The trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and as is the case every year at this time, pennant-chasers start looking to add pieces to strengthen their roster. There have already been some moves this July but some of the biggest World Series favourites – like the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers – have yet to add any players. Of course, that does not mean they have not started looking.
A year ago, teams in the same situation may have considered some of the players below, but over the last year, these guys have seen decreases in their numbers, increases in their salaries and overall saw a decline in their trade value.
Justin Verlander
Once one of the most feared pitchers in baseball, Verlander is the second act of his career, titled “The Inconsistent Ace.” Last year, Verlander finished second in CY Young voting and had a season worthy of his hefty 30 Million dollars a year salary. The year before, injuries hampered his production, and in 2014, Verlander had his worst season since 2008. In fact, 2014 – the year many pundits said Verlander had fallen off a cliff – Verlander’s ERA was 4.54, the same as it is in 20 starts in 2017. What does this all mean? It means Verlander is an expensive enigma, too costly to trade.
Shin-Soo Choo
While rarely, if ever, do you hear MLB fans clamouring for the services of Shin-Soo Choo, he is one of the most underappreciated players in the MLB – or at least he was until this season. Choo is currently making $20 million this season but is on pace to have his worst season in the MLB. While Choo does have a reliable bat and strong plate vision, his declining defensive abilities have seen him begin splitting time between the outfield and DH – which is a primary reason his trade value has declined since 2016. As a $20 million per year DH, who is batting .252, the market just is not there.
Troy Tulowitzki
Once considered amongst the top shortstops in the game, the aptly nicknamed “Tulo” has not been able to recapture his swing in two seasons in Toronto. As the Blue Jays ponder the future of an organization that just went to two consecutive ALCS series, one thing does seem likely, and that is that Troy Tulowitzki will be a part of the Jays for the next few seasons. With three years and nearly $60 million due, Tulo’s production is not worth the price tag. Tulowitzki has also dealt with the injury bug the last few years, making him even less desirable. If the shortstop could recapture his Colorado Rockies level of production (.299 BA and .885 .OPS), he would be a worthy addition to nearly any team. However, his production as a Blue Jay (.249 BA and .727 OPS) is not much to a serious contender.
Matt Harvey
Once the most feared pitcher in a stellar New York Mets’ pitching staff, Matt Harvey’s 2017 season has been tumultuous both on and off the field. While Harvey was not very good in 2016, 2017 is seeing him set new career highs in ERA and WHIP. Diving into deeper statistics shows how mediocre Harvey has been in 2017. His FIP (fielding independence percentage) has skyrocketed to above 6.00 – nearly doubling his previous career high. He is also giving up 2.0 HR/9 innings, more than twice his previous worst. Harvey, once considered a future Superstar is now a headache, and this headache is not worth the trouble that comes with it.
Alex Gordon
Only two season ago, Alex Gordon and the Kansas City Royals were winning the World Series. A four time Gold Glove winner and three-time All-Star, Gordon is currently the highest paid player on the Royals and is set to make $16 Million this season and an additional $63 Million between 2018 and 2020. While still a dependable defender, Gordon’s bat is now a liability – as his batting average in 2017 has dipped below the Mendoza line (to a terrible 0.195). Add in the fact that the Royals organisation has never been one to eat salary to dump a player, and all signs point to Gordon remaining a Royal for the rest of 2017.
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