Bernie on the Scene: National League Trade Chips

The trade deadline is Monday afternoon. Last week, we looked at the American League trade front; this week, we'll look at the National League.

Trades can still be made for players after the Monday deadline, but the player must be subject to the waiver process.

There are plenty of teams remaining in the hunt for the expanded playoffs. As this is published on Saturday, it is possible someone on this list might already have been traded.

Free agents noted do not have a personal or club option beyond this year. They are true free agents.

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Needs: Starting pitching, reliever

Pending Free Agents: Robbie Ray, Jake Lamb, Jon Jay, Andrew Chafin (sprained finger)

The Diamondbacks are among the biggest disappointments of the short 2020 season. General manager Mike Hazen will not be reluctant to back up the truck — provided he has willing trade partners.

Lefty Robbie Ray has been a disaster. He can't find home plate with a Google map. His consistent wildness and high walk rate have not improved since his days with the Tigers. I think Arizona has seen enough. Since he throws with his left hand, it is likely he will be traded. Maybe some team thinks they can fix him. The Tigers and Dbacks couldn't.

Jake Lamb is virtually useless against left-handed pitching, and he's been awful against righties this year as well. I have no idea where he will find a new home.

ATLANTA BRAVES

Needs: Starting pitching

Pending Free Agents: Marcell Ozuna, Cole Hamels, (triceps tendinitis) Mark Melancon, Shane Greene, Nick Markakis, Tyler Flowers, Adeiny Hechavarria, Josh Tomlin

The loss of Mike Soroka to Achilles tendon surgery and failure of lefty Sean Newcomb have been major blows to the Braves rotation. Clearly, Touki Toussaint and Kyle Wright haven't been the answer to the club's starting pitching woes.

Hamels is hurt and won't help either the Braves or a team needing pitching. Ozuna is interesting. He makes $18M a year, far more than most teams wish to spend with the free agent. Melancon and Greene may have some value to a team needing to shore up the bullpen.

If the Braves wish to enter the postseason, they have to pay the price for a pitcher. That price might have to be Austin Riley. A steeper price would be Cristian Pache oe Drew Waters. Those two guys are what might be needed to get the pitcher they need. Ozuna would make a great rental.

CHICAGO CUBS

Needs: Relief pitching, young starter

Potential Free Agents: Tyler Chatwood, Jose Quintana, Jason Kipnis, Steven Souza, (strained hamstring) Josh Phegley,

Hendricks is 30. Darvish is 34. Chatwood is 30. Lester is 36. Get the picture? I think the Cubs have to get younger. Now.

The Cubs are very reluctant to touch the deadly "pay the luxury tax and ruin your team's payroll forever" ever again. That doesn't bode well for their future. And Kris Bryant arrives at the free agency doorstep after 2021. The team can be in real financial quick$and.

Their best bet is to see if there is a taker for Jose Quintana. He does throw with his left and and his finger surgery has healed. They could also peddle Steven Souza Jr. who is an extreme shade of meh even when his hamstrings aren't biting.

Bryant is their best trade chip. The new team can play him in the outfield or at third base. But he will have to be paid handsomely soon.

CINCINNATI REDS

Needs: Relief pitching, shortstop

Potential Free Agents: Trevor Bauer, Anthony DeSclafani, Freddy Galvis, Nate Jones

This is a team with very few needs. Yes, they could use a starter to replace Wade Miley in the long-term, but that can wait. For now, this is a solid hitting club with spare parts galore.

Shortstop is a position of weakness in my opinion. They could use any number of shortstops that may be on the market as an upgrade.

Keeping Bauer will cost plenty of money. Will he be worth what he can extract from the Reds?

The biggest trade chips may come from among outfielders Nick Senzel, Phillip Ervin, Travis Jankowski, Aristides Aquino or Nick Williams. Only Senzel will fetch a decent return. Jonathan India, in my opinion, a much overrated prospect may bring a return.

COLORADO ROCKIES

Needs: Reliever, first baseman

Potential Free Agents: Drew Butera, Matt Kemp, Chris Owings (strained hamstring)

The Rockies have played well this short season, but I think they could use a permanent first baseman who can hit both left- and right-handed pitching.

The closer role continues to be an issue for Colorado. With Bard almost alone in the back end of the bullpen, the Rockies may want to shore that position now for the playoffs. 

It may be that oft-injured David Dahl (lower back soreness) is their best and most viable trade chip. He could interest lots of teams. He's coming into his prime years, and he can play.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS

Needs: Starting pitching, one solid outfielder

Potential Free Agents: Justin Turner, Blake Treinen, Joc Pederson, Alex Wood (shoulder inflammation), Enrique Hernandez

Did he just type the words starting pitching? Yes, indeed he did. The pitching-rich Dodgers may just find themselves an arm short for the postseason.

Yes, Clayton Kershaw, Dustin May, Julio Urias and at times Ross Stripling have been solid enough. But what happened to Walker Buehler? Yes, that Walker Buehler who has to clean his sheets more often than normal? The one with a blister problem. And Alex Wood's shoulder is still barking. They'll take one starting pitcher from the carry-out menu.

They will continue to offer Joc Pederson. Or maybe A.J. Pollock. Justin Turner might be attractive in the right offer.

FLORIDA MARLINS

Needs: Relief pitching

Potential Free Agents: Jonathan Villar, Francisco Cervelli (concussion), Matt Joyce, Brad Boxberger

Miami is slowly but surely becoming a viable franchise. The Marlins have some exciting position players as well as a solid crop of pitchers to help them become more competitive.

I'm thinking they could really use a quality reliever. Or two. Or three.

They can offer Lewis Brinson to a club that has not seen him at the plate. Aging Matt Joyce has some appeal, as doe Jesus Aguilar. Jonathan Villar would be a really solid trade chip, but he has performed well. A team would really have to be pretty hungry to grab a Brad Boxberger, but that cat has had nine lives. Maybe there is one more taker on the dine in menu.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS

Needs: Third baseman, starting pitching

Potential Free Agents: Brett Anderson

My male pattern bald spot is getting bigger, as I rub my head daily trying to figure out the Brewers. I love that franchise. But they are seemingly running in place.

David Phelps could be appealing. But who do they trade? Maybe Ryan Braun makes sense to a contender. But maybe not. Not is the right answer. There aren't really any prospects to trade, either. If the Brewers are cashing in, they should use some of those chips to improve. I have no idea which players are attractive enough for the Brewers to get in the trading game.

NEW YORK METS

Needs: Starting pitching

Potential Free Agents: Yoenis Cespedes (opted out), Marcus Stroman (opted out), Dellin Betances, Rick Porcello, Wilson Ramos, Jed Lowrie (knee), Michael Wacha, Eduardo Nunez (knee), Justin Wilson, Jake Marisnick

The Mets are for sale. They probably want to shed as much salary as possible to give the new owner (if, indeed they sell) a fresh start.

Rick Porcello has been beyond bad. Seth Lugo is now in the rotation. Hello? Are you watching this? Michael Wachawachawacha isn't much help.

For the Mets to compete, they have to find more pitching. That starts by trading a guy like Dominic Smith, who may have some appeal. Robinson Cano can still hit, and he can help a contender. If they want to be bold, they put Michael Conforto, Brandon Nimmo or J.D. Davis in a package for a quality starter. But they need help. 

PHILADLEPHIA PHILLIES

Needs: Starting pitching, relief pitching

Potential Free Agents: Jake Arrieta, Didi Gregorius, J.T. Realmuto, Brandon Workman, Neil Walker, Jay Bruce, Tommy Hunter.

Can the Phillies get anything for 33-year-old Andrew McCutchen? Maybe. Maybe not. They wouldn't from me. Gregorius is a keeper, along with Realmuto. The price could be steep for both. Jean Segura may make the ideal trade chip. Scott Kingery has played himself on and off the field, but now he may be in trade talks.

The Phillies need pitching. If I'm Philadelphia, I don't trust the rotation. Nola, Howard, Wheeler, Eflin and Arrieta. Give me one more starter if there are any on the menu, please. And make him pick up the check with his left hand, if possible.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES

Needs: Starting pitching, relief pitching, offensive weapons and a new owner

Potential Free Agents: Keone Kela, Derek Holland

I think everything and everyone is available in Pittsburgh, including the infield grass and all the stored baseballs. Sorry, but this is a miserable franchise with a miserable product on the field.

My guess is Ben Cherington will enjoy trading every player he can — except Kevin Newman. That includes first baseman Josh Bell and outfielder Bryan Reynolds, there only two viable veteran hitters IMO. Kevin Newman has shown great promise.

I think they will try everything they can to move Gregory Polanco. Frankly, as I've said on many occasions, I am not a fan of highly touted (and highly overrated) third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes. I hope I'm wrong. Mitch Keller may fetch some help. But they need so much that a good start would be new ownership. 

SAN DIEGO PADRES

Needs: Solid offensive weapon

Potential Free Agents: Garrett Richards, Kirby Yates (bone chips in elbow), Jurickson Profar

Padres fans really do believe that they are the next super team in baseball. Sorry, but I think they're getting better, but they aren't the White Sox. Or the Twins. Or the Athletics.

Fernando Tatis Jr. is among the three best young players in the game. He, along with Juan Soto and Luis Robert form a nucleus of tremendously athletic future stars.

But the Padres do, indeed, have holes. I don't think Josh Naylor is the outfielder of their future. I think there are at least one to two outfielders short. Wil Myers would make a great trade chip. If Taylor Trammell is ready for big league baseball next year, the outfield needs are diminished. 

Pitching is a strength of the Padres. They are one of few clubs that can move a pitcher to a team like the Braves and get a solid return. But — and this is important — their starters like Chris Paddack and Dinelson Lamet have not set the world on fire this short season. Pitching may potentially win them a  title. That means that have to be prudent in how they move their pitchers in trades.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS

Needs: Starting pitching, relief pitching, shortstop, third baseman, second baseman, outfielder

Potential Free Agents: Jeff Samardzija (shoulder impimpingement), Kevin Gausman, 

Drew Smyly (strained finger), Tony Watson, Pablo Sandoval

This team has some interesting trade chips in Gausman, Evan Longoria (34) Brandon Crawford (33) Brandon Belt (32) Johnny Cueto (34) Tony Watson (35) Jeff Samardzija (35) Drew Smyly (31) and Buster Posey (33). But the problem is in the parenthesis. 

Samardzija is injured. So is Smyly.

There best trade chip? Left-handed hitting, 30-year-old Mike Yastrzemski. He can hit. He never got a chance with the Orioles. He can bring back quality and youth, which the Giants need.

Gausman might be able to fetch some quality as well. Maybe Cueto has appeal. But if I'm a general manager, I wouldn't give up much for either of them.

St. LOUIS CARDINALS

Needs: Outfielder(s)

Potential Free Agents: Yadier Molina, Kolten Wong, Adam Wainwright, Matt Wieters (toe), Andrew Miller (shoulder fatigue)

This might be the time to bid so long to Adam Wainwright. I think there are plenty of teams that think he still has plenty in his tank. But his tank doesn't hold that much. He can still pitch, but what does he fetch? It might be better for the Cardinals to keep him, because their pitching is not deep.

If I'm a general manager I ask for Alex Reyes. And I pay the price. Even with his injury history.

The team doesn't have much to offer in trade. Wong might be useful, but most teams are set with middle-infielders. Matt Carpenter is a solid, yet declining hitter, good enough to help a lousy bench. 

I do think an interesting trade chip might be Tyler O'Neill, a guy the Cardinals seem to want to use in a platoon and not against right-handed pitching. I just don't like the Cardinals outfield. At all. Or their infield. At all. Or their starting pitching, other than Flaherty and Kim.  

So — I guess what I'm saying is that I don't like the Cardinals very much. At all.

WASHINGTON NATIONALS

Needs: First baseman

Potential Free Agents: Anibal Sanchez, Kurt Suzuki, Adam Eaton, Sean Doolittle, Asdrubal Cabrera, Ryan Zimmerman (opted out) Sam Freeman (strained flexor)

I predicted a massive decline for the Nationals, and they haven't disappointed me.

Remember, this is the team that traded Giolito, Lopez and Dunning for Eaton. Three pitchers for a good defensive outfielder with speed. Now he's a free agent. Giolito threw a no-hitter and is just coming into prominence. Dunning is just beginning. Lopez — meh!

Now is the time for some creative team to come in and pick Mike Rizzo's pocket once again.

Eric Thames may have some appeal. But some is not much. Either Yan Gomes or Kurt Suzuki may help a club needing a catcher. There aren't many of those. 

The Nationals are an aging, over-the-hill gang, and Mike Rizzo's pockets have holes in them.

I don't see much trade bait of any kind — other than perhaps Michael Taylor. 

The Nationals may want to take a page out of the Red Sox playbook and reduce payroll enough to become really, really bad and very irrelevant in major league baseball.

HEADING HOME

• Speaking of the Boston Red Sox, here is my latest article for forbes.com.

• Follow me on Twitter @BerniePleskoff.

• And please stay safe and healthy out there. And don't forget to thank those among us who make our lives better.