MLB Power Rankings: The best trade asset for every team
By Tim Boyle
20) MLB Power Rankings: Tampa Bay Rays, Any pitcher in the system nearing arbitration
Take your pick. The Tampa Bay Rays have the owner of landing on this week’s MLB Power Rankings with a big TBD. They are a pitching factory with no real obvious trade chip. They can sell a player one week then buy a better one the next. Somewhere within this organization is a pitcher they’ll flip at the deadline. The more money he makes, the more likely he is to switch caps.
19) MLB Power Rankings: Los Angeles Dodgers, Dalton Rushing
The Los Angeles Dodgers operate in a similar way as the Tampa Bay Rays but with a big budget. They can make a surprising move and buy and sell at the same time while coming out on top. Catching prospect Dalton Rushing, however, looks like a pretty good piece to sell. He got off to a great start in the minors last year after getting drafted. Behind big league Will Smith and the club’s top guy, Diego Cartaya, it’s easy to see how Rushing can become quick trade bait.
18) MLB Power Rankings: Houston Astros, Yainer Diaz
Yainer Diaz is the latest young Houston Astros hitter making his way to the big leagues. It’s almost insulting to the rest of baseball how they find these guys. Acquired on July 30, 2021 along with Phil Maton from the Cleveland Guardians for Myles Straw, it’s going to become an absolute joke of a deal. Diaz is a catcher moving toward a position change. If the Astros want to repeat, shopping him in a trade for a big piece is something to consider.
17) MLB Power Rankings: Philadelphia Phillies, Griff McGarry
The Philadelphia Phillies actually have the benefit of having a couple of young pitching prospects to believe in. Trading Griff McGarry, arguably the third best they have, could be their best way of loading up for more than just a trip to the World Series. The Phillies have been dreadful when it comes to developing pitchers. On one hand, dealing him now while he has value makes sense. On the other, what if he is the exception?
16) MLB Power Rankings: Toronto Blue Jays, Brandon Barriera
Odds are not in favor of the Toronto Blue Jays trading their first round pick from last year. Brandon Barriera, a left-handed pitcher who just turned 19 earlier in March, has a long way to go before becoming a member of the big league club. Trading him makes sense if the Blue Jays want to push all of their chips into the center of the table. With so much uncertainty about the future of a teenage arm, sending him somewhere else in the right deal is something to consider.