Kuzul

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.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The July 31 MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, and each franchise currently finds itself in one of two categories: It’s either a buyer or a seller. While contenders are looking to acquire top-tier talent in an effort to make a push for the playoffs, gutter-dwellers are aiming to offload players and their corresponding lucrative contracts.

This time of year is always interesting, as you just never know which familiar faces will wind up in new places. That’s what makes speculation so fun.

Let’s take a look at a few possible scenarios based on a few of the latest rumors to surface around the Web.

Cole Hamels to Boston Red Sox?

This scenario shatters the mold of what we’re used to seeing prior to the trade deadline. Boston is sitting at 47-55 and in the cellar of the AL East; however, it appears the team is looking to buy.

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com tweeted the recent news about a potential trade for Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cole Hamels:

This report is a bit surprising since Matt Lombardo of NJ.com reported Wednesday that Philadelphia had “zero interest” in trading the pitcher.

Hamels is arguably Philadelphia’s biggest trade chip. Despite owning a 5-5 record, the southpaw is having a solid season. He’s currently maintaining a 2.72 ERA, allowing 102 hits and 40 runs while striking out 125 batters.

One issue here could be Hamels’ current contract. He’s in just the second year of his six-year, $144 million deal, according to Spotrac.com.

New York Mets to Offload Bartolo Colon?

With a 48-54 record, the Mets should be looking to reload for next year. One way to get things headed in that direction is to unload pitcher Bartolo Colon’s two-year, $20 million contract.

Colon has been solid at times this season, holding a 4.03 ERA, allowing 135 hits and 63 runs and striking out 100 in 20 appearances. However, he’s 41 years old and most likely isn’t in the team’s long-term plans.

Andy Martino of the New York Daily News reported exactly what the Mets are willing to do in an effort to ship the pitcher elsewhere:

We are also told, via sources, that the Mets are willing to eat approximately $2 million what remains on Colon’s two-year, $20 million contract ($11 million next season). And given Colon’s current level of performance, it is not crazy to think he could find a one-year, $9 million deal this winter, if he were a free agent. Yeah, he’s 41, but he ain’t pitching like it.

MLB tweeted some stats proving that Colon can still dish it:

There’s not much of a market out there for Colon right now due to several names rumored to be available. However, once the deadline creeps closer and options are limited, certain teams could look to the aging veteran to fill a roster void.

Kurt Suzuki on the Move?

Minnesota Twins veteran catcher Kurt Suzuki could be on the move, as a couple of catcher-needy teams are rumored to be interested. According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the Baltimore Orioles and St. Louis Cardinals “are among teams showing trade interest.”

The Cardinals are missing Yadier Molina, who is out until roughly September with a thumb injury. The Orioles are in a similar situation after losing Matt Wieters for the season due to issues with his elbow.

Darren Wolfson of ESPN.com tweeted what the Twins are looking for in return:

While Suzuki may be considered a short-term option for these teams, he brings plenty to the table. This season, he’s batting a career-high .308 while accumulating 91 hits, 19 doubles, two home runs and 40 RBI. On the defensive side, he boasts a .994 fielding percentage, having committed just three errors and allowed two passed balls.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The 2014 MLB trade deadline is just about a week away, so a lot of rumors will be swirling around. It’s tough to figure out what is true and what is just smoke. It’s still early, but the Cincinnati Reds have already been linked to a few players. 

Cincinnati doesn’t have the payroll flexibility to make a major move unless it trades away a key player. At this point, the Reds are still in contention, so don’t expect them to get rid of any important pieces.

Not only do the Reds not have much money to work with, but they also don’t have many prospects high in the farm system who would be attractive to other teams.

This team started to play extremely well when it got healthy in June. The only problem is that it couldn’t stay healthy. First baseman Joey Votto (quad) and second baseman Brandon Phillips (thumb) are on the disabled list and aren’t expected back until some point in August.

Now, the Reds need to focus on finding not necessarily the best player available, but one who is versatile. Trading for a player who can only play first base or second base doesn’t make sense. The team needs more of a utility player than anything.

Check out who the Reds have been linked to early on and see if it’s a legitimate rumor or not.

*All stats are via MLB.com. 

Begin Slideshow

The New York Yankees have a bit of a problem.

So do the rest of the teams on the market, but the Yankees are perhaps the most notable thanks to the club’s ability to remain relevant in the face of adversity.

As is the case with most of the teams looking to upgrade on the mound through free agency in the hopes of chasing a World Series, the Yankees don’t have a ton of cost-effective options—especially with Cliff Lee’s recent return to the mound being nothing short of a disaster.

Pitchers and the Yankees are the highlight, but there’s plenty of rumbling from around the league. Here is a sampling of the most notable nuggets with the deadline at the end of the month on the horizon.

Tommy Milone‘s Demands

By no means a household name, Tommy Milone is set to light the trade market on fire.

Milone is 27 years of age and a four-year pro who, for all intents and purposes, has been rather effective in that timespan:

The problem is, Milone has been placed on the back-burner by the Oakland Athletics after the front office swung a trade with Chicago for both Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, this has resulted in a trade request: 

Left-hander Tommy Milone has asked the club to trade him, major-league sources tell FOX Sports. The Athletics have received trade inquiries on Milone, but the team is not eager to move him, knowing he might be needed due to injury or ineffectiveness, sources say.

Milone, 27, would have become eligible for arbitration this offseason if he had remained in the majors all season. But his time in the minors could delay his eligibility for at least one year.

It’s easy to see why Milone may be frustrated with his current situation, especially since he has now been demoted three times in the past year. He had seemed to turn a corner and tallied six wins and a 2.55 ERA in his prior 11 starts before the club made the blockbuster deal and subsequently sent him packing.

While near impossible to tell what it would take to make a deal come to fruition, one thing is certain—it’s hard to blame Milone for feeling as if he does not belong in the minors. Expect plenty of interest in the coming week if other clubs even think that he’s available.

Alex Rios, the Newcomer to the Block

A reunion might just be in the works between the Toronto Blue Jays and Alex Rios.

Unless Kansas City has something to say about it.

According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, the Blue Jays want to bring back the slugger they shipped away to Chicago in 2009. At 33 years old, Rios is one of the best overall bats on the market, although Heyman writes that “A friend of Rios said the trade rumors have bothered him, perhaps accounting for a drop in production this summer. He was at a high of .335 on June 9 and 10.”

Coming equipped with a contract that pays him $12 million this year and a $13.5 million option with a $1 million buyout next year, per Spotrac, one can glean from his numbers that Rios was bound to be a hot commodity:

But the Blue Jays are not alone in their pursuit, as Heyman also notes that the Royals would love to grab Rios in order to get back in the AL Central running.

One would think that the Texas Rangers would have few qualms about giving up Rios in a deal, especially with them sitting alone in the cellar of the AL West, but Heyman hears the front office would pick up his option for next season.

Kansas City presumably needs a hitter like Rios the most considering it ranks No. 23 in the league in terms of scoring, but the cost will be steep for both teams, especially when the fact a bidding war between the two teams—or more—can drive the price higher.

Yankees’ Pitching Search

It seems inevitable, no?

The Yankees and Lee are simply destined to join forces at one point or another, so why not now, with the Phillies laughably bad and the front office in New York more desperate than ever?

At second place in the AL East despite injuries to players such as Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, Ivan Nova and Michael Pineda, the Yankees will of course look to continue to upgrade the roster for the playoff push, and adding Chase Headley, per USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale, certainly is not enough.

According to Jesse Spector of Sporting News, the Yankees were in attendance at one of Lee’s rehab starts recently and continue to show further interest. It helps that Lee imploded on the mound in his return Monday, allowing six runs and 12 hits in less than six innings of work.

As Heyman explains, Lee is quite expensive too:

That is pretty much true on the money. In fact, Lee is guaranteed the most money of any pitcher (or player) through the end of next year, with about $48 million guaranteed for that year plus two months iand 10 days, thanks to a $25 million salary plus a $12.5-million buyout on a $27.5 million vesting option for 2016.

That’s a double-whammy for the Yankees, who don’t mind doling out the cash or paying a lesser price with Lee’s trade value diminished. As scouts told Heyman, among other things, he’s viewed as “Definitely flatter than usual” and “Not his normal self.”

There are other options for the Yankees on the mound, but Lee has been the crown jewel of the organization’s eye for the better part of six years, and they find the Phillies in a vulnerable situation.

If Lee somehow avoids donning the pinstripes yet again, the team will surely make another move of some sort, but the notion that the two are going to finally work together is difficult to ignore.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

That sound of button-mashing you hear from every direction is 30 Major League Baseball general managers making phone calls to see if they will be able to consummate a deal that will put their team on the path to a World Series. 

Trade deadline season is fascinating to watch because everyone behind the scenes, much like fans who have to hear the rampant speculation, are either going to be ecstatic or miserable based on what happens. 

Fans don’t want to sit through a rebuilding phase, watching their favorite players get dealt while teams must think about their short- and long-term futures. There are a lot of balls floating in the air that may or may not go in the basket. 

Whatever happens over the next nine days, we’ve got the latest trade chatter and what it means as we reach zero hour. 

Cliff Lee Drawing Scouts’ Attention

No team is better positioned to cash in this deadline season, assuming it wants to, than the Philadelphia Phillies. Cliff Lee has a long track record of success and an inflated salary that doesn’t make sense for a last-place team to keep. 

The 2008 American League Cy Young Award winner returned to the mound Monday night against San Francisco after more than two months on the disabled list with an elbow strain, but he was commanding attention during his minor league rehab assignment, according to Jim Salisbury of Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia.

“In fact, two teams looking for starting pitching — the Yankees and Blue Jays — scouted Lee’s last rehab start in Clearwater,” Salisbury wrote.

As of July 22, Toronto and New York are in very similar positions at two games over .500, trailing Baltimore by four games in the American League East and lacking in impact starting pitching. The Yankees, however, are as desperate as anyone to fill out a decent starting rotation. Here’s how their current group looks compared to the one that started the season:

Lee’s MLB return didn’t produce positive results. The left-hander allowed 12 hits and six earned runs in 5.2 innings against the Giants, though that wasn’t unexpected given how long he’s been out of action. 

That game did continue a disturbing trend for Lee, who is allowing a career-high 11 hits per nine innings, has his lowest strikeout rate since 2010 and is averaging 89.7 miles per hour with his fastball (per FanGraphs.com). 

Considering Lee will turn 36 on August 30 and is owed $25 million next year with a vesting option at $27.5 million for 2016 if he reaches 200 innings pitched next year or 400 combined innings in 2014-15, the Phillies will have to eat a lot of money to make the deal and get the package they would require. 

General manager Ruben Amaro has been reluctant to sell in the past, which has hurt Philadelphia in many ways, but now that the writing is on the wall for him to make moves, the pieces to deal don’t look as appealing as they once did. 

Cole Hamels Still Not Going Anywhere

Speaking of Amaro‘s reluctance to deal anyone, notably those drafted and developed by the Phillies, ESPN’s Buster Olney stated on Twitter that interested teams are getting the shaft when asking about Cole Hamels:

Unlike Lee, who is nearing the end of his career, Hamels is still very much in his prime at the age of 30 and under contract through 2018 at $22.5 million per season with an option for 2019. 

Because of Hamels’ age, production and contract status, you can understand why Amaro would tell teams he doesn’t want to trade him. There were rumblings that the Boston Red Sox were watching the southpaw, but CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman speculates that could be a simple ploy in their negotiations with free-agent-to-be Jon Lester:

Boston offered its own star lefty Jon Lester $70M over four years in spring training. Now suddenly, they’d be willing to take what’s left of Hamels’ $144-million, six-year deal, and give up prime prospects, too, for a very comparable pitcher? …

And of course, it’s also possible the Red Sox are at least partly viewing the reported Hamels play as a way to restart things with Lester — who’s said all along he wants to stay in Boston badly enough to give them a hometown discount. And maybe the Red Sox are just concerned they might not get Lester back now that he’s tabled talks, and are just covering their bases.

If the Phillies really wanted to blow their ship up to start over again, dealing Hamels would net the biggest return because of his age, production and contract status. 

However, this again comes down to Amaro‘s continued insistence on maintaining the status quo while making smaller-scale moves to see if by some miracle Ryan Howard and Jimmy Rollins discover the Fountain of Youth. 

Rangers’ Trade Chip for Kansas City: Alex Rios

If the Kansas City Royals hope to stay in the AL wild-card race this summer, they have to upgrade an offense that ranks 21st in on-base percentage, 23rd in average and 26th in slugging percentage. 

It would also be in the front office’s best interest to act fast since the Royals have lost four in a row to start the second half and eight of 10 overall to fall 4.5 games behind Seattle for the second wild-card spot. 

Heyman noted that the Texas Rangers, who have been destroyed by injuries to the point that Houston is no longer the worst team in the AL West, could come to Kansas City’s rescue. 

“The Royals are looking for corner bats as they try to fix their offensive woes and get back into the AL Central race, and Rangers right fielder Alex Rios is one player they’ve considered,” wrote Heyman.

Rios has been effective for the Rangers this season, though he’s not exactly the game-changing hitter who will impact a pennant race. He does lead the league with eight triples and is hitting .302, but a .330 on-base percentage and .435 slugging percentage aren’t middle-of-the-order-caliber. 

However, for the Royals, Rios would represent a huge upgrade. As a group this season, Kansas City right fielders are hitting .261/.314/.349 with three home runs. 

The Royals spent big in trades, notably acquiring James Shields from Tampa Bay two years ago, to open their window sooner than expected. It hasn’t worked out that way so far, and Shields is due to become a free agent at the end of this season. 

General manager Dayton Moore has to determine what Kansas City is at this point. The team is close enough to justify being a buyer at the deadline, but given the quality clubs ahead of the Royals (Seattle, New York, Toronto, Cleveland), they have a steep hill to climb. 

If you want to talk sports, hit me up on Twitter. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

With a mere nine days remaining until the MLB trade deadline on July 31, rumors are swirling around multiple contenders and pretenders around the league.

A few surprise teams like the Tampa Bay Rays and Texas Rangers are well outside of the mix and looking to move veteran players. Then there are franchises looking to make the postseason this year hoping to add those valuable assets.

As several division races heat up, the time is now for teams to make a move that can help them. Teams like the Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates are on the outside looking in with a chance to contend.

Here’s a look at the latest rumors surrounding some of the biggest trade prospects in the MLB.

Winning Affecting Possible David Price Move for Rays

For a team like the Rays, this has been a disappointing season thus far. But with a five-game winning streak, all seems back to normal in Tampa Bay, right? Wrong.

Two straight series wins over the Toronto Blue Jays and Minnesota Twins before and after the All-Star break would appear to be a great sign for the Rays. Unfortunately, all it has done is complicate matters for the franchise and David Price, in particular.

Buster Olney of ESPN (subscription required) provides the latest on rumors about the starting pitcher:

The Rays will factor many things into their decision as to whether to trade Price, including their place in the standings, how well they are playing, their need for prospects and Price’s trade value, which gradually slides downward as he nears free agency. But one executive involved in the conversations with Tampa Bay believes that, ultimately, it’s the potential buyers that will clarify the choice for the Rays with the quality of their offers. 

Will he stay or will he go? That’s the question Tampa Bay must answer before July 31 while they also look to climb back into the AL East race.

Currently fourth in the division at 47-53, the Rays still have a shot to overtake every other team in the East. The Baltimore Orioles currently hold the lead but are without injured Matt Wieters, and the New York Yankees have question marks with Masahiro Tanaka.

Basically, what the decision will come down to now is simply how aggressive teams are in trying to acquire Price. The former Cy Young winner has been nearly flawless during July, pitching 31.2 innings over four starts while allowing just three earned runs, including his last two scoreless starts.

Making a swap for Price won’t be easy, and it clearly won’t be a given anymore with the Rays winning again. With Wil Myers reporting progress with his wrist injury and Chris Archer pitching well in three of his last four starts, the Rays have youth to get back into the chase.

Whether or not Price will be a part of that climb will be decided by July 31.

Alex Rios Among Potential Targets for Royals

He might not be showing the same power from years prior, but Alex Rios has still been a consistent force at the plate this season.

Unfortunately, his offensive prowess has been on the Texas Rangers, a team that was 3-14 during the month of July. That makes them dealers on the trade market and fifth in the AL West.

For the Kansas City Royals, the team is trying to make a push for their first postseason berth since winning the World Series in 1985. With a slumping offense, the Royals apparently have interest in Rios, per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports:

The Royals are looking for corner bats as they try to fix their offensive woes and get back into the AL Central race, and Rangers right fielder Alex Rios is one player they’ve considered.

Kansas City is 14th in the AL with a .687 OPS and 12th with 388 runs, so it understands it needs some help.

Heyman goes on to say that the Royals are also interested in other options like Marlon Byrd and Domonic Brown, but Rios is a clear option for the team. With his consistency at the plate, the Rangers slugger might just be what Kansas City needs in the lineup.

Looking for their first playoff berth in nearly 20 years, the Royals will still have to overtake both the Detroit Tigers and the Cleveland Indians. Following a sweep at the hands of the Boston Red Sox, Kansas City might be another fringe team like the Rays when the deadline comes.

A.J. Burnett Drawing Interest from Pirates

On the heels of a three-game winning streak, the Pirates are right back in the thick of the NL Central race. If they plan on overtaking both the Milwaukee Brewers and St. Louis Cardinals along with holding off the Cincinnati Reds, Pittsburgh will need help in the starting rotation.

Help might just be on the way in the form of a familiar face, as Jon Morosi of Fox Sports reports:

During his two seasons with the Pirates, Burnett finished with a 26-21 record and never saw his ERA rise above 3.51 either year. He also collected over 180 strikeouts both seasons as he returned to form after three down seasons with the Yankees.

If the Pirates truly do have interest, it could wind up being huge for both sides. Burnett is currently on a Philadelphia Phillies team that is nowhere near a playoff spot and Pittsburgh needs help to get there.

While several other teams might be looking to add Burnett, the familiarity of Pittsburgh might be just what both sides need.

Follow R. Cory Smith on Twitter:

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Nine days until the July 31 MLB non-waiver trade deadline.

That means that Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. has approximately 216 hours to decide if he wants to cash in several large trade chips. He could wait until after July 31, of course, but then he risks limiting his leverage by a considerable margin.

Amaro Jr. is not alone. There are plenty of other GMs around MLB who don’t have much longer to decide whether or not they will dump stock or add to their portfolios.

So let’s take a look at some of the bigger names that are presumably on the trade block.

For the sake of brevity, we will keep it simple. Here are three MLB trade scenarios based on actual need and published rumors from the week ending Sunday, July 13. 

As a standard note, the following proposals are nothing more than postulation. The point here is to build a trade based on someone else’s written or spoken word.

They are balanced deals that are fair for each team, though, and take into consideration each franchise’s strengths and weaknesses.  

Begin Slideshow

That infamous time of year has rolled around. The MLB trade deadline is fast approaching, and we should see plenty of familiar faces in new places in short order.

While some teams are aiming to bolster their rosters in an effort to make pushes for the postseason, others are looking to the future and will trade current assets with expensive contracts.

Needless to say, the rumor mill has already begun to spin, and many notable names around the league are already involved in trade discussions.

So, which players are rumored to be on the trade block? Which teams are interested in acquiring their services? Let’s speculate on a few of these situations based on recent buzz to surface around the Web.

Angels and Padres Talking Pitchers

As of Friday morning, the Los Angeles Angels are 57-37, while the San Diego Padres are 41-54. It only makes sense that these two teams would be doing business at this point in the season.

While the Angels are looking to improve their rotation and depth on the mound, the Padres make the perfect trade partner due to some nice arms currently on the roster.

On Wednesday, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the sides weren’t seeing eye-to-eye on Ian Kennedy but continued to talk about Houston Street:

Well, that appears to have changed once again, according to a tweet from Ollie Connolly of MLB.com:

Now, it appears the two sides are not only talking about both Kennedy and Street once again, but Tyson Ross is also in the conversation.

All three of these arms would improve the Angels’ chances of going deep into the postseason and making a push for each one would certainly keep things very interesting before the trade deadline.

Mariners and Rays Trade Talk

The Seattle Mariners are sitting nicely with a 51-44 record; however, they are in the ultra-competitive AL West and need to make up some ground. The Tampa Bay Rays are floundering with a 44-53 record and appear willing to negotiate.

According to a tweet from Jon Morosi of Fox Sports 1, the Mariners are interested in acquiring both David Price and Ben Zobrist:

Price is having a nice season with a 3.23 ERA and 167 strikeouts while allowing 61 runs on 137 hits in 20 appearances. Zobrist is having another solid year at the plate, batting .266 with 85 hits, 19 doubles, three triples, six home runs and 24 RBI.

Seattle is going after this duo due to its failed attempt at acquiring Marlon Byrd, as Morosi noted on Twitter:

It sounds as if these discussions are only in the preliminary stages, so we’ll have to wait and see how this develops.

Dodgers Don’t Want Papelbon

Philadelphia Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon has expressed his desire to play for a contender. Obviously, he’s not too thrilled about his team’s 42-53 record.

Well, it appeared as though the 54-43 Los Angeles Dodgers were willing to fulfill the pitcher’s request, according to a tweet from Mark Saxon of ESPN:

That’s changed in a big way, as Saxon rescinded his previous information:

Papelbon is having a nice season in Philadelphia, and it can be expected that he’ll garner some interest before the trade deadline passes. Although, as it looks right now, the Dodgers will not be in play for the closer.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

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.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The July 31 MLB trade deadline is less than two weeks away.

For the 43-52 Boston Red Sox, who are currently sitting in fourth place in the American League East—and 9.5 games back from the first-place Baltimore Orioles—the time has come for them to determine whether they’ll be on the buying or selling side of the trade fence come deadline day.

We could have a lengthy debate about which direction the Red Sox should go. 

A 9.5-game deficit within the division is daunting, even with over two months remaining in the season. But we have seen crazier things happen before, and bottom-dwelling teams can light up at the right moment.

Perhaps this is exactly what Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington is hoping for.

In a way, Boston hasn’t even decided about its future this season.

Manager John Farrell described this position further via Julian Benbow of The Boston Globe:

Time will tell. I’m not privy to every conversation Ben has. This is a busy time of year for the entire industry. So I’m sure there will be additional rumors continuing to grow, but until we know something concrete, our job is to maintain our focus on the field each and every day with the intent to win each and every night. … No one has given up anything. No one has conceded anything. But we also have been in the game long enough to know that over the next two weeks names are going to start getting bantered about.

This conundrum leaves Boston at the aforementioned crossroads.

What if there was a move, however, that would be beneficial to either direction? What if the Red Sox could execute a deal that would not hinder their chances of salvaging 2014, but would also serve as a bonus if Boston decides that its postseason prospects have waned?

There is such a deal—the kind that would make sense on either side of the fence.

In short, Boston needs to trade incumbent closer Koji Uehara.

Let’s get the numbers out of the way first. Uehara’s 2014 statistics aren’t indicative that his age is catching up with him.

Over the course of 42 games and 43.2 innings pitched, Uehara has posted a 1.65 ERA along with a 0.756 WHIP—and he’s 39 years old.

His strikeout-to-walk ratio is down slightly from last year—9.50 in comparison to 11.22—but all other signs point to Uehara being as effective as ever.

So why trade the most venerable member of the Red Sox bullpen?

First, there are contractual considerations—Uehara is set to become a free agent no matter how Boston’s season ends. Having signed a one-year contract for the 2013 season with an option for 2014 that vested last August, Boston will have to determine his future with the team sooner or later.

Given his age, it is hard to judge where Uehara sees himself a year from now, but the fact that he is still pitching effectively suggests that he will want to retain a prominent role next season.

The only real question is whether or not it will be with the Red Sox.

In 2014, their lineup of batters has gradually transformed from that of aging veterans toward a younger cast of characters, who should comprise the team for years to come.

Outfielder Mookie Betts and catcher Christian Vazquez are two examples of Boston’s young talent breaking into the big leagues.

Since the Red Sox also have a plethora of pitching prospects awaiting their eventual debuts, they should also consider applying this theory to the pitching staff in general.

Granted, finding an effective reliever to serve in Uehara’s stead would be tough. Few closers have equaled Uehara’s performance in his two seasons with the Red Sox.

There are those analysts—like ESPN’s David Schoenfield—that would argue the closer position is overrated. 

“The point isn’t that a closer isn’t important; of course he is,” he writes. “The point is that a lot of guys can do that job—and that the job is extremely volatile.”

This isn’t to suggest that Uehara is overrated or that his contributions are no longer needed, but if one wants to strike a balance between a quick fix and a long-term solution, then dealing Uehara makes sense.

Contending teams are almost always looking for pitching help, and they become even more desperate as the trade deadline approaches. Adding serviceable relievers can often be the difference between success and failure in the playoffs.

And how many postseason games are decided in the later innings? This author has seen more than a few.

Mark Saxon of ESPN Los Angeles (h/t Ben Shapiro of MassLive.com) pointed out a possible buyer in the relief-pitching market via Twitter, suggesting that the Los Angeles Dodgers might be pursuing added bullpen help—namely former Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon. 

But Papelbon has a year remaining on his four-year, $50 million contract—with an option for 2016. While the cash-laden Dodgers have little concern over the price tag, a considerably cheaper move for Uehara seems much easier to pull off. 

The trade package would also appear more amenable from both parties’ standpoints.

As only a matter of speculation, a possible trade-chip commodity is Dodgers’ outfield prospect Joc Pederson.

With a loaded outfield consisting of Matt Kemp, Andre Ethier, Carl Crawford and Yasiel Puig, Pederson’s chances of making the Dodgers’ big league roster appear distant.

In an article on ESPN.com back in November, Saxon pointed out this dilemma even after listing Pederson as the No. 2 prospect in the Dodgers’ farm system.

The Red Sox need outfield help—we know that all too well. Los Angeles has an overload of outfielders, and they want relief pitching, according to Saxon.

This sounds like a plausible trade opportunity. Of course, Boston could be enticed by a possible exchange for veteran outfielder Ethier, who is another rumored target, according to Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe (h/t Marc Normandin of SB Nation).

But why not go after a younger player with incredible upside?

Ethier is 32 years old, and his numbers have fallen considerably from the All-Star caliber stats he posted in 2010 and 2011.

The Dodgers, however, aren’t the lone entity when it comes to a potential trade partner. Other teams certainly come to mind when discussing the acquisition of relief help.

The Detroit Tigers are another contender with bullpen needs; Chris Iott of MLive.com suggests the Tigers will be aggressive when it comes to upgrading this component.

We might as well add Uehara to that discussion as well.

Additionally, teams like the St. Louis Cardinals, San Francisco Giants and Los Angeles Angels are other teams that could possibly be in the same boat.

Any plausible transaction like this begs two questions—will it actually happen and, if so, who will take over the closer’s job in Boston?

Let’s address the second question first.

Lefty Andrew Miller would be the best option to fill the void, in this author’s opinion. He has been as serviceable a reliever as the Red Sox could have hoped for over the past two-plus seasons. Both righties and lefties are batting under .200 against him this year.

Miller is a pending free agent, and the Red Sox would like to keep him into 2015, per Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe. Miller’s current contract is worth a little over $1.9 million, making him a much cheaper commodity than Uehara.

Why not preview what an increased role would do for Miller’s future in Boston?

The bigger question, of course, is whether or not the Red Sox would actually execute this idea. One could make the argument either way.

Cafardo reasons that Boston would like to retain Uehara for just one more season, based on the fact that Uehara has shown no signs of slowing down. Cafardo also points out the obvious—Uehara’s age alone could thwart a potential transaction, and the Red Sox would not be likely to get much in return.

We also know too well that teams get desperate as the playoffs draw closer. Exchanging highly touted prospects for two-month rentals is nothing new.

Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston shares this perspective—he suggests the Red Sox should trade Uehara if they can get something of value in return.

Edes’ statement is essentially our conclusion.

Boston won’t trade Uehara for some mid-range prospect or major league platoon player. The deal would have to be lucrative enough to convince Cherington that it’s the right one to be had.

As we have stated numerous times, however, teams in need of bullpen help at the deadline can be too aggressive—sometimes even overpaying for the talent they want.

From the Red Sox’s perspective, dealing Uehara would not mean conceding the 2014 season: As mentioned, Boston has bullpen options. More importantly, any upside addition to Boston’s beleaguered outfield would be nothing short of a bonus.

In addition, the Red Sox could secure at least something for Uehara if they decide that retaining him for 2015 is no longer worthwhile.

This is more speculation, of course. Trades can be a tricky thing to evaluate. While it is nice to play fantasy GM and swap excess components for the best players out there, the reality is that both teams involved need to come to a mutual agreement.

The complex nature of such agreements is nearly impossible to ascertain, which is why so many trade rumors never materialize.

Still, the Red Sox would be wise to shop Uehara. Given the fragile nature of the closer role, combined with Uehara’s age and contract status, we can deduce that the six-year veteran is not a part of Boston’s long-term plans.

From that vantage point, why not try to get something in return?

All statistics, records and accolades courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com—and contractual information via Cot’s Baseball Contracts—unless otherwise indicated.

Peter Panacy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report covering the Boston Red Sox. Be sure to check out his entire archive for Red Sox news, insight and analysis. Follow him on Twitter @PeterMcShots.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com