Top 5 Players Who Should Be Traded at the Deadline

If you ask me, this baseball season has been moving pretty fast, especially the last couple weeks of baseball games. After all, it seems like not too long ago I was watching the tough Opening Day loss for the Red Sox against the Rays, followed by their impressive and historic 17-3 start which culminated in my first Soxumentary set.

Before you know it, it'll be the All-Star break, followed by the trade deadline at the end of July. With all that on my mind, I thought I'd share the 5 free agents that need to be traded at or before the deadline. Unintentionally, this list ended up being all American League players, but I can assure you there are some NL players who will certainly be traded at the deadline this year, possibly Starling Marte, for example.

Here they are; the top 5 players (somehow all from the AL) who should be traded at the deadline this year.

#5 Jed Lowrie

After a couple of months, a player's performance starts to be referred to as a strong season, not just a strong season. And given Lowrie's .294 batting average through nearly 250 at-bats so far this season, it seems pretty likely this Jed Lowrie is here to stay for the entire 2018 season. Lowrie already has 42 RBI and sits tied for 13th in baseball in that category. There are a lot of clubs who could use a well-rounded infielder to hit at the top of their lineup. However, with Cano's 80-game suspension looming over the ballclub, even with their recent success, I'd say Jed Lowrie to the Seattle Mariners makes the most sense out of all the possibilities. 

#4 Mike Moustakas

After not getting the contract, size or money-wise, over the offseason, Mike Moustakas seemed to reluctantly sign a 1-year contract to remain with the Kansas City Royals. Unfortunately, this season doesn't seem to be going any better for the Royals than last year, but that doesn't mean Moustakas isn't having a strong season. Given that whichever team trades for him only has him for the rest of the year, they aren't stuck with him if he doesn't work out. I could definitely see the Twins, Braves, or Diamondbacks making a push to get the 2-time All-Star on their team for a postseason push.

#3 Cole Hamels

For a good 2-3 years of his time in Philadelphia with the Phillies, there were seemingly endless trade rumors involving Cole Hamels. Flash-forward 3 years and Hamels is in the midst of yet another round of trade rumors. This time, it's the Rangers who are sellers, not buyers. Just as they did last season to acquire Sonny Gray, the Yankees are looking to make a push for Hamels, but I could see the Indians or even my Boston Red Sox making a push for Hamels to strengthen their eventual postseason rotation.

#2 Josh Donaldson

Unbelievably, Josh Donaldson isn't even the best American League East division 3rd baseman whom I expect to be traded at the deadline this year, but that doesn't take away from the fact that, when healthy, he's a top 20 player in baseball. The 2015 AL MVP has been rumored to test free agency, so a trade to teams like the Cubs or Angels would make sense for both sides. It's unclear where his destination will be once he hits free-agency, but first things first, it's time for the Blue Jays to move on. They lost Encarnacion after the 2016 season. They had their chance and blew it, now it's time to move on.

#1 Manny Machado

Just like the Blue Jays, the Orioles have had numerous chances to come out as AL Champions, maybe even World Series champions. Unfortunately for them, their window has officially closed, but that will only encourage them to capitalize on Manny Machado's value more and faster. A safe bet for the All-Star game starting lineup, Machado has been constantly rumored to join the New York Yankees, which I will pray every day in order for that not to happen. Regardless of where he ends up, I guarantee Machado will not be wearing an Orioles jersey after this year's trade deadline.