Elephant Rumblings: Oakland has trade deadline options

We are just about a week away from the MLB Trade deadline and the Oakland Athletics have already made one deal, sending Shintaro Fujinami to the Baltimore Orioles for minor-league lefty Easton Lucas. The A’s currently have the worst record in the majors at 28-73, but that doesn’t mean that they don’t have more players that could be useful to other clubs.

I took a look at this several weeks back, but I wanted to do it again with the deadline near, because a couple of new names could now be possibilities. The biggest of which is Tony Kemp, who for the second straight season, has put together a big second half. Kemp’s overall numbers still don’t look good, but he is hitting .283/.377/.425 with a 133 wRC+ since the start of June. He brings some positional versatility and will be a free agent at the end of the season.

Another veteran that could be trending in the right direction is Reliever Trevor May. Since the start of June, May has a 2.87 ERA and a 4.89 FIP in 15 2/3 innings. With pitching always in high demand, a team could come calling for May.

As I discussed previously, Paul Blackburn might be the A’s biggest trade piece if the A’s elect to move him. The team should try hard to move Aledmys Diaz and Jace Peterson, but their commitment beyond this season and their on-field performance could make it difficult.

Brent Rooker was the team’s only All-Star, but he has struggled since his red hot April. Ramon Laureano could be back from the injured list next week and would seemingly be another trade possibility.

A’s Coverage

• A’s finally beat Astros, 4-1
• Zack Gelof hits the ground running with first HR: ‘We’re glad he’s here’
• Richard Lovelady to miss remainder of season
• A’s fans’ fight to keep the team in Oakland hits the road: ‘It’s like an engine’

MLB News

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• Rays place Taylor Walls on 10-day injured list
• Corey Seager heads to IL with right thumb sprain
• The 10 strangest trades in MLB history
• Dodgers’ Clayton Kershaw set for another bullpen session
• Cardinals’ Willson Contreras day-to-day with hip tightness

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