Fansided

MLB Trade Deadline: 15 trades that need to happen

By Joshua Sadlock

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 30: Sonny Gray #54 of the Oakland Athletics (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 30: Sonny Gray #54 of the Oakland Athletics (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
13 of 15
Next
BALTIMORE, MD – JULY 16: Zach Britton #53 of the Baltimore Orioles prepares to throw a pitch to a Chicago Cubs batter in the eighth inning during a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 16, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – JULY 16: Zach Britton #53 of the Baltimore Orioles prepares to throw a pitch to a Chicago Cubs batter in the eighth inning during a game at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on July 16, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

3. Zach Britton to the Cubs

Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton has the potential to be the most valuable reliever dealt at the trade deadline. Others like Britton’s teammate Brad Brach, Brad Hand, David Robertson, Pat Neshek and Tony Watson will be on the market, but Britton is the best. The Orioles are ready to deal him for the right package, but ownership could be very reluctant to make an aggressive move to sell. Peter Angelos is 87 and has never had the patience for a full-scale rebuild, even when the Orioles were suffering through years of losing.

"“If we’re not at the point where we can advance to the playoffs with this group, we would have to make the determination to try to get better later,” Duquette told ESPN.com. “The way I look at it, you’re either trying to get better now or trying to get better later. Sometimes you can put them both together. Other times, you have to take a step back to take two steps forward."

With so many other solid relievers destined to hit the market with Britton, the Orioles may have a hard time drawing out an epic return for their closer. The Cubs gave up their top prospect for a closer last year and already dealt their top two prospects for Jose Quintana, but they have a need for another lights-out reliever.

The best bet for the Orioles is to attempt to play the Astros, Cubs and Dodgers against each other and hope one side blinks and offers two top-100 prospects or a player already in the big leagues. A potential return from the Cubs could include Ian Happ or Albert Almora and a younger pitching prospect like Oscar De La Cruz. Between the Cubs and the Dodgers front offices, Theo Epstein and Co. have shown more willingness to let go of prospects for an immediate boost at the MLB level.

Home/MLB Trade Rumors