Usually the BSA trade deadline is a buzz worthy time with trades coming in from all angles from multiple teams. This year the buzz was low and only 4 teams got in on 2 different trades making it one of the quietest deadlines on record. Who missed out? Did some teams miss opportunities to better themselves for a playoff run? Absolutely. But instead of going that route, let's go look at which teams were holding the pieces and missed out on dealing them. I'm not saying there was a huge market for these players but, here are 8 players IMO that should have been traded:
C Luis Munoz, Madison: Madison, a last place team coming off the #1 overall pick with a younger, talented roster. Now Munoz is a couple years past his all-star days and struggled last year and the current one, but at age 32 he can still hit and is one of the better defensive catchers in the league. With 2 years at relatively small money left on his current deal combined with 23 Juan Sanchez in the pros and 24 year old Derek Roach, who is great defensively, ripping up AAA pitching...there was more than enough there to move forward with. Even getting a mid-level prospect or two for Munoz would have been a win in my book for the Bombers.
C Jaime Torres, Seattle: I know Seattle is built to win now. I have been one of the more vocal voices talking about the age of that roster. Kevin has spent a lot of money building a team to compete for years...but being back 10+ games at the deadline with such a high payroll and not much in the pipeline....I think it would have been a good move. With all the veterans on the team, I think Torres would have been most marketable. With one year, an 8.9M player option left on his contract, at age 34 Torres is still one of the more talented bats at the position in the BSA. I know there isn't much to replace him with, but with a team on pace to lose almost 14M this season, getting anything in return would have been a plus at this point.
IF/SS Bobby McIntosh, New York: With the wealth of young starting pitching that is being stock piled in New York, I'm a little shocked to see the Knights in last place. Though the team does lack depth in the hitting department, and McIntosh was signed just this off season, at age 31 he likely would have made an attractive candidate. He plays everywhere in the infield, though not the greatest and is a 283 career hitter to go along with a 360 OBP. He is only owed 3.6M per season over the next two years, and the 2nd being a team option he is affordable for everyone. With a system that is fairly barren outside of a few gems, a couple of mid-level specs would have been nice to add some depth to a team that is short on it. With veterans Foster, Manuel and probably Scholl gone this off season it would have only made sense to get what they could for Bobby, but at least he has another guaranteed season for the Knights.
LF Errol Hughes, Cleveland: Cleveland is such a strange team. A team chalked full of young talent mixed with gritty veterans yet they are on pace for their 4th straight season of playing ~.475 ball. I like the direction they are going and while only 7 games out of the Wild Card, they still could make a push. Hughes is a former 2 time all-star and is only 31 years old. While his average dipped the last year with the Looters, he still clubbed 29 homers and walked 100 times. He was traded to LA, then on to Hendersonville for the 2018 where he struggled in 150 so at bats and became a free agent. Cleveland stepped in and gave him a one year 960K contract this year and has shown he still has a lot left in the tank. 17 HR to go with a .382 OBP thus far on a very minimal contract makes him an attractive piece. With a young OF core in Cleveland, I think most contenders could have used Hughes, even just as a platoon player and if the Monsters could have scored a 2.5-3* player out of a 960K investment? That's a win in my book
*I really think SS Cassidy would have made a great piece.....if he wasn't struggling so much this season.
SS Brian Cash, Boston: For the record, Dave did inform the league he was on the trade block. Why no one scooped him up? I'm not sure. At age 33, Cash has turned his career around since coming to Boston last season. This year marked his 2nd straight All-Star game and he is only making 4M this season and has a $4M player option next season. LA would have been a perfect fit. I can only imagine the option is picked up and Cash will be shopped next season. Boston is an up and coming team though, maybe Cash was priced out too high and the Rebels are planning on taking a run next season? Who knows.
SS Oliver Hernandez, Los Cabos: For the record I think Don has done a very good job slashing payroll and moving players this season. At age 32, O-Hern has spent his entire BSA career with the same club and is the face of the franchise. While he might not be the player he once was with the stick or in the field, he is still a very popular, above average fielder and can hold his own with the bat. He is making $13M this season and is an upcoming free agent. Without knowing what his contract demands are and his salary this year, he might have been tough to move. He is one of the few players on this list who I think could have brought back a Top 100 prospect. The market has to be right for a player like this though. Either way, I think he becomes a popular target this winter in free agency.
LF Domingo Martinez, San Fransisco: Oh San Fransisco, what happened? Just two years ago you were winning 94 ball games...and now you will be lucky to win 2/3 of that total. The roster looks depleated and the farm doesn't look that much more attractive. I know Martinez is San Fransisco baseball. He has been on the NL All-Star team now 4 years in a row and is the only member on the team to have a WAR above 1.5. While it would be hard to trade someone of his popularity, he is only making $2M this year and is an upcoming free agent. This will mark the 6th year he posted over a 4.3 WAR, and while corner outfielders aren't the most popular targets, he as consistent as they come. I can see a lot of teams giving up a handful of specs for Martinez and the contract of another veteran or two. If Martinez is resigned well then that's that. If he is let go to free agency, I will call this a major mistake for the Bandits.
3B Jud Younger, Orlando: After such a positive 2017, the will be the 2nd year in a row that Orlando is headed for the .500 mark or slightly below it. The ORL has a roster of youth outside of JTF, Richardson and Younger. While I know Orlando gave up a draft pick to sign Younger to a 1 year deal, his 50 XBH and his OBP of 363 shows his value. With being an up and coming free agent, his contract isn't an issue during trade talks. Imagine that bat inserted into Pocatello's offense this year. While a prospect or two might not seem worth it considering his production, at age 32 and just on a 1 year deal it could have given the Calrissian more young talent going forward.
Although I spotted a lot of players I wanted to include, these 8 stood out to me. There were many players who just made too much money to keep them tradeable. Those names include JTF, Jesus Moran, Peter Larson, Jason Jackson, Cade Delaney, Bill Allan and Kyuso Fujita among others. I also didn't include any middle relief or closers. I feel the league is very stocked with quality relief and while some contenders could have used an upgrade there wasn't a single sure fire option at a reasonable price I saw out there.
Enjoy!
GO D-BAGS
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