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MLB Trade Deadline 2018: One player on each team likeliest to be dealt

By Brad Weiss

BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 30: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles heads to the dugout against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD - MAY 30: Manny Machado #13 of the Baltimore Orioles heads to the dugout against the Washington Nationals during the seventh inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on May 30, 2018 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Scott Taetsch/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – JUNE 28: Khris Davis #2 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates a 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers with Jonathan Lucroy #21 of the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park on June 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JUNE 28: Khris Davis #2 of the Oakland Athletics celebrates a 4-2 win over the Detroit Tigers with Jonathan Lucroy #21 of the Oakland Athletics at Comerica Park on June 28, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Oakland Athletics: Jonathan Lucroy

One of the better surprises of the 2018 Major League Baseball season has been the play of the Oakland Athletics, who suddenly look like a Wild Card contender. Given no chance of being in the playoffs when the season started, they have been a scrappy group, and is starting to win games in bunches.

Prior to the 2018 season, the Athletics made a stellar move by bringing in free agent catcher Jonathan Lucroy. Not only is Lucroy an incredible player on the field, but he also is a leader in the clubhouse, and has really taken this young Athletics pitching staff under his wing.

As it stands, the Athletics should not make any move to lessen this roster, as they currently are playing some of the best baseball in the league. However, if they do see themselves slipping in the standings, a solid team would give the Athletics some great assets for a catcher like Lucroy, especially with it being a premium position.

For the season, Lucroy is batting .258, which is well below his career average of .280. Still, his leadership is what really has been valuable to the Athletics, who are getting great seasons out of guys like Jed Lowrie and Khris Davis.

If the Athletics are sellers at the trade deadline, their phones will be ringing off the hook for guys like Lucroy, Lowrie, or Davis. It is pretty incredible how they have put such a talented group on the field this season, and though the division should be won by the Houston Astros, grabbing one of the two Wild Cards would be one heck of an achievement for the A’s in 2018.

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