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What does slogging through a brutal 162-game schedule that spans the entirety of an American summer (and then some) earn you in MLB‘s expanded-playoff era?

If you’re a wild-card team, it earns you the right to play at least one more game. The San Francisco Giants will take on the Pittsburgh Pirates in the National League Wild Card Game to decide which team moves on to the National League Division Series against the Washington Nationals.

This may not be the fairest way to determine who takes another step toward a World Series crown, but it just might be the most exciting. Consider it a bonus for all the hard work as a fan of watching three-run, four-hour ballgames in the middle of an August heatwave. 

Here is all the relevant media information one needs to catch the NL Wild Card Game, followed by a quick preview.

2014 NL Wild Card Game Info: San Francisco Giants vs. Pittsburgh Pirates

Date: October 1

Location: PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Time (ET): 8 p.m.

TV Info: ESPN

Live Stream: WatchESPN

Preview

The Pirates have been in true swashbuckling form as of late, winning 19 of their last 25 games and coming within two games of upending the St. Louis Cardinals and capturing the NL Central crown. They are 4-2 against the Giants this year, and although the slate is wiped clean come playoff time, the Pirates carry a mental, home-field—and perhaps a starting pitching—edge.

Per Bill Brink of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, the Bucs will send out Edinson Volquez, one of the hottest pitchers in baseball, to the mound Wednesday night. He’s 5-0 since the start of August and posted a 1.08 ERA with a .990 WHIP in the month of September.

“If he does indeed get the ball on Wednesday it’s well-deserved and I think everybody in this room has the utmost confidence that he’s the right guy to get the ball,” said teammate Gerrit Cole, via Brink. Volquez struggled in 2013 with the San Diego Padres and Los Angeles Dodgers, but he’s shown no signs of relapsing into bad habits.

The Giants got a nice end-of-the-season jolt from star catcher Buster Posey, who went 1-for-2 with a two-run homer in the team’s final regular-season game. He was the main source of offense for the team, crushing 22 home runs and knocking in 89 RBI.

“I was, to be honest, a little concerned with if he was healthy,” Bochy said, via Alex Pavlovic of the San Jose Mercury News. “But he showed it with that swing.”

Supplementing Posey will be players like outfielder Hunter Pence, who was second to Posey on the team with 20 home runs and 74 RBI, and Mike Morse, who posted an .811 OPS (on-base plus slugging) and notched 32 doubles.

A healthy Posey will certainly solidify the Giants lineup, but as Pavlovic notes, they may need to dip into their depth if they want to make this a long postseason:

With Angel Pagan and Michael Morse hurt, the Giants will need a deep attack Wednesday and beyond, and they got contributions up and down the roster. Brandon Belt reached base twice and scored a run, continuing his stellar play over the past week. Rookies Joe Panik, Andrew Susac and Matt Duffy are all likely to see postseason action, and they combined for four hits and two RBIs.

The new faces in the lineup and the lack of reams of data on their preferences may affect the Pirates, who have utilized shifts nearly 300 more times this season than the other NL playoff teams, according to ESPN Insider (subscription required) Scott Spratt.

It will be interesting to see if the team can pick its spots behind Volquez and save a run or two in this contest, but with one game deciding its playoff fate, it could opt for a more conservative and balanced approach.

Giants ace Madison Bumgarner, who finished the season with an 18-10 record and 2.98 ERA, will do his best to limit the Bucs in this contest, per a report from ESPN.com. 

The Pirates are in remarkable shape for this late in the season and the health of their squad, especially their star trio in the outfield, may prove to be the difference in this contest. Josh Harrison, Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen have caused pitchers plenty of fits on the year with their all-around hitting acumen.

Bumgarner is a fine pitcher and will be a worthy test for the Bucs, but things seem to be going in the Pirates direction. Then again, it’s just one game, and anything can happen.

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

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Detroit Tigers star Miguel Cabrera hasn’t looked like his usual all-world self at the plate in 2014. It appears that the injury concerns surrounding the slugger finally caught up to him Saturday night, as he left the game against the Chicago White Sox in the fourth inning with an apparent ankle injury.

Chris Iott of MLive.com reported the news:

Cabrera was removed from the game Saturday night after trying to beat out a single on a ground ball that deflected off Chicago White Sox pitcher Chris Bassitt in the top of the fourth inning. There was no immediate word from the Tigers regarding why Cabrera left the game, but his right ankle has been bothering him for some time.

His exit from the game might not come as too much of a surprise for most observers. Rotoworld’s Matthew Pouliot noted he looked abysmal at the plate:

Normally one of the league’s best hitters—he led the American League in batting average from 2011 through 2013, all by fairly wide margins—Cabrera has seen both his average and power diminish this year, especially in recent weeks. The nine-time All-Star was hitting just .260 for the month of August, with a paltry .350 slugging percentage, per Baseball-Reference.com.

This may have been due to an overall lack of fitness. Manager Brad Ausmus noted in early August that Cabrera had some “aches and pains,” per MLive.com’s James Schmehl.

The ankle injury could also be a critical blow to the Tigers’ playoff hopes. They are currently 73-61 on the season and just one game back of the Kansas City Royals in the AL Central.

The team made it clear that it has high hopes for the season when it traded for starting pitcher David Price back in July. The left-handed ace and Cabrera are integral to the team’s plans of winning the AL Central and making a deep playoff run.

Should Detroit have to play for an extended period of time with a gaping, Cabrera-sized hole in its lineup, the Royals could pull away down the stretch and leave the Tigers scrambling for a wild-card spot.

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Updates from Saturday, August 2

Patrick Saunders of the Denver Post reported on Carlos Gonzalez’s status:

Original Text

Colorado Rockies outfielder Carlos Gonzalez is going through something of a lost season due to various injuries, and it appears he may have to fight through yet another setback after aggravating an ankle sprain in the team’s Friday night game against the Detroit Tigers.

The Colorado Rockies PR account relayed the news regarding Gonzalez’s injury:

Detroit Tigers beat writer Matthew B. Mowery noted how his injury came to pass:

The Rockies are currently 44-64 and in last place in the NL West; Gonzalez’s struggles have factored into the team’s dour performances. Another long-term injury could be a major setback for the two-time All-Star.

After batting over .300 for four straight seasons, the 28-year-old lefty’s numbers have taken a huge dip this season. He’s sporting a .239/.289/.425 slash line with 10 home runs and 36 RBI in 65 games.

Gonzalez has struggled with knee and ankle injuries in this season. He missed nearly all of June and the majority of July with pain and inflammation in his left index finger.

Doctors eventually discovered a tumor in his finger and removed it in early June, per The Denver Post‘s Nick Groke. Things haven’t been easy for Gonzalez since he returned to the field, as he hit just .176 in July, per Baseball-Reference.com.

A smart if not particularly speedy baserunner, Gonzalez has just three stolen bases on the year, another disappointing downturn considering his 87 thefts over the course of the past four seasons. 

Gonzalez’s talents have not disappeared; baseball revolves around finely tuned mechanics, even if you’re a contact hitter in the batter-friendly confines of Coors Field. The nagging finger issue is indeed the culprit. Hopefully, the injury won’t have any lingering effects on his mental and physical recovery from the finger tumor issue.

Gonzalez is a star on this team and the second-most important player in the lineup, after the incomparable Troy Tulowitzki. It may be a lost season in Denver, but Gonzalez needs games to get back into the swing of things and try for a comeback season of sorts in 2015.

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The 2014 MLB trade deadline is looming, the rumors keep coming and it is becoming clear which teams are truly interested in bolstering the roster with some astute acquisitions rather than relying on the talent already at hand.

July 31 is the cutoff date. Beyond that, it’s pretty much the (often very minor) waiver-wire deals and possible free agents/call-ups to help out the team. July is where the truly excellent moves are made.

Let’s take a gander at the latest buzz surrounding some of the top players on the block and predict which teams will be making use of their talents by the time the trade deadline ends.

Jon Lester, LHP, Boston Red Sox

Jon Lester has professed his love for Beantown, but that doesn’t stop his name from popping up in the MLB rumor mill.

According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal and Jon Morosi, the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners are both in on acquiring Lester from the Boston Red Sox:

This is a dicey proposition for any team, as Lester’s contract is up in 2014 and he hasn’t ruled out going right back to Boston if traded.

“Why not? This is what I know, this is what I love and like I’ve said plenty of times, this is where I want to be,” he said, via the Boston Herald‘s Joey Knight.

The Mariners won’t mind bringing in another star with an AL East pedigree. As Rosenthal noted, they have been in on David Price, which shows they are very serious about bolstering the rotation.

The Baltimore Orioles could make a compelling offer, but the Red Sox might not want to trade Lester to a division rival. 

Seattle could offer their promising 21-year-old starter, Taijuan Walker, in a trade. However, they would likely want some sort of assurance that Lester wouldn’t go right back to the Red Sox when his contract finished up.

Prediction: Seattle Mariners

Cole Hamels, LHP, Philadelphia Phillies

According to Morosi, the Los Angeles Dodgers and St. Louis Cardinals have the best chance of landing Philadelphia Phillies starter Cole Hamels:

Hamels is currently 5-5 on the season with a 2.72 ERA, 125 strikeouts and a 1.153 WHIP.

He’s no rental, either, as his contract runs through at least 2018, per Spotrac. This gives the Phillies plenty of leverage when negotiating trades with other teams, but it also takes away some of the urgency.

The Dodgers’ most prized asset in the minors is center fielder Joc Pederson, who currently boasts a .322/.455/.592 slash line in Triple-A ball this year. They shouldn’t be too desperate, as they already have four great starters in the rotation in Clayton Kershaw, Zack Greinke, Hyun-jin Ryu and Josh Beckett.

It’s unlikely the Phillies will want to take on one of the Dodgers’ giant outfield contracts, so it could be tough for them to come to an agreement.

The St. Louis Cardinals have a chance, but Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro can be tough to negotiate with, and the team has needs in other areas, such as catcher.

The price is indeed going to be too steep for either of these teams, which keeps Hamels in Philly until winter at the very least.

Prediction: Philadelphia Phillies

Kurt Suzuki, C, Minnesota Twins

This is a saga that could very well find a resolution before July 31. According to sources for KSTP.com’s Darren Wolfson, the Minnesota Twins are at an impasse in contract-extension talks with catcher Kurt Suzuki and won’t be able to reach an agreement anytime soon:

As CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman noted on July 25, the Orioles and Cardinals have both shown interest in trading for Suzuki.

Suzuki is on a one-year deal with the team and enjoying one of the finest seasons of his career, sporting a .309/.367/.392 slash line and 41 RBI so far.

One team that hasn’t been in the market for Suzuki but probably should be is the Dodgers. With so many injury-prone players in the lineup, they could definitely use another solid bat. Current Dodgers starting catcher A.J. Ellis is hitting just .199 on the season.

But no noise from the Dodgers on this front, which makes the Baltimore Orioles the most likely candidate for Suzuki’s services since Matt Wieters is out for the rest of the season while Yadier Molina is set to return for the Cardinals this year.

The Twins can use the Orioles’ desperation and tight AL East battle against them in an effort to drive up the price for Suzuki.

Prediction: Baltimore Orioles

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and updated as of July 28 unless otherwise noted.

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With just days to go until the July 31 trade deadline, the MLB rumors are rampant as teams fight to position themselves as championship contenders or sell off assets and play for next year. 

There are quite a few rumblings concerning big names on big-market franchises, and a potential blockbuster always adds a jolt to the excitement around the 100-game mark of the season. 

Let’s take a look at some of the potential moves that could go down before the playoff push.

Jon Lester Garnering Interest

The Boston Red Sox look like cellar sellers with a 47-56 record that has them firmly entrenched in last place in the AL East. According to ESPNBoston.com’s Gordon Edes, the team could have a potential trade partner for starting pitcher Jon Lester:

One major-league source said the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have been mentioned as a potential landing spot for Rays ace David Price, have had discussions with the Sox regarding Lester, but if so, those talks have not progressed very far to date.

The Dodgers were Boston’s trading partner for the blockbuster 2012 trade that sent Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett west.

The Los Angeles Dodgers may not seem to need rotation help at first glance, with the likes of Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, but the back end of the rotation has faltered a bit. 

Hyun-jin Ryu is susceptible to the occasional spotty start, while Dan Haren has gone completely off the rails. The 33-year-old righty is 1-4 with a 6.92 ERA in his last five starts, per Baseball-Reference.com. However, Dodgers manager Don Mattingly still has some faith in Haren.

He said, via MLB.com’s Ken Gurnick:

In Pittsburgh, their leading winner has eight wins and Danny’s got eight wins. Dan Haren has done a pretty good job. It’s like we cut him up because he’s not Kershaw, Greinke, Ryu. I take exception to people who want to throw him aside. At this pace, he’ll win 14 or 15 games.

This confidence may be the reason talks have not progressed very far, as Haren did pitch very well early in the season and could return to form.

It should also be noted that Lester had made it known he could very well boomerang right back to the Red Sox after a trade without any issue.

“Yeah, why not?” Lester said, via Edes. “I mean, this is what I know, this is what I love. Like I’ve said many times, this is where I want to be. If they trade me, I completely understand.”

That would certainly be quite the haul if the Red Sox got some spare parts or prospects and have their trade piece come right back to them.

Matt Kemp Might Not Be Going Anywhere

The Los Angeles Dodgers have a glut of players in their outfield. Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Yasiel Puig, Carl Crawford and Scott Van Slyke are all healthy and capable players.

It makes sense to alleviate the pressure by engineering a deal for one of these players, but according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the Dodgers aren’t close to any significant deals and are wary of trading Kemp:

There have been rumblings about a potential Hollywood exit for Matt Kemp. The center fielder’s agent, Dave Stewart, recently made some fairly cryptic comments that have fueled talks of a Kemp exit.

“Eight years is a long time to be in one place,” Stewart told CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman. “Sometimes change is good. This might be the time to change.”

It will be tough to move Kemp and his gigantic contract, which is set to pay him approximately $21.5 million a year through 2019, per Spotrac.

Dan Szymborski believed trading for Kemp could doom another general manager in a column for ESPN Insider (subscription required):

At this point, with Kemp in the post-star phase of his career, the situation that most comes to mind is the infamous trade that saw the Los Angeles Angels send Mike Napoli to the Toronto Blue Jays for the privilege of drastically overpaying Vernon Wells.

Any general manager looking to acquire Kemp this summer better remember that trade, because bringing in Kemp for anything but a bargain-basement price is likely not going to lead to October trophies but rather November résumé updating.

The Dodgers should try to part ways with Kemp, Ethier or Crawford. All three are injury risks, and the future of the franchise, Joc Pederson, is stuck in Triple A with a ridiculous .327/.458/.594 slash line. Kemp’s trade value could be the best it will be for a long time; he hit .317 in June and .381 over the past week, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Pederson, a center fielder, and Puig have the potential to become one of the best young outfield pairings in the majors. The only thing stopping them is the pileup of players at the big club.

Miami Marlins Could be Buyers at the Trade Deadline

The Miami Marlins were always going to be a tough read at the trade deadline. They have excellent building blocks in the form of Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich, not to mention the potential return of flamethrower Jose Fernandez next season.

They’re 49-53 and 7.5 games back of the Washington Nationals in the NL East, but there is an outside chance at a wild-card spot if they pick things up over the past few weeks. According to MLB.com beat writer Joe Frisaro, that might be exactly what the team has in mind for its trade-deadline strategy:

Five days before the deadline, the Marlins are hoping to become buyers. Winning four of five to open their road trip has raised optimism and hope they can make a playoff push. 

A starting pitcher is on their shopping list, but the urgency could subside if Brad Hand and Jacob Turner reach their potential in a hurry. Hand is doing so, coming off an impressive two straight wins of throwing at least seven innings.

This could be a huge gamble for the Marlins. If they try to buy their way into the playoff race, they would face a difficult task in beating out the top teams in the NL like the Milwaukee Brewers, San Francisco Giants and Nationals.

They do need help at the back end of the rotation. Pairing a solid pitcher with the likes of Henderson Alvarez and Tom Koehler could give them a playoff bump but just barely. Jacob Turner has struggled so far in the rotation, sporting a 6.03 ERA.

Frisaro also noted that Marlins are uninterested in dealing Stanton at this time. The team should definitely hold on to their star slugger, but being aggressive and buying players might not be the best move for them long term, especially when they do have stars to build around.

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Don’t look away now. The MLB player-swapping season is just days away from ending (except for the occasional waiver-wire deal), and every team is exploring potential angles for success.

There is no shortage of trade talk with the July 31 deadline fast approaching. Let’s take a look at the latest rumors on tap in the majors. 

Cardinals Showing Interest in Peavy

The St. Louis Cardinals have been all over the rumor mill, and the latest buzz is in regard to their interest in Boston Red Sox hurler Jake Peavy. ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark noted the potential deal in a chat with fans:

“The Peavy deal is still very much alive, by the way. The Red Sox just brought in their top scouts to watch the Cardinals’ New York-Penn League team. And that’s telling us something.”

Peavy’s numbers don’t initially jump out as the kind of summer catch a championship contender is usually looking for. The 33-year-old righty is 1-9 on the season with a 4.72 ERA and 1.472 WHIP, per Baseball-Reference.com.

He amassed those losses in historically dubious fashion, per ESPN Stats & Info:

Still, the Cardinals could acquire Peavy for spare parts and solidify the back end of the rotation. Peavy’s veteran acumen lends itself to a playoff push, and he does have a respectable 4.19 ERA in three July starts, per Baseball-Reference.com.

He doesn’t hold any long-term value for the Red Sox, and the Cardinals are looking to win big and win now. They will need depth in order to leapfrog the Milwaukee Brewers and Pittsburgh Pirates and take the National League Central crown. This is a potential deal that makes sense for both clubs, provided the Cardinals don’t give up any major prospects.

Suzuki Drawing Some Attention 

It’s hard to generate offense from the catcher’s spot, which is why Kurt Suzuki finds himself among our latest roundup of trade rumors.

According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, two (likely) playoff-bound teams are interested in the Minnesota Twins backstop:

The Orioles and Cardinals are among teams showing trade interest in Twins veteran catcher Kurt Suzuki. The two contending teams both lost star catchers to injury. St. Louis is looking at catching after star Yadier Molina went out with a thumb injury, and Molina isn’t expected back until September, at the earliest.

NBC Sports’ Aaron Gleeman likes the idea of a Suzuki trade sweepstakes:

As Heyman noted, the Cardinals are in need of a rental at catcher thanks to Yadier Molina’s injury. Suzuki boasts a .308 average, 19 doubles, 40 RBI and an All-Star appearance this season.

He could actually be an improvement for the Cardinals in the short term, and they wouldn’t have to worry about a nasty contract situation, as Suzuki’s current deal is set to expire at the end of the year.

The Orioles could have more long-term interest in Suzuki, as Matt Wieters is out for the season. Suzuki could be a valuable backup for the Orioles, although he may not be open to a reduced role.

The Twins are in last place in the American League Central and reportedly have engaged Suzuki in extension talks, per the Pioneer Press‘s Mike Berardino. So far, nothing has come to fruition. To his credit, Suzuki has been very sensible about the whole process.

“It’s one of those things where it could happen,” he said, via Berardino. “There’s really not much to even think about. It’s part of the business. I’m just taking it day by day here and having fun with my teammates and going out and winning ballgames.”

A trade may be imminent, but Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal claims there is a movement in Minnesota to keep Suzuki:

Considering Suzuki’s season and the contract impasse, it makes more sense for the Twins to sell him to the highest bidder.

Barnes Could Have A Suitor

According to The Denver Post‘s Patrick Saunders, the Toronto Blue Jays are taking a look at Brandon Barnes:

The Toronto Blue Jays have been scouting Barnes, the Rockies’ utility outfielder. With Michael Cuddyer due back in mid-August, a Barnes deal, at the right price, could make sense, but an MLB source says Toronto has not yet put together a deal for Barnes.

Should the Blue Jays make a definitive move for Barnes, this could be a transaction that works out nicely for both clubs.

Barnes plays all three outfield positions and gives the Blue Jays quality depth in the wide expanses of grass. He’s not striking the ball with much authority, as his .246 average will attest to, but it’s better than that of Anthony Gose (.239) and Colby Rasmus (.215).

Gose‘s average is a bit misleading, as he does have a very strong .342 on-base percentage for the year. Barnes is also capable of some extraordinary glove work at times:

The Blue Jays are locked in a tight battle for the AL East crown. As it stands, they are just 3.5 games back of the Baltimore Orioles. The team’s overall play has deteriorated as of late and could really use a shot in the arm to make a playoff push.

A Barnes trade could allow the Rockies to play the seller’s game a bit without giving up Troy Tulowitzki. They need to regroup after this season and gain some assets while they still can. Trading Barnes allows them the opportunity to rebuild and take the pressure off trading a cornerstone player like Tulo.

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Once a year, tiny Cooperstown, New York becomes the most important sports town in America.  

The transformation occurs when baseball’s year class of historic greats is ceremoniously inducted into the Baseball Hall of Fame, forever cementing their status as heroes and ambassadors of our national pastime.

This year’s class is a truly remarkable one. It features two 300-game winners, a member of the 500-home run club and three managers with eight World Series rings between them.

Here is the rundown of all the information you need to check out the induction ceremony.

2014 Baseball Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

Where: Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown, New York

When: Sunday, July 27

TV: MLB Network

Live Stream: www.baseballhall.org 

Rolling Stone‘s Dan Epstein made an excellent case regarding how this Hall of Fame class should resonate with today’s baseball fan:

And unlike last year, when the Hall inducted a class made up entirely of guys who died before America even entered World War II, all six of these gents made their HOF bones during the ’80s, ’90s and ’00s. In other words, they’re ours; if you’re a baseball fan of legal drinking age, you must at some point have rooted for (or against) these guys, while witnessing and debating and marveling at their respective accomplishments in real time.

While every member of this class is a bona-fide baseball hero, here’s a primer on the accomplishments of a few key inductees.

Greg Maddux

Greg Maddux was one of the game’s smartest pitchers, thumbing his way to 355 wins and an astonishing career 3.16 ERA. 

The numbers during his run of four consecutive Cy Young Awards are a beauty to behold, even in table form.

His control of the ball and mastery of the strike zone were nearly unparalleled in baseball history. In 5008.1 innings pitched, Maddux gave up just 999 walks. He made a fine living painting the black with his array of darting fastballs and change-ups.

According to Maddux, the Hall of Fame call hasn’t changed his day-to-day existence.

“Not really,” he said, via the Chicago Tribune‘s Paul Sullivan (subscription required). “Still take the trash out.”

There are a number of wonderful nuggets to be found in Maddux’s career statistics. He recorded a stolen base at the age of 42 with the San Diego Padres. Not bad for a pitcher in his 23rd season of pro baseball.

This is certainly a big weekend for Braves fans, as four of the inductees have been involved with the team at some point in their careers. It’s tough to stratify the greatness of this class, but Maddux just might be the most impressive of them all.

Frank Thomas

The Big Hurt.

One of the great nicknames in all of sports belongs to one of baseball’s all-time mashers. Thomas amassed 521 home runs and 1,704 RBI in a mind-blowing 19-year career.

The two-time MVP put up eye-popping numbers throughout the 1990s and 2000s, thanks to a laser-sharp focus (.301 career batting average) and an imposing physical presence at the plate. 

Perhaps the biggest shock of Thomas’ career is that he made only five All-Star teams, despite hitting over 30 home runs in a season nine times.

Everyone talks about Thomas’ prodigious power but former teammate Paul Konerko noted he had a truly sublime swing.

“Most people look at the size and strength, but that’s really secondary,” Konerko said, via the Chicago Tribune‘s Paul Sullivan. “His swing was really good and just designed to be more for average, not for power. But with his size and strength, it turns into more than that.”

Thomas was a terror right up until the very end of his career, mashing 39 home runs at the age of 38 in his first season with the Oakland Athletics and another 26 dingers with the Toronto Blue Jays the very next year.

Joe Torre

You may not like Joe Torre, but you can’t argue with his success as a manager. 

Torre led the New York Yankees to four World Series titles in the 1990s, commandeering the likes of Derek Jeter, Bernie Williams and Jorge Posada. His Yankees made the playoffs in each of his 12 years in charge.

Brad Horn, the Hall’s vice president of communications and education, believes Torre could bring a huge crowd to Cooperstown. Via MLB.com’s Paul Hagen:

And here in New York state, Joe Torre is about as popular a figure as they come when it comes to baseball. We feel like many Yankees fans could just drive over for the day just to celebrate Joe Torre’s election. It just has the right recipe for a very large weekend here in Cooperstown.

Torre didn’t have quite as much success as a manager of the Los Angeles Dodgers at the end of his coaching career, nor did he look like a future member of the Hall after stints with the Atlanta Braves, New York Mets and St. Louis Cardinals. No matter, as his legacy is firmly intact thanks to his accomplishments with the Yankees.

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The MLB All-Star break came and went, and now the 30 major league franchises have no choice but to stare down the rest of the season and decide whether they are in the buyers or sellers camp in 2014.

July 31 is the trade deadline, and teams would be loathe to linger on the deals that can either set them up for future success or bring in the high-caliber talent that will put them over the top in their respective divisions. 

Pitching, as always, it as a premium this late in the season. Let’s check out the buzz on some of the better pitchers who could be on the move this month.

Rays Continue to Engage in David Price Trade Talks

Let’s start off with David Price, the man who’s seemingly led the charge when it comes to midseason trade rumors in the major leagues. According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the Seattle Mariners may be looking to deal a few high-profile prospects to secure Price and/or Ben Zobrist from the Tampa Bay Rays:

The Rays are said to have talked to the Mariners about pitching prospect Taijuan Walkerplus two or three other top young players in talks involving pitcher David Price, league sources said. Talks are ongoing and fluid, and deals being discussed could include just Price from Tampa Bay, Price plus Ben Zobrist or Zobrist alone.

Price is 9-7 on the year with a 3.23 ERA and a 1.07 WHIP, per Baseball-Reference.com. The Rays are 44-53 on the season and operate on a very limited budget. To his credit, Price has been very understanding about all the talk surrounding his situation with the team.

“Since 2012, (the Rays and I) both understood that for Tampa to continue the kind of success we’ve had over the past five or six years, this is the way they operate. I would love to stay there and for us to continue to be successful. But I don’t know if that’s a possibility,” he said, via ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick.

The Mariners have a wealth of prospects to offer. Taijuan Walker is a tall, right-handed pitcher with a bright future ahead of him. The 21-year-old has thrown just 10 innings so far this year with the big club, giving up seven hits and four earned runs while striking out nine. He would be a tantalizing replacement for Price, especially if the Rays are looking for like-for-like players from other teams.

Developing young players is a hallmark of the Rays’ recent success, and this could be a trade that is too good for the team to pass up, as it looks to move one expensive player for several cost-effective building blocks.

Phillies Would Rather Move Lee Over Hamels

According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the Philadelphia Phillies would be more inclined to trade starting pitcher Cliff Lee than Cole Hamels this season.

The Phillies are dead last in the NL East and could be looking to bolster their farm system, which was ranked 25th by Baseball Prospectus‘ Jason Parks in February 2014.

As Heyman writes, both pitchers have no-trade clauses, and Hamels is more likely to use his in a possible trade: 

Both Lee and Hamels have no-trades with at least 20 teams on them, but people around the team suggest Hamels is more likely to invoke his, as he wants to remain in Philly. Lee, like closer Jonathan Papelbon, would likely choosing winning over city, they say.

If the Phillies are willing to sell a top-of-the-line starter to revamp the organization, they would almost certainly get more for Hamels than Lee.  

Both pitchers are left-handed, always a plus, but Hamels is having the better season and is five years younger than Lee. 

Lee is currently on the disabled list and is 4-4 on the year with a 3.18 ERA. At 35 years old, franchises around the league may not be looking to get much more out of him than a solid performance down the stretch run this season. Hamels, sporting a 3-5 record and a 2.93 ERA, would be a blockbuster move that could land the Phillies a wealth of excellent prospects.

Tigers Are Looking at Joakim Soria

The Detroit Tigers are looking for a reliever to bolster the bullpen for the second half of the season. According to Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi, they have their eyes on Texas Rangers reliever Joakim Soria:

The Rangers are in an interesting position. They’ve won at least 90 games over the past four seasons, but injuries to the likes of Prince Fielder and inconsistent performances have them in last place in the AL West this season.

They may not be quite ready to start giving up solid veterans in the hopes of turning their play around over the next couple of seasons.

The right-handed Soria boasts a 2.60 ERA with 16 saves and 40 strikeouts in 30.1 innings pitched this season. He could fill the role of set-up man for the Tigers or perhaps supplant closer Joe Nathan, who has five blown saves and a 5.61 ERA on the year.

Soria is used to taking on the closer role, as his 176 career saves will attest to, so he may not be best suited for a typical reliever role where he is called upon to eat innings. The Tigers will likely have to give up players or prospects that the Rangers believe will set them up for a bounce-back season in 2015.

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After an especially painful season in the batter’s box for Dan Uggla, the Atlanta Braves have released the struggling second baseman.

The team’s official Twitter account confirmed the news:

The Braves were willing to make the move even though they will have to pay Uggla a hefty sum of money, per Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal:

In fact, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution‘s David O’Brien notes that the Braves’ decision to eat the contract is unprecedented in team history:

The release comes just days after the Braves rather mysteriously suspended Uggla for one game just before the All-Star break.

Manager Fredi Gonzalez was loath to explain the team’s reasoning for the suspension.

“I’m not going to say anything other than that it’s an internal matter,” he said, via The Associated Press (h/t ESPN.com). “That’s the way I like to handle stuff, and the Atlanta Braves like to handle stuff. And that’s it. You can ask me 400 different ways and my way is that we’re going to handle it internally.”

Jayson Stark of ESPN noted how toxic things had become with the second baseman:

Uggla was a powerful force in his first season in Atlanta in 2011, collecting 36 home runs and 82 RBI despite hitting just .233 on the season. 

Never one to hit for average, Uggla’s value in the middle of the infield plummeted with his power numbers. He was batting just .162 in 2014 with two home runs and 10 RBI in 48 games before his release.

ESPN’s Mark Simon noted that Uggla had little in the way of sweet spots in the strike zone over the past two years:

Uggla could benefit from a change of scenery, and an enterprising franchise might be able to pick him up on the cheap with the Braves paying out the majority of his salary until the end of next season. Few could look at him as an everyday player, but he may still hold value as a pinch hitter due to his ability to hit the long ball and draw walks.

The Braves will now count on Tommy La Stella to hold down the fort at second base. The 25-year-old is hitting .292 with zero home runs and 17 RBI in 43 games this year. La Stella is a capable player, but the Braves may look to find the power they expected from Uggla before the July 31 trade deadline as they make a run at the NL East crown.

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The MLB trade deadline is July 31, but that doesn’t mean general managers will sit on their hands and wait until the last second to make a deal.

There is plenty of baseball to be won in July as teams battle for supremacy in their respective divisions, and the earlier a team jumps on the players it wants, the better.

The Oakland Athletics took this ethos to heart. They picked up two high-caliber starters in Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel in a deal with the Chicago Cubs. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal first reported the news:

This means some other teams have to make moves to keep pace, right?

Let’s take a look at the latest buzz surrounding some of the more interesting trade pieces out on the market.

Mets Willing to Hear Offers for Bartolo Colon

Bartolo Colon has enjoyed a bit of a late-career resurgence over the past couple of seasons. He’s boasts a 3.88 ERA this season with 76 strikeouts in 106.2 innings pitched for the lowly New York Mets.

It’s a wonderful output from a 41-year-old veteran, but the Mets could still be interested in shopping him before the trade deadline. According to the club’s sources for the New York Post‘s Mike Puma, the Mets will listen to offers for Colon. Puma went on to give some background on the Mets’ line of thinking, per his sources:

Though Colon is owed $11 million for next season, the view within the industry is that contract won’t prohibit the Mets from making a deal with a contender in need of rotation help. An AL executive called Colon’s contract “relatively friendly.”

But sources indicated general manager Sandy Alderson has no pressure to deal Colon, and the Mets could wait past the July 31 non-waiver deadline in attempting to maximize their return.

Colon would be an ideal rental for a big-market team looking to make a playoff push. The New York Yankees are in need of pitching help, as manager Joe Girardi believes CC Sabathia could be done for the remainder of the season.

“I think that’s probably fair to say,” said Girardi, via The Star Ledger‘s Dave Hutchinson.

If Mets general manager Sandy Alderson holds on to Colon into August, he could unload his contract for a team dealing with an injury bug before the postseason.

Dayan Viciedo Drawing Interest

According to ESPN’s Gordon Edes, the Seattle Mariners and San Francisco Giants have approached the Chicago White Sox about acquiring outfielder Dayan Viciedo.

Viciedo is a Cuban slugger who can play both in both right and left field. He’s not especially quick nor is he a standout on defense. His most tantalizing trait is his power, although this aspect of his game has dwindled in recent years.

At just 25 years old, his best years could still be ahead of him as a hitter, provided he finds the right situation to regain his 2012 form. The Mariners would give him the best opportunity because of their desperate need for a right-handed hitter.

Edes notes, per his sources, that the Mariners are considering trading right-handed pitcher Brandon Maurer in a potential deal.

Seattle does not have a single right-handed outfielder on the current 25-man roster, severely handicapping manager Lloyd McClendon’s lineup choices against lefties. Catcher Mike Zunino leads the team with home runs off lefties with three, as per MLB.com. If Viciedo can regain some of his mojo, this would be an excellent situation for both parties.

Blue Jays Looking for Infielders

The Toronto Blue Jays are currently neck-and-neck with the Baltimore Orioles for first place in the AL East, no thanks to the production from the hot corner. ESPN’s Jim Bowden reports, rather pessimistically, that the team is scouting two third baseman and a second baseman in an attempt to improve production in the infield:

Brett Lawrie and Juan Francisco have been rather disappointing at the hot corner this season for the Blue Jays. Both players are batting below .250 and have combined for just 25 home runs and 70 RBI on the season.

Lawrie is currently on the DL with a finger injury, leaving the light-hitting Francisco to hold down the fort until reinforcements arrive.

Of the three players Bowden mentioned, Martin Prado fits the team’s needs the best. He’s batting .268 with three home runs and 34 RBI and can also provide cover at shortstop. However, Aaron Hill may be more attainable at 32 years old. He’s batting .248 on the season and notched 42 RBI and would provide cover at second base since Maicer Izturis is likely done for the year. 

The Arizona Diamondbacks could be willing to sell either Prado or Hill considering they are 36-52 and entrenched in the NL West cellar.

If the Blue Jays don’t pull the trigger on any one of the three guys, Bowden’s report is at least an indication they will continue to push for greater success this season.

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