MLB players most likely to be traded at deadline

Bumgarner isn't the pitcher he used to be, but there's still plenty to work with for a playoff contender. The pending free agent has shown his elite control again this season with a sub-2.0 BB/9, and his 3.65 ERA in 21 starts still makes him a solid middle of the rotation starter. Plus, his extensive playoff experience is seen as an asset, including his amazing 2014 World Series MVP performance.

Castellanos isn't having the best walk year, but the bat remains intriguing. He has an OPS above .800 for the fourth straight season, making up for what's been subpar defense in right field. Despite only 11 home runs with the "juiced" ball, he leads the AL with 34 doubles. A team in a smaller ballpark could see those doubles turn to long balls down the stretch.

Castro might have trouble finding a starting job next year with the season he's had thus far, but he's the type of hitter who has been hot and cold during his career. If there's any optimism to be taken from this year's performance, Castro hit .419 in his first 10 games this month, and he still had a 3.3 WAR last season.

Colome has reemerged as an elite closer this season, posting a 2.33 ERA through 39 appearances for the White Sox. The indicators don't say that's likely to continue, particularly with a sub-7.0 K/9, but he's undoubtedly an asset to any bullpen and has one more year of control after this season.

Coming off arguably his best season in 2018, this year has been forgettable for Dickerson. He's struggled to stay healthy and has looked lost at the plate and in the field recently. Pittsburgh is barely finding playing time for him with too many mouths to feed in its outfield, so Pittsburgh probably won't receive more than a low-level prospect in return.

Frazier is said to be a well-liked veteran presence, at least in his own clubhouse. The veteran is also having a nice year offensively, hitting .247-13-37 in only 286 plate appearances and makes more a viable bench bat with a .971 OPS against lefties. That's the type of platoon split playoff rosters are made.

Gennett probably wishes he were a free agent after last season, his second straight elite offensive showing (.310-23-92). He missed the first three months of this season due to injury and has yet to see his bat take off. The Reds have no reason to keep him around with a failed attempt to extend his contract in the past and free agency on the horizon.

It's always a good idea to sell high on closers, and Toronto would be doing that if it traded Giles. The former Astro has an amazing 1.64 ERA and 57/10 K/BB in 33 innings, but he's also nursed minor elbow issues over the last month. Teams should be able to overlook that for the upside, and Giles also has one more year of control.

It's been a disappointing year for Baltimore's part-time closer, but strikeout pitchers like Givens don't grow on trees. The sidearmer has a 12.2 K/9 in 38.1 innings and would almost certainly fare better away from the hitter-friendly confines of Camden Yards. There are also two more years before he's a free agent, so Baltimore should be able to get decent value in return.

Greene has performed like an elite closer this year, even if his indicators don't support the performance. The first-time All-Star has a 1.25 ERA through 36 appearances, but his FIP is a more pedestrian 3.80. That still makes him an asset and one that the Tigers would be well-advised to cash in on, as Greene has only one year of control left.

The promotion of Bubba Starling has pushed Hamilton to the bench — not that he wasn't deserving of the demotion already. The speedster can't steal first base, as indicated by his pitiful .555 OPS this season. He's still great defensively and a threat to steal a base, so he's a nice piece as a 25th man on a playoff roster.

The Royals are all about saving money these days, and they'd have a chance to do that by trading Kennedy. The career starting pitcher has been acting as the team's closer this season and doing a terrific job. He has a 3.35 ERA and 49/10 K/BB in 40.1 innings, and the ERA metrics say he's been even better. The $16.5 million due to Kennedy next season is an obstacle but one the Royals would probably be willing to cover partially if they could net an adequate prospect return.

Liriano has transitioned nicely to full-time relief work this season, with a 3.26 ERA in 47 innings for Pittsburgh. The best success of his career has come under Pirates pitching coach Ray Searage, but a new team could hope he has something left as a short reliever during the playoffs.

If the Pirates are able to get anything at all for Lyles after his recent performance, they should feel fortunate. He looked like he found something with a 3.09 ERA through two months, but his ERA was a whopping 10.98 over his following five starts. With more than one strikeout per inning and relief experience, a team could take a chance.

On one hand, the Rangers have Minor signed through next season as they try to make a splash with the opening of their new ballpark in 2020. On the other hand, Texas would certainly be selling high if it traded Minor now, as he's a legitimate Cy Young Award candidate with a 2.86 ERA through 20 starts. It's likely general manager Jon Daniels would have to be blown away to move Minor, but with few quality starting pitchers available, he just might find his desired value.

Pence is a story you wouldn't be able to sell in Hollywood. A former star in Houston, Philadelphia and San Francisco, he looked cooked over the last two seasons with the Giants. However, at the age of 35 he revamped his swing late last season and went to show it off at the Dominican Winter League this offseason. It paid huge dividends, as he's hit .290-15-48 in 232 plate appearances and made the AL All-Star team. The defense is now limited and Pence is an injury risk, but there could be big payoff if he's traded to an AL contender.

After an especially slow start, Puig pounded the ball in June, hitting .287-7-13 over 94 plate appearances. It's that type of production that makes the mercurial Puig an intriguing addition for the last two months of the season as he readies for free agency.

Roark has been an unsung quality arm for much of his career, and perhaps his biggest asset has been his durability. That's been on display again this season, and his ERA has also been a tad under 4.00 through 19 starts for the Reds. Cincinnati is likely to trade the pending free agent, as it looks at other arms down the stretch.

Romo isn't missing many bats this season, which is a bad sign. Still, he's done a fair job as Miami's closer with a 3.79 ERA in 36 appearances, and his slider still wreaks havoc against right-handed batters, who are hitting just .200 against him. He's an experienced matchup reliever for the playoffs.

Smith could be San Francisco's most attractive trade deadline piece, even more so than Madison Bumgarner. The left-handed closer made his first All-Star appearance this year and has been flat-out dominant since returning from injury last season, with a 2.55 ERA, 0.92 WHIP and 13.4 K/9 over 42.1 innings. The pending free agent will be a welcome bullpen weapon but not one that will come cheap.

Smoak hasn't really been talked about, thanks to a relatively quiet season thus far. Still, he has an .874 OPS against right-handed pitching, which should make him viable as a starting first baseman or DH for a team looking to add some punch down the stretch. The former All-Star will be a free agent following this season.

Stroman won't be a free agent until after next season, but the value won't ever be higher than it is now. The groundball specialist is having a career year with a 3.06 ERA through 20 starts and just made his first All-Star appearance. A native New Yorker, he's an obvious candidate for the Yankees in a hitter-friendly home ballpark, but there probably isn't a contender that wouldn't like to have him.

Vargas has ruffled some feathers this season with a recent media altercation, but he's been a quality fifth starter for the Mets. The veteran left has a 4.25 ERA in 82.2 innings, showing that he has life left in his arm at age 36 after an injury-plagued 2018 season. He could be a cheap and adequate fill-in for a desperate team.

Watson has shown elite control during much of his career but never better than last season. So far this year, the left-handed setup man has walked only five batters in 40.2 innings, resulting in a 2.88 ERA in 43 appearances. He's shown the ability to pitch in nearly every relief role during his career and should make a nice two-plus month addition.

Currently on the injured list with a shoulder issue, Wheeler is having a disappointing walk year after posting a 3.31 ERA in 29 starts last season. There should still be plenty of interest with a career-high 9.8 K/BB and 3.82 K/BB ratio this season, along with an FIP that is more than one run lower than his 4.69 ERA. The key will be Wheeler's health, but he should fetch a strong prospect or two if he can get healthy before July 31.