You get a trade, and you get a trade and you get a trade!
That’s how things have been so far in August among MLB teams.
Of course, teams don’t get trades, they make them rather, but there has been plenty of action despite the calendar turning to August.
Mike Fiers was flipped from the Detroit Tigers to the Oakland Athletics, while Adeiny Hechavarria was dealt from Tampa Bay to Pittsburgh. Fernando Rodney and Justin Bour were also traded, going from Minnesota and Miami respectively to Oakland and Philadelphia.
More trades could very well happen in the coming weeks—especially considering September trades operate under the same rules as August trades in terms of revocable waivers.
Just explaining how the revocable waivers works is another story in and of itself, and August trades can be tricky to predict.
Generally, players with larger salaries are more likely to be moved than a player in the arbitration process given the whole waivers rigmarole.
Wondering what trade possibilities might be in the future for your team?
Here at Know Hitter, I’ve forecast some of the players who could be traded this month with my MLB August Trade Primer.
In it, you get an in-depth explanation how the revocable waivers plays out, as well as a comprehensive breakdown of the 105 MLB players who could be traded this month.
Here’s a brief sampling of Know Hitter’s trade primer.
Additionally, all salary information is via Spotrac.
What’s more, this was written immediately following the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, so all stats are as of that date.
And now to the sample—
Ervin Santana
Santana has a $14 million team option for next season and hasn’t pitched much this year due to injury (10.1 innings).
Those variables will get him through waivers.
However, if he pitches at all like the hurler he was the pat two years in Minnesota—3.32 ERA, 4.16 FIP, 6.1 fWAR—the Twins will have perhaps the best August trade chip on the market.
Don’t let last season’s playoff appearance fool you. The Twins are still rebuilding.
Sure, they’re farther along than their divisional counterparts in Detroit, Chicago and Kansas City, but they’re still rebuilding.
They moved Dozier, Lance Lynn, Eduardo Escobar and Zach Duke (all rentals) and could conceivably shop Santana.
The organization may be better served having Santana finish out the year healthy and trying to move him next July, but if they get a quality offer it might be hard to pass up.
Jose Iglesias, Francisco Liriano and Victor Martinez
Three veterans who could serve as complimentary pieces to a contender, it remains to be seen if any of the trio will be moved.
Iglesias is one of the game’s best fielding shortstops and is in with a shout for the Gold Glove at his position this year.
Elsewhere, Liriano could play the LOOGY role he played in Houston last year for a contending team. Unlike most LOOGY pitchers, the veteran could eat a few innings as well as a spot starter.
Rounding out the list is Martinez, who seems the least likely to be dealt.
The shift has torpedoed his production and with a 68 wRC+ and a .274 he wouldn’t make contending teams postseason rosters.
He also has 10-and-5 rights, but if some team wants to take a gamble on him in his final season the Tigers could conceivably eat the rest of his contract to facilitate a trade—even if it’s for a minimal return.
It is worth noting that in the last two weeks (seven games, 29 plate appearances), Martinez has been entirely useable, with a 10.3 walk rate, no strikeouts, two home runs and a 1.102 OPS.
It’s a small drop in the pan, but if he keeps it up for a few weeks perhaps someone will take a flier.
Freddy Galvis
The Padres traded Enyel De Los Santos for a season of Freddy Galvis, which was… maybe not the best thing to do in hindsight.
Especially considering Fernando Tatis Jr. and Luis Urias aren’t far off from contributing in the Majors.
If anything, the Padres could look to pawn off Galvis to a contender in search of a bench middle infield piece with some pop.
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