MLB trade rumors: Will Zach Britton, Zack Cozart, Brad Hand be moved?

Lefty relieves Zach Britton and Brad Hand, and veteran shortstop Zack Cozart are among the players who could be dealt before the MLB trade deadline.

As the July 31 MLB trade deadline approaches, we will be taking a regular look at some of the biggest names that could be moved.

Zach Britton, RP, Orioles

Let’s not mince words: The Baltimore Orioles are a disaster.

Since starting the season 22-10, the Birds are 20-36, thanks in large part to a NSFW pitching staff that finds new ways to implode on a nightly basis. Baltimore’s 5.07 team ERA is the worst in MLB, and every starter has an ERA over 4.00.

With a run differential of minus-78 (fifth worst in the bigs), the Orioles are clearly not a contender. Given the team’s abysmal farm system, the O’s should be a seller, right?

The only problem is they don’t have much to sell. The likes of Chris Davis, Ubaldo Jimenez, Hyun Soo Kim and Mark Trumbo aren’t going to bring back much, if anything, in the way of prospects.

That leaves Manny Machado, Brad Brach and Britton as the team’s key trade chips. Despite a down year, Machado would bring back a nice haul. But it is difficult to see the team parting ways with its franchise player, especially considering the division rival Yankees and Red Sox are the teams in most need of a third baseman.

FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal thinks Baltimore should put Britton on the market because contenders usually are willing to give up plenty for a proven All-Star caliber closer (see Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller last year).

Britton just recently returned from a lengthy stint on the disabled list due to forearm stiffness, so some teams may be a bit wary. But he has been mostly effective (2.25 ERA in limited use), so it’s not hard to see the O’s getting a fair return for the man pitcher who finished fourth in AL Cy Young voting last season with an 0.54 ERA.

The fact Britton is under team control through next season makes his value even greater. This is the move Baltimore should make.

POSSIBLE LANDING SPOTS: The Washington Nationals would love to have Britton anchoring their leaky bullpen. The Los Angeles Dodgers also could be interested as they start to position themselves for the postseason.

The Yankees are an obvious suitor, but they likely would have to pay more than other teams to pry Britton away from a division rival.

Zack Cozart, SS, Reds

At 31, Cozart is having the best year of his career (.316/.394/.547, nine home runs), as evidenced by his first-ever All-Star selection.

After months of trade rumors, both sides are paying lip service to the idea of the free-agent-to-be signing long-term to stay in Cincinnati. “I know there’s mutual interest in the future with Zack,” president of baseball operations Dick Williams told the Cincinnati Enquirer. “Maybe we can figure out a way to make that happen.”

Don’t buy it.

For the rebuilding Reds, a long-term deal with a player who will command a big salary and will turn 32 next month makes little sense. Cincinnati is far more likely to try to flip the veteran for a couple of decent prospects.

POSSIBLE LANDING SPOTS: Shortstop is not a huge position of need for most contenders. But the Nationals (Trea Turner, broken wrist) and the Arizona Diamondbacks (Nick Ahmed, fractured hand) both recently lost their starters at the position.

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Brad Hand, RP, Padres

Hand, recently named to his first All-Star team, has followed up his 2016 breakthrough with an even better 2017 (2.30 ERA, 2.79 FIP, 60 strikeouts in 47 innings).

The failed Miami Marlins starter has found his niche in San Diego as a setup man. In 2016, he threw 89 1/3 innings and led the NL with 82 games. He had a 2.92 ERA with 111 strikeouts and a 3.07 FIP.

The lefty reliever’s excellent performance, combined with his contract status (two more years of arbitration eligibility, under team control through 2020), makes him one of the most coveted players on the market this trade season.

The rebuilding Padres (when aren’t they?) think they can get a “Chapman-type return” for Hand. That may not be realistic, but a lot of contenders will be looking for left-handed bullpen help this month. San Diego should get quite a haul.

POSSIBLE LANDING SPOTS: The Yankees and Nationals are interested, of course. Also expect the Red Sox and Astros to get involved.

Heck, just expect every contender to get involved.