Fansided

Top 25 tradeable pieces to keep an eye on this season

By Joshua Sadlock

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 16: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 16, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 16: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles looks on during the eighth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 16, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
facebooktwitterreddit
Prev
17 of 25
Next
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 09: Kelvin Herrera #40 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the ninth inning at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on June 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – JUNE 09: Kelvin Herrera #40 of the Kansas City Royals pitches against the Oakland Athletics in the bottom of the ninth inning at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum on June 9, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

9. Kelvin Herrera

There will not be a large number of closers available at the trade deadline this year. Several of the rebuilding teams have already moved theirs for prospects, while teams like the San Diego Padres and Cincinnati Reds have locked up theirs on team-friendly extensions and do not need to force a trade this year. The Tampa Bay Rays have already taken Alex Colome off the board by dealing him to the Seattle Mariners.

Looking at the remaining teams far out of contention with decent closers, only Zach Britton and Kelvin Herrera stand out as sure bets to be moved. After a down year in 2017, Herrera is pitching near the levels he reached during the 2014 and 2015 runs to the World Series. With the Kansas City Royals fighting to stay out of last place and a few years away from contending, Herrera will be traded.

Herrera has yet to walk a batter through the first 24 appearances of the year and has a 0.79 ERA in 22.2 innings with 13 saves. The fiery right-hander isn’t putting up the same eye-popping strikeout numbers of his earlier seasons, but has shown pinpoint command with his 97-mph fastball.

The Royals have to get something for Herrera and avoid missing out on another chance to bring back the type of prospects that will make up their next great club. Failing to trade Eric Hosmer, Lorenzo Cain and Mike Moustakas last year is the type of mistake that has the potential to set a small-market franchise back an entire decade.

Home/MLB