At the start of the season, I looked at some potential trade candidates that could be moved at the deadline. All of the candidates listed are still a strong possibility to be moved, with the exception of Bryan Reynolds. We are now past the season’s halfway mark, and the trade deadline is less than a month away. There is a clearer picture as to which teams will be buyers or sellers at the deadline. Rather than talk about the same popular trade candidates, like Shane Bieber, Marcus Stroman, Shohei Ohtani, and Aroldis Chapman, I want to take a look at under the radar trade candidates that could impact the playoff race.
Virtually every year a team makes a trade that gets overlooked that helps propel them deep into the playoffs. Last year the Philadelphia Phillies traded for Brandon Marsh. Marsh only slashed .226/.284/.353 over 93 games for the Los Angeles Angels prior to the trade. However, he not only provided great defense in the outfield for a team that had been struggling in that area, he slashed .288/.319/.455 for the Phillies the rest of the regular season as they came out of nowhere to clinch a playoff berth. Marsh also hit two home runs and had five runs batted in during the postseason for the Phillies’ World Series run.
In 2021 the Atlanta Braves traded for Eddie Rosario, Jorge Soler, and Adam Duvall. All Rosario did was hit .560/.607/1.040 with three home runs during the NLCS, and was named the NLCS MVP. Soler hit .300/.391/.800 with three home runs during the World Series and was named the MVP. Duvall also hit three runs and drove in 10 runs during the Braves World Series run.
THREAD: In honor of the World Series starting tonight, let's take a look at the top 9 biggest World Series hits since 2016, ranked by cWPA (Championship Win Probability Added)
— MLB Metrics (@MLBMetrics) October 28, 2022
9) 2021 game 6 – Jorge Soler 3-run home run (+14.73% cWPA) pic.twitter.com/huxC1lxUN6
Here are a few players that could have similar impacts on teams looking to make a deep playoff run.
Hunter Renfroe
Hunter Renfroe has been a popular trade target in the offseason. Renfroe is with his fifth team in as many seasons, despite being fairly consistent. Outside of the shortened 2020 season, Renfroe has hit at least 26 home runs every year since 2017. Renfroe has also been among the league leaders in outfield assists every year. This year Renfroe has 15 home runs entering play on July 7th. Renfroe is a free agent at the end of the year, and the Angels have a tough road to making the playoffs. Mike Trout will miss at least 4-6 weeks with a hamate bone injury. Anthony Rendon has been a shell of himself (as well as being off and on the IL), and Shohei Ohtani is now dealing with a blister that could limit his pitching.
It is unlikely the Angels can catch either the Rangers or Astros in the AL West. Meanwhile, the AL East could potentially send four teams to the playoffs. The Angles will likely find themselves selling, rather than buying, at the deadline. Renfroe is the type of right-handed power bat that teams often look for to bolster their lineup at the deadline.
This Hunter Renfroe throw from the warning track all in one motion is INSANE!!
— Ben Verlander (@BenVerlander) May 18, 2023
Difficulty level 10/10 and it saved the game
pic.twitter.com/sv8ohIViAk
Jack Flaherty
When looking at teams that have disappointed this season, it’s hard to think of any more disappointing than the St. Louis Cardinals. The Cardinals won the division last year, are currently last in the NL Central and are 15 games below .500. Jack Flaherty hasn’t exactly had a great season himself. However, he has shown flashes of being the top of the rotation arm many thought he could be. Over his last two starts, Flaherty has pitched 12.2 innings without giving up a run while striking out nine. Flaherty’s 4.27 ERA is mostly inflated by three terrible starts where he gave up 10, six, and six runs. Outside of those three games, Flaherty has not given up more than four earned runs in any start. In total, he has eight starts where he gave up one or fewer earned runs.
Flaherty is a free agent at the end of the year, and his up-and-down performance over the last few years could limit the return the Cardinals receive. However, a team in need of starting pitching that doesn’t have the ammunition to get one of the top available pitchers could get a steal.
Jack Flaherty, 94mph Fastball and 78mph Curveball, Overlay pic.twitter.com/FquRk9nvPf
— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 6, 2023
Yan Gomes
Catchers aren’t always the most popular trade candidates among fans, especially ones that aren’t notorious sluggers. However, finding a decent defensive catcher that isn’t a liability at the plate is rare. Yan Gomes is one of those catchers. Gomes has been among the best at throwing out would-be base stealers throughout his career, and currently ranks fourth in passed balls allowed. Gomes also has a Silver Slugger to his name (2018), and is having another good season at the plate. He’s slashing .264/.307/.425 with eight home runs. Gomes has the eighth highest batting average among catchers with at least 150 plate appearances. He also has the 18th most home runs for the position.
YAN GOMES TIE GAME! pic.twitter.com/9eoFUeeewI
— Marquee Sports Network (@WatchMarquee) July 6, 2023
Gomes is by no means a star, but he is a solid defensive catcher who can hold his own offensively. He is a free agent at the end of the year, and the Cubs find themselves on the outside looking in. He will likely be an afterthought if traded, but he has already been a part of one World Series celebration (Washington Nationals). Gomes will likely have a number of teams vying for his services at the deadline.
Feature image photo credit Elsa/Getty Images
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