We are about a month and a half away from the MLB Trade Deadline. Many teams may be on the verge of making a big trade as a means to making a postseason run. Other teams may be on the verge of selling, as some teams have been out of contention for upwards of a month now. There will be some big names traded in the next month in a half, but we can be safe to assume that every team in the league has at least a few untouchable players via trade. What players are the least likely to be traded for each respective team in the National League?
Milwaukee Brewers: C Jonathan Lucroy
The Brewers will be a team to watch come July, as they have many valuable trade pieces that could make a big impact on playoff-bound teams. They have a number of veteran position players on expiring contracts, along with a few starting and relief pitcher options. One player that will not be traded is catcher Jonathan Lucroy. He has missed about a month and a half of the 2015 season, but is widely regarded as an elite catcher in all of baseball. Lucroy is signed through the 2017 season, but I am sure the Brewers will look to extend his contract sooner than later. Elite catchers are hard to find nowadays.
Chicago Cubs: 3B Kris Bryant
The Cubs are built for the future, so I don’t anticipate them making many moves this July, unless if they decide to add to their team. One player that the Cubs will certainly not move is stud third baseman Kris Bryant. Bryant, after receiving a highly anticipated call to the Majors early in April, is enjoying a phenomenal rookie season, hitting .282 with 7 home runs and 34 RBI. He figures to be in the meat of the Cubs lineup for the years to come.
St. Louis Cardinals: C Yadier Molina
Molina has been the heart and soul of Cardinals teams over the past decade. These Cardinals teams have made it to four World Series, winning two of them in 2006 and 2011. He is a six-time All Star and seven-time Gold Glove Award winner. Molina is signed through 2018, and St. Louis would be foolish not to make him a Cardinal for life.
Pittsburgh Pirates: CF Andrew McCutchen
McCutchen, the 2013 National League MVP, is looking to get a big contract extension within the next year or two. The Pirates rebuilding mode has finally hit an end, as fans have seen the team make the playoffs each of the past two seasons. McCutchen is the face of the Pirates, and there is no disputing of that fact. He is off to another phenomenal start to the 2015 season, hitting .286 with 8 home runs and 37 RBI to-date.
Cincinnati Reds: 1B Joey Votto
The Reds, like the Brewers, may be selling come July. The NL Central is improving every season, and the Reds seem to be doing the opposite every season. After missing most of the 2014 season due to injury, the 2010 National League MVP, Votto, seems to be back to his MVP form this season, as he is currently hitting .300 with 13 home runs and 35 RBI. Votto signed a massive 10-year, $225 million extension a couple off-seasons ago, and is signed through 2024. He is not going anywhere.
Atlanta Braves: 1B Freddie Freeman
Freeman also signed a big contract extension a couple of off-seasons ago, and figures to be the future of the Braves moving forward. The Braves are in rebuilding mode, having traded several key pieces this past off-season. The Braves may look to sell in July, but Freeman will not be going anywhere. This season, Freeman is hitting .298 with 10 home runs and 35 RBI.
Washington Nationals: OF Bryce Harper
This one is a no-brainer. The guy is 22 years old, and is not eligible for free agency until 2019. He should get a Giancarlo Stanton-esque contract in only a matter of time. Harper is the early-season favorite for National League MVP this season, having hit 20 home runs already this season to go along with a .328 batting average and .463 on base percentage. He can flat out hit. While injuries have plagued him over his first few seasons in the Big Leagues, Harper is starting to evolve into the MVP-caliber player that MLB experts have been predicting for years.
Miami Marlins: OF Giancarlo Stanton
This is another no-brainer, especially with his contract. Stanton signed a mega 13-year, $325 contract this past off-season that keeps him in Miami until 2028. Stanton may be the best power hitter in the league already, and at the age of 25, he will only continue to improve as a player. There had been rumors over the past couple of seasons about a possible Stanton trade to the Red Sox or Yankees, but the Marlins did everything in their power to lock up Stanton for the long run.
New York Mets: P Matt Harvey
Harvey, who missed the entire 2014 season rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery, figures to be the ace of a great Mets pitching staff for the years to come. Harvey has had a nice comeback year thus far in 2015, with a 6-4 record and a 3.62 ERA. Harvey is still only 26, so his best years are still ahead of him. Harvey figures to lead a stacked Mets rotation for the years to come that also includes 2015 rookie phenom Noah Snydergaard and 2014 Rookie of the Year Jacob deGrom.
Philadelphia Phillies: P Ken Giles
Nearly the entire Phillies team is available for trade, including Cole Hamels, Ryan Howard, and Jonathan Papelbon. One bright success story for Philadelphia has been the emergence of reliever Ken Giles. Giles had a phenomenal rookie season in 2014, finishing fourth in Rookie of the Year voting after compiling a 1.18 ERA in 44 appearances. Thus far in 2015, Giles has a 2.16 ERA in 26 appearances. Once Papelbon leaves Philadelphia, Giles figures to be the Phillies’ closer for the years to come.
Los Angeles Dodgers: P Clayton Kershaw
Let’s just take a look at the guy’s resume by the age of 27. He has three Cy Young awards, and took away the Cy Young Award and MVP a season ago in LA. Kershaw is by far the best pitcher in all of Major League Baseball, and figures to be at the top for the years to come. He signed a big contract extension a little over a year ago that will keep him in Dodger blue until 2021.
San Francisco Giants: C Buster Posey
It’s hard to believe that Posey is still only 28 years old. The Giants have won three of the last five World Series championships, and Posey has been the key to all of them. He won the NL MVP award in 2012 after hitting .336 with 24 home runs and 103 RBI. Pretty good production from a catcher, right? Posey figures to be a full-time first baseman in a few years in order to keep his bat in the lineup on a more consistent basis and to keep him healthy. Posey is the heart and soul of this Giants team, and figures to stay a Giant for life.
Arizona Diamondbacks: 1B Paul Goldschmidt
Goldschmidt has turned into one of the greatest young hitters in all of baseball. Only 27 years old, Goldschmidt is the core of an improving, young Diamondbacks offense. Goldschmidt’s 2014 season was cut short due to injury, but in a full 2013 season, he put up 36 home runs and 125 RBI, to go along with 15 stolen bases and a .401 on base percentage. Thus far in 2015, Goldschmidt is hitting .349 (with a league leading .469 on base percentage) to go along with 17 home runs and 49 RBI.
Colorado Rockies: 3B Nolan Arenado
The 24-year old Arenado is entering his third season in the Major Leagues. He won the Gold Glove award at third base in each of his first two seasons, and figures to do so again this year. Arenado’s offense is starting to really come along, too. Arenado has already hit 15 home runs, to go along with 47 RBI, for the Rockies this season. Arenado figures to be a core part of the Rockies bright future as they continue to build their young team. The left side of their infield is one of the best in the league.
San Diego Padres: OF Wil Myers
The Royals and Rays both gave up on the 24-year old Myers, but he is really still getting used to life in the Big Leagues. Myers came through the Minors as a very good hitter, but never found a niche in a position. He has excelled in right field, but has seen most of his time this season in center field, along with limited action at first base. Myers has the potential to be a very good player. San Diego will likely be patient with him. He does not become a free agent until 2020 (arbitration eligible in 2017). Myers has a bright future ahead of him.