When was the last time you read a rumor about a hitter being discussed in trades? It hasn't been very recently has it?
Everyone seems to be after pitching, and undoubtedly, guys like Madison Bumgarner, Marcus Stroman and Matthew Boyd will be moved. But make no mistake, hitters will be on the move too.
So who have teams already been connected to? Who could they be go after?
We have a pretty good idea about who some teams have asked for, but we also can make pretty good guesses as to who other teams might have inquired about. Here is our list.
Everyone wants pitching, but what hitters could Cubs, Phillies, Indians be adding?
Chicago Cubs: David Peralta, OF, Diamondbacks
This one comes from about as good of a reporter as any, as Ken Rosenthal has already linked Peralta to the Cubs. He reported in early July that Chicago wants to add a left-handed bat to help out against right-handed pitching. If Rosenthal said it, it's probably true. But we're not exactly sure why the Cubs want a left-handed hitting outfielder to help so much. Kyle Schwarber is left-handed as is Jason Heyward. Both players are better against righties. That being said, Schwarber being "better" against any kind of pitcher is a bit of a stretch as he is hitting .233 against righties and .220 against lefties. Peralta would make them better, theoretically, both offensively and defensively in left field.
Philadelphia Phillies: Domingo Santana, OF, Mariners
This one comes from the educated guess department. Rosenthal reported the Mariners are receiving interest in Santana on the trade market. He did not specify who was interested in him but the Phillies would make a lot of sense. Their active left fielders are batting a combined .177 with one home run and seven RBIs on the season and Andrew McCutchen is done for the year. The Mariners and Phillies have already hooked up for a deal this offseason and Santana could fill a spot of need without costing gobs of money. And yes, he primarily is a right fielder but he has more than enough experience in left field to be serviceable.
Cleveland Indians: Corey Dickerson, OF, Pirates
According to MLB Network's Jon Heyman, Dickerson is likely to come available before the deadline with the emergence of Bryan Reynolds in Pittsburgh. The Indians haven't been connected to Dickerson yet, but like the Phillies, their left field spot has pretty much been a revolving door this season. Put Dickerson in left and they at least have some stability. And for those who worry about guys changing leagues, Dickerson has already shown he could hit in the American League when he was with the Rays. He would be a good pickup and probably won't break the bank.
Bonus trade discussion: Starling Marte, OF, Pirates
Marte has not been made available in a trade and the Pirates probably shouldn't move him. However, if the Pirates continue to go downhill like they have in recent weeks, Marte is their absolute best trade chip. He has some money left on his deal, but he has two options in the next two years, and he's not that expensive. He's a controllable player in his prime and he can do just about everything asked of him. The Dodgers already checked in on him this offseason but nothing came of that. If the Pirates decide to move Marte, they could get as good of a return as any player moved at the deadline.