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Ryan Dempster is a wanted man, and it’s no wonder considering his sparkling 2.14 ERA and the Chicago Cubs overall futility. But the Washington Nationals should be aggressive in their attempts to obtain Dempster, if they are serious about winning this year.

The Cubs are sellers, and when it comes to Dempster there seems to be a healthy amount of buyers.

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Nationals are one of them. He writes: “The Ryan Dempster Derby currently is a battle between the Braves, Nationals and Cardinals, people familiar with the talks suggest.”

Dempster obviously has the stuff to help any pitching rotation, but his experience could be a real asset to the Nats in a pennant race.

Washington has only two pitchers (Mike Gonzalez 34 and Tom Gorzelanny 30) who are 30 years old or older. Dempster is a 35-year-old, 14-year veteran, who has pitched in two postseasons. That experience would be valuable to a relatively young staff.

Per Heyman, the Cubs are seeking young arms in compensation for trading Dempster. That could be an issue for the Nats.

Will they be willing to part with a prospect like Ivan Pineyro to nab Dempster?

Pineyro is a 20-year-old standout hurler in rookie ball in the Nats’ system. He could be a future star, and a the type of pitcher the Cubs want in return for Dempster. This potential scenario begs the question: how do the Nationals view themselves?

Are they a team of the future that just happened to contend, or a team of now looking to maximize on every opportunity to win?

Many people didn’t picture the Nats contending so soon, this season may even be a surprise to them.

If they still see themselves as a team of the future, they may not want to part with a valuable young prospect for a short-term solution like Dempster.

How the Nats pursue Dempster will tell us who they think they are.

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Philadelphia Phillies star Shane Victorino is exactly the talent that the New York Yankees need to compete for a World Series title.

According to CBSSports.com baseball insider Jon Heyman, the Yankees are looking to acquire an outfielder and have spoken to the Phillies about Victorino. Relieving the injury to stud left fielder Brett Gardner has to be a priority for these Yankees.

Hayden also mentions the Yankees have talked to the Arizona Diamondbacks about Jason Upton, though trading for Victorino would arguably be the better move.  

The talks of shopping for outfield talent stem from the fact that Gardner is now on the 60-day DL after injuring his elbow while diving for a ball. Reporter David Waldstein of The New York Times said that he will likely be out the rest of the year.

Victorino is a proven talent in the outfield as well as at the plate. In spite of the fact that he has gone over a month without a homer, Victorino boasts a respectable eight home runs and 38 RBI. 

What’s more? He has World Series experience, has posted at least 17 home runs and 61 RBI each of the last two seasons, and can make plays on the field.

He is notorious for being a proven threat in the hitting department and will add depth to an already strong-scoring team. The Yankees are third in MLB in runs, at 454, this season. 

In the nine games Gardner played, his hitting was arguably the most impressive aspect of his game. He batted a whopping .321 and chipped in five runs and three RBI in 28 at-bats.

It is clear that his absence is a major loss at the position, and there is no doubt Victorino would be the answer to the team’s problem.

No Garnder in the lineup will not be a problem if the Yankees can snag this talented fielder from the Phillies. 

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The Texas Rangers are already one of the top teams in baseball, but if they can find a way to add Cliff Lee to their rotation before the trade deadline, they will officially become the favorite to win the World Series.

With the Rangers in the market to add another quality starter before the deadline, Lee makes a lot of sense as an addition. And as Jim Salisbury of CSN reported, the Rangers had a scout in attendance for Lee’s last start with the Phillies in Los Angeles.

Top Rangers scout in attendance for Phils-Dodgers (Lee vs. Kershaw) today. Interesting.

— Jim Salisbury (@JSalisburyCSN) July 18, 2012

The Rangers traded for Lee back in 2010, a move that led to a World Series appearance before Lee chose to sign with the Philadelphia Phillies the next season. However, the Phillies have surprisingly tanked this season and should be sellers as the trade deadline approaches. 

Lee has a 1-6 record this season, but that is more of a reflection on the poor run support that he has received from the struggling Phillies offense. Ranger fans would like to see the team go after Lee’s teammate, Cole Hamels, but according to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com the Phillies are prepared to offer Hamels a six-year deal worth $130 million.

With Hamels presumably off the market, Lee would make for a great backup plan.

Lee’s 1.16 WHIP and 106 K’s in 111 innings pitched shows that Lee is still capable of putting together great starts. With a much better team surrounding him in Texas, his numbers have no place to go but up.

The Rangers explosive offense has made them one of the best teams in baseball and they should continue to pile up the runs as the season wears on. However, if they want to make a return trip to the World Series they will need proven pitching that can get them there.

Lee may not be the trade target that fans and the front office had in mind, but Lee would undoubtedly give the Rangers the boost they need to make a serious run at winning a championship. 

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When Brian Wilson got hurt in April, Bruce Bochy had a big decision to make.

Would he choose Sergio Romo, the star reliever whom righties can’t hit? Would he choose Javier Lopez, the left-handed submariner whom lefties can’t hit? Or would he choose Santiago Casilla, the hard-throwing righty who can be very erratic.

Surprisingly, Bochy chose Casilla. It seemed to be the right move, as Casilla converted 20 of his first 21 save opportunities.

Then, the wheels came off.

In just eight short appearances, Casilla blew five saves, as his ERA went from 1.32 to 3.34. In four of those eight outings, Casilla allowed two or more runs, and he cost the Giants a win in two of those games. Bochy even said recently that the Giants will rethink the closer situation (h/t Will Brinson of NBCBayArea.com).

However, San Francisco doesn’t have that many other options. Romo has balky knees and elbow problems, and he can’t close on a day-to-day basis. Javier Lopez and Jeremy Affeldt are usually used to face lefties in the seventh or eighth inning, although both could close if needed.

George Kontos and Brad Penny have done a nice job in San Francisco, and both should see some save opportunities coming soon. However, Penny has allowed some home runs and struggled recently, and Kontos is young and inexperienced.

So, what could the Giants do about it?

Trade for a closer.

Huston Street, Jonathan Broxton, Brett Myers and Francisco Rodriguez are all available, and, according to a report from SBNation, the Giants are interested in Broxton. The Royals closer is 22-for-26 on save opportunities, has a 2.34 ERA this year and hasn’t allowed a home run in his last 20.2 IP.

However, Broxton is inconsistent. He strikes out tons of batters, but he also gives up a lot of hits. Last year, Broxton had a 5.68 ERA, and the year before he had a 4.01 ERA.

Broxton could end up being just like Casilla in the second half, and that’s a chance the Giants don’t want to take.

According to Andy Baggarly of CSNBayArea.com, the Giants scouted the Cubs and Royals farm systems. The Giants don’t want to give away top-notch prospects, since they already parted with star pitching prospect Zach Wheeler last year.

However, if the price is right, they could go after Street.

Street is 15-for-15 on save opportunities with a 1.03 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 26.1 innings. Just like Broxton, he has the ability to miss bats. However, Street has also been lights-out this year, and if the Giants traded for him, they would have arguably the best closer and the best setup man in baseball.

They would have to part with some prospects, but one solution is trading a catcher. The Padres have a young catching prospect in Yasmani Grandal, and he is hitting .288 with five home runs (in the majors). However, they could use Giants catcher Tommy Joseph in a trade if the Giants were willing to trade him.

If the Padres won’t take Joseph, San Francisco could find some other prospects. They have a lot of outfielders, and they have Gary Brown. Even though San Francisco probably won’t trade him, he could be used as bait.

No matter whom the Giants trade, they will have to get a closer. Casilla can’t pitch in high-pressure situations, Romo can’t close every day, and no one else seems to be ready to take over at closer yet.

It’s very hard to win in the playoffs without a closer who can handle the pressure, and Street can handle it.

Street can close when the pressure is on, and he has pitched in the playoffs. Broxton has pitched in the playoffs, too, but he has a 4.40 career ERA in the postseason.

And, even though it seems that the Giants have a good bullpen, closing out games is different. No one on the team (except for Romo) has what it takes to close.

Broxton and Street do, and they could really help the Giants.

Or they could hurt the Giants on other teams.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

With two weeks remaining before the MLB non-waiver trade deadline, the Chicago White Sox have been rumored to be very interested in Milwaukee Brewers pitching ace, Zack Greinke.

The White Sox extended their division lead Tuesday to 3.5 games over the Detroit Tigers, and the White Sox will be looking to shore up their pitching staff following news of another injured starting pitcher.

Starter Gavin Floyd went on the disabled list Tuesday with a sore elbow, prompting the White Sox to announce that rookie Pedro Hernandez will take the mound Wednesday in the series finale at Boston.

With the White Sox still unsure of the date of John Danks’ return to the mound, the necessity of trading for a starting pitcher has undoubtedly forced White Sox general manager Kenny Williams to begin working the phones, looking to make a deal for a big arm.

That big arm just might be Greinke. Rumors of Greinke being dealt from Milwaukee have been swirling for days as the Brewers continue to struggle.

As the White Sox look for ways to improve their playoff chances, Williams will likely be shopping the big names on the trading block, such as Greinke, Cole Hamels and Ryan Dempster.

After trading for third baseman Kevin Youkilis, the White Sox are clearly buyers during the run-up to the trade deadline, and adding either a starter or reliever to their pitching staff would greatly improve their playoff hopes.

Greinke is arguably the biggest name in the trading pool, and his arrival to Chicago would give the White Sox a playoff-caliber starting rotation.

Here is a look at 10 reasons why Greinke should be wearing black in Chicago before the end of the trade deadline.

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As crazy as it may seem, there is a possibility that the Miami Marlins could trade Giancarlo Stanton prior to the 2012 MLB Trade Deadline, according to Buster Olney of ESPN (Insider required).

Joe Frisaro of MLB.com has also confirmed that it makes sense for the Marlins to listen to offers for Stanton. MLB general managers would salivate at the chance to acquire one of the best young players in baseball today.

There is no doubt that the cost for Stanton would be incredibly high, but he is probably worth the small army of prospects that he would cost. Stanton is type of player who can be a cornerstone for years to come.

While Stanton is currently on the disabled list after he underwent knee surgery, that does not mean that the Marlins can’t trade him (h/t Larry Stone of The Seattle Times). Stanton would be a fit for any of the teams in the majors, but some would be more inclined than others to go after him.

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If the Milwaukee Brewers decide to sell before the trade deadline, they will call upon their young prospects to replace the departed.

The Brewers may decide to call up their young talent, even if they aren’t active in the trade market. Their farm system, however, is relatively thin. They traded their top prospects, Brett Lawrie and Alcides Escobar, in return for Shaun Marcum and Zack Greinke.

Still, the Crew has a handful of up-and-comers. Mat Gamel was one of the few thought to explode with the Brewers in 2012, but a knee injury destroyed that. Most of their prospects have had a taste of the major leagues but haven’t stayed long enough to make an impact, and some are already making an impact this year.

But if the Brewers want to be competitive for years to come, trading for high-level talent will be the priority. Until then, they will have to make do with the talent they have.

Here are three prospects that could make an impact in the second half.

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It has been 20 long years since the Pittsburgh Pirates played .500 or better baseball this late in the season.

Barry Bonds was their star player. Jim Leyland was the manager. The Bucs would go on to lose the NLCS in seven games to the Atlanta Braves.

Why bring it up now?

For the first time in a very long time, the Pirates have a team both worthy and capable of post-season play behind the solid leadership of NL MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen.

Bonds had Andy Van Slyke batting before him and Jeff King after him. Neither the former nor the latter player will be enshrined in Cooperstown any time soon.

For all the criticism received by Bonds for not showing up in the playoffs or pressure situations while in Pittsburgh, Pirate fans don’t need to see if the same would be the case for McCutchen.

With the Cincinnati Reds losing their MVP, Joey Votto, for several weeks to undergo knee surgery, now is the time for the Pirates to take control of the NL Central.

Pirates General manager Neil Huntington needs to open the channels of communication with the Arizona Diamondbacks and bring disgruntled star Justin Upton to PNC Park.

In 12 career games at PNC Park, Upton has put up solid numbers, going 10-for-35 with three doubles. His batting line is .286/.419/.371/.790. 

True, his power numbers are missing, but the sample size is fairly small.

While he is having a down year, Upton is ambivalent towards Diamondback fans and has been getting booed at home games. A change in scenery may be just what the doctor ordered.

Fox Sports’ Jon Paul Morosi suggests that in order to make a trade of this magnitude the Pirates would have to sacrifice one or both of their prized prospects: outfielder Starling Marte or right-hander Jameson Taillon.

While the price tag may seem steep, the Pirates should not scoff at the asking price. Upton is just 24 years old, a two-time All-Star, Silver Slugger award recipient and came in fourth in the 2011 NL MVP voting.

The price tag is worthy.

Adding Upton to this lineup would offer protection to McCutchen and deepen the middle of the batting order in a manner that Bucs fans have not seen in two decades.

They say that everything happens for a reason. The Pirates should look at Votto hitting the DL as a sign from the baseball gods to strike while the iron is hot.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Stephen Strasburg’s innings limit has been one of the hotter topics in baseball, and it’s clear that the Washington Nationals will have a tough decision to make.

However, it seems like the Nationals are already preparing to move on without Strasburg.

According to MLB.com, Washington has interest in Ryan Dempster and Rockies catcher Ramon Hernandez. The Nationals have John Lannan in the minors, but they would definitely benefit from trading for Dempster.

The consistent ace is 5-3 with a league-leading 1.86 ERA this year. A lot of teams will be pursuing Dempster, since Chicago is looking to stockpile prospects for future success. Washington has a great farm system, so they could definitely make a trade.

If the Nationals did trade for Dempster, they would probably have Strasburg, Dempster, Gio Gonzalez, Jordan Zimmerman and Edwin Jackson in their rotation. After Strasburg leaves, Ross Detwiler would join the rotation.

Washington would have to give up a lot, but it would definitely be worth it. Dempster is a great pitcher who could really help the Nationals. Even if the Nationals decided to keep Strasburg in the rotation, Dempster would still help the team and just make the best pitching staff in baseball even better.

The team’s four best pitchers would wreak havoc on the league and greatly enhance Washington’s chances of winning a championship. Just imagine a playoff rotation of Dempster, Gonzalez, Strasburg and Zimmerman (if Strasburg pitches). All have ERA’s under 3, and all have a WHIP under 1.12.

If the Nationals didn’t trade for Dempster, they would probably call up John Lannan to pitch in September. Lannan has had a nice career in Washington, but he is 6-8 with a 4.60 ERA with Triple-A Syracuse. Dempster is definitely better than Lannan, and he would definitely help the Nationals a lot.

Washington is known for having a young, well-rounded team. They have the lowest team ERA in baseball, even though two inconsistent pitchers, Edwin Jackson and Ross Detwiler, reside in their rotation. Just imagine how much better the rotation would be with Dempster, even if Strasburg gets shut down or skipped.

Dempster would welcome a trade to just about any contender, and, according to Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com, he would likely be happy with a trade to Washington. Dempster is in the last year of his contract, but Washington could re-sign him and have he, Strasburg, Zimmerman and Gonzalez dominate hitters for a couple more years.

It will take a lot, but the Nationals would definitely benefit from trading a few prospects for Dempster. Washington would undoubtedly have the best rotation in baseball during the month of August, and they would still have a great rotation without Strasburg in September. If the Nats re-signed Dempster, they’d have the best rotation for a few more years.

And it’s always good to have the best rotation. The Nationals may have the best rotation right now, but in September, their pitching will take a major hit. If Strasburg is shut down and Dempster isn’t brought in to Washington, imagine how Jackson and Detwiler would pitch in the playoffs.

I’m sure Nationals fans don’t want to imagine that. So that’s why the Nats need to bring in Dempster. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Washington Nationals have been and will be an interesting team to watch.

After years of building up young talent and sending them into the farm system, Washington’s young dream team has finally been assembled. Players like Ian Desmond, Ryan Zimmerman, Jordan Zimmerman, Stephen Strasburg and Bryce Harper were all drafted by Washington, and they are all making a splash.

And it wasn’t just the draft. Washington signed Jayson Werth in the 2010 offseason and traded for Gio Gonzalez in the 2011 offseason.

Now, the Nationals lead the NL East by 2.5 games, and they’re ready to fight to the finish in a tight NL East race that everyone will be talking about.

Here are the Nationals’ four biggest second-half storylines.

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