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The Cincinnati Reds were strong out of the gate after the All-Star break with a 6-2 record and a +25 run differential during that stretch. However, the Reds have since stalled at 59 wins on the season and they’re currently in the midst of a four-game losing streak.

As of July 29, Cincinnati is five games back of the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central division. With the non-waiver trade deadline set for 4 p.m. ET on Wednesday, July 31st, it’s time for America’s oldest professional team to test the trade market. 

MLB.com’s Mark Sheldon wrote that the Reds aren’t likely to be major players at the trade deadline. He wrote that a combination of the expected return of key role players from the disabled list, budget limitations and a lack of top prospects will contribute to Cincinnati’s “quiet” trade deadline. In an interview with Sheldon, Cincinnati’s GM Walt Jocketty said that the Reds have not engaged in serious trade talk with other teams.

If we do acquire a right-handed bat, what do we do with Ludwick when he gets back? If there is somebody available that can definitely help the club, we’ll certainly take a look. To this point, we haven’t had any conversations with a club that indicated that.

The Reds could potentially trade for a right-handed hitter or a pitcher to improve their bullpen. However, with all of the key contributors expected to return from the DL in the second half of the season, Cincinnati is unlikely to make a trade at the deadline. 

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The Pittsburgh Pirates trail the St. Louis Cardinals by just half a game in the National League Central and they have a 4.5-game lead over the Cincinnati Reds in the NL Wild Card race. The Bucs have every right to be thinking big down the stretch.

With those high hopes comes the reality that the team must seriously consider tightening up the roster for the final two months of the season.

Pittsburgh has been active on the rumor scene and deals could be coming soon. Here’s a look at the latest news:

Alex Rios Could Be the Right Fit

David Kaplan of CSN Chicago tweeted that the Bucs and Chicago White Sox are seemingly getting close to a deal that would land Alex Rios in Pittsburgh.

Rios has a no-trade clause but is apparently willing to waive it to play for the Pirates. He is having a very solid season for a bad White Sox team. He’s hitting .272 with 12 home runs, 49 RBI and he’s also stolen 22 bases.

Rios would be a definite upgrade over the young Jose Tabata in right field.

A Pirates outfield of Starling Marte, Andrew McCutchen and Rios would be solid. We’ll see if the Bucs and White Sox can close the deal.

Giancarlo Stanton Is a Long Shot

While Rios may be the more practical option for the Pirates, the team is apparently still sending out feelers on a player who could make a bigger splash down the road.

Per Joel Sherman of the New York Post, the Pirates are among the teams that have been regularly checking on the availability of Giancarlo Stanton from the Miami Marlins.

Up to now they have been turned away, but a change of scenery could ignite Stanton’s bat. He’s struggled this year in a lineup that has been monumentally horrible. He’s hitting .262 with 13 home runs this year, but at 23 years old, Stanton still looks like he’ll be one of the majors’ premier power hitters over the next 10 years.

Prying Stanton away from the budget-conscious Marlins is worth exploring.

Bud Norris Could Be On the Way

It seems as though the Houston Astros are close to dealing starting pitcher Bud Norris. Per Dayn Perry of CBS Sports, Norris has been scratched from his scheduled start.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports tweets he expects Norris to be moved soon and names the Pirates as a likely landing spot.

The 28-year-old is only 6-9 with an ERA of 3.93, but in a pitching-starved market, he’s become a fairly hot commodity. If the Pirates can walk away with Rios and Norris, they will have strengthened their ballclub.

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With the July 31 MLB trade deadline just a day away, the time is now for the biggest names that have been floating through the rumor mill to be dealt. 

More and more teams are reportedly becoming involved in the arms race as they prepare to make a run at the playoffs this season. 

With names like Jake Peavy, Cliff Lee and Hunter Pence all rumored to be wearing different jerseys in the near future, there’s sure to be a competitive market for each. However, their respective teams will have to decide if they really want to part with their proven commodities in favor of young prospects. 

Here’s a look at the latest on Peavy, Lee and Pence with a predicted destination for each. 

Peavy Scratched from Start; Red Sox, D-Backs among Interested Teams

As if there weren’t enough indications that the White Sox were trading Peavy, Tom Withers of the Associated Press reports that the 32-year-old has been scratched from his start against the Indians on Tuesday. 

Peavy’s start will be pushed to Wednesday in the event that he’s not traded, but that just doesn’t seem likely at this point. According to Sean McAdam of Comcast Sports Net, up to four teams are interested in acquiring the ace and the team is lowering its asking price. 

Despite previous reports, including this one from Bob Nightengale of USA Today, that the Arizona Diamondbacks were no longer interested in Peavy, Gordon Edes of ESPN Boston has since reported that the Diamondbacks are now the favorite to land him:

With Brandon McCarthy and Trevor Cahill set to return to the mound, the Diamondbacks should have added incentive to bring on Peavy. As CBS Boston points out, Arizona GM Kevin Towers should be familiar with Peavy, since he drafted him in 1999 with the San Diego Padres. 

A rotation featuring McCarthy, Cahill and Peavy, who has an ERA of 4.28 and a record of 8-4 with the fledgling White Sox this year, would be a huge boost to their quest to make up 2.5 games in the NL West. 

Prediction: Arizona Diamondbacks

Boston Red Sox Eyeing Lee

Sporting an ERA of 3.05 and record of 10-4 on the 49-56 Phillies, Lee is one of the best starting pitchers available on the market. 

Engaged in an intense three-way race between the Tampa Bay Rays and New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox are in need of an ace to give themselves a leg up on the competition to close out the year. 

According to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, Lee could be just the man the Red Sox are looking to add at the deadline. 

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reports that the Braves, Cardinals, Orioles and Athletics are all teams that are interested in adding top-flight pitchers. However, the Red Sox appear to have about 10 prospects at their disposal to include in the deal. 

With the Red Sox’s history of spending to win and plenty of prospects to deal, they have to be the favorites to land the lefty. 

Prediction: Boston Red Sox

Reds, Yankees Inquire About Pence

The San Francisco Giants acquired Hunter Pence at the trade deadline last season and he ended up being an instrumental part of their World Series run. Now, it appears there are teams that would like to see if he can help out with another postseason push. 

According to Heyman, the Cincinnati Reds and New York Yankees have both looked into bringing the outfielder into the fold. 

Both clubs could certainly use him. He’s hitting .277 with 14 home runs and 51 RBI this season and brings a lot to the table defensively in the outfield. He’s also a great presence in the clubhouse.

As Heyman points out, the Rangers and Pirates have also shown interest in Pence. However, the Giants have a high price tag on him. Alex Rios and Nate Schierholtz are the top outfielders on the market. 

Of all the potential trade targets floating around right now, Pence seems like one of the most likely to stay put. The Giants might be asking too much for a player that is not one of the best available at his position. 

Prediction: San Francisco Giants

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The Philadelphia Phillies have to trade Michael Young. 

They just called up elite prospect Cody Asche, who just so happens to play third base, Young’s primary position in Philly. And you don’t bring up a guy like Asche—.295/.352/.485 with 15 homers, 68 RBI and 11 steals in Triple-A this year—if he’s not going to play full time. 

The Phillies have lost eight in a row, dropping them to 49-56 on the season, 11.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and even further out in the wild-card race. They have fallen into seller’s territory.

And Young, who becomes a free agent after the season, has no real future in Philadelphia and could potentially bring a mid-level prospect back in return, is the perfect player to sell. 

There’s no reason not to trade him. 

Unfortunately for the Phils, Young has a no-trade clause in his contract, giving him all of the leverage in the situation. Moreover, according to FOX Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, the former Texas Ranger (not that Texas Ranger) is planning on using every bit of that leverage:

It was reported a few days by MLB.com’s T.R. Sullivan that a Young-to-the-Rangers deal was “not going to happen,” but with this news, why wouldn’t Jon Daniels at least make an inquiry? 

Young, who spent his first 13 seasons with the Rangers, is a fan favorite in Arlington. He has a home there, his family there and is undeniably comfortable playing there. 

Is the 36-year-old the player he used to be? Absolutely not. He’s hitting .277/.342/.402/.743, and defensively is a far cry from the Gold Glover he was in 2008. Still, he would serve as an upgrade over the Rangers’ current DH situation, per the Fort Worth Star-Telegram‘s Jeff Wilson:

For a team that is six games behind the Oakland Athletics in the AL West, adding Young would be the type of low-key move capable of making a significant difference.

Which is bad news for the Phillies. 

The Rangers could offer as little as they wanted, and if Young’s ultimatum is true, the Phils have two choices: accept the offer or lose Young in the offseason for nothing. 

The Rangers could offer a turkey sandwich, and the Phils would be inclined to take it (although that’s neither here nor there because turkey sandwiches are awesome). 

That being said, there could be a little leeway, according to the New York Post‘s Joel Sherman:

It will still be tough to get top dollar for Young, but adding the Boston Red Sox to the mix would at least give Ruben Amaro, Jr. a little bit of the leverage back. 

Nevertheless, the Phillies are in a difficult situation as the trade deadline approaches and the options—Young either sits behind Asche or is traded for pennies on the dollar—are continuing to dwindle quickly. 

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The Philadelphia Phillies have lost eight games in a row. They have slipped to 11.5 games behind the Atlanta Braves in the National League East. There’s no question, then, they should be in selling mode.

Teams around the majors still in contention have begun to inquire about the availability of a few Phillies players, since there are still several talented players throughout the roster that can help some good teams get over the hump and make a serious postseason push.

Here’s the latest on those players who Philly might consider dealing before the deadline.

Cliff Lee Is Coveted

Per Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, Cliff Lee is on the wish list of a few contenders, but the Boston Red Sox may be at the front of the pack. He’s owed $70 million through 2015, which includes a $12.5 million buyout for 2016.

It is clear to see why teams fancy Lee. He’s 10-4 this season with an ERA of 3.05. He’s pitched over 200 innings each of the last three seasons and is on pace to equal that again this season.

Perhaps more appealing is Lee’s stellar work in the postseason. Even with an uncharacteristically bad postseason showing in 2011, Lee is still 7-3 with an ERA of 2.52 in the second season.

These qualities may even have the Phillies considering holding on to Lee for another run next year. MLB.com’s Todd Zolecki tweeted:

With information flying in all directions, it’s anyone’s guess what happens with Lee at this point. But one thing is for sure: if Lee does get moved, Philadelphia would like see a huge return.

Michael Young’s No-Trade Clause Is a Major Hurdle

Even if the Phillies desperately wanted to move Young, his no-trade clause is an issue. Per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports and Joel Sherman of the New York Post, Young is only willing to go back to the Texas Rangers or possibly to the Boston Red Sox.

That significantly handicaps the Phillies in a deal, thus it seems unlikely Young moves on—unless he has a change of heart.

The veteran infielder is having another steady season at the plate, and without many quality third basemen available, Young’s situation is going to be a key storyline through Wednesday.

Kevin Frandsen Drawing Interest

The Kansas City Royals have won six in a row, and that surge may have them thinking wild card. Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports that the Royals may have some interest in Frandsen to play second base.

He’s hitting .280 with three home runs in 118 at-bats this season.

The Royals are now at .500, and while a run at the wild card still seems a bit of a long shot, Frandsen could be an upgrade at second over Chris Getz who is hitting .209 this season.

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Major League Baseball’s trade deadline is just a day away, as numerous top names continue to float around on the market.

Whether it be a veteran right-hander or an outfielder who has been selected as an All-Star twice, there is still some notable talent lingering around the diamond.

So, as contenders look to contend and pretenders unload solid players for young prospects, here’s a look at the latest rumors in baseball, complete with analysis.

Jake Peavy Headed to the Diamondbacks?

As teams go after four-time All-Star and 2007 Cy Young Award winner Jake Peavy this summer, the Arizona Diamondbacks have reportedly emerged as the front-runner for the 32-year-old’s services, according to Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com.

Edes tweeted on Tuesday:

Peter Gammons tweeted on Monday:

Peavy has gone 8-4 with a 4.28 ERA and 1.14 WHIP, while notching 76 strikeouts in 80 innings pitched this season (13 starts). On the other hand, he missed time this season with a left rib fracture, and he’s allowed four earned runs or more in three of his past four starts dating back to May 30 against the Chicago Cubs.

The veteran right-hander posted a 3.37 ERA with a 1.10 WHIP and 194 strikeouts in 219 innings (32 starts) last season. He pitched four complete games, including one shutout.

The Diamondbacks rank 16th in baseball in starters’ ERA this season (3.97). They are 54-51, 2.5 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers for the NL West lead. They are 4-6 since the All-Star break.

Astros Placing Heavy Price Tag on Bud Norris?

According to one scout, the Houston Astros “want a package that begins with a top prospect” for 28-year-old right-hander Bud Norris, per Joel Sherman of the New York Post.

Norris has posted a 3.93 ERA, 1.41 WHIP and 90 strikeouts in 126 innings (21 starts) this season. For his career, he’s registered a 4.33 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP.

On the other hand, Norris is due only $3 million this season and he doesn’t become a free agent until after the 2015 campaign.

Several teams have been linked to Norris, including the Baltimore Orioles and Pittsburgh Pirates. 

Will Giants Trade Hunter Pence?

The New York Yankees, Cincinnati Reds, Texas Rangers and Pittsburgh Pirates are interested in San Francisco Giants outfielder Hunter Pence, according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

The Giants reportedly want to re-sign Pence—who becomes a free agent after the season—but they may be convinced to deal him for the right return, according to Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.

Rosenthal tweeted on Saturday:

The two-time All-Star is batting .277 with 14 home runs, 51 RBI, 55 runs and 14 stolen bases in 2013. He’s making $13.8 million this season.

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Philadelphia Phillies infielder Michael Young may be dealt at any moment, but the veteran’s destination is unclear.

A move appears imminent, though, as the Phillies announced Tuesday afternoon that the team was promoting Cody Asche from Triple-A Lehigh Valley. Asche isn’t getting the call to sit on the bench, as Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer thinks he’ll be starting, and if Young stays past tomorrow, he’ll be the backup.

Young is hitting .277/.342/.402 with seven home runs and 32 RBI through 98 games for the Phillies this year. He can play any infield position and could serve as a designated hitter as well. All signs point to him playing for an American League contender for the last two months of the season.

If the Phillies are planning on trading Young in the next few hours—or just before Major League Baseball’s deadline tomorrow at 4 p.m. ET—Joel Sherman of the New York Post reports that he isn’t going to be headed to the Bronx:

If not New York, then where will Young be playing for the rest of the 2013 season? Well, he has a full no-trade clause in his contract, and that makes things a little bit tricky. But by calling up Asche, the Phillies may now have some leverage on the veteran. He might rather be traded than sit on the bench going forward.

Let’s examine two of the potential destinations for Young.

Texas Rangers

Young played for the Rangers from 2000 through last season, and it seems likely that he’d be open to returning to Texas. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports says that if Young is going to waive his no-trade clause, it’ll only be to head back to the Rangers:

Texas doesn’t have any immediate openings in its infield, and as I mentioned in a recent article, it wouldn’t make much sense to play him over Mitch Moreland at first base. That being said, the Rangers could use Young as the regular designated hitter, as Lance Berkman is currently on the disabled list.

If that’s the case, Jurickson Profar—who has played all over the place this season—could go back to the outfield. While he only has four games of big-league experience outside of the infield, David Murphy hasn’t shown that he’s worthy of a starting position. Profar could head to left field for the remainder of the year.

The Rangers just need to focus on getting someone who can provide some power to the position. Of the teams in the American League, Texas has the fewest home runs from the designated hitter’s spot with six. Young only has seven homers on the year, and it doesn’t appear that he’s going to be a power threat with Texas.

There are better options available in the next day or so than Young. While I’m sure the Rangers are flattered that he’d be interested in making a comeback with the club, he just doesn’t fit what they need right now. Unless he wants to be an option on the bench, he shouldn’t want to go to Texas. Texas shouldn’t really want him either.

Boston Red Sox

While Rosenthal noted that Young would only be willing to waive his full no-trade clause to return to the Rangers, some reporters have heard otherwise. Sherman, for one, reports that Young would likely waive it to go to the Red Sox as well:

Young would likely be Boston’s third baseman going forward if he went there. The Red Sox started the season with Will Middlebrooks at third base, but he got injured and hit poorly in his limited time with the team. In 53 games with the Red Sox, he hit .192/.228/.389 with nine homers and 25 RBI.

Boston has gone with Jose Iglesias at third base since Middlebrooks’ demotion to Triple-A and was playing quite well. From April through June—a stretch of 39 games—the infielder hit .409/.455/.530 with 12 extra-base hits and 23 runs. In July, he’s hitting .200/.244/.213 and could end up losing his starting job.

The Red Sox have a couple options regarding the third base spot in the lineup. Boston could keep going with Iglesias at third for the rest of the year, go with someone like Brandon Snyder, recall Middlebrooks, promote someone like Xander Bogaerts or make a deal to trade for someone like Young.

Young probably won’t cost the Red Sox a ton to acquire, which is one reason the team might see it as a risk worth taking. As long as he hits better than Iglesias has in recent weeks, it’ll be a win for the team. If he doesn’t work out, the Red Sox let him go at the end of the season knowing they only lost a low-level prospect.

All statistics in this article were obtained via FanGraphs unless otherwise noted and are current through July 29. All contract information in this article was obtained via Cot’s Contracts and all injury information was obtained via Baseball Prospectus.

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There isn’t much time until Wednesday’s Major League Baseball trade deadline hits, and as expected, the chatter on some of the game’s bigger names is starting to become louder.

Several premium pitchers are reportedly on the trading block, including Cliff Lee of the Philadelphia Phillies, Kansas City Royals starter Ervin Santana and Chicago White Sox hurler Jake Peavy. If the latest rumors hold true, it looks like two are set to depart while one will stay.

Below is a closer look at the latest on Lee, Santana and Peavy as the window to get deals done continues to close.

Multiple Suitors Making Offers for Cliff Lee

The former American League Cy Young Award winner is being highly coveted by what seems like a plethora of teams, according to ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick.

Lee was scratched from his start on Saturday, though, with what a teammate described as a legitimately stiff neck, per Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports:

It remains to be seen how that might affect Lee’s trade value. However, it shouldn’t, because although Lee comes with a sizable price tag, he’s still an ace who has three years left on his contract.

Not only can Lee help out a contender now—he could also be a team’s top pitcher for the next two seasons if he remains healthy.

Philadelphia is in the midst of a six-game slide and is nine games behind the Atlanta Braves for the National League East lead. Selling high on Lee at this point would be wise.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo! Sports reported that the Phillies had reached a contract agreement with Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez that could be for as much as $59 million over six years. That’s another signal that Lee’s time in Philadelphia may be imminently ending.

In 2013, Lee has compiled a 10-4 record with a 3.05 ERA and a WHIP of 1.01 that ranks seventh in MLB.

Ervin Santana to Stay Put in K.C.?

Apparently, the Royals aren’t keen on giving up Santana—and won’t do so without getting a substantial amount of assets in return.

One Kansas City official made it rather clear to the Kansas City Star‘s Bob Dutton that the club won’t trade Santana, even going so far as to invoke The Godfather in an interesting way:

The four-year, $30 million deal Santana is currently locked in expires after this season, making him an unrestricted free agent this coming winter. If the Royals aren’t willing to trade him, they must feel at least somewhat confident that they can sign Santana to a long-term deal.

If not, though, it’s possible Santana will flee K.C. without the Royals getting anything in return. Santana is 30 years old and has plenty left in the tank, so his value extends beyond this trade window.

Though Santana sports a modest 6-6 record, it’s been more due to a lack of run support than anything. His ERA is 3.06—a career best if it stands—and since Santana has had three seasons of at least 16 wins in the past, there’s plenty of reason to believe he could help a team’s fortunes in the playoff chase.

Market for Jake Peavy Is Strong

The AL Central cellar-dwelling White Sox can start building for the future by getting valuable commodities in return for their best starting pitcher.

10 teams attended Peavy’s last start against the Detroit Tigers, according to MLB.com’s Matthew Leach (per his colleague, Scott Merkin). It wasn’t the most stellar outing for him, yet the team that he pitched against previously and beat has emerged as a possible destination.

The Atlanta Braves are joining in on the action to chase Peavy, according to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, who also notes that the Red Sox, Athletics and Cardinals are the top contenders vying for the right-handed pitcher.

Peavy does sport a slightly discouraging 4.28 ERA, but eight of his 13 starts have been quality appearances and he’s 8-4 on the season. Plus, he was an All-Star as recently as 2012 and was the 2007 National League Cy Young Award winner.

In a new environment with a possible World Series contender, it’s feasible that Peavy could pitch the best he has all season with that change of pace.

Note: Contract information is courtesy of Spotrac.com.

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Perhaps no team in baseball is stuck in the middle more than the Philadelphia Phillies. The Fightin‘ Phils have plenty of high-quality veteran players, but they find themselves fading fast as their playoff hopes are hanging by a thread. With that in mind, the Phillies have to decide whether they’re buyers or sellers.

That decision could be a defining one in terms of where the franchise goes from here, as it is built to win now. If Philadelphia engages in a fire sale, though, it could enter into a rebuilding phase. Considering the high-quality players that they could deal, however, a rebuild may not take very long as some great youngsters would be coming back the other day.

Here is the latest buzz surrounding third baseman Michael Young, starting pitcher Cliff Lee and the Phillies’ top bargaining chip as the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches.

Michael Young

After a disappointing 2012 season, the Phillies went out and made a deal that they believed would get them back to the playoffs, as they acquired Michael Young from the Texas Rangers. Young was a seven-time All-Star at multiple positions for the Rangers, and he helped them reach the World Series twice. The Phillies’ front office hoped he could help do the same in Philadelphia.

Unfortunately, that seems highly unlikely at this point. The Phillies are nine games behind the Atlanta Braves in the NL East and 9.5 out in the wild card race, so they would need to make an improbable comeback. If Philly decides that it won’t be able to make it happen, Young is a top trade candidate, as his contract expires at the end of the season. According to ESPN’s Jayson Stark, there has been discussion about trading Young back to Texas.

Although the Rangers are more in the market for a right-handed hitting outfielder, they are very familiar with Young and could use him both at first base and designated hitter. The Phillies probably wouldn’t get a ton out of the Rangers for him, since he is 36 years of age and his skills are eroding to some degree, but it would be better to get something for him than to let him leave via free agency.

Cliff Lee

It can be argued that starting pitcher Cliff Lee is now the biggest name on the market as the Phillies’ current state could prompt them to entertain offers. According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, Lee was scratched from his start on Saturday due to neck stiffness. With the trade deadline just days away, it is certainly a suspicious move, as it feels like the Phillies are protecting their asset rather than making a routine decision.

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. didn’t elaborate on what type of interest there is in Lee, according to Crasnick, but he didn’t rule out anyone on the roster. Crasnick listed a number of teams who could potentially make a run at Lee, including the Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Cleveland Indians, St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates and Los Angeles Dodgers.

Lee has been one of the few bright spots for Philly this season, as he sports a 10-4 record with a 3.05 ERA and 1.01 WHIP. The southpaw doesn’t appear to be far off from his 2008 Cy Young form, which is why so many contenders would love to get their hands on him. His showings in the 2009 and 2010 playoffs are still the stuff of legend, and there is no question that the Phillies could demand and receive a huge package of players and prospects for him.

Chase Utley

Second baseman Chase Utley has been a fan favorite in Philadelphia since his debut in 2003, but his tenure could soon be coming to an end. Utley has really struggled with injuries for the past four seasons, and with his contract set to run out, it’s possible that the Phillies won’t want to invest in a 34-year-old player with a long injury history. Even so, Utley is discussing an extension with the Phillies currently, according to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports.

Utley’s statement is quite telling, as he seems as uncertain as anyone about his status. When Utley has been on the field this season, he has produced to the tune of a .279 average with 13 home runs and 36 RBI. At his peak, Utley was putting up more than 30 home runs and 100 RBI per season. It is difficult to imagine him getting back to that level, but he is still one of the game’s better power-hitting second basemen when healthy.

According to Morosi, the Oakland Athletics are a team to watch if the Phillies choose to move Utley. The A’s aren’t known for going after big-ticket players, but if they believe that they are close to competing for a World Series title, it would make sense to go out and get a rental at a position of need. Of all the players the Phillies could potentially trade, Utley may end up being the toughest decision. He has been a huge part of the team’s success in recent years, but maybe it is time to move on.

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Boston Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington is currently in the midst of a search for a starting pitcher who can replace Clay Buchholz in the franchise’s rotation.

Peter Gammons of MLB Network reports a few players the Red Sox are scouting:

Buchholz started the season on fire and was up there was some of the best in the league. The right-hander was 9-0 through 12 starts and had allowed just 16 earned runs in 84.1 innings of work (1.71 ERA). He also racked up 81 strikeouts while walking 29 batters on the year. But he hasn’t pitched since June 8.

Buchholz has been experiencing pain when he’s tried to throw lately, and while he’s been the recipient of good news from Dr. James Andrews, there’s still no clear indication as to when he’ll be pitching again for Boston, according to Peter Abraham of The Boston Globe. The righty is targeting late August or early September.

The Red Sox have the sixth-best rotation in baseball at the moment in terms of WAR, according to FanGraphs. Boston has been using internal replacements to pitch in Buchholz’s place since he last took the mound more than a month ago. Right now, Brandon Workman is the team’s No. 5 starter.

While Workman has been great in his lone two starts, Boston really needs to land someone from outside the organization. Based on the players Gammons listed as potential targets, here are the top three external replacements for Buchholz.

3. Yovani Gallardo, Milwaukee Brewers

The Red Sox would be smart to stay away from Gallardo in the next few days. While he’s been good in the past, he’s struggled to get into a groove this season. Through 22 starts, the right-hander is 8-9 with a 4.88 ERA. He’s averaging 7.28 strikeouts and 3.49 walks per nine innings.

Jayson Stark of ESPN recently discussed Gallardo, and the scribe pointed out why he’s probably not worth taking a chance on:

Gallardo’s velocity is down about 2 mph. His strikeout rate (7.2 per 9 IP) and WHIP (1.42) are at career-worst levels. And three scouts who have seen him recently all describe him as just a No. 4 or 5 starter.

Two years ago, said one scout, he was “close to an ace. [But] lots of pitches on that arm from then to now. He can really pitch, but his stuff [has gone] way back.”

Well, that doesn’t sound very good at all. The last thing the Red Sox need right now is someone who’s only going to pitch in the back of the rotation. Buchholz was the team’s best starting pitching this season, and the team is looking to add someone comparable to what he’s capable. Gallardo doesn’t fit that mold right now.

If Boston is going to make a deal for a starting pitcher, it’s advised to land someone who has more experience against the teams on the bulk of the remaining schedule. Gallardo only has two career starts against teams in the AL East, and one of them was against the Red Sox.

For those keeping track at home, cross Gallardo off the list.

2. Bud Norris, Houston Astros

Norris is an intriguing option.

The right-hander has spent his entire career with the Astros but has made the most of his time there. Through 21 starts this season, Norris is 6-9 with a 3.93 ERA. He isn’t a huge strikeout pitcher (6.43 K/9) but doesn’t walk a ton of opposing batters either (3.07 BB/9). Opponents are hitting .273 off him this year, which isn’t great.

But the point is that Norris has survived pitching in Houston for this long, and the guy has quite a bit of value. If he didn’t, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports wouldn’t have reported that he’s drawing considerable interest. Players who aren’t worth anything don’t draw interest. He could make a big difference down the stretch.

Norris made what might be his last start at Minute Made Park on Wednesday night against Oakland, and the starter told Angel Verdejo Jr. of the Houston Chronicle about his emotions after receiving quite the ovation from the fans:

They’ve been great all along. I have played here four years, and they’ve always had my back since day one. I really, really appreciate when you get that support from the people in the city.

It’s really exciting. I thank them for everything. Whatever my future holds, it holds for me. But my focus is still here.

While Norris might be a better option than the likes of Edinson Volquez or Gallardo, he still isn’t exactly what the Red Sox need. Boston needs someone who can pitch atop the rotation. If Norris gets traded to the Red Sox, he’ll likely be a middle-of-the-rotation guy. He’d help Boston’s playoff odds but not by much.

1. Jake Peavy, Chicago White Sox

If the Phillies don’t make Cliff Lee available before the trade deadline, Jake Peavy needs to be Boston’s No. 1 priority. While the righty has spent some time on the disabled list this season, there’s no question that he’s the best starter on the market. If the Red Sox are going to get anyone, it needs to be Peavy.

Through 13 starts this season, the veteran is 8-4 with a 4.28 ERA. In 80 innings of work, Peavy has 76 strikeouts and 17 walks. While he isn’t the ace he used to be—winning the NL Cy Young back in 2007—he still has ace qualities. There’s no question he’d be the No. 1 guy in Boston’s starting rotation.

Peavy is under contract through next season, and the White Sox aren’t sure what they want to do with him yet, according to Buster Olney of ESPN (Insider subscription required). Olney reports that the price tag is going to be very high if a team wants to land him in the next few days.

But of the starters out there who Boston could land, Peavy is the only one who would be worthy paying a lot for. The Red Sox have plenty of good prospects who could interest the White Sox, and Scott Merkin of MLB.com reports that Boston could send Will Middlebrooks Chicago’s way.

In reality, Cherington should be thinking Peavy or nothing.

All statistics used in this article were obtained via FanGraphs unless otherwise noted and are current through July 26. All contact information was obtained via Cot’s Contracts and all injury information was obtained via Baseball Prospectus.

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