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After spending a month in Triple-A, Yasiel Puig has returned to the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times first broke the news on Thursday, which the Dodgers confirmed on Friday. Puig was placed in the starting lineup, will bat fifth and play right field against the San Diego Padres.

Los Angeles sent the outfielder down to Triple-A at the start of August after a poor first four months of the season. He responded by hitting .348 with four home runs in 19 games for the Oklahoma City Dodgers.

Of course, his play on the field wasn’t the only reason for the demotion.

Per McCullough, Puig showed up late to meetings and was inconsistent with his work habits, and manager Dave Roberts wanted the 25-year-old to “be a better person and baseball player.”

The first couple of weeks in the Pacific Coast League didn’t seem to change his attitude, as he posted partying videos on Snapchat.

However, he appeared to have a change of heart in recent days. He told ESPN.com’s Marly Rivera that playing in the minors taught him humility and added his thoughts on his improved attitude:

I keep hitting. I’m behaving. I’m doing the work I have to do. What I did wrong before and I have been doing better the last two or three weeks that I’ve been here. [Being called up] does not depend on me. All I can do is try to improve what I did wrong, the things that got me sent me here. The rest does not depend on me, that’s [a decision for] the GM, the president. Only God knows where I will end up.

“Yasiel has done everything we asked of him,” Roberts said, per MLB Network Radio. “We felt ultimately that he makes us better, that was the deciding factor.” 

Roberts also noted he and team president Andrew Friedman brought veteran players in to discuss the move with them, per MLB Network Radio. 

The Dodgers were reportedly still undecided about Puig’s fate earlier in the week, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times. They then placed him on waivers, where he was claimed by a team before the Dodgers decided to bring him back to the big league roster, per Today’s Knuckleball (h/t ESPN.com).

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports explained L.A. can still trade him in the winter:

Until then, he will likely be a part of the Dodgers and could play an important role down the stretch. With the squad involved in a tight division race with the San Francisco Giants in the NL West, L.A. will hope Puig not only plays well but also avoids being a distraction in the clubhouse.

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Yasiel Puig has had a rough season, and his time with the Los Angeles Dodgers could be coming to an end.

According to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, Los Angeles placed the 25-year-old outfielder on waivers Sunday, meaning he can be traded to whichever team claims him. However, Rosenthal also noted the talented player will more likely be traded in the offseason.

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports reported one general manager believes it’s “likely” a team will claim the outfielder.

Puig hit just .260 with seven home runs in 81 games at the major league level this season before being sent down to Triple-A at the start of August.

On the plus side, the outfielder has looked better with the Oklahoma City Dodgers of the Pacific Coast League. In 17 games entering Sunday, he had a .375 batting average and a 1.061 OPS as well as four home runs. He also made headlines off the field in a NSFW Snapchat video with him and his teammates partying, via NESN.com on Aug. 9.

“He’s playing well, and he’s assimilated very nicely with his teammates in Oklahoma City,” Los Angeles manager Dave Roberts said, per Mike DiGiovanna of the Los Angeles Times.

However, the team hasn’t decided the next move for the Cuban star.

On Aug. 20, Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe reported the Dodgers were “trying to give away Puig,” who was “considered toxic at the moment.” Heyman argued Aug. 25 the organization isn’t desperate to unload the player and instead has turned down offers.

If a team does claim Puig on waivers, the Dodgers will have an opportunity to negotiate a deal exclusively with that club or pull him back for the year. If he clears waivers, Los Angeles could trade him to anyone in the big leagues.

Despite his recent struggles, the outfielder was an All-Star in 2014 while batting .296 with 16 home runs and excellent defense. He also finished second in Rookie of the Year voting behind Jose Fernandez in 2013.

Puig is under contract through the 2019 season.

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Boston Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi was removed from his team’s game on Wednesday against the Tampa Bay Rays with a knee injury and had to be helped from the field.

The Red Sox initially diagnosed him with a knee sprain and placed him on the disabled list. It is uncertain when he will return to the lineup.

Continue for updates.

Benintendi Not Ruled Out for Remainder of Season

Friday, Aug. 26

MLB.com’s Ian Browne reported that the “Red Sox medical team finds no structural damage with Benintendi. Team remains optimistic he will play again this season.”

Red Sox manager John Farrell told reporters Thursday that it’s too early to tell if Benintendi’s injury will prematurely end his season, adding that team doctors are still reviewing the MRI.

Benintendi Placed on DL

Thursday, Aug. 25

Tom Caron of NESN passed along news of the roster move, noting Marco Hernandez was promoted in his place.

Benintendi Spotted in Clubhouse

Thursday, Aug. 25 

Brian MacPherson of the Providence Journal reported that Benintendi was walking gingerly in the clubhouse with a brace on his knee.

Benintendi Sprains Knee vs. Rays

Wednesday, Aug. 24

After reaching second base on a double in the seventh inning, Benintendi got caught in between bases and was tagged out trying to return to second. MLB.com shared video of the play:

Benintendi Emerged as Valuable Player After Promotion to Roster

While this was only the outfielder’s 21st game in the majors, he had been one of the best players on the team in his short run. 

Through Wednesday’s game, Benintendi had a batting average of .324 (22-for-68) with six doubles and 11 runs. He has also displayed some impressive defense in the outfield during this stretch. His presence provided the Red Sox with a major boost since he was called up on Aug. 2, and the team remains in a battle with the Toronto Blue Jays for first place in the AL East.

Before reaching the majors, Benintendi was considered the No. 9 prospect in baseball, according to Baseball America’s midseason list. He hit .295 with eight home runs in just 63 games in Double-A after beginning the season in Single-A.

It’s clear the outfielder has plenty of potential with the confidence to help Boston this season and beyond, but the team better hope this turns out to be a minor injury.

With Benintendi out, Chris Young and Brock Holt should earn some starts in left field in his place.

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Outfielder Andre Ethier hasn’t played a regular-season game in 2016, but the Los Angeles Dodgers are hoping he will be able to contribute before the year is over.

Continue for updates.

Ethier Likely to Be Activated in September

Tuesday, Aug. 23

Although the exact plan hasn’t been announced, Dodgers manager Dave Roberts explained the idea to have Ethier rehab and then return to the team at some point in September, according to Eric Stephen of True Blue LA.

The 34-year-old outfielder broke a bone in his right leg during a spring training game and was placed on the disabled list before the start of the season. The injury apparently took longer to heal than anticipated, and Ethier remained inactive through August.

According to Andy McCullough of the Los Angeles Times, the veteran finally started to face live pitching. But the manager “estimated he is running at 75 percent.”

“He’s getting closer,” Roberts said Sunday, per McCullough. “But to say when he’s going to go out on a rehab [assignment], I’m not sure.”

The Dodgers hope Ethier will be able to return to action as soon as possible. They are locked in a tight battle with the San Francisco Giants for first place in the National League West and can use any help they can find. They can especially use help in the outfield after Yasiel Puig’s regression this season.

Ethier is coming off a solid 2015 season in which he hit .294 with a .366 on-base percentage to go with 14 home runs in 142 games. He is a consistent hitter in the lineup and has the versatility to play all three outfield positions if needed.

Even if he comes back at less than 100 percent, any contribution would be helpful for the remainder of the regular season and possibly the postseason.

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The Texas Rangers have cut ties with Josh Hamilton after an injury-plagued season, although his career with the club might not be over.

Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News explained the situation:

Hamilton didn’t play a single major league game in 2016, beginning the year on the disabled list before undergoing season-ending knee surgery in May. The Rangers gave him a chance to rehab with them on the 60-day DL, but the latest move allows them to clear a roster space while also leaving open the chance to re-sign the outfielder in 2017.

According to Jeff Wilson of the Fort Worth Star-Telegram, this move was not a surprise for anyone involved:

It remains to be seen if Hamilton will get a new contract over the winter, but Texas will at least keep him in mind.

“We plan to monitor Josh’s progress as he continues his rehab process and is medically cleared this winter,” general manager Jon Daniels said, per ESPN.com. “Given the rules in place, releasing him before the end of this month allows us to keep the door open to extending the relationship in the future.”

The 35-year-old outfielder went to five All-Star Games with the Rangers from 2008-12 before signing a massive five-year deal with the Los Angeles Angels. After struggling through two seasons with the Angels, he was traded back to Texas where he hit .253 with eight home runs and 25 RBI in 50 games in 2015.

If the Rangers re-sign him for next year, they will likely hope he can regain some of the power that made him the 2010 American League MVP.

As Greg Tepper of Fox Sports Southwest noted, the financial responsibility still lies with the Angels:

According to Baseball-Reference.com, Los Angeles will also pay Hamilton $26.41 million in 2017.

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The rumors are flying quickly as we approach the Aug. 1 MLB trade deadline, and some big names could be on the move.

There aren’t a lot of teams looking to sell compared to past seasons. It appears more teams are convinced they can make a run at the playoffs and would rather be buyers or just stay put. In other cases, the losing teams just don’t have enough to draw interest in the open market.

However, the limited options could raise the stakes on any potential deal. There are still high-profile players who could be moved, but it might take a lot to complete a trade.

Here is a look at a few noteworthy players who should create plenty of bidding in the final few days before the deadline.

Taijuan Walker, SP, Seattle Mariners

A foot injury has kept Taijuan Walker out of the lineup since July 5, but that hasn’t stopped opposing teams from making calls about the pitcher’s availability.

Bob Nightengale of USA Today provided the latest on the young starter:

According to Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times, Walker recently completed a simulated game, and while he was pain-free, also offered an honest assessment of his performance.

“It was better,” Walker said of his effort compared to a previous bullpen session. “My fastball command is a little off still. I thought my breaking ball was good, my slider was good and I had a few good changeups. But my fastball command needs to be better.”

The positive news is it seems Walker will be returning to the mound before long, if not immediately.

Still, a team that targets the 23-year-old pitcher might be looking more toward the future than anything else. The talented player is under team control until after the 2020 season and has shown plenty of ability in his young career. This season, he has a solid 3.66 ERA to go with 80 strikeouts and just 18 walks in 86 innings.

Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports notes the Mariners aren’t likely to trade Walker:

With that said, they are 6.5 games out of first place in the AL West, which is a reachable distance, but moves need to be made. Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com previously reported the team’s interest in Jay Bruce, and adding a slugger of his nature would require giving up some major prospects.

Seattle won’t give up Walker for nothing, but it’s clear there is at least a possibility of a trade. If the team wants a big addition, giving up the pitcher remains on the table.

Boone Logan, RP, Colorado Rockies

Although Aroldis Chapman set the market for high-end relievers, teams hoping to upgrade in their bullpens could potentially get a much cheaper option in Boone Logan.

Jon Morosi of MLB Network notes the Toronto Blue Jays are one of the teams interested in the left-handed reliever, who compares favorably to Chapman this season:

Of course, this comes with a caveat that Logan is mostly a matchup pitcher who has faced more than twice as many left-handed hitters as right-handed hitters. In this respect, the southpaw has been excellent this year while holding lefties to a .147 batting average while tallying 26 strikeouts and just three walks. 

Then again, Logan has also been solid against right-handers with a .161 batting average against in 31 at-bats. An interested team could potentially expand his role if he continues to perform this well against all batters.

While the pitcher makes perfect sense for the Blue Jays, there is a long list of squads trying to acquire relievers this summer. Even though Logan is a far drop from a proven player like Wade Davis or Andrew Miller, a high demand for solid relievers could create a bidding war.

The Colorado Rockies aren’t necessarily sellers at this stage, but they would be smart to get value where they can find it.

Chris Sale, SP, Chicago White Sox

No one in baseball has seen more headlines in the past few weeks than Chris Sale. The Chicago White Sox are obviously listening to trade offers, but the question is if any of the teams will be able to complete a deal.

According to Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Texas Rangers are a team hoping to swing a big trade before the deadline:

After acquiring Cole Hamels a year ago, it’s clear the organization is not afraid to be aggressive for a legitimate upgrade. Meanwhile, Heyman cited a source that said “the Rangers are determined” to acquire Sale. Outside of the Rangers, he also lists the Los Angeles Dodgers, Boston Red Sox and New York Yankees as potential landing spots, among others.

In reality, just about everyone in the league would be interested in adding a legitimate Cy Young candidate that is still in his prime and under contract for a reasonable price.

The problem is it will take quite a bit to actually convince the White Sox to make a deal. Jim Bowden of ESPN.com provided a breakdown of what each team would have to give up in a potential trade, including a Rangers offer of Nomar Mazara and either Joey Gallo or Jurickson Profar as well as other prospects.

Obviously, this would be a hefty price for anyone. However, the Rangers have the best record in the American League and know they could legitimately contend for a World Series title. If they can add Sale to a rotation of Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish, this pitching staff could be deadly in the postseason.

Mazara and Gallo could be stars down the line, but when you have a chance of winning a championship, you have to take it.

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Based on the latest buzz around the league, we could experience an exciting final few days before the MLB trade deadline.

A handful of big names are on the trading block, which means a wide list of teams are doing whatever they can to complete a deal. As the contenders are all trying to improve for the playoff push, there could be some desperate bargaining in the coming days.

Plenty of discussions will take place behind closed doors before the clock runs out on the non-waiver deadline, but here are some of the latest rumors that have been made public, plus predictions for each prospective deal.

MLB Trade Deadline Info

Date: Monday, Aug. 1

Time: 4 p.m. ET

Latest Rumors

Jonathan Lucroy, C, Milwaukee Bucks

As one of the top catchers on the market and in baseball as a whole, Jonathan Lucroy is in high demand.

Lucroy was named an All-Star this season for the second time in his career and is batting .300 with a .848 OPS, which is higher than when he finished fourth in MVP voting in 2014. There is no doubt he can help a lot of teams over the next couple of months.

As Jon Morosi of MLB Network explained, trade talks have heated up as of late:

It was a day game after a night game, so there was no concern about Lucroy not playing, but the stakes have risen for teams that are pursuing the talented catcher. One of those teams is the New York Mets, who are back in the hunt, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports:

Rosenthal previously reported the Mets had offered their own catcher Travis d’Arnaud, although this wasn’t enough to entice the Brewers. On the other hand, Marc Carig of Newsday believes the Mets won’t have to deal their top prospects in any trade:

This is a big deal because New York gutted a lot of its farm system a year ago when it made big trades for Yoenis Cespedes and others. The Mets still have prospects to trade, but they can’t afford to give up all that much.

Of course, the team needs help offensively, as it ranks dead last in the majors with a .238 overall batting average. Catchers have hit just .219 on the season for the Mets, which makes Lucroy a huge upgrade if a deal goes through.

With this big of an opportunity, the Mets have to do what it takes to complete the move.

Prediction: Trade to Mets

Wade Davis, RP, Kansas City Royals

Teams that know they have a great asset won’t give it away for nothing, although the Kansas City Royals might be asking for too much when it comes to Wade Davis.

After the New York Yankees traded Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs for four quality prospects, it’s clear the price has risen for elite closers. However, ESPN’s Jayson Stark noted the Royals are asking for even more.

Interestingly, the Royals are attempting a different strategy than just loading up on prospects, per Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports:

The Los Angeles Dodgers are a possibility because they not only need a closer but also could use an extra starting pitcher after dealing with multiple injuries to the rotation. Ian Kennedy might be costly (he’s in the first year of a five-year, $70 million contract), but he has been solid with a 4.41 ERA on the year.

Some will question Davis’ worth thanks to an increased walk rate (4.0 BB/9) and fewer strikeouts (8.6 K/9) than in the past. However, he maintains nothing is wrong with him physically, per Rustin Dodd of the Kansas City Star:

Los Angeles would make the playoffs if the season ended today, but the pitching isn’t quite good enough to compete at a high level. The next couple of months could also get shaky if the rotation doesn’t improve.

With the prospects and money to make a deal, the Dodgers should bring in Davis and Kennedy.

Prediction: Trade to Dodgers

David Robertson, RP, Chicago White Sox

The Washington Nationals acquired Jonathan Papelbon at this point last year, but their patience is running thin with the explosive closer. His ERA jumped from 2.56 to 4.18 over the span of two games this week, both losses.

Those performances can lead the team to become more aggressive in terms of shoring up the back of the bullpen. Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports broke down the team’s plan heading into the deadline:

While it’s already been noted how hard it might be to acquire Davis, David Robertson should be easier to get through a trade.

ESPN Insider Buster Olney wrote: “The White Sox are pushing to move David Robertson, rival executives say, perhaps because he has the biggest contract. He is owed about $30 million through the 2018 season.”

Robertson is a step below Davis and Andrew Miller, but he is a proven closer who won’t be intimidated if he takes on that role in Washington. The Nationals also wouldn’t have to part with their elite prospects who are part of the future.

Considering the organization has failed to advance past the divisional series, the Nationals should take any upgrades wherever possible.

Prediction: Trade to Nationals

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As we inch closer to the Major League Baseball trade deadline, rumors surrounding the top available players only grow more intense.

It seems to be a sellers’ market at this stage with a lot more teams hoping to improve in the next week than those willing to look toward the future. There will be a heavy bidding war on the few impact players on the block, causing prices to keep rising leading up to August 1.

This means while some players could be potentially heading toward specific teams, that could change in an instant when others get involved. With that said, here is a look at the latest buzz surrounding some of the biggest names available.

Jonathan Lucroy, C, Milwaukee Brewers

At 30 years old, Jonathan Lucroy is still showing he is one of the elite catchers in baseball. He can hit for a high average while adding plenty of power from the position as well as excellent defense.

Not only was he selected to his second All-Star team this season, but his numbers are similar to two years ago when he finished fourth in the National League MVP voting. Of course, the rest of the Milwaukee Brewers haven’t lived up to their ends of the bargain, and they are likely now going to look to trade off any quality assets to prepare for the future.

ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reported the latest news surrounding the veteran catcher:

Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press added the Detroit Tigers as a potential team in the mix. Lucroy could be a potential upgrade over James McCann.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports provided a look at what the Brewers might be asking for in a possible deal:

It makes sense the Brewers would balk at simply replacing their All-Star catcher with a worse one, even when the replacement is younger. With a cheap team option, Lucroy won’t be a free agent until after the 2017 season, meaning Milwaukee doesn’t necessarily have to trade him this summer.

As an impact player in an otherwise shallow position, the Brewers can wait until they get a reasonable offer worthy of dealing away one of their top players.

Considering the number of interested teams, it seems like at least one team will budge and provide a quality package before the deadline.

Jeremy Hellickson, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

When a player is a free agent at the end of the season and is performing as well as he has in years for a non-contending team, it creates almost the perfect scenario for a trade.

However, the Philadelphia Phillies aren’t necessarily going with conventional wisdom on Jeremy Hellickson, according to Jayson Stark of ESPN:

This could be a form of hardball in negotiations, but ESPN’s Buster Olney noted the Phillies have other options:

It’s clear why opposing teams are interested in Hellickson in the first place. His 3.65 ERA would be his lowest since 2012, while his recent performances have scouts even more excited. The pitcher has a 1.97 ERA in five July starts, including just one earned run in 14 innings in his last two games.

The problem is the fear that this strong showing is just a hot run and he is likely to regress to the mean. Hellickson hasn’t posted an ERA lower than 4.50 in any of the last three years, and his FIP of 4.17 is more in line with his career mark of 4.35, per Baseball-Reference.com.

Still, Crasnick reported the Miami Marlins, Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles are three teams interested in making a trade. Considering all three squads lack pitching depth beyond one or two quality starters, a trade could definitely go down.

Jay Bruce, OF, Cincinnati Reds

There might not be a better chance to sell high on Jay Bruce than right now. The outfielder went deep Wednesday, marking five straight games with a home run and a total of seven home runs in his last eight games.

This outburst gave Bruce 25 home runs for the season and an NL-leading 79 RBI.

As well as he has played, the veteran isn’t sitting around thinking about his accomplishments, per the Associated Press (via Fox Sports):

There’s no time for that. You do that in this game and it’s too late. […]

One day hopefully a long, long time from now, I can sit back and reflect, but right now there’s no time for that, everything’s moving too fast. It’s too demanding a game to kick back and think back about all you’ve done.

Still, his strong play makes him an excellent target for teams hoping to upgrade the offense. With the Cincinnati Reds currently sitting in last place in the NL Central, it makes it no surprise they are listening to potential offers, which have ramped up as of late. 

Crasnick reported the Seattle Mariners being a potential option for Bruce:

Considering the Mariners are actually among the top power teams in baseball, it wouldn’t be surprising to see some other contenders get even more desperate to add an impact hitter like this one. If Bruce keeps hitting like he is, the cost will only go up.

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The floodgates are now open with one major trade out of the way and likely plenty of more to follow before the Aug. 1 deadline.

The Chicago Cubs acquired Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees for four prospects Monday, as the team announced on its official Twitter account. While this helps solidify the Cubs as a top contender going forward, it also sets a high bar for any ensuing deals.

With a handful of high-profile players on the market, there could be more 4-for-1 or even 5-for-1 types of trades over the next week with noteworthy prospects potentially changing hands. Here is a look at some of the bigger names available along with predictions for where they will end up.

Edinson Volquez, SP, Kansas City Royals

Anyone who has watched the Kansas City Royals over the last couple of years knows never to count them out. However, hovering around .500 makes them more likely to sell off their assets, especially impending free agents.

One of those players is Edinson Volquez, who has a mutual option at the end of this season for $10 million. Although he has just a 4.56 ERA this season, a lot of that is because of one terrible start in which he allowed 11 earned runs in one inning in June. Since then, the starter has five straight starts of at least six innings pitched.

This strong play as of late has led to plenty of interest from around the league, according to ESPN’s Buster Olney:

The Texas Rangers might be the most intriguing option as a first-place team that lacks the starting pitching you would want from a real playoff contender. According to Evan Grant of the Dallas Morning News, this team has gone to scout Volquez, so the interest is clear.

Grant also quoted general manager Jon Daniels on the team’s willingness to consider future free agents in potential trades: “I think that’s the only thing that’s really changed is that I was hoping we wouldn’t have to consider rentals. I think if we had a healthy rotation, we’d only be looking at guys who are controllable past this season. (Rentals) would not be our preference, but we’ve got to be open.”

If the Rangers are willing to part with prospects for a player who might be with the team for only a couple of months, this could be a great fit. Volquez isn’t perfect, but he is an experienced player who has pitched well as of late. He is also better than anyone in the active rotation other than Cole Hamels and Yu Darvish, who remains a question mark as he returns from injury.

The Royals could part with a player who isn’t likely to be a major part of the future and could help build up the farm system right away.

Prediction: Trade to Rangers

Wade Davis, RP, Kansas City Royals

Like Volquez, Wade Davis also has a $10 million mutual option at the end of the year. The difference is the closer has shown he is worth the cost.

Davis has been arguably the best reliever in Major League Baseball over the past three seasons, finishing sixth in the Cy Young race in 2015 with an 8-1 record and 0.94 ERA. 

The Royals could potentially trade away their elite closer before the deadline, especially with a number of teams interested in making a deal. Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reported the Washington Nationals were one of the teams inquiring about Davis. 

Unfortunately for the Nationals, any deal of this nature will come at a high cost, according to Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports:

In one internal conversation, Kansas City was discussing possible destinations for Davis and considered the Washington Nationals, whose desire for a closer to replace Jonathan Papelbon would grow even stronger if they couldn’t get Chapman. With Davis under contract the rest of this season and for just $10 million next season, the Royals bandied about a potential target, according to sources: Lucas Giolito.

Considering Giolito is currently rated as the No. 4 prospect in the minors, according to Baseball America, this is a large price. With the team not quite intent on selling Davis, the cost probably won’t come down.

If the Nationals do want to secure a closer, there are other options available though, per Heyman:

The other options aren’t quite as good, but they will come much cheaper. With other teams having the same thoughts in the coming week, the most likely scenario for Davis is that he stays put.

Prediction: No trade

Chris Sale, SP, Chicago White Sox

It seems the biggest discussion surrounding Chris Sale lately is his insubordination, which led to a five-game suspension by the team. 

However, it doesn’t appear likely that this will change his draft stock anytime soon. As Jim Bowden of ESPN.com explained, “The White Sox shook up the industry last week when GM Rick Hahn publicly stated that he would ‘listen’ to offers for lefty ace Chris Sale, and his phone hasn’t stopped buzzing since.”

Bowden also added that a weak farm system could help Chicago “consider something like a 5-for-1 offer.”

So is there a team that could make a move of this magnitude? Olney believes the Boston Red Sox could complete the blockbuster:

ESPN’s Jayson Stark added that the Red Sox are hopefully looking for this level of impact from the trade deadline:

Passan listed Yoan Moncada or Andrew Benintendi as a likely addition in any deal, which is a big start for Boston. There would also likely be a number of extra prospects, even low-level ones, to create an enticing package for the White Sox.

The good news for Boston is it can afford such a package, and it would be worth it for one of the top starting pitchers in baseball. With Chicago likely not too happy with Sale after this past week’s activities in the clubhouse, there is a bigger chance than ever this deal is completed.

Prediction: Trade to Red Sox

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Two of the top hitters of their generation will be inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame as the 2016 class.

Only the best of the best reach this level, which left only Ken Griffey Jr. and Mike Piazza standing on a ballot that also included a hitter with 762 home runs (Barry Bonds) and a pitcher with 354 wins (Roger Clemens). Additionally, Jeff Bagwell and Tim Raines came up short of the 75 percent of votes needed for induction.

While there will be eternal debate over those who didn’t get in, the two players who are set to earn plaques this weekend deserve it after their incredible careers. Here is what you need to know to celebrate this occasion with Griffey and Piazza.

2016 Hall of Fame Induction Ceremony

When: Sunday, July 24

Time: 1:30 p.m. ET

Where: Clark Sports Center, Cooperstown, New York

TV: MLB Network

Live Stream: BaseballHall.org

Inductees

Mike Piazza

When Mike Piazza was drafted in the 62nd round in 1988, few predicted he’d become a Hall of Famer. After all, today’s draft stops after 40 rounds.

In reality, the only reason he was drafted was due to then-Los Angeles Dodgers manager Tommy Lasorda, who knew the player’s father. Lasorda explained the situation, per Bob Nightengale of USA Today:

Mike works out as a first baseman in front of our scouts, and the scouting director, Ben Wade, tells me they’re not interested in signing him. I said, ‘Ben, if he could hit like that as a shortstop, would you sign him?’ He says, yes. I said, ‘How about if a catcher could hit like that?’ Ben says, ‘Then I would sign him.’

I said, ‘Then, you’ve got yourself a catcher.’

This transition shouldn’t surprise anyone who watched Piazza over the years. He was never an elite defensive catcher and struggled to throw out runners on the bases. However, he made up for it with his bat and became arguably the top hitting catcher in baseball history.

Piazza came up through the Dodgers organization and found success immediately, winning the National League Rookie of the Year Award in 1993. He only got more dominant from there, being named an All-Star in each of his first six full seasons in the majors and finishing in the top six of MVP voting in four of those years.

After a brief stint with the then-Florida Marlins, he joined the New York Mets, where he found even more success. Piazza reached six more All-Star Games while helping the team win the NL pennant in 2000.

When all was said and done, the powerful hitter finished his career with a .308 batting average and 427 home runs, plus 12 All-Star Games and 10 Silver Slugger Awards, given to the best hitter at each position. His 396 home runs as a catcher are the most all-time for the position.

With this level of success compared to expectations, it’s no wonder he expects to cry during his speech:

Piazza was one of the top hitters in the game throughout his career, tallying an above-average OPS+ in every season from 1993 to 2006, per Baseball-Reference.com. It took him four years on the ballot to reach this stage, but he deserves the honor.

Ken Griffey Jr.

While Piazza was a long shot, Ken Griffey Jr. was virtually the opposite. The son of an All-Star, the younger Griffey was a natural in the sport and went first overall in the 1987 draft.

It didn’t take him long to have an impact in the majors, either. The center fielder came up at just 19 years old and was an All-Star and Gold Glove Award winner by age 20. During his first 11 seasons with the Seattle Mariners, he reached 10 All-Star Games and won 10 Gold Glove Awards. He was named American League MVP in 1997 when he led the league with 56 home runs and 147 RBI with the first-place Mariners.

Although injuries derailed Griffey’s career a bit after he joined the Cincinnati Reds, he still went to three more All-Star Games and earned MVP votes in 2005. He finished his career with the Mariners, totaling 630 home runs, which ranks sixth in MLB history.

As good as he was on the field, however, he made almost as big of an impact off it. C. Trent Rosecrans of the Indianapolis Star broke down what Griffey meant to fans:

Griffey, with the backwards cap, was baseball’s last pop culture icon, the last player that even non-baseball fans knew by sight. He dominated commercials, video games, baseball shoes and was the most popular player in the game and the only choice when baseball was trying to match the star power of basketball’s [Michael] Jordan. In the 1993 All-Star Game in Baltimore, it was Jordan who was seen chasing down Griffey for an autograph.

Given his impact as an elite fielder, power hitter and cultural icon, it’s no wonder he was a first-ballot Hall of Famer with 99.3 percent of the vote. The bigger question is how three people didn’t vote for him on the first ballot.

Regardless of the voting, Griffey is headed to Cooperstown, where he will provide one of the most anticipated induction moments ever.

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