MLB rumors: 5 players the Oakland Athletics should trade away

OAKLAND, CA - JUNE 15: Oakland Athletics starting pitcher Frankie Montas (47) before the regular season baseball game between the Oakland Athletics and Seattle Mariners on June 15, 2019, at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, CA. (Photo by Samuel Stringer/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images) /

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2. OF/DH Robbie Grossman

If this were the peak of the Moneyball era in Oakland, Grossman and his on-base skills might make him untouchable. But his OBP is down to .335 this year, after topping .360 in each of the previous three seasons. He is not a detriment defensively in the outfield, primarily left field for the A’s this year (0.3 dWAR, via Baseball Reference), but he doesn’t do enough other things well to be a notable contributor if he’s not working pitchers and getting on base. That being said, his .392 slugging percentage so far in 2019 would be the second-highest of his career over a full season.

So far in June (15 games going into Sunday), Grossman has a .327/.386/.519 slash-line with two home runs, seven RBI and four doubles over 57 plate appearances. A .357 BABIP over that span screams for regression though, so this might be a proverbial peak in his value.

Grossman is on a one-year, $2 million deal this year, with a final year of arbitration eligibility next year. A current warm streak, combined with being low-cost and having one more year of team control, makes him a viable trade chip for Oakland no matter if they are deadline buyers or sellers.

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