Like everything else, this could be one of the more unusual trade deadlines in recent memory. With such a shortened season - that's already halfway over for some teams - the line between "buyer" and "seller" is more blurred than ever. With such a small sample size to determine whether a team is in the race, plus the expanded postseason, most everyone could be considered in the hunt. Consider that entering Wednesday, 22 of the league's 30 teams are at least within four games of a postseason spot.
But who is out there to get? With so many teams in the hunt, the price of acquiring an extra bat or an arm should go up. Here are the likeliest names to be on the move by August 31:
Mike Clevinger & Zach Plesac: The best names likely to be dealt, it has very little to do with their talents on the field. Clevinger and teammate Zach Plesac were both suspended by the Indians last month for breaking protocols surrounding the coronavirus. After spending 10 days away from the team, both were sent to the team's minor league facility upon returning despite the pair combining for a 2.13 earned run average this year. Clevinger just returned this week, and it's expected that Plesac will be soon to follow.
While forgiving and forgetting would be good for Cleveland, currently a game-and-a-half out of first in the Central and sitting in a wild card spot, it's uncertain if there can be harmony in the clubhouse. A team like Atlanta, who desperately needs starter depth behind Max Fried, could be a perfect landing spot. As could the Yankees, who could be enticed by Clevinger's two years control as they look for depth behind Gerrit Cole and Masahiro Tanaka.
Mitch Moreland: The 34-year-old (he turns 35 on September 6) has been the best hitter on a bad Red Sox team. In 19 games this year the first baseman has hit .357 with seven home runs and a 1.274 OPS, hitting primarily against righties, while playing his usual excellent defense at first. Re-signing with Boston last winter, he has a 2021 team option worth $3 million with only a $500,000 buyout, meaning he's an ideal rental to platoon with a right-handed bat. Moreland has quietly been consistent for years now, hitting at least 19 home runs in four of the last five seasons heading into 2020.
With the designated hitter now in use in the National League, he could be enticing to Arizona, where he could be the regular DH or platoon at first with right-handed bat Christian Walker.
Kevin Pillar: Another Red Sox target, Pillar joined Boston on a one-year, $4.25-million deal in February and has proven to be a nice addition. The 31-year-old is basically on pace to replicate his 2019 season with San Francisco, when he hit .264 with 21 home runs as the team's everyday center fielder. Expected to be a fourth outfielder in Boston, he's started 26 games already this year (predominantly in right) and has proven that he still has a little pop in the bat to go along with Gold Glove caliber defense.
Only costing $600,000 the rest of the season, he could be a cheap rental for a team like Milwaukee, who doesn't need a long-term solution in center with Lorenzo Cain set to return in 2021 after opting out of this year.
Trevor Rosenthal: The former Cardinals closer has bounced around the league since undergoing Tommy John surgery and missing all of 2018. Since returning he's played for three teams in two years, most recently signing a one-year, $2-million deal with Kansas City. He's wildly outperformed that contract, making 13 appearances out of the bullpen to the tune of seven saves and a 1.46 ERA, striking out 17 in just 12.1 innings as his fastball averages around 98 mph. And though it's been five years since his last postseason appearance, his October pedigree is spectacular: 26 postseason innings, two earned runs (0.46 ERA).
Who needs bullpen help? You can make a claim that everyone could use another bullpen arm, but the Padres in particular could use some help. Their 5.41 bullpen ERA is fourth-worst in baseball, and for all the excitement they bring offensively, they haven't found an in-house replacement since Drew Pomeranz went on the injured list.
Taijuan Walker: After pitching 14 innings combined in the last two years for Arizona because of Tommy John surgery, Walker returned to the team that drafted him in the Mariners, signing a one-year "prove it" deal worth only $2 million. So far he's proved it, making five starts with a 4.00 ERA and striking out 25 batters in 27 innings. And if you take away his rocky debut against Houston (3.1 innings, 5 earned runs) his ERA drops to 2.71. With the Mariners out of it in the AL West, Walker is a perfect candidate to turn that $2 million investment into prospects. While a contender is at best getting a back-end starter, and at worst a key bullpen arm come the postseason. In today's game, either one is valuable.
The Rays, who are reportedly being very aggressive, could be the ideal landing spot. Tampa Bay currently has nine (!) pitchers on the injured list, probably don't want to pay for the upcoming two years of arbitration for Mike Clevinger, and loves a low-risk, high-reward deal when it sees one.