MLB Rumors: 3 Trade Targets No One Is Talking About

Coming into the season, most people around baseball were keeping an eye on the trade fortunes of the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Bryan Reynolds, and Gleyber Torres. But there are a number of other players who are in situations that could lead to a deal sooner or later. Let's have a look at three that aren't being talked about enough:

Aroldis Chapman, Kansas City Royals

Let's face it, the Royals already had a perfectly good closer in Scott Barlow when they signed Chapman in the offseason. Clearly, the idea was to have him fix his tarnished reputation in the low-pressure environment of KC, and re-establish his value as a flame-throwing stud in order to deal him for assets at the trade deadline.

So far, so good. In an extremely small sample size, the former 7-time All-Star hasn't allowed a run yet, tossing five clean innings over five appearances, allowing just a single hit while striking out nine against just one walk. 

It's all certainly going according to plan, and if this keeps up, he'll be in demand at the trade deadline or before. 

CJ Cron, Colorado Rockies

To say no one has talked about Cron as a trade target is a  stretch; he was certainly in the rumor mill at last year's trade deadline, but the Rockies obviously preferred having the slugger around and held on to him. 

But with another lost season underway in Colorado, they might finally break and trade him to a team desperate for a first baseman... Say, the Philadelphia Phillies, for example. The Phils have lost both Rhys Hoskins and his replacement Darick Hall to injury. And while Bryce Harper has been working out at the position, they might be better served by a true first-sacker. 

Lucas Giolito, Chicago White Sox

This is a situation totally of his own doing. Giolito was once looked at as a cornerstone of the White Sox rotation for years to come, an All-Star and a perennial top-10 Cy Young candidate. But the last two seasons it's come undone for the 28-year-old. 

Last year, Giolito struggled to a 4.90 ERA over 30 starts, with a 1.43 WHIP. He's continued that troubling trend this season in his first three outings, with a 6.00 ERA and a 1.67 WHIP. Perhaps the South Siders look to try to swing a deal with some team that thinks it can recapture Giolito's form of just two years ago and prior. 

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