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Five MLB hitters who need to be rescued from their teams
Arizona Diamondbacks star Paul Goldschmidt has walked a league-leading 106 times. Rob Tringali/Sportschrome/Getty Images

Five MLB hitters who need to be rescued from their teams

As the MLB season draws nearer to the postseason, there are some players stuck in awful situations, players who produce at an elite level yet were dealt some serious misfortune with what teams drafted them.  This can feel like hell for the players and the fans who love watching them play. After all, fans are never selfish; they just want what’s best for the players!

So here I play fantasy GM and rescue five players from scrub squads and move them to contenders. Given my lacking fantasy baseball prowess, this should be interesting! Here goes …

Brian Dozier, Minnesota Twins, 2B

A power-hitting second baseman for $2 million in salary this year? Yes, please. Sure, the Twinkies might move Dozier given the right offer, but a slugger who comes at a relatively cheap rate? Doubtful they move on from him.

That's unfortunate for Dozier, who would fit very well with the Los Angeles Dodgers. The Dodgers, after all, trot out an aging Chase Utley at second. At 37 years old and with an abominable .318 on-base percentage, the Dodgers are clearly looking toward the future in this regard.

Khris Davis, Oakland Athletics, OF

Khris “Krush” Davis is the first player for the A’s to hit 40 home runs since Jason Giambi did it back in 2000. He joins the Bash Brothers, Mark McGwire and Jose Canseco, Reggie Jackson, and Giambi as the only players to hit 40-plus home runs in a season for the franchise.

Krush could easily make the trek across the Bay Bridge and play for the San Francisco Giants. As evidenced by their inconsistent offense on a regular basis, Davis would add some much-needed pop and swagger into a sometimes-lifeless offense.

David Forst may channel his inner Billy Beane and move Davis as soon as he thinks it’ll garner him the most value, or maybe, just maybe, A’s fans will finally be able to buy a jersey with a current player's name on the back for the first time since Eric Chavez held down the hot corner for a dozen years.

Paul Goldschmidt, Arizona Diamondbacks, 1B

Goldschmidt is one of the best all-around first basemen in all the majors. Power to spare and a glove made of gold, he is an opposing team's nightmare. He hits pitchers with no regard for their feelings and fields his position at an elite level. He would be a quality addition to any team.

Cleveland could use some consistency at first, and while Goldschmidt would prove to be a slight decline in power from Mike Napoli, he is better defensively and more consistent offensively. It’s highly unlikely that Arizona moves on from one of its only stars, but as the Million Dollar Man used to say, “Everyone has their price.”

Starling Marte, Pittsburgh Pirates, OF

Speedster Starling Marte roams the outfield in PNC Park, but with Andrew McCutchen taking a step back in productivity, Marte is stuck on a squad that is 20.5 games out of the division lead. While he is third in the majors in stolen bases and bats over .300, the Pirates have slipped into their old ways.

With a low cap number and hopes of bouncing back next year in Pittsburgh, there is little to no chance fans get to watch Marte roam another outfield, but in this scenario, Toronto seems like it would be a stellar fit. Another bat and some speed on the base paths — this team could be a legit World Series contender. As the adage goes, defense wins championships, and Marte would be a solid addition defensively as well.

Mike Trout, Los Angeles Angels, OF

Mike Trout has to be on this list. He’s arguably the best player in baseball, yet he is on one of the worst teams in the league. He is the definition of a five-tool player and does absolutely everything at an elite level, but he is toiling away in Los Angeles. His highlight-reel catches and clutch hitting make him the captain of this refugee squad.

It is hard to choose a team that’s already a contender and bestow a gift like Mike Trout upon it. The contenders have gotten to where they are without the Chosen One’s talents, so I refuse to add him to a team. 

However, if I had to give him to any team, he’s going to the Cubs.  There is no team that deserves a trio of Anthony Rizzo, Kris Bryant and Mike Trout more than the Cubs, and there is no fan base that deserves to hear its victory song more frequently than fans of the Cubbies. I mean, they haven't won a World Series in more than 100 years thanks to some billy goat.

So Mike Trout goes to the Cubs. Now sing with me, “Go, Cubs, Go. Go, Cubs, Go! Hey Chicago, what do ya say? The Cubs are gonna win today.”

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