lee could potentially be a high reward kind of move if given an opportunity in a new environment.

Dan Haren – P – Arizona Diamondbacks– Plain and simple, Arizona stinks this year. Dan Haren has not had the greatest of year’s either, but with a team like this backing him up, I would imagine he doesn’t have a whole lot of things keeping him motivated. There are only so many buyers on the market this year, so the possibility of him going anywhere other than the Yankees or Mets is probably a long shot. His $8.5 million contract won’t be an issue, but his 4.50 ERA and a 7-8 record could have teams questioning his value. But come playoff time, having him as your 3^rd starter would seem like a pretty damn good addition.