The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching and since a number of teams are still in contention, some that will be buyers at the deadline include Pittsburgh Pirates, Texas Rangers, Cardinals and Yankees and some player targets could be Alfonso Soriano, Giancarlo Stanton, Matt Garza, Yovani Gallardo and Josh Johnson as well as Kendrys Morales.
The Seattle Mariners have had a tough season and are sitting nine games under .500 as the trade deadline approaches and while the team has played better over the past week, there is a good chance a number of their players will be dealt to contenders, most likely Raul Ibanez, Kendrys Morales, Michael Morse, Hisashi Iwakuma, Oliver Perez and Brendan Ryan.
General manager Jack Zduriencik has been putting together a plan for five years to get the team back to respectability and so far that has not worked, meaning he may try to pry away a prospect or two for some of his veteran players. The trade season has already started with Scott Feldman and Ricky Nolasco being moved and now that the Mariners have young stars like Nick Franklin, Brad Miller and Erasmo Ramirez with the big team, the vets might be on the way out.
Soriano could be the biggest named player to be moved at the deadline and after a number of years of being named in trade talks, he could finally be ready to move. Soriano said that if the team wants to trade him he would be willing to waive his no-trade clause and a deal could send him to two of his old teams in the Rangers or the Yankees. Soriano signed an eight-year, $136 million deal back in 2006 and after years of losing, he may be ready to move on.
Any team that traded for Soriano would get a strong bat and a solid glove and since the Cubs are way out of contention, they will be sellers once again at the deadline. Soriano has been hot lately with .381 with six homers and 15 RBIs in the Cubs' last 10 games and that could motivate teams to try and snag him now before the deadline gets closer. The Yankees and the Rangers need outfield help and his power is something New York needs desperately, while Texas may want another bat after Lance Berkman was injured.
Some big trades have already been done, including the Cubs moving Scott Hairston and Scott Feldman and the team could continue that way. The Marlins traded Ricky Nolasco and he could be the first of many pitchers to move. Jake Peavy is back on track to return from injury and he could be an attractive piece, as he has posted a 2.97 ERA with 15 walks and 63 strikeouts in 60.2 innings before his last two starts.
The 32-year-old is a solid option for teams looking for pitching depth and that also fits Yovani Gallardo, Josh Johnson and Casey Janssen. The Blue Jays were hot for a while, but after hitting another bump in the road, Johnson and Janssen could be on the way out, as a number of teams need help in the bullpen. Janssen has a 2.57 ERA and is 17-for-18 in save opportunities and he could be a good fit for the Red Sox, who need a new closer badly.
