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Nine American League teams are still fighting it out for five playoff spots. Anything can happen. Nothing is close to being set in stone. Over in the National League, however, the Dodgers and Braves have all but wrapped up playoff spots while three National League central teams have a pretty good grasp on the others.

Those three—the Cardinals, Pirates and Reds—are still fighting it out for the division title while still trying to not lose focus of two teams within striking distance of the wild-card spots. The D-backs were six games back coming into today, while the Nationals were eight games out. 

The Bucs already made a big move, acquiring right fielder Marlon Byrd and catcher John Buck from the Mets today, per ESPN’s Adam Rubin. Here are five other teams that should follow suit and upgrade their rosters through a waiver trade.

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As of Aug. 23, 15 major league teams either hold a playoff spot or are within seven games of one and could be looking to improve their playoff chances by making a waiver-wire deal in the near future.

Seven August trades have happened thus far:

• The Texas Rangers acquired outfielder Alex Rios from the Chicago White Sox for prospect Leury Garcia.
• The Kansas City Royals picked up utility infielder Jamey Carroll from the Minnesota Twins and utility man Emilio Bonifacio from the Toronto Blue Jays, both for a player to be named later or cash considerations.
• The Tampa Bay Rays acquired lefty Wesley Wright from the Houston Astros for cash considerations.
• The Washington Nationals acquired outfielder David DeJesus from the Chicago Cubs for a player to be named later.
• The Oakland A’s acquired catcher Kurt Suzuki and cash from the Nationals for minor league pitcher Dakota Bacus.
• The Rays acquired outfielder David DeJesus from the Nationals for a player to be named later or cash considerations. 

With plenty of trade possibilities still lingering, here’s all of the latest waiver-trade buzz from around the league.

Will the St. Louis Cardinals Seek a Starting Pitcher?

With Jake Westbrook landing on the disabled list with a strained lower back, the Cardinals are set to go with rookie left-hander Tyler Lyons in his place on Monday. Michael Wacha and Carlos Martinez, two of the better pitching prospects in baseball, are in the bullpen and could also be options down the stretch. 

Ideally, they wouldn’t have to rely on young and inexperienced pitchers, especially during a time of the season when they’re normally done throwing a baseball for awhile—the minor league season ends in early September.

General manager John Mozeliak has said that a waiver-wire acquisition would be difficult, according to Derrick Goold of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch, but that doesn’t mean he’s not looking. Former Cardinal and current Nationals starter Dan Haren has cleared waivers, along with Houston Astros lefty Erik Bedard.

I recently wrote about which of those two would be a better fit for the Texas Rangers with Alexi Ogando landing on the disabled list with a shoulder injury. Westbrook’s disabled-list stint could put St. Louis in the same dilemma. The Cardinals have enough at the top of the rotation but could find it hard to hold onto a playoff spot or at least the more coveted position of going straight to the division series as opposed to a one-game Wild Card. 

Two other veterans who could hit the waiver wire later this month are Los Angeles Angels lefty Jason Vargas and Seatle Mariners lefty Joe Saunders. Both have a high enough salary that it’s likely each would clear waivers or at least drop to a contending team on the waiver wire in need of a starting pitcher.

Late-Inning Relief Options Dwindle with Betancourt Injury 

Colorado Rockies closer Rafael Betancourt (pictured) was activated from the disabled list last Saturday, recorded his first save in over a month on Tuesday, blew a save on Wednesday, was placed on revocable waivers on Thursday, blew another save later that day and then landed back on the disabled list Friday with an elbow injury that could require Tommy John surgery. 

Just like that, a top late-inning option for contending teams is off the board. White Sox right-hander Matt Lindstrom remains the lone reliever who has been reported to have cleared waivers, while there’s a chance several others could join him later this month. 

Of the soon-to-be free-agent relievers on non-contending teams, Milwaukee Brewers lefty Mike Gonzalez, Cubs closer Kevin Gregg, New York Mets closer LaTroy Hawkins and Mariners lefty Oliver Perez are the most likely to draw interest if made available.

Cleveland Indians Exploring Deals on the Waiver Wire

The surprising Indians, who are still hanging around in the playoff race, are considering all options to upgrade their roster down the stretch. According to Paul Hoynes of The Plain Dealer, Indians general manager Chris Antonetti is open to pursuing an upgrade on the waiver wire if the right opportunity presented itself. 

The Tribe could look to upgrade an offense that has a .649 OPS in August with just about every hitter struggling aside from Ryan Raburn (7-for-26, 4 HR), Yan Gomes (.844 OPS in 13 games) and Nick Swisher (.720 OPS in 20 games). 

Adam Dunn of the White Sox and Justin Morneau of the Twins are the biggest-name hitters among those who have cleared waivers, although Dunn’s $15 million salary for 2014 could present an obstacle. If the Mets were to place Marlon Byrd on waivers, he’d be a potential upgrade over light-hitting Drew Stubbs in right field.

The rotation could also use a reinforcement with Scott Kazmir struggling over his past two starts and rookie Danny Salazar already at a career high in innings pitched after several injury-plagued seasons.  
 

Morneau’s Value Rising, but Are Trade Chances Decreasing?

Twins first baseman Justin Morneau (pictured) has already cleared waivers, and he has not cooled off one bit during an August hot streak in which he’s posted a .928 OPS with seven homers and eight multi-hit games. Still, general manager Terry Ryan told Sid Hartman of the Star Tribune that he didn’t see anything happening at this point. 

He didn’t rule out the possibility, of course, but Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports is hearing that money is the biggest obstacle. If that’s the case, the Twins might not be willing to eat enough of Morneau’s remaining salary, which is approximately $3 million. 

The Baltimore Orioles, who have gone with Ryan Flaherty, Steve Pearce, Brian Roberts and Danny Valencia at the designated hitter spot over the past week, still appear to be a fit, as do the Indians. 

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On Tuesday, the Padres placed third baseman Chase Headley on revocable waivers, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. This is probably not big news. But if he passes through unclaimed, it can certainly be.

General manager Josh Byrnes told Lee “Hacksaw” Hamilton of XTRA Sports 1090 in San Diego that he couldn’t comment on the report, which likely indicates that the situation has not come to a conclusion. Headley either hasn’t cleared waivers yet, was claimed and pulled back, or the Padres could be in trade talks with the claiming team. 

With one year remaining of team control, Headley is likely to be placed on the trade block this upcoming offseason. If the Padres can get a good enough package now, though, Headley could finish the season elsewhere and the front office will have a head start on the offseason.

While Headley‘s value has dropped considerably since his huge second half of 2012 (.978 OPS, 23 HR, 73 RBI), or just returned to where it had been throughout his career, he’s still viewed as a solid third baseman who provides terrific defense and the ability to hit 10-15 homers, 30-35 doubles and steal 10-15 bases per season.

The price tag has likely dropped significantly, but that doesn’t mean Headley can be acquired for fringe prospects. It will still take at least one very good prospect to pry the 29-year-old away from San Diego.

Here are two contending teams where Headley could be a fit and two noncontenders who might just try to get a jump on the offseason by acquiring him now.  

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As of Aug. 16, 15 major league teams either hold a playoff spot or are within 8.5 games of one and could be looking to improve their playoff chances by making a waiver-wire deal in the near future.

Four trades have happened thus far.

The Rangers acquired outfielder Alex Rios from the White Sox for prospect Leury Garcia. The Royals picked up utility infielder Jamey Carroll from Minnesota and utilityman Emilio Bonifacio from Toronto, both for a player to be named later or cash considerations. The Rays, meanwhile, acquired lefty Wesley Wright from the Astros for cash considerations. 

With plenty of trade possibilities still lingering, here’s all the latest waiver-trade buzz from around the league.

Dan Haren Clears Waivers Amid Return to Top Form

After it was reported that Nationals right-hander Dan Haren was placed on waivers last week, I wrote that he had a good chance of clearing because of his salary and early-season struggles. Still, he could draw interest because of how well he had been pitching of late.

A week later, the 32-year-old has officially cleared waivers. He has made two more terrific starts, giving him a 2.30 ERA with only 29 hits allowed, 10 walks and 42 strikeouts in his last 43 innings since returning from the disabled list (seven starts). Haren was on the verge of being released before he turned things around. 

The 59-61 Nationals don’t have a ton of starting pitching depth to fill Haren’s spot. That said, I’m certain they’d fill the gap with whatever journeyman they can find off the Triple-A scrap heap if a team is willing to eat Haren’s remaining salary (approximately $3.25 million) and offer up a midlevel prospect. 

For a team like the Dodgers, who could use an upgrade at the back of the rotation after Chris Capuano got knocked around in his last two starts, or the Indians, who are just 3.5 games out of a playoff spot, Haren could be a nice pickup down the stretch.

A reunion with the Oakland A’s, who he played with from 2005-2007, could also make sense. 

Who Needs Justin Morneau? 

As expected, Twins first baseman and former AL MVP Justin Morneau (pictured) has cleared waivers. Now the Twins will try to find the best deal for the 32-year-old and decide if it’s worth trading him away unceremoniously after 11 mostly very good seasons with the team.

If his August numbers are any indication, the acquiring team would be getting Morneau at just the right time. He is 18-for-66 with six homers, four doubles and 15 RBI this month. He had a .712 OPS with eight homers in 98 games prior to this current hot streak.

The Rays could be interested in acquiring another bat, but Marc Topkin of the Tampa Bay Times tweeted that a right-handed hitter such as Paul Konerko, who was placed on waivers a few days ago, or Delmon Young, who became a free agent recently, would make more sense. 

A team that could be the best match is Baltimore, which has been going with rookie Henry Urrutia (.612 OPS, 0 BB, 9 K in 21 games) at the designated hitter spot. Wilson Betemit, who is due back soon from the disabled list, will likely take over for Urrutia, but a red-hot Morneau down the stretch might be preferred. 

Of the National League contenders, the Pirates could move Garrett Jones to right field if newly promoted rookie Andrew Lambo doesn’t produce right away, opening up first base for Morneau. Lambo, who had 31 homers between Double-A and Triple-A, is 1-for-8 with a double since his call-up.

Astros Could Deal Lone Veteran Remaining

The Astros have one player left on their roster making at least $1 million this season, and there’s a good chance that the number becomes zero before the end of the month. Lefty Erik Bedard (pictured), who signed a one-year, $1.15 million deal this past offseason, has pitched well enough to draw some trade interest. 

In the same tweet mentioning that Haren passed through waivers unclaimed, Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported that the 34-year-old Bedard had also cleared. Prior to a rough outing on Thursday, Bedard had a 3.56 ERA with 42 walks and 82 strikeouts in his last 93.2 innings pitched. 

The Rangers, who could be without Alexi Ogando if he’s forced to miss time with an inflamed nerve in his shoulder, could be interested in Bedard. They’ve already completed one deal with Houston this month, acquiring non-roster lefty Travis Blackley for cash considerations.

Since the start of the season, the Astros have traded away three of four players making a seven-figure salary in 2013.

Bud Norris ($3 million) was traded to Baltimore, Jose Veras ($1.85 million) was dealt to Detroit and Wesley Wright ($1 million) went to Tampa Bay. Catcher Jason Castro, who will be arbitration eligible for the first time this offseason, is currently projected to be the team’s highest-paid player in 2014.

Braves Seek Second Base Help 

With Dan Uggla out at least another 12 days recovering from LASIK eye surgery and Tyler Pastornicky out for the season with a torn knee ligament, Mark Bowman of MLB.com is reporting that the Braves are searching the waiver wire for some second base help. 

The potential list of options has thinned out greatly over the past couple of weeks, however.

The Royals recently acquired two backup types, Jamey Carroll and Emilio Bonifacio, who could play second base. Chase Utley agreed to a contract extension with the Phillies. Rickie Weeks, meanwhile, suffered a season-ending hamstring injury.

If it’s just temporary help they’re seeking, there are a few options readily available that could be an upgrade over Paul Janish and Phil Gosselin.

One intriguing match could be Brendan Ryan (pictured) of the Mariners, who has already cleared waivers. He would allow the Braves to put two of the best defensive shortstops in baseball on the field at the same time. Andrelton Simmons is already considered by many to be the top defender in baseball. Ryan has also been a popular choice in recent years.

The 31-year-old Ryan hasn’t played second base since 2009, though, and he hasn’t hit at all this season. It might not be worth the trouble to acquire him unless they believe he’s an upgrade over Janish as the starter now and as Uggla’s backup when he returns. 

They have such a big lead in the division that acquiring temporary help is nearly pointless otherwise. 

Elvis Andrus Clearing Waivers Is Not Big News 

Teams don’t have to place a player on waivers, so it’s probably worth mentioning whenever any player is. But in most cases, they like to keep their options open just in case a team approaches them with an offer they can’t refuse. 

So when a big name like Elvis Andrus (pictured) passes through waivers, we shouldn’t completely write it off as totally irrelevant. But it’s pretty close.

It’s doubtful that the 24-year-old, who already has two All-Star selections on his resume, is going anywhere. The fact that his contract will pay him either $14 million or $15 million per season from 2015-2022, combined with his poor season at the plate, ensured he wasn’t getting claimed.

The Rangers do employ the top prospect in baseball, shortstop Jurickson Profar, who is already in the majors and could probably give the team more offense than Andrus right now. But even if they wanted to trade Andrus, and they had teams interested in acquiring him and his contract, they’d be selling low on a very talented player whom they expected big things from now and in the future. 

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This may or may not be big news but Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins has cleared waivers. It doesn’t mean a thing if he’s not willing to waive his no-trade clause, which Rollins told the Phillies he had no intention of doing, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports. 

But since it’s not uncommon for a player to change his mind, especially when he knows his current team is actively trying to trade him to a top contender. The current state of the Phillies could also be a concern for Rollins, who is under contract for $11 million next season with an $11 million vesting option for 2015. 

The team has not committed to a youth movement, but barring a strong offseason by general manager Ruben Amaro Jr., the Phillies could once again struggle in 2014.

The 34-year-old could possibly use his no-trade clause as leverage to get his vesting option guaranteed. It should be noted, though, that he’s not having a very good season (.660 OPS, 5 HR, 15 SB) and any team acquiring him would be hoping a change of scenery and a jump in the standings can get him going again. 

At the least, a team would be acquiring a clubhouse leader with plenty of postseason experience to help down the stretch. Here are four contending teams, three from the same division, that are most in need of an upgrade at shortstop. 

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The first big move of August was made today with the Rangers acquiring outfielder Alex Rios from the White Sox, as was first reported by Dan Hayes of CSN Chicago. After the two teams failed to agree on a deal at the trade deadline, the Rangers were awarded a waiver claim on Rios yesterday, and the deal came together shortly after Jim Bowden of ESPN and T.R. Sullivan of MLB.com reported that a deal was unlikely to happen. 

But the White Sox’s asking price appears to have dropped. While they were interested in top prospects such as infielder Rougned Odor and pitchers Luke Jackson and Martin Perez last month, according to Sullivan, they are reportedly settling for Leury Garcia as the player to be named later, along with $1 million. They’ll also save an estimated $18 million in salary (approximately $4 million remaining in 2013, $13 million in 2014, $1 million buyout on 2015 club option).

Garcia, 22, has plus speed and strong defensive skills but he’s nowhere near the aforementioned players in potential. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports tweeted a report he received from a scout, saying Garcia had Rafael Furcal potential but was most likely to become a solid regular. At worst, he’d be a utilityman in the majors.  

Ironically, the trade opens up the door for another Garcia recently acquired by the White Sox. Avisail Garcia, acquired from Detroit in the Jake Peavy trade, has been called up to take Rios’ starting spot in right field. 

Adam Dunn Clears Waivers

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported earlier today that Adam Dunn (pictured) cleared waivers, which is no surprise considering his $15 million salary in 2014 and his decline in overall production over the past few seasons. And after dealing away Rios, the White Sox might not want to subtract any more firepower from their lineup. 

But the 33-year-old has a .946 OPS over his past 55 games with 14 homers and 39 runs batted in and his value could be on the rise with a few contenders still in need of some power. He has started just nine games in the outfield since 2009 so he is likely limited to first base and the designated hitter spot and will fit best on an American League club. 

I recently named the Orioles as a possible fit, and the Rangers might not be done adding to their offense if Lance Berkman cannot return soon from hip and knee injuries. The Indians, who designated Mark Reynolds for assignment yesterday, could be an interesting match, although the Sox would likely have to pick up a good portion of Dunn’s remaining contract. 

Marlon Byrd Could Draw Interest

While the Mets surprisingly held on to outfielder Marlon Byrd (pictured) at the trade deadline, interest could pick up again if he’s placed on waivers. Heyman tweeted that the Orioles, Royals, A’s and Rangers all had interest last month.  

The 35-year-old, who is having a terrific season with an .821 OPS and 17 homers, isn’t likely to clear waivers since he’ll be owed just a couple hundred thousand dollars in salary. Most contenders would put in a claim at that price. Thus, any deal would likely happen with the first National League team to put in a claim.

The Diamondbacks and Reds might be the first contenders in line on the waiver wire, although there isn’t a desperate need for a starting outfielder on either club. For such little risk, though, it’s worth blocking him or even trying to strike a deal to bring him on as a backup. 

Dan Haren a Trade Candidate? 

Nationals right-hander Dan Haren (pictured) is on waivers, according to Danny Knobler of CBS Sports, and he has a decent chance of passing through unclaimed because of the estimated $3.6 million he’s due for the remainder of the season. 

Interest would’ve been mild a month ago when he had an ERA over 6.00 and was on the disabled list with shoulder stiffness. But he appears to be back to his old form since his return, posting a 2.40 ERA with eight walks and 32 strikeouts in 30 innings over five starts. 

After four consecutive losses, the Nats are nine back in the wild-card race, and they’ll likely be open to moving the 32-year-old Haren. The Braves, Indians and A’s, who were among the teams in the mix for starting pitching help at the deadline, could have interest.

Could Mark Reynolds or Delmon Young Help a Contender?

Two players recently designated for assignment, Mark Reynolds of the Indians and Delmon Young (pictured) of the Phillies, are a bit more interesting than most names that usually pop up on the DFA list, which removes a player from the 40-man roster and allows a team 10 days to either trade, place on waivers, outright to the minors or release that player. 

Both players deserved to be cut—Reynolds had a .551 OPS over his last 73 games; Young had an overall .699 OPS in 80 games—but they’re also capable of putting up big numbers over the course of several weeks. 

Contending teams looking to catch lightning in a bottle don’t have to look further than Reynolds’ first 31 games of the season, when he hit .291 with 11 homers and 29 runs batted in. The 27-year-old Young had a strong month of June (.830 OPS), but it’s his success in the postseason (.859 OPS, 8 HR, 15 RBI in 28 games) that should land him a job late in the season. 

The duo’s ability to succeed against left-handed pitching (Reynolds has a career .843 OPS vs LHP; Young has a career .820 OPS vs LHP) should also ensure that there will be interest, although it’s a long shot that any team would trade for either player while taking on much salary and/or giving up any prospect of value. Don’t expect either to be out of a job very long, though. 

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We’ve officially reached the post-trade deadline hangover stage. It wasn’t as exciting as we had hoped, but fortunately, trades can still be made.

Things are quiet at the moment, however. Teams will take a breath, regroup and start putting a plan in place for the August waiver period.

The plan usually starts with a team placing players on revocable waivers with the purpose of either possibly trading them later in the month if they pass through waivers unclaimed, pulling them back off of waivers if claimed or working out a deal with the team awarded the claim. 

August Trade Candidates

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe tweeted that Marlins third baseman Placido Polanco, Blue Jays outfielder Melky Cabrera and Brewers reliever Mike Gonzalez (pictured) were among those already put on waivers. You can bet that Polanco, who is just not very productive anymore, and Cabrera, whose value had taken a steep decline even before a recent knee injury landed him on the disabled list, will go unclaimed.

Gonzalez, on the other hand, has value as a left-hander with late-inning experience, a solid strikeout rate (47 K in 39.1 IP) and a reasonable salary (due less than $1 million for remainder of season). The Indians, Reds and Cardinals could all have interest. 

As for some bigger names, Ben Nicholson-Smith of Sportsnet.ca speculates on 10 who could switch teams this month.

Because of their massive contracts, Phillies pitchers Cliff Lee and Jonathan Papelbon could clear waivers and be shopped. General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. didn’t appear motivated to move them last month with his team nowhere near playoff contention, however, so it’s unclear if he has any reason to move them in August. 

The Red Sox are one of the few teams who have the prospects and the payroll space to acquire either player. But since they already acquired Jake Peavy, Lee makes little sense. And with Koji Uehara (15.1 IP, 0 ER, 5 H, BB, 21 K, 5 Sv in July) thriving in the closer’s role, adding a closer is probably not a priority. 

Royals Still Looking to Add

Kansas City Royals general manager Dayton Moore, despite making just one minor acquisition (outfielder Justin Maxwell) at the trade deadline, says he’ll continue to for ways to improve his ballclub, according to Dick Kaegel of MLB.com.

Their biggest need might be at second base, which is why they’d been mentioned in rumors with just about every second baseman who might be available.

While it’s difficult to see Chase Utley, Howie Kendrick or Gordon Beckham getting through waivers, it’s a good possibility that Rickie Weeks (pictured) of the Brewers goes unclaimed.

There is risk because of his $11 million salary in 2014 and his extended slumps over the past two seasons, but the Royals could catch lightning in a bottle with Weeks, who hit .355 with five homers in June and also finished strong in 2012 after a terrible start. 

NL East Teams Searching for Bench Help

While they couldn’t find a match before the deadline, the Braves will continue to try and add a left-handed bat for the bench and a backup infielder, according to Carroll Rogers of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution.

Emilio Bonifacio of the Blue Jays, Omar Quintanilla of the Mets and Mariners shortstop Brendan Ryan are among those who could fill the backup infielder role.

One player who could fill both voids would be Luis Valbuena (pictured), if the Cubs were to make him available. Mark Kotsay of the Padres and Greg Dobbs of the Marlins could fit the need for a left-handed bat off the bench. 

Another NL East team, the Washington Nationals, are also looking around for bench help, according to Bill Ladson on MLB.com. Although they’re 11.5 out in the division, they’re still within striking distance of a wild-card spot (6.5 games back). President of baseball operations Mike Rizzo thinks they have the talent on their 25-man roster to be a very good team down the stretch.

Rookie second baseman Anthony Rendon is struggling with only seven hits in his last 57 at-bats. The Nats could send him back to the minors and give Stephen Lombardozzi more playing time, which is where a backup infielder would be a fit. Scott Hairston is also just 2-for-18 since being acquired from the Cubs a few weeks back. 

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If the trade deadline seemed quieter than in years past, it’s because it was. Only 61 players, not including a few players-to-be-named-later and some draft picks, were traded in the month of July compared to 100 in 2012 and 87 in 2011. 

A shallow trade market for hitters complicated things, as well as high asking prices from non-contenders and several teams on the cusp of playoff contention not yet ready to give up. Some non-moves were questionable—I put together a list of my top eight yesterday—and we’re still trying to gather all the answers as to why the lack of trade activity. 

For now, here are four things that we can take away from this year’s trade deadline.

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Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline is at 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, and the Chicago Cubs have been mighty busy.

The Cubs find themselves once again on the bottom of the pile this season, holding a 48-57 record and sitting 15 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the NL Central lead.

Naturally, with Chicago well out of the playoff race, the Cubs are looking to deal more proven players for young prospects to build around.

Here’s the latest buzz circulating around Wrigley Field as the trade deadline approaches.

Nate Schierholtz on the Move?

Outfielder Nate Schierholtz is having a career year in his first season with the Cubs, hitting .274 with 14 home runs, 43 RBI and 40 runs while batting .286 with runners in scoring position.

Buster Olney of ESPN reported on Tuesday:

On Monday, Jesse Rogers of ESPN Chicago reported that Schierholtz was “most likely” the next Cub to be moved before Wednesday’s deadline. The Texas Rangers, as well as “two or three other teams,” are reportedly interested in the 29-year-old lefty. 

Schierholtz is 11-for-36 (.306) in his last 11 games. He also is known as a good fielder, ranked eighth in fielding percentage among all eligible right fielders, per ESPN.com.

Cubs in the Market for Right-hander Ian Kennedy?

Just because the Cubs are bottom-feeders this season doesn’t mean they aren’t looking to acquire some veteran pieces.

According to Buster Olney of ESPN, the Cubs could be in the market for Arizona Diamondbacks right-hander Ian Kennedy.

Olney tweeted on Tuesday:

To say Kennedy has struggled this season would be an understatement. His ERA of 5.28 ranks fourth-worst among all eligible pitchers in baseball. Only 13 eligible pitchers have posted a worse WHIP than the 28-year-old. He’s also 3-7 on the season.

Then again, Kennedy is relatively cheap ($4.3 million salary this season), and he’s not due to become a free agent until after the 2015 season. 

Also, Kennedy does have a history of success in the majors, going 21-4 with a 2.88 ERA, 1.09 WHIP and 198 strikeouts in 222 innings pitched (33 starts) in 2011.

Will Cubs Deal Right-hander Jeff Samardzija?

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, the Cubs are dangling right-hander Jeff Samardzija in front of teams, but it’s likely going to take a lot to nab the 28-year-old from northern Indiana.

The Cubs are reportedly telling interested parties that if they want Samardzija, then the Cubs get to “take whatever they want,” per Heyman.

Samardzija has posted a 3.75 ERA, 1.28 WHIP and 146 strikeouts in 144 innings pitched (22 starts) this season.

The sixth-year veteran reportedly has yet to show much interest in signing a long-term deal with the Cubs as he looks ahead to free agency after the 2016 season. But it will still probably take quite the bundle to wrestle him away from Chicago.

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com noted on Tuesday that Schierholtz is one of the most likely Cubs to get dealt, while there is “just about zero chance” that Samardzija is sent packing.

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As the 2013 MLB trade deadline approaches, one of the players most commonly associated with a potential trade is Houston Astros pitcher Bud Norris. As a strong right-handed starter who can contribute in the middle of a rotation, Norris certainly could attract a contender.

The question is, where might he up and how would he fit?

According to Brian McTaggart of MLB.com, three teams have been identified as potential suitors. Those teams are the Arizona Diamondbacks, Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates, who all have postseason dreams and a need for pitching.

Per Jeff Passan of CBS Sports, Norris won’t be in Houston for much longer.

McTaggart reports that Norris has been scratched from his start on Tuesday, July 30.

It’s hardly surprising that Houston, a team far from postseason contention, would be willing to move a quality pitcher in his prime. Thus far in 2013, the 28-year-old is 6-9 with a 3.93 ERA and 90 strikeouts in 21 appearances.

The belief around the league, however, is that Norris will see significantly better results with an upgraded defense and more run support—something each of the teams interested in him would provide.

Arizona Diamondbacks

W-L Record: 54-51 (2nd in NL West)

It’s no secret that the Diamondbacks are looking to add arms. Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston reports that they’re the front-runners to land Jake Peavy. Should that plan fall through, however, Arizona’s commitment to pursuing Norris makes a powerful statement.

The Diamondbacks are not satisfied with the aces they already have and believe they can make a real push for the postseason—and they can.

Arizona is led by 24-year-old All-Star Patrick Corbin, who is 12-2 with an ERA of 2.24, a WHIP of 0.99 and 123 strikeouts. Behind the lefty is Wade Miley, who is 7-8 with a 3.86 ERA, having lowered that number in nine of his past 11 starts.

Beyond them, there really isn’t much to say.

Trevor Cahill is injured, but even if he does return, he’d bring a record of 3-10 with a 4.66 ERA to the table. Ian Kennedy, who won 36 combined games in 2011 and 2012, is 3-7 with a dreadful 5.35 ERA.

Even still, Arizona is within 2.5 games of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

Norris may not fare much better than Miley, but if he’s able to add a stabilizing arm in front of Cahill and Kennedy, Arizona would reap the benefits. Paul Goldschmidt is playing at a superstar level offensively, and the Diamondbacks’ bullpen has lethal arms.

It wouldn’t be a World Series clincher, but adding Norris would be a major step in the right direction.

Baltimore Orioles

W-L Record: 58-48 (3rd in AL East)

The Orioles have the tall task of chasing the hottest teams in baseball as the Boston Red Sox and Tampa Bay Rays trade the AL East lead. As the most powerful team in baseball—Baltimore ranks No. 1 with a .443 slugging percentage—they certainly have a way to get back into the race.

It’s all about adding reliable arms to a less-than-dependable rotation.

The Orioles are 20th or worse in quality starts, WHIP, opponent batting average and team ERA. Wei-Yin Chen, Chris Tillman and Miguel Gonzalez have been very strong for Baltimore, but no other player with at least five starts has an ERA lower than 5.12.

That’s what you call urgency.

Norris would be a welcome addition. His ERA would float somewhere between 3.70 and 4.00. That may not be an elite number, but it’s a substantial upgrade over what Baltimore currently puts forth.

Optimism tells us Norris may actually improve with a move to the AL East, as Baltimore’s defense would offer far more support than Houston’s.

The key here is that Baltimore has a core of Chris Davis, Adam Jones, Manny Machado and Nick Markakis to support Norris. Even when a game gets out of hand, the Orioles can get back into it with their bats.

That would offer a form of confidence that Norris hasn’t felt in quite some time.

Pittsburgh Pirates

W-L Record: 62-42 (2nd in NL Central)

If the season ended yesterday, the Pirates would earn a wild-card spot in the 2013 MLB playoffs. They’re tied for the most wins in the National League, sitting just .5 games behind the division-leading St. Louis Cardinals.

Did we mention that Pittsburgh has turned some of the most inconsistent arms in MLB into the most dominant pitching staff in baseball? Their rankings of No. 1 in team ERA and opponent batting average supports that statement.

Why can’t Norris be the next player to break out in Pittsburgh?

The Pirates are led by a veteran cast of A.J. Burnett, Francisco Liriano and Wandy Rodriguez, along with 25-year-old breakout star Jeff Jocke. Those names suggest bottom-10 potential, but pitching coach Ray Searage has worked absolute magic.

With Jason Grilli converting 30 saves in 31 opportunities, this team truly is the all-unbelievable team.

It’s worth noting that Norris has posted a 2.33 ERA at PNC Park since 2011, playing his division rival multiple times per year. It’s also important to factor in that Norris was teammates with Rodriguez for three-and-a-half seasons and Mark Melancon for one-and-a-half.

It’s unclear where Norris will end up, but Pittsburgh certainly sounds like the most ideal destination.

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