Can the A’s find a trade partner for Josh Reddick before the MLB Trade Deadline?
With the trade deadline approaching, it should be no surprise that this year the Oakland Athletics are looking into selling. The A’s are 12 games back in their division and sit ten games back in the Wild Card. Therefore, the chances of them competing this year are over.
When looking at their roster, three names stick out as potential free agents this off-season. The A’s can look to move Rich Hill, Mark Rzepczynski and Josh Roddick in the hopes of finding a return rather than receiving nothing if the players were to walk in free agency.
In the case of Reddick, they are looking to trade a bat and a positional player, something decently valuable on the market. Reddick is a left handed hitter in the outfield for the A’s. Reddick is hitting .295 this season in 62 games.
Reddick is typically used as a left handed platoon who really can only hit well off of righties. This season Reddick is .342 against right handed pitchers. For his career, his average is about 40 points higher against righties than it is against left handed pitchers.
Reddick being a strong hitter, but one that is limited in when he can start still has trade value. There are more right handed pitchers than lefties in the MLB. Therefore having someone who can crush the majority of pitchers will never be a problem.
Reddick will get at-bats. He already has 158 this season, and will get his at-bats wherever he goes. It may not draw the same price as someone like Carlos Beltran, who can hit from both sides of the plate, but some teams have the right handed piece to their platoon and are looking for a righty masher.
With that said, here are five teams that should trade for Josh Reddick
Next: 5. Baltimore Orioles