Yardbarker
x
MLB players most likely to be traded at the 2017 deadline
Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports Images

MLB players most likely to be traded at the 2017 deadline

With the MLB non-waiver trade deadline fast approaching on July 31, teams are working the phones as they determine their intentions for the rest of the year. The following 25 players are the most likely to be traded in 2017.

 
1 of 25

Yonder Alonso, 1B, Athletics

Yonder Alonso, 1B, Athletics
Dennis Wierzbicki / USA Today Sports Images

The possibility of an extension between Alonso and the A's has been discussed, but he might have priced himself out of Oakland's budget with a spectacular walk year. Alonso was named to his first All-Star team with a career-high 19 home runs and a .942 OPS.

 
2 of 25

Jose Bautista, OF, Blue Jays

Jose Bautista, OF, Blue Jays
Peter Aiken / USA Today Sports Images

Toronto has fallen on hard times this year, and would almost surely entertain moving Bautista if they're not in the Wild Card race near the trade deadline. Bautista has rebounded from a slow April, but is still hitting just .239-14-38 through 86 games. Potential NL playoff teams could still see him as a major asset to nullify left-handed playoff starters like Clayton Kershaw, Jon Lester, Alex Wood, and Rich Hill.

 
3 of 25

Jay Bruce, OF, Mets

Jay Bruce, OF, Mets
Dale Zanine / USA Today Sports Images

Bruce is making the most of his walk year with a great second half, hitting .262-22-58 through 79 games. Almost 10 games out of the Wild Card, the Mets would surely listen to offers.

 
4 of 25

Melky Cabrera, OF, White Sox

Melky Cabrera, OF, White Sox
Ron Chenoy / USA Today Sports Images

White Sox brass has been patient with their trade chips, but it's now or never with Cabrera, a pending free agent. He continues to hit well, hitting .290-10-52 through 82 games, and will turn 33 in August.

 
5 of 25

Trevor Cahill, SP, Padres

Trevor Cahill, SP, Padres
David Richard / USA Today Sports Images

Cahill has quietly been one of the most pleasant surprises of the year. He's carried over his bullpen success from the Cubs to San Diego as a starter, posting a 2.96 ERA through eight starts. Set to cash in after this season, San Diego will probably want to see what they can get for him.

 
6 of 25

Welington Castillo, C, Orioles

Welington Castillo, C, Orioles
Kim Klement / USA Today Sports Images

Castillo has been an adequate replacement for Matt Wieters this year, but the Orioles have top prospect Chance Sisco waiting in the wings. While Castillo has a player option for 2018, he will probably test the free agent market, and the O's stand five games out of the Wild Card.

 
7 of 25

Alex Cobb, SP, Rays

Alex Cobb, SP, Rays
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

The possibility of moving Cobb has been mentioned all year, even as the Rays remain in the thick of the Wild Card race. They're loaded with starting pitching depth, and hope to have Matt Andriese back from the DL for the stretch run. They'd likely listen on Cobb, a pending free agent, if they could acquire a hitter that could help immediately.

 
8 of 25

Johnny Cueto, SP, Giants

Johnny Cueto, SP, Giants
Charles LeClaire / USA Today Sports Images

Cueto has a player option following this season that's he's expected to opt out of, despite a sub-par season to this point. His experience and solid strikeout rate should still entice contenders, while the Giants could use long-term help in the outfield, third base, and the starting rotation.

 
9 of 25

Yu Darvish, SP, Rangers

Yu Darvish, SP, Rangers
Sean Pokorny / USA Today Sports Images

Texas is only three games out of the Wild Card, but the temptation to move Darvish could be overwhelming if they fall further down in the standings during July. A pending free agent, Darvish will be making his fourth All-Star appearance this year with a 3.56 ERA in 18 starts.

 
10 of 25

Rajai Davis, OF, Athletics

Rajai Davis, OF, Athletics
Steve Mitchell / USA Today Sports Images

Davis has really struggled with Oakland this season, hitting just .209 with a .577 OPS, but his speed and last year's World Series experience could be attractive to a contender. He will be a free agent following 2017.

 
11 of 25

Lucas Duda, 1B, Mets

Lucas Duda, 1B, Mets
Richard Mackson / USA Today Sports Images

Duda is back healthy this year after playing only 47 games last season. His OPS near .900 is the best of his career, with 14 home runs in only 200 at-bats. The Mets could be more willing to move Duda, a pending free agent, with top first base prospect Dominic Smith hitting .330-12-58 at Triple-A Las Vegas.

 
12 of 25

Marco Estrada, SP, Blue Jays

Marco Estrada, SP, Blue Jays
Brad Penner / USA Today Sports Images

Estrada's luck has run out this season after two years of favorable BABIP rates. Still, he has more than one strikeout per inning and a career ERA below 4.00, so a contender will likely be willing to take a risk despite his 5.17 ERA in 18 starts thus far.

 
13 of 25

Todd Frazier, 3B, White Sox

Todd Frazier, 3B, White Sox
Dennis Wierzbicki / USA Today Sports Images

After hitting only .225 last season, Frazier's batting average is even lower this year. Still, he has 16 home runs and a .331 on-base percentage in 264 at-bats while playing quality defense at third base. The White Sox will likely want to get breakout player Matt Davidson reps at third base late in the year, as well.

 
14 of 25

Curtis Granderson, OF, Mets

Curtis Granderson, OF, Mets
Richard Mackson / USA Today Sports Images

Granderson's situation looked dire after a poor April, but he's slowly but surely rebounded. His numbers are now back up to his standards, with an .814 OPS in 300 plate appearances. There should be a sizable market in the final year of his contract.

 
15 of 25

Sonny Gray, SP, Athletics

Sonny Gray, SP, Athletics
Stan Szeto / USA Today Sports Images

Loaded with pitching options in the majors and upper minors, Oakland seems likely to listen on Gray. He's rebounded from injury last season to post a 4.00 ERA in 13 starts with nearly one strikeout per inning. The A's could get a big package in return with Gray still under team control for two more seasons.

 
16 of 25

Ian Kinsler, 2B, Tigers

Ian Kinsler, 2B, Tigers
Rick Osentoski / USA Today Sports Images

Kinsler is in the final year of a 10-year contract, with a reasonable $12 million team option for next season. Detroit is closer to the bottom of the AL standings than the Wild Card, and they could really use some hitting prospects to offset other expensive contracts.

 
17 of 25

Jed Lowrie, 2B, Athletics

Jed Lowrie, 2B, Athletics
Shanna Lockwood / USA Today Sports Images

It would be the shock of July if Lowrie isn't moved given the readiness of top middle infield prospect Franklin Barreto. Fortunately for Oakland, Lowrie has created a market for himself by hitting .283-9-32 in 314 at-bats.

 
18 of 25

Jonathan Lucroy, C, Rangers

Jonathan Lucroy, C, Rangers
Jerome Miron / USA Today Sports Images

Regardless of the Rangers playoff standing, Lucroy is a trade candidate given that the team has a quality alternative in Robinson Chirinos. Lucroy has struggled at the plate this season after hitting a career-high 24 home runs last year, as he's hitting just .255-4-25 in 64 games.

 
19 of 25

Howie Kendrick, OF/2B, Phillies

Howie Kendrick, OF/2B, Phillies
Aaron Doster / USA Today Sports Images

While lower body injuries have hindered Kendrick at age 33, he's rebounded at the plate when he's been healthy. Kendick is hitting .349-2-14 with eight stolen bases in 33 games. Philadelphia has no reason to retain the pending free agent with the worst record in baseball, by far.

 
20 of 25

J.D. Martinez, OF, Tigers

J.D. Martinez, OF, Tigers
Joe Nicholson / USA Today Sports Images

Martinez will likely fetch a huge free agent contract following the season, and the Tigers probably won't be able to afford him. He's having another great offensive year, hitting .296-14-32 in only 179 at-bats.

 
21 of 25

Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates

Andrew McCutchen, OF, Pirates
Bill Streicher / USA Today Sports Images

The trade rumors involving McCutchen were pervasive in the offseason, but the Pirates ultimately decided to retain him. Now eight games out in the NL Central, Pittsburgh is looking to move their franchise player. They have a chance to get a massive return considering McCutchen's great recent play, now hitting .295-16-49 with a .907 OPS.

 
22 of 25

Eduardo Nunez, 3B, Giants

Eduardo Nunez, 3B, Giants
John Hefti / USA Today Sports Images

Nunez has continued to perform well this year after making an All-Star appearance with the Twins. He's hitting .299-4-25 with 17 stolen bases, but his poor walk rate and and lack of power isn't a great fit for third base or left field. A team needing middle infield help could take a look at the pending free agent.

 
23 of 25

Brandon Phillips, 2B, Braves

Brandon Phillips, 2B, Braves
Jake Roth / USA Today Sports Images

Phillips finally accepted a trade in the offseason to his home in Atlanta, and he's continued to play well, hitting .285-7-30 with seven steals in 78 games. Now a pending free agent, Phillips might opt to accept a trade to a contender.

 
24 of 25

Jose Quintana, SP, White Sox

Jose Quintana, SP, White Sox
Mike Dinovo / USA Today Sports Images

Quintana has started to come around after a very slow start, posting a 1.78 ERA in five starts during June. The lefty's career-high strikeout rate indicates that he's just fine despite a career-worst 4.45 ERA in 17 starts.

 
25 of 25

Justin Verlander, SP, Tigers

Justin Verlander, SP, Tigers
Rick Osentoski / USA Today Sports Images

Verlander has two years remaining on his contract after 2017, but his massive deal has handicapped the struggling Tigers. Likely out of the playoff race, Detroit could listen to serious offers. Of course, Verlander's 4.96 ERA in 17 starts does hurt his market value.

Seth Trachtman is a fantasy sports expert and diehard Kansas City Chiefs fan. He doesn't often Tweet, but when he does, you can find him on Twitter @sethroto.

More must-reads:

Customize Your Newsletter

+

Get the latest news and rumors, customized to your favorite sports and teams. Emailed daily. Always free!

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.