Every July 31st after the deadline passes, we start thinking about this. Who should have been traded, but on August 1st, is waking up with the same uniform on? Here’s a list of five players that should have been moved this weekend, but still have the same address.
1) Heath Bell, Padres
Bell was the most highly coveted reliever on the trade market, due to his abundance of saves, high strikeout rate (before this year, that is), and his pedigree as a capital C closer. Naturally, Jed Hoyer hung on to Bell, either to attempt to re-sign him in the offseason (which is a stupid idea, since he’s got Luke Gregerson right there) or to collect the draft picks that will come when Bell signs elsewhere this winter. The only conceivable reason I can think of for not dealing Bell is that Hoyer favored the two draft picks that would be coming over any of the packages offered by opposing GMs. Given what Hoyer got for Mike Adams, I’m a little stunned he couldn’t get a package similar to that for Bell.
2) BJ Upton, Rays
Outfielders were all over the place on the market, and Upton was tied to a few teams, most notably the Braves and Nationals. After the Braves acquired Michael Bourn from the Astros to take them out of the Upton derby, the Nationals appeared to be the likely target. However, they were tightly linked to Denard Span of the Twins all day in a deal that ended up never happening. Now, the Rays still have their center fielder, and they’ve also got a red-hot Desmond Jennings up in Tampa. The team can’t send Jennings down after his start, so it looks like Sam Fuld will be relegated to the bench…which is something that should have happened a long time ago anyway.
3) Carlos Pena, Cubs
Upton’s former Rays teammate wasn’t in high demand, but the Pirates were apparently very interested in him. But for some odd reason, the Cubs decided to stand pat, and not attempt to improve their team for the future (an absolutely ridiculous move). The Pirates had to settle for Derrek Lee, and gave up a lower level prospect to Baltimore in the deal for Lee. I can understand why the Cubs were a little hesitant to deal Pena, because he’s not blocking a prospect at all at first. I just find it odd that a team that is so far out of contention this year, and that has such a barren farm system, wouldn’t be willing to move it’s most valuable asset and get some sort of return at all.
4) Carlos Quentin, White Sox
Back to back Carloses from Chicago. The White Sox are still in contention, only four games out in the tightly packed AL Central. But Quentin’s name was tied to a number of teams, and there seemed to be a decent bit of interest in him. Unlike the situation on the north side, Quentin is blocking a prospect: Dayan Viciedo, who has an .865 OPS at AAA. But the ChiSox are looking to contend this year, and trading one of their best offensive players in Quentin would really hamper their ability to content in the division, no matter how good Viciedo is.
5) JJ Hardy, Orioles
Hardy was taken off the market earlier in the month, as the Orioles signed him to a contract extension. But with the Mets refusing to trade Jose Reyes, Hardy would have been the best shortstop option in a market that saw both Rafael Furcal and Orlando Cabrera get traded for half-decent prospects. Hardy is worlds better than both of them, and should have fetched a good return for the Orioles. But then again, this is Baltimore we’re dealing with. They got a fifth starter on a bad team and a 4-A corner infielder for one of the best relievers on the market. They probably would have gotten a hideous return for Hardy.
