The baseball world is focused on Juan Soto, but there are other bats available ahead of the MLB trade deadline. There are even other Washington Nationals hitters that will likely be traded before August 2nd.
MLB insider Jon Heyman spoke about the upcoming trade deadline that is shaping up to be a real seller’s market on this week’s episode of Audacy’s Big Time Baseball podcast.
“I think the vast majority of teams are going to be buyers,” Heyman said, with the new playoff format opening things up a bit. “There are a lot of teams who are thinking, ‘You know what, we can hang in there, we might be able to make it,’ and they may go for it. There are not that many sellers. A clear sellers’ market where the sellers are going to get big big prices for guys.”
Heyman noted that the hitters market is much stronger than the pitchers who are available. He rattled off a number of guys that he expects to get moved: Josh Bell, C.J. Cron, Trey Mancini, Willson Contreras, Andrew Benintendi, and Nelson Cruz.
“I think some of those hitters are unquestionably going to be moved,” Heyman said (10:30 in player above). “Contreras, we spoke to here at the All-Star Game, wants to stay, has not been offered a long-term deal and he’s a free agent in two months. I’m sure that Willson Contreras is going to be traded somewhere, whether he’s a catcher or a DH somewhere else. He’s going to help somebody.”
Contreras is one of the biggest bats on the market and the Cubs should be looking to move him. Heyman also said that while Juan Soto may not be moved during the season, two of his Nationals teammates will be.
“I do think some of these hitters are very, very likely to be traded. Nelson Cruz will be traded. Josh Bell will be traded.”
The switch-hitting Bell can play first base and is hitting a career-high .311 with 13 home rns and 50 RBI through 93 games this season. He may be higher on some teams’ lists.
Cruz is strictly a designated hitter at this point in his career. He only has eight home runs in 84 games this season, but did hit 32 round-trippers last season – including 13 in 55 games with the Tampa Bay Rays after being acquired at the deadline.
Bell is slated to be a free agent after this season while Cruz has a mutual option for 2023.
Related
LISTEN on the Audacy App
Sign Up and Follow Audacy Sports
Facebook | Twitter | Instagram