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MLB trade rumors: Top 25 trade assets for deadline

By Joshua Sadlock

Jun 24, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) smiles while on deck during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) smiles while on deck during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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May 17, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jason Vargas (51) pitches against the New York Yankees in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. The Yankees won 11-7. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports
May 17, 2017; Kansas City, MO, USA; Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Jason Vargas (51) pitches against the New York Yankees in the first inning at Kauffman Stadium. The Yankees won 11-7. Mandatory Credit: Jay Biggerstaff-USA TODAY Sports /

24. Jason Vargas

If you had placed a bet that through 15 starts Jason Vargas of the Kansas City Royals would be leading MLB with 11 wins and the American League with a 2.29 ERA, go ahead and collect your prize and consider setting up shop as a psychic. The veteran left-hander is finally healthy after making only 12 starts the past two years combined. It’s not that Vargas has not been a great pitcher when on the mound for the past three years — he has just never been this good.

Vargas is 11-3 with a 2.29 ERA and it looks fairly sustainable as he has a 3.45 FIP. Yes, there is certainly some luck involved in his low ERA as he has allowed a .247 batting average. The key for Vargas has been holding opponents to singles and a .175 batting average and .509 OPS with runners in scoring position.

At 34, it is not as though Vargas has reinvented the wheel for pitchers. He throws four quality pitches for strikes at a near equal proportion. He also gets ahead with strike one in almost every count. From there, he can keep hitters off balance with his excellent changeup and assortment of fastballs.

This is the last year of Vargas’s four-year deal with the Royals, and they might look to trade him at the deadline if they fall out of contention. That does not appear to be in the cards, though, as they are the hottest team in the American League over the past three weeks. The AL Central is very bunched up, and this is the Royals last chance to contend with their core intact. It will take a total meltdown before they even consider dealing their most reliable starter.

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