MLB Trade Deadline: 5 best spots for Carlos Gonzalez

With the Colorado Rockies selling again, who could be interested in All-Star outfielder Carlos Gonzalez?

Teams across the Majors will need to quickly decide if they are buyers or sellers, as the 2016 MLB Trade Deadline is just over three weeks away.

This year’s deadline will take place on August 1, one day later than in previous years, as July 31 is a Sunday.  With few sellers or trade chips available, the 2016 trade market is shaping up to be much weaker than usual, particularly in regards to pitching.

One of the few sure-fire sellers will be the Colorado Rockies, who have fallen out of contention with a mark of 40-48. Colorado’s level of pitching talent is at its highest point in years and the team has a much better farm system than it is given credit for, but is still two or three years away from realistically competing with the Los Angeles Dodgers and San Francisco Giants in the NL West.

The Rockies acknowledged the need for a rebuild at the 2015 deadline by finally dealing Troy Tulowitzki for a nice return. While Colorado doesn’t have a ton of trade chips, outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is the type of piece that could return a strong package of prospects.

Gonzalez look destined for stardom after posting 5.8 WAR in 2010 per FanGraphs.com before injuries cost him significant portions of four straight seasons. Fortunately for the Rockies, Gonzalez turned in a strong, healthy season in 2015, and has a 122 wRC+ with 19 home runs through 362 plate appearances this year.

The 30-year-old is never going to have higher value than right now and is only under contract through 2017, so Colorado should take advantage of the situation and move him. A few contenders are in need of a corner outfielder and would be good fits for Gonzalez.

Next: 5. Cleveland Indians