Bernie on the Scene: American League Trade Chips

August 31 is the trade deadline for the 2020 baseball season.

Today and next Monday I will share some of my ideas about trade chips each team has to offer. 

While we don't know how active MLB teams will be, I believe there are plenty of general managers who want to put their chips in the pot.

Today I highlight the American League. Next week, on trade deadline day, I will highlight the National League.

Potential "rental" free agents may be very popular in this short season. That's why I have listed all the main potential free agents that could be on the move for the price of their remaining 2020 contract-an attractive option for teams seeking help.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES

The team is showing signs of life. Anthony Santander is having a robust campaign. The Orioles have solid players in Rio Ruiz, Renato Nunez and Hanser Alberto. Catcher Pedro Severino, obtained on waivers from Washington, is having a fine season

Pitching remains the problem. If they want to improve, they have to fortify a very mediocre pitching staff.

Needs: Starting pitching. Relievers

Chips: One catcher from among Chance Sisco or Bryan Holaday. Mychal Givens, a former closer. Trey Mancini, on the injured list after a serious bout with colon cancer. Potential free-agent Jose Iglesias, who is proving to be a solid offensive shortstop (currently with a strained quad), and Richie Martin, an unused utility shortstop 

Note: At age 31, Iglesias is a highly underrated player. He can help a number of teams that would like a shortstop upgrade.

Maybe aging Tommy Milone and Wade LeBlanc, both pending free agents have some appeal to pitching starved teams in contention and looking for an extra arm.

BOSTON RED SOX

Perhaps the most disappointing team in baseball, the Red Sox have to shore up a woeful pitching staff by using what few trade chips they have. It will take a good player like Michael Chavis to attract a quality pitcher. To this old scout, trading Mookie Betts and not paying his asking price has set this franchise back a number of years.

Who knows if Chris Sale can return whole? Rafael Devers may fetch the pitching help they need. J.D. Martinez may be too expensive for many clubs. Injured Andrew Benintendi may have been a trade chip, but he continues to fall down a very steep cliff and his value has plummeted.

Needs: Starting pitching. Relievers

Chips: J.D. Martinez, a powerful but defensively challenged outfielder; left-handed hitting third baseman Rafael Devers; free-agent center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. or corner infielder Michael Chavis; free-agent outfielder Kevin Pillar; free-agent first baseman Mitch Moreland; lefty starter Martin Perez (yikes) Jonathan Lucroy and Collin McHugh are also potential free agents. Is there a market for any of those last four? Um, not much.

Note: The Red Sox have already sent reliever Brandon Workman and Heath Hembree packing to Philadelphia. The return of Nick Pivetta and Connor Seabold serves to add to their already sufficient quantity of meh!

CHICAGO WHITE SOX

When their pitching matures (Dane Dunning, Dylan Cease, Michael Kopech, Reynaldo Lopez) they will be a consistent force to be reckoned with. They will just continue to roll out booming bats like Luis Robert, Yoan Moncada, Jose Abreu, Eloy Jimenez and Tim Anderson. Their offensive package may ultimately rival the Twins.

Edwin Encarnacion, relievers Alex Colome and Steve Cishek, catcher James McCann, pitcher Gio Gonzalez, infielder/outfielder Leury Garcia and relievers Evan Marshall and Ross Detwiller are potential free agents. There is talent in those players. Many teams may covet the White Sox free-agent class. Fetching another pitcher would really help their future. McCann is a must keep for me. He's a really solid shepherd for their young pitching staff. The rest? Make the right deal and you can get a nice new piece for your run for a ring.

Needs: One starting pitcher

Chips: Free-agent class, outfielder Adam Engel, outfielder Blake Rutherford

CLEVELAND INDIANS

It is only their pitching that keeps them in the playoff hunt. The offense, with few exceptions, has been nonexistent. The bottom of the order from 6-9 is hitting in Mendoza Line territory. The top of the order isn't much better.

Francisco Lindor's performance is negatively impacting his trade value. He is chasing breaking balls and missing the few fastballs he sees. He's trying too hard. Pressing.

The outfield has been a revolving door of very mediocre, 4-A quality hitters.

Needs: Impact offensive outfielder, middle reliever

Chips: SS Francisco Lindor, Starter Mike Clevinger, starter Adam Plutko, outfielder Jake Bauers, outfielder Oscar Mercado, outfielder Greg Allen

Carlos Santana, Brad Hand, Cesar Hernandez, Oliver Perez, Roberto Perez, Sandy Leon and Domingo Santana will be free agents. I would like to see the Indians trade Santana and pick up Josh Bell while he is struggling with Pittsburgh. I like his game. Hernandez is a must keep, as is Perez.

DETROIT TIGERS

Believe it or not, this team is on the upswing. The record doesn't show it. We are about to see the heartbeat of the Tigers' future with pitchers Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize and eventually Matt Manning and Franklin Perez. Spencer Torkelson will clearly improve the offense when he arrives. But they need more. Soon.

Needs: Outfielder, shortstop

Chips: LHP Matthew Boyd, RHP Spencer Turnbull, OF Cameron Maybin, C Jake Rogers, C Eric Haase, second baseman Jonathan Schoop, reliever Joe Jimenez.

Jonathan Schoop, C.J. Cron, Jordan Zimmerman, Ivan Nova and Cameron Maybin are potential free agents. Maybe Cron has a future, but with Torkelson on the brink, perhaps Cron would be relegated to designated hitter, which will be vacated eventually by Miguel Cabrera.

HOUSTON ASTROS

The pitching has been good this year, but I don't expect that to continue. Where would they be without Framber Valdez? The starting staff is really weak with the loss of both Justin Verlander and Jose Urquidy.

Yes, they need him, but perhaps prospect pitcher Forrest Whitley can help fetch multiple pitchers.

Needs: Starting pitching, relief pitching, bench strength

Chips: Carlos Correa (free agent after 2021) outfielder/first baseman J.J. Matijevic, starter Forrest Whitley;  George Springer, Michael Brantley, Josh Reddick, Yuli Gurriel and injured pitcher Brad Peacock will be free agents. I would try to trade Springer, Brantley, Reddick or Gurriel for a quality pitcher. Those guys and Correa can help any club for the rest of the season. But — the new team will want to negotiate a new contract, and that is unlikely.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS

They have turned the page and are trying to regroup. There just isn't a great deal of talent hanging around for them to compete in the AL Central. I'm not sold on guys like Ryan O'Hearn and Maikel Franco (who has flashed some pop) as corner infielders for the future.

Needs: Starting pitchers, relievers, first baseman, second baseman, outfielder

Chips: OF Hunter Dozier, OF Bubba Starling, LHP Danny Duffy, RHP Trevor Rosenthal RHP Ian Kennedy, P Greg Holland,  RHP Brad Keller

Free agents include Ian Kennedy, Alex Gordon, Maikel Franco, Trevor Rosenthal, Greg Holland and Brad Keller. Is Keller the guy who can get them some young, controllable players? He looked good in his last start, and he's the guy I'd try to move.

LOS ANGELES ANGELS

The team they are putting on the field cannot compete with Houston or Oakland. The outfield is set with the addition of Jo Adell. Anthony Rendon is a solid third baseman and David Fletcher is outstanding anywhere he plays. But they have offensive holes to fill at first base and on their bench. The starting staff is probably two pitchers shy.

Needs: Two starting pitchers, second baseman, first baseman

Chips: One of OF Brandon Marsh, OF Justin Upton, or OF Brian Goodwin, P Julio Teheran, SS Andrelton Simmons, C Jason Castro

Free agents to be include Julio Teheran, Andrelton Simmons, Jason Castro, Hansel Robles, Tommy La Stella , Taylor Ward. Of those, Simmons has value, but that bad ankle is an issue he carries with him. I'm not sure any of the others have much trade value.

MINNESOTA TWINS

This team is an offensive nightmare for the opposition. On any given day they are capable of putting huge numbers on the board. That offense could lead them to a World Series championship. But they are at least one starting pitcher away.

Needs: Veteran starting pitcher

Chips: C /UTL player Willians Astudillo, INF Nick Gordon, OF Trevor Larnach, OF Byron Buxton, OF/1B Brent Rooker

Bad news for the Twins. Their players are getting expensive. Potential free agents include Jake Odorizzi, Nelson Cruz, Marwin Gonzalez, Homer Bailey, Sergio Romo, Alex Avila, Rich Hill, Tyler Clippard, Trevor May and Ehire Adrianza. Someone may want a quality utility player like Marwin Gonzalez. The Twins likely want to keep Odorizzi and Cruz, but both will be costly. if they get creative, they can move their potential free agents and solve some pitching issues. Many have value.

NEW YORK YANKEES

Injuries once again to Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge could derail the outstanding progress of the Yankees. While they have depth to fill in for those big bats, their pitching will see added stress without those bats. They are at least one starter short. Having the oft-injured James Paxton on the shelf was predictable.

Needs: One starting pitcher

Chips: INF/OF Miguel Andujar, OF Estevan Florial, SP Clarke Schmidt 

Free agents to be include Giancarlo Stanton, Masahiro Tanaka, Zack Britton, James Paxton and DJ LeMahieu. I don't think they can afford to lose LeMahieu. I think they can watch the rest of them walk. Clint Frazier is becoming even more important to the future of the Yankees. As are Luke Voit and Mike Ford.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS

They're having a fine season, and their needs are few. It is unlikely they can keep up their pace, but this is a really solid baseball team. What happens if Khris Davis or Sean Manaea wakes up? Or how about Marcus Semien? Watch out.

For me, second base still seems a bit of a black hole, with a number of moving parts. The team could benefit by more stability at the position. If A's don't trust Franklin Barreto by this time, they should trade him. 

Needs: Second baseman

Chips: INF Franklin Barreto, OF Khris Davis, INF Sheldon Neuse

Free agents include Marcus Semien, Joakim Soria, Mike Fiers, Liam Hendriks, Mark Canha, Robbie Grossman and Yusmeiro Petit. They need to keep Semien. But the rest may be very attractive trade chips. If not now, then for the offseason. Those are some quality parts that make a good engine run smoothly. Don't they have to keep that bullpen intact?

SEATTLE MARINERS

This remains a lousy baseball team, but there is hope with some of the younger players who are gaining valuable experience. What we see now, is what they have. They have deployed virtually every viable prospect for this 2020 team.

Pitching remains a problem, and inconsistency has been a huge issue.

Needs: Pitching, outfielder

Chips: INF/OF Dee Gordon, P Taijuan Walker, OF Mallex Smith, OF Jake Fraley, 3B Kyle Seager, RP Matt Magill, Kendall Graveman

Free agents include Kendall Graveman, Taijuan Walker and Collin Cowgill. I'm not buying any of those items on their used car lot.

TAMPA BAY RAYS

They are giving the Yankees all they can ask for in this short season. This is a balanced club, but the offense can be very streaky. Even with all their pitching, they may want to add a veteran with Charlie Morton out.

Needs: Third baseman, outfielder

Chips: OF Kevin Kiermaier, OF/1B Jose Martinez, OF Hunter Renfroe, SS Lucius Fox, one pitcher from among young LHP Matthew Liberatore, LHP Brendan McKay; or RHP Shane Baz

Free agents include catching flop Mike Zunino, Aaron Loup. Not much to pick from here. But the Rays may still be active trying to catch the Yankees. McKay may be of real interest to a team looking ahead. Kiermaier has nearly no trade value.

TEXAS RANGERS

A new park and no fans to watch games is probably a bit depressing. But the Rangers have tried to cobble together a season after losing RHP Corey Kluber, a big hope for this year. Lance Lynn has been solid, but they need more if they want to win. They need a long-term closer.

Needs: Starting pitcher, multiple relievers, outfielder

Chips: OF Shin-Soo Choo, 2B Rougned Odor, OF Leody Taveras, OF Adolis Garcia, 1B Ronald Guzman, LHP Mike Minor

Free agents include Shin-Soo Choo, Mike Minor, Corey Kluber, Robinson Chirinos, Todd Frazier, Jesse Chavez and Jeff Mathis. The guys on this free-agent list will play well in the senior softball league, but they won't be much help for a club beyond the rest of this season. Maybe Minor can interest a team looking for an arm. Choo is still interesting. 

TORONTO BLUE JAYS

Losing Bo Bichette and Derek Fisher won't help the Blue Jays climb out of their funk this year, but their young nucleus of players should help for the future. The elbow injury to pitcher Nate Pearson could be a serious blow.

Needs: Starting pitcher, outfielder

Chips: INF Brandon Drury, P Ken Giles, OF Billy McKinney, Matt Shoemaker, Joe Panik, Anthony Bass, Chase Anderson

Free agents include Ken Giles, Chase Anderson, Matt Shoemaker, Joe Panik and Anthony Bass. I'll pass, thank you.

HEADING HOME

• Follow me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff.

• Here is a recent article from forbes.com. You can also see my most recent article up on the site now. It's about the Boston Red Sox.