General manager Billy Beane and the Oakland Athletics will likely be active at the trade deadline, as they are almost every year, and starting pitcher Scott Kazmir is a big name to look out for. There are a number of MLB clubs that could use the left-hander and trade rumors are already swirling.
The 31-year-old is off to a good start in 2015 and has seemingly reverted back to the old Kazmir, who was a two-time All-Star with the Tampa Bay Rays. He's 17-10 with a 3.40 ERA, 1.14 WHIP and 207 strikeouts in 39 starts (235 2/3 innings) since 2014 with the Athletics.
Oakland probably won't be able to afford Kazmir if he keeps pitching like this, which makes him a prime trade candidate for Beane. And at 13-23, if Oakland can't dig out of the hole they've fallen into, it's a foregone conclusion Kazmir will be dealt.
"I think Billy [Beane] is in a great position here because some of the teams that could use a good starting pitcher are guys he has a trade history with," ESPN Insider Buster Olney said on the Baseball Tonight Podcast. "Ben Cherington, Red Sox general manager; Andrew Friedman, the Dodgers' president of baseball operations; the Yankees, theoretically, could be in the mix; the Houston Astros could be in that mix, [Beane] has made deals with Jeff Luhnow in the past."
Olney's guest on the podcast, Keith Law, even went as far to mention a couple of other clubs.
"You've probably got a half dozen teams that are contenders or those that want to be contenders that would absolutely be interested in Kazmir, or just more generally, are in the market for a starting pitcher," he said. "I think the [San Francisco] Giants are going to absolutely need to add a starter if they want to hang in this. And I think if the [Chicago] Cubs want to hang in the race, they should be in the market for a starting pitcher."
Let's take a look at these clubs and see why each one would need Kazmir.
Boston Red Sox
Do we really need to say why? They rank dead last in the MLB in starting rotation ERA (5.65) and Justin Masterson was just placed on the disabled list because manager John Farrell said the right-hander didn't seem right. Kazmir would be the best starter on this staff by a mile right now.
Los Angeles Dodgers
Friedman's Dodgers have a number of question marks. Will Zack Greinke opt out of his contract? Will Hyun-Jin Ryu pitch this year? Who will replace Brandon McCarthy for the rest of the season? Can Brett Anderson sustain a healthy 2015 campaign? Kazmir pitched for the Rays back when Friedman was in charge of the front office there, so such a trade makes total sense if Los Angeles finds itself in need of a starter that won't cost them a bunch of prospects or money.
New York Yankees
The Yanks are right in the middle of the pack in starter's ERA (3.93), but the long-term health of Masahiro Tanaka is unknown after he hit the disabled list in late April with a forearm strain and wrist tendinitis. Additionally, New York can't count on CC Sabathia and Michael Pineda to remain healthy based on what they've seen in previous seasons and they don't know what they're going to get out of Ivan Nova when he returns from Tommy John surgery. Kazmir could be a good fit here especially since he has experience pitching in the AL East.
Houston Astros
Have you seen their starting rotation outside of Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh? Keuchel and McHugh combine for an 8-1 record with a 2.36 ERA. The starting rotation as a whole is 11-11 with a 4.13 ERA. Yes, Kazmir would help, and GM Jeff Luhnow wouldn't have to give up a lot of Kazmir compared to some other perennial starters on the market.
San Francisco Giants
The Giants looked like they'd be in big trouble when they began the season, but they've rebounded and are now 17-17. However, Matt Cain has yet to pitch and Jake Peavy has only made two starts. Ryan Vogelsong has struggled mightily (1-2 with a 5.67 ERA) and Tim Hudson hasn't been his best (1-3 with a 4.57 ERA). If Cain and Peavy can't get back on the hill and produce for the rotation, the Giants will need to look outside the organization for help. Kazmir is just down the road.
Chicago Cubs
We talked about the Cubs' rotation earlier in the week. Jon Lester has got back on track; Jason Hammel has been solid; and Jake Arrieta has been the best on the staff. However, Kyle Hendricks and Travis Wood have not been good. Chicago has proven thus far that they're capable of hanging in there, and if they wish to continue that, the front office will need to add one more established starter to the rotation. Kazmir would be a good fit and provide another solid left-handed option.
Keep an eye out for these six clubs to be in play for Kazmir in June or July.
