:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/46614774/usa-today-8663159.0.jpg)
We're now just 36 days away from MLB's major trade deadline, and teams that are looking to upgrade their center field position will have their work cut out for them. There aren't that many options available, and of the seven listed below, it may be difficult to convince teams to let some of them go.
<table width="100%" border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0">
<tr bgcolor="#EDF1F3">
<th align="left">Player</th>
<th align="center">fWAR</th>
<th align="center">Team</th>
</tr>
<tr onMouseOver="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onMouseOut="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'">
<td align="left">A.J Pollock</td>
<td align="center">2.8</td>
<td align="center">Diamondbacks</td>
</tr>
<tr onMouseOver="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onMouseOut="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'">
<td align="left">Charlie Blackmon</td>
<td align="center">2.2</td>
<td align="center">Rockies</td>
</tr>
<tr onMouseOver="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onMouseOut="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'">
<td align="left">Billy Hamtilon</td>
<td align="center">1.6</td>
<td align="center">Reds</td>
</tr>
<tr onMouseOver="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onMouseOut="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'">
<td align="left">Ben Revere</td>
<td align="center">1.3</td>
<td align="center">Phillies</td>
</tr>
<tr onMouseOver="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onMouseOut="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'">
<td align="left">Gerardo Parra</td>
<td align="center">0.3</td>
<td align="center">Brewers</td>
</tr>
<tr onMouseOver="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onMouseOut="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'">
<td align="left">Adam Eaton</td>
<td align="center">-0.1</td>
<td align="center">White Sox</td>
</tr>
<tr onMouseOver="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onMouseOut="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'">
<td align="left">Michael Bourn</td>
<td align="center">-0.3</td>
<td align="center">Indians</td>
</tr>
</table>
It's difficult to imagine the Diamondbacks parting with A.J. Pollock, but their front office is incredibly unpredictable, but if they're overwhelmed by an offer, could send him away much like they did with Mark Trumbo. The picture will become clearer as we get closer to the deadline when teams have to decide whether or not they're buyers or sellers (or the rare "both" combo), but it's likely that at least a couple of these players will be on the move.
Who are the most likely candidates to get traded?
Ben Revere and Gerardo Parra seem like the obvious choices here. They're on awful teams, and with nothing left to play for, it would be wise for their front offices to get any value from them if possible. Revere is a free agent at the conclusion of the 2017 season, which should help boost his value, if only slightly. He has 18 steals in 22 attempts, a success rate of 81%, and has posted a wRC+ of 94, a wOBA of .309, and an fWAR of 1.3 Revere is an above average defender, and while he's not a huge offensive threat, he grades out as just below the major league average in terms of wRC+.
Parra on the other hand is a free agent at the end of this season, but is a better than average hitter. In 231 plate appearances, he's posted a slash line of .290/.320/.442 with a wOBA of .328 and a wRC+ of 105. His defense, which used to be a strength, has unfortunately fallen off considerably since moving from Arizona to Milwaukee. With the Brewers sitting in last place in the NL Central and no realistic hope of contending, Parra should be fairly easy to trade for.
The less likely but still movable group
Charlie Blackmon, Billy Hamilton, Adam Eaton, and Michael Bourn are all on losing teams, but their front offices could be unwilling or unable to trade them away. Blackmon is under team control through the 2018 season, and has already eclipsed his fWAR from 2014. This is Jeff Bridich's first year on the job, and one of the things he must do is evaluate the future of the Rockies. Should he decide that they won't be competitive for another season or two, trading Blackmon might be the best course of action. He's hit more home runs on the road, and as a left-handed hitter, could be a nice addition for a team pushing towards October.
Hamilton has proven to be an incredible asset on the defensive side of the ball, as well as on the bases, but he unfortunately doesn't get on base enough to utilize his incredible speed. With an OBP of .268, Hamilton rarely has the opportunity to put his legs to work, but when he does, it's unlike any other player in the game. He has true 80-grade speed, and if he was an offensive threat at the plate, could be one of the most dynamic players in baseball. Hamilton is set to become a free agent at the end of the 2019 season, which helps increase his trade value, but also means that the Reds could be unwilling to give up on him just 237 games into his major league career.
Eaton and Bourn are the other two who could be moved, but are less likely due to monetary reasons, albeit very different reasons. Before the season began, Eaton signed what was considered to be a very team friendly deal worth $23.5 million for five years. However he's been in a season long slump, and with the White Sox contemplating a rebuild, he could fetch a good prospect package that might help Rick Hahn address areas of need. Bourn on the other hand is tougher to see getting traded because of how much money he's owed.
Bourn has about $5.91 million left on his 2015 salary, and is set to make $14 million in 2016, with a vesting option for 2017 worth $12 million. That's an inordinate amount of money to pay someone who's produced just a 2.2 fWAR since 2013, and unless Cleveland is willing to eat a lot of what's left, it looks like they'll be stuck with him for the duration of his contract.
Upgrading any position during the season is a difficult task, and center field is a perfect example. There isn't much to choose from in the next few weeks, which means that teams will have to fight over the few players that are available.