Five MLB trades that make too much sense

While trading is generally common in MLB, logic isn’t always a part of the process. Sometimes trades make very little sense. Other times, trades seem completely logical, but for whatever reason teams just don’t pull the trigger.

Today, we focus on some completely logical trades that should be made.

Generally speaking, big in-season trades involve an MLB contender acquiring a veteran from a rebuilding team. The trades we’re looking at today largely fit that model. But rather than just say MLB Contending Team A should trade for this veteran from MLB Contending Team B, we’re actually going to look at the fair cost. Which young players and prospects would need to be involved to make the trade work?

These five potential MLB trades make sense. Because they make sense for both sides, we hope that they’re not too logical to happen.

1. Atlanta Braves trade Julio Teheran to Los Angeles Dodgers for Joc Pederson and Jose De Leon

It works for Los Angeles because…

Statistically, the Dodgers have one of the better starting rotations in all of baseball. But, as they currently have baseball’s best pitcher, that shouldn’t be terribly surprising. So, how much does Clayton Kershaw really impact that rotation?

In order to have a truly successful season, Los Angeles will not only need to make the playoffs, but they’ll need to stay a while once there. If they don’t upgrade the starting rotation, it’s hard to see either of those scenarios happening.

That’s where Teheran comes in. With a 2.77 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and K rate of better than eight hitters per nine innings, Teheran would serve as a solid compliment to Kershaw at the top of the rotation.

That is a steep price, but consider this: Three of the Dodgers top-10 prospects are outfielders. Not counting De Leon, six of the other 10 are pitchers and five of those six are right-handed pitchers. Additionally, Teheran would not be a rental, as he’s signed through 2020.

It works for Atlanta because…

For their rebuilding project to truly work, they’ll need a few more young building blocks. The Braves took a nice step towards that progress when they landed Dansby Swanson and Aaron Blair for Shelby Miller, but the farm system is still rather thin.

None of Atlanta’s top-10 prospects are outfielders. Pederson, who they were interested in this offseason, would slot in immediately as a starter at any outfield position for the Braves.

De Leon is close to the majors right now and has a career MiLB K rate of 12.4 hitters per nine innings.

This would make Atlanta better for the future, but would also set them up to be relatively competitive in 2017 when their new stadium opens.

2. San Diego Padres trade James Shields and Logan Allen to Boston Red Sox for Rafael Devers, Sam Travis, and Pat Light

It works for Boston because…

They need a pitching upgrade. Boston’s starters rank 22nd in ERA (4.60) and 16th in WHIP (1.30). Shields is probably not an ace on a World Series team anymore, but he’d slot in well behind David Price in a playoff series.

While Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe recently cited insiders saying that Carlos Gonzalez would fit in well with Boston, this is not a team in need of offensive help. Cargo might be the sexy idea, but the Red Sox would be better off using their vast farm system to land pitching help.

Shields has a 3.06 ERA and a solid 56 strikeouts in 56.2 innings.

Additionally, landing a pitching prospect like Logan Allen would help offset the rather strong group of prospects that would need to be moved.

It works for San Diego because…

Shields is doing absolutely no good for the Padres. San Diego would do well to avoid last place in the National League West. Even if they don’t, the Friars are nowhere near contention. Given that Shields has an opt-out option after this season, it only makes sense that they’d either trade him to get something or shove that $21 million off on someone else.

This is a particularly interesting haul for them, as Devers and Travis would give San Diego legitimate corner infield prospects, while Light looks to be a rising pitcher.

The reality is that the Red Sox are a great team for any rebuilding team to trade with. They’re a true contender with a lot of room to get better. Additionally, Boston has a loaded farm system so even if this particular package doesn’t work, chances are that something could be found.

3. Milwaukee Brewers trade Ryan Braun to Washington Nationals for Victor Robles, Reynaldo Lopez, and Austin Voth

It works for Washington because…

The Nationals hit for decent power, but they’re a little too dependent on the lefties like Bryce Harper and Daniel Murphy. From the right side, it’s a different story.

Washington’s right-handed bats have hit 34 home runs. That’s only tied for 17th in the league, and sadly, it gets worse. They’re slashing at .234/.298/.387, good enough for 22nd (average and OBP) and 24th (slugging) in baseball.

Even if we make a rather large leap and assume that the Nats will make the playoffs, teams can’t be that one-dimensional in October. Lineups need to be staggered or opponents will simply throw their top lefties at them.

Ryan Braun would change that, and history suggests that his game would travel to Washington fine.

Remember, those Nationals Park numbers are all against Nats pitching, which, dating back to 2012 has been among of the best in the league. If this trade happened, he wouldn’t have to deal with them anymore.

Now, it’s worth mentioning that Braun has a no-trade clause. He has released a list of pre-approved trade destinations that does not include the Nationals. Still, the list he released last year did, so it’s obviously not a place he’s unwilling to go.

It works for Milwaukee because…

Like the Red Sox, the Nationals have a strong farm system that would be ideal for a rebuilding team to deal with. This particular deal would give them an outfielder (Robles) and two pitchers (Lopez and Voth), who would be the Brew Crew of the future.

One also has to question how good Braun will be for the rebuilding project going on in Milwaukee. While Braun is signed through 2020 (with a mutual option for 2021), he’s 32 and starting to become slightly injury prone. So, who knows how good he’ll be when the team is ready to compete again? It only makes sense that his name has been tossed around in trade rumors.

Braun’s injuries should realistically keep Milwaukee from landing top prospects Lucas Giolito and Trea Turner. Still, he’d be an incredible asset for the next few years for a team built to win now.

While the injuries may keep them from landing the absolute cream of Washington’s crop, there are plenty of combinations (including this one) that would give the Brew Crew a solid haul.

4. Colorado Rockies trade Carlos Gonzalez and Ryan McMahon for Avisail Garcia, Carson Fulmer, Adam Engel, and Tyler Danish

It works for Chicago because…

Like the Nationals, the White Sox are a contender. Unlike Washington, Chicago needs power from the left side. The White Sox are tied for 28th in home runs (8), 22nd in batting average (.241), 20th in OBP (.312), and 28th in slugging (.335).

Carlos Gonzalez is a good man to fix that problem.

Cargo can also play either corner outfield position at a Gold Glove level. On top of that, his injury concerns would be somewhat alleviated in the American League, as Gonzalez could rest his body while playing DH.

Additionally, we know from other trade talks that the White Sox would be hesitant to deal Tim Anderson.

With rookie Trevor Story on the Major League roster and Brendan Rodgers as their top prospect, the Rockies are well equipped at shortstop, which would enable the Sox to keep Anderson in the organization. As icing on the cake, McMahon would give Chicago a third base prospect that, because of Nolan Arenado, is also blocked.

It works for Colorado because…

A few reasons.

One, as good as Cargo has been in his career, the Rockies haven’t done anything significant with him on the roster for a long time. Gonzalez had a limited role in Colorado’s playoff team in 2009 and was a full-time star on their 83-79 team in 2010. But from 2011-2015, the team put up nothing but losing seasons. Even with a strong start to 2016, the Rockies again have a losing record.

Two, Gonzalez is only signed through 2017. Given Colorado’s consistent losing record, it’s awfully hard to imagine him returning. Still, since he still has a year left on his contract, his trade value would be better this year than it would be if they waited until next season, when he’d be a true rental.

Three, Garcia would give the Rockies a young outfielder with Major League experience. Fulmer and Danish would give them strong pitching prospects, and Engel is a potential top tier outfielder.

Yes, they’d be giving up an All-Star outfielder in Gonzalez and a top prospect in McMahon, but that’s a good group of talent to get back.

5. Oakland Athletics trade Josh Reddick to Kansas City Royals for Nolan Watson and Bubba Starling

It works for Kansas City because…

A season ago, the Royals traded for free-agents-to-be Johnny Cueto and Ben Zobrist, and it paid off. The two helped contribute to a World Series victory. Why not try their luck again, this time with Reddick?

Reddick could unquestionably help Kansas City. In addition to being a Gold Glove outfielder that could help in the field, he’d help bring pop to a position that hasn’t had much. The Royals’ right fielders have combined one home run this season, which places them in a tie for last place in the league.

Reddick is on the disabled list right now, but was having a great year before that. He’s expected to be back in action near the end of June or beginning of July, which would leave plenty of time to make an impact as Kansas City tries to return to the World Series.

It works for Oakland because…

There’s a pretty good chance that Reddick will be traded. Letting pending free agents with value go without getting anything in return is not exactly Billy Beane’s M.O. 

The question is this. Would Oakland’s trade haul give them better value than a potential compensatory pick they’d get if Reddick went elsewhere in free agency?

Watson and Starling would give the A’s two of the top-10 prospects in the Kansas City organization and at positions the A’s can certainly use. That probably is better than a late first rounder.

The prospect of a Sonny Gray trade will certainly grab more headlines. But given his current injury, poor season, and the fact that he still has three arbitration years left, Gray isn’t the most tradeable Oakland asset right now.

That honor belongs to Reddick, who would fit in well with the defending World Series champs.