Deals of the future: Who all 30 MLB teams could trade before 2017 deadline
— -- Let's have a little fun. What player on each team is most likely to be traded between now and the 2017 trade deadline? We'll consider players currently on each team's 40-man roster plus prominent prospects. And, yes, you can pull this out next July and remind me that I was wrong.
NL West
San Francisco Giants -- Chris Shaw, 1B. The team's first-round pick last season out of Boston College has reached Double-A, but there's no room for him in San Francisco with Brandon Belt signed to a long-term deal. And we know the Giants love to trade their prospects.
Los Angeles Dodgers -- Yasiel Puig, RF. This seems like the easiest call on the board given the Dodgers admitted they were trying to trade him at the deadline, and then sent Puig to Triple-A claiming lack of production even though he had posted a .390 OBP since coming off the DL on June 21. A broken relationship that probably can't be fixed.
Colorado Rockies -- Ryan McMahon, 3B. Carlos Gonzalez is the guy everyone wants to trade, but the Rockies will enter next season hoping to contend, so they'll keep CarGo ... at least until the trade deadline. McMahon is blocked by Nolan Arenado and may not have enough bat for a move to first base, but some team could take a chance on his power potential and athleticism.
San Diego Padres -- Derek Norris, C. Is there anybody left to trade? They'd love to dump Norris and his .192 average. Good luck.
Arizona Diamondbacks -- Daniel Hudson, RHP. He's been awful of late, but he could move this month to a playoff team looking for a back-of-the-bullpen guy who could catch fire.
NL Central
Chicago Cubs -- Jorge Soler, OF. The fact that Kyle Schwarber wasn't traded means the Cubs will likely commit to him in left field next year, signaling Soler is likely the odd man out.
St. Louis Cardinals - Jack Flaherty, RHP. The Cards have depth across the organization and will have to decide if Kolten Wong has a future in St. Louis, but my guess is they deal from minor league pitching depth to improve the MLB roster.
Pittsburgh Pirates -- Jordy Mercer, SS. If the Pirates think Kevin Newman -- a 2015 first-round pick who has reached Double-A -- will be ready in 2017, they could deal Mercer this winter and save a few million in salary as well.
Milwaukee Brewers -- Ryan Braun, OF. Everyone seems to want him traded. I'm not quite so sure it will happen, given that he's signed through 2020, which may scare other teams off. And the Brewers have cut so much payroll that Braun's contract isn't really an issue for them.
Cincinnati Reds -- Zack Cozart, SS. They almost had a deal with the Mariners at the deadline, but apparently ran out of time as they had to re-work the Jay Bruce trade. He's a free agent after 2017.
NL East
Washington Nationals - Gio Gonzalez, LHP. With Lucas Giolito and Reynaldo Lopez pushing for rotation slots, Gonzalez could be the veteran traded in the offseason. He has a $12 million team option for 2017 plus a $12 million vesting option for 2018 -- affordable enough even considering his so-so 2016 on the mound.
Miami Marlins - Adeiny Hechavarria, SS. They were reportedly shopping him for pitching. They'll try again this winter.
New York Mets -- Brandon Nimmo, OF. Even if Yoenis Cespedes exercises his out clause, the Mets will have a logjam of corner outfielders next season -- Nimmo, Michael Conforto, Curtis Granderson and Jay Bruce. Granderson and Bruce are free agents after 2017. Nimmo almost went to the Reds in the Bruce trade, so he could be the guy they shop.
Philadelphia Phillies -- Jeanmar Gomez, RHP. It was a big surprise that the Phillies didn't trade Gomez and Jeremy Hellickson at the deadline. If Gomez doesn't go in August in a waiver trade, they should cash in on his "big" year as a closer in the winter.
Atlanta Braves - Jim Johnson, RHP. He's not really a guy you'd trust in a key role, but he could go to a playoff contender.
AL West
Texas Rangers -- Rougned Odor, 2B. A crazy idea? Sure. The 22-year-old is obviously talented, with a team-leading 21 home runs. But as evidenced Wednesday, when he got thrown out at second base trying to advance on a ball in the dirt as the tying run in the ninth inning, he has yet master the finer points in the game. He's second in the majors in outs made on the bases, has a poor stolen base percentage in his career, leads the majors in errors at second base and has an 88-10 strikeout/walk ratio. Texas could trade him to get pitching help or restock the farm and play Jurickson Profar at second next season.
Houston Astros -- Evan Gattis, DH. Does anyone want Evan Gattis?
Seattle Mariners -- Luiz Gohara, LHP. The big Brazilian is one of the few Mariners minor leaguers with high upside, although he's a long ways from putting it together. Rumor was he the bait in the Cozart trade talks.
Los Angeles Angels - Yunel Escobar, 3B. He's hitting .321, so the Angels will certainly pick up his $7 million option for 2017. And then probably trade him.
Oakland Athletics -- Danny Valencia, 3B. A waiver claim last August, he's under team control for another season, but the A's may want to cash in this August.
AL Central
Cleveland Indians -- Mike Clevinger, RHP. He's made a couple spot starts and is ready for a longer tryout, but it probably comes in a different uniform.
Detroit Tigers -- Derek Hill, OF. The team's 2014 first-round pick, his game is built on speed rather than the usual Detroit preference for power.
Chicago White Sox -- Chris Sale, LHP. "Hello, Dave Dombrowski, this is the White Sox ..."
Kansas City Royals -- Jorge Bonifacio, OF. The Royals aren't ready to tear things down, and the toolsy outfielder is one of their few minor leaguers who could bring back major league help.
Minnesota Twins -- Trevor Plouffe, 3B. He should have been traded already to clear third base for Miguel Sano. Now he's injured and would be basically be a salary dump.
AL East
Baltimore Orioles -- Trey Mancini, 1B. The Notre Dame product has reached Triple-A thanks to a big year in the minors, but he is blocked by Chris Davis.
Toronto Blue Jays -- Dalton Pompey, CF. Rushed to the majors a year ago, he's now in Buffalo and not exactly tearing it up, plus Kevin Pillar is set for the foreseeable future as the center fielder.
Boston Red Sox -- Jackie Bradley Jr., CF. "Hello, this is Dave Dombrowski calling about Chris Sale ..."
New York Yankees -- Brian McCann, C. Rumors have him going back to the Braves, opening up playing time for Gary Sanchez.
Tampa Bay Rays -- Daniel Robertson, SS. Part of the Ben Zobrist trade with the A's, Robertson is in Triple-A, but the acquisition of Matt Duffy to play shortstop and turn Brad Miller into a utility guy suggests Robertson isn't viewed as the shortstop of the future.