MLB Power Rankings: Best trade chip on every below .500 team’s roster
By Tim Boyle
6) MLB Power Rankings: Detroit Tigers, Eduardo Rodriguez
Before landing on the IL, Eduardo Rodriguez was looking like one of the better trade candidates in baseball. He still is but not quite at the same level as some other players. Health is definitely a concern. Even greater is how long a team could even have him.
Rodriguez’s contract includes an opt out from his deal with the Detroit Tigers after this year. If he performs well, he’ll definitely use it. If he doesn’t pitch well, a team may have to give up too much to acquire a player who will become a rental. Those things can be tricky. Ultimately it probably hurts the Tigers more than it does the team that lands him. Nobody will want to overpay for a possible rental. Worse could be trading for a bust who stays around for a few more years.
5) MLB Power Rankings: Philadelphia Phillies, Aaron Nola
Aaron Nola is having one of those off-years for the Philadelphia Phillies. It’s contagious around the roster. Their fight to get back to .500 may be a futile effort. Previously an extension candidate for the Phillies, their poor start to the season now makes Nola one of the better trade chips to shop around.
Trading Nola is a must for the Phillies if they end up as trade deadline sellers. They could always revisit a reunion in the offseason. It’s also not a must. The Phillies have the bigger issue of not having enough starting pitching rather than a lack of talent. Nola’s numbers this year shouldn’t scare off too many ball clubs from giving up something for him. A team like the Los Angeles Dodgers with a stable and strong farm system could make sense.