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One deadline has passed, but lo and behold, August brings about yet another opportunity for trades, just in case your team still has improvements to make.

August 31 brings about the waiver deadline, where teams can make trades for players who pass through revocable waivers.

Some big names are still out there such as Chase Utley, Jose Reyes and James Shields, among others.

Scott Miller joins host Kay Adams to pose three predictions for the quickly approaching deadline.

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Many star players switched teams before the July 31 trade deadline, but more could still be changing their jerseys in August thanks to the waiver wire. In a sport stricken by parity, in which a whopping 13 teams are within just three games of a wild-card spot, there are plenty of teams who will be looking to add pieces through waivers.

Although it is unlikely that a star will be placed on waivers, it does happen on occasion if the organization feels as if a drastic overhaul is necessary and wants to shave payroll.  The Boston Red Sox traded Adrian Gonzalez, Carl Crawford and Josh Beckett to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Aug. 25, 2012 when they knew they were out of contention and wanted to clear up some money for the future. 

While trades like those aren’t likely, would anyone be surprised to see the San Diego Padres sell a couple of pieces during this month? After all, Padres general manager A.J. Preller forgot to set his alarm last week and inexplicably slept through the trade deadline. 

ESPN’s Buster Olney even reported that ace James Shields is expected to be a trade candidate during the month.

It’s certainly possible that some players will become available who can make an impact or help a team in the race for a playoff spot. With more teams than ever sniffing the playoffs, including franchises who haven’t played in October in quite some time, there may be an aggressive group of buyers looking to gear up for a long postseason run. 

Here’s a look at some teams who should make a move on the waiver wire and why.

New York Yankees

The Yankees uncharacteristically made their blue-chip prospects unavailable at the trade deadline and elected to pass on aces such as Cole Hamels. This shift in philosophy demonstrates that GM Brian Cashman is committed to building from within, something the Yankees haven’t done since the “Core Four” emerged in the mid-90s and carried the Bombers to several championships. 

Although the Yankees were inactive in July, they need to respond in August. Erik Boland of Newsday reminded Yankees fans that a dormant trade deadline doesn’t necessarily mean the team is done trading for the rest of the season.

They are currently 59-45 and have a six-game lead over the second-place Orioles and Blue Jays in the American League East, but the Yankees are a flawed team.

The team needed a starting pitcher before Michael Pineda hit the DL with a right forearm strain, as they rank last among teams in a playoff spot with a 4.37 ERA from starting pitchers. CC Sabathia (4-8, 5.54 ERA) has been nothing short of a train wreck, and the team would likely be better off if he were lost for the year to injury so it would give them an excuse not to run him out there every fifth day. 

The Yankees were reportedly seeking bullpen help before the July 31 trade deadline, but it has become increasingly clear that none of their shaky, inconsistent starters can be counted on.

If a player like James Shields becomes available and can be had at a reasonable price, they should jump on him.

His contract is set to pay him $63 million after this season, and he has proved that he can be successful in the American League East. Landing Shields would be an appropriate response to Toronto’s huge deadline splashes of David Price and Troy Tulowitzki. Although the Yankees are calling up prospect Luis Severino to make his next start, it is unknown what kind of immediate impact the 21-year-old can have.

If no worthy starting pitcher hits the waiver wire, the Yankees could certainly upgrade at second base. 

Stephen Drew is still on the interstate, hitting just .199 on the season. His 13 home runs and solid defense help his case, but if a player like Chase Utley is there, it’s hard to see the Yankees not taking a chance on him.

While the 36-year-old is currently on the disabled list and has been awful in his own right this season, his lefty swing would be tailor-made for the short porch in Yankee Stadium and he is a short-term commitment that could help the Bombers moving forward.

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick agrees that Utley would be a solid fit for the Yankees. 

Chicago Cubs

It was surprising that the brain trust of Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer didn’t make a splash at the trade deadline, as the Cubs are sniffing the playoffs for the first time since 2008.

The Cubs are currently tied for the second wild-card spot with the San Francisco Giants, who just landed pitcher Mike Leake to help their starting rotation. The Cubs need to do something and capitalize on this opportunity for their loyal fans. 

The one area of obvious weakness on the Cubs is left field. Although it seems like just yesterday that Chris Coghlan won the Rookie of the Year Award, the now-30-year-old is batting just .249 with 24 RBI on the season. Rookie Kyle Schwarber can slide to left field when catcher Miguel Montero comes off the disabled list, but that still doesn’t make their lineup scare anyone.

Perhaps a player like Marlon Byrd would be able to help the Cubs.

Byrd has enjoyed a resurgence of late, hitting more than 20 home runs and driving in more than 80 runs in each of the last two seasons. He currently has 18 homers in 2015 and could provide Chicago with some more right-handed power and help them stretch their lineup. 

New York Mets

The new-look Mets and their young pitching staff looked extremely impressive in the weekend’s sweep of the Nationals.

Now tied for first place with Washington, the Mets proved that they can hang with the best and that they have a legitimate shot to make a deep run this season. 

Nobody wants to face the Mets in a short series. How can anyone stack up against Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard and presumably Steven Matz?

With Yoenis Cespedes, Kelly Johnson, Juan Uribe and Tyler Clippard now in the fold, it has become quite clear that the Mets are finally going for it this year. Captain David Wright is also on his way back to help bolster an improved offense, making the Mets that much more frightening.

The one area of weakness for the Mets is their bullpen.

Although adding Clippard was a great move, Jenrry Mejia was busted for using performance-enhancing drugs for the second time this year, resulting in a 162-game ban. Closer Jeurys Familia has been excellent this season, but he has blown three saves in his last four chances and has pitched to a 6.75 ERA since July 19.

Mets fans rejoiced when Jose Reyes was traded to the Rockies, envisioning a reunion with their former All-Star. Although that never happened, the Mets could still make a new connection with an old friend and pick up Francisco Rodriguez off waivers if he becomes available. 

Rodriguez saved 83 games over his three seasons in New York and although they weren’t all pretty, the 2015 All-Star could help the Mets make the postseason for the first time since 2006. His 1.46 ERA would be welcomed in Flushing with open arms.  

Houston Astros

Few teams had a better trade deadline than the Astros, who picked up Scott Kazmir and Carlos Gomez. Much like the Mets, their prospects finally came to fruition and are producing in 2015, making them a legitimate contender for the first time in a long time.

A six-game Angels’ losing streak has now given the Astros a four-game lead over their division rivals. While the slugging Astros could likely benefit from acquiring another player who can hit for average, as they rank No. 25 in baseball with a .246 team batting average, it has been reported that they are still seeking bullpen help.

While their relievers currently rank third in the league with a 2.68 ERA, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle reports that they are looking for a right arm out of the pen. 

Like the Mets, Francisco Rodriguez would fit in Houston. Veteran relievers Koji Uehara and Joaquin Benoit could help Houston down the stretch and in the playoffs as well. 

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It remains to be seen if the activity before this year’s MLB trade deadline will contain dramatic shifts of talent around the league. In a season where a lot of teams have remained within sniffing distance of a wild-card berth, there may not be many sellers on the market. 

But the teams in the hunt will still attempt to work out whatever big moves they can. 

New York Mets

One of this year’s surprise teams, the Mets started the second half just two games behind the Washington Nationals in the NL East and in position to make a serious run for the second wild-card spot. They’ve accomplished this on the strength of their pitching and despite injuries to top offensive contributors David Wright, Travis d’Arnaud and Daniel Murphy.

In the first half of 2015, the Mets put up a staggeringly horrible slash line of .233/.298/.363. In fact, their offensive numbers rank at the bottom of the National League across the board:

It’s remarkable that the Mets have won so often this year while hitting so poorly. Give them a bat or two, and it would be interesting to see what they could do. 

Newsday’s Marc Craig wrote on July 16 that sources have told him the Mets are “not ruling out a trade for an outfielder.” New York could use help everywhere, but the outfield is a good enough place to begin.

The Mets’ outfield production has been wretched for a team with playoff aspirations:

General manager Sandy Alderson has never been an executive who is shy about opening up a checkbook, so with the Mets suddenly relevant and in the thick of things ahead of schedule, I would not be shocked to see him go in big on any decent bats that become available, regardless of where he would end up needing to make room for it. 

Los Angeles Angels

A late first-half surge brought the Angels to the top of the AL West heading into the All-Star break. The Angels had gone 7-3 in their last 10 prior to the All-Star Game, while the Houston Astros were scuffling at 2-8, allowing the Halos to tie them in the standings.

A team anchored by Mike Trout and Albert Pujols has been built with the intention of winning right now. According to the L.A. Times‘ Mike DiGiovanna, the Angels are looking to muscle up even more, adding another bat:

Mike Trout is the second coming of Mickey Mantle in center field, but at the corners, Kole Calhoun is merely dependable (.265/.320/.407) and Matt Joyce is an open wound (.190/.281/.319) with twice as many strikeouts as walks.

The Angels are a team with a shot to win it all this year, next year and for the next several years if they handle their roster correctly. They could potentially add either a second-half rental or even a player who might require a multiyear commitment.  

Cole Hamels

No player is garnering as much attention nor is the source of as much speculation as Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels. One team that seems like a potential destination for him is the Texas Rangers. 

It would offer him a chance at pitching in the American League, and the Rangers could use an arm. Pitching was supposed to be a strength for the Rangers, but Yu Darvish has been lost for the season to injury and the rest of the rotation, with the possible exception of Yovani Gollardo, has been at least somewhat on the disappointing side of mediocre this year:

Hamels’ arm would obviously bolster the Rangers’ rotation instantly, and given the 31-year-old pitcher’s resume as a top-of-the-roation talent, he’d be an investment in the future. Aside from the dismal campaign they turned in last season, the Rangers have been consistent contenders in recent years. 

However, he may not be an investment they are interested in making. According to a source for T.R. Sullivan on MLB.com, the Rangers don’t like the structure of Hamel’s contract or the asking price. 

With few sellers on the market this year, the action could be generally slowed down by the fact that teams that are looking to trade are looking to load up heavy with prospects in return. 

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There are a lot of teams that consider themselves playoff contenders going into the second half of the MLB season, which could lead to a lot of aggressive moves before the trade deadline.  

For the sellers hoping to unload talent during a lost season, this could be a great opportunity to bring back some top prospects after a bidding war.

While there will only be so many players to go around on the trade market, these teams are likely to be extremely aggressive in the coming weeks as they try to better themselves for the final months of the season.

Houston Astros

Even with All-Star Game starter Dallas Keuchel, the Houston Astros rotation needs help. Injuries and other factors have left a lot of question marks about who will even fill the roles, let alone provide quality innings.

Manager A.J. Hinch recently explained the necessity to add starting pitchers, per Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle:

You always feel like an extra pitcher or two would be ideal, and some of that is out of just strengthening a strength, and some of it is not really knowing what’s in store moving forward on a couple different spots on our team. We’ve leaned on our bullpen a lot, we’ve got a couple young starters, we’ve got (Scott) Feldman coming back from injury, we’ve alternated a lot of different guys out of the fourth and fifth spot. So I think it’s important for us to always maintain having a strong starting pitcher when you get into these last 70 games. Everyone’s always connected us to a lot of starting pitchers, but obviously, July can be tricky.

The good news is his prayers could be answered in the form of one of the best pitchers on the market.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports explained: “The Astros have keen trade interest in Reds starter Johnny Cueto, and it appears he may even be their top target, if as expected Cueto hits trade market soon, people familiar with their thinking say.”

Cueto—who finished second in the Cy Young Award voting last season—has been the victim of poor run support this year with the struggling Cincinnati Reds. Still, his 2.73 ERA and 0.902 WHIP prove he is still among the league’s best.

Putting him on a team that can score runs like the Astros could lead to a lot of wins for the rest of the regular season and possibly postseason.

Of course, completing a deal for Cueto won’t be easy. As Bob Nightengale of USA Today noted, Houston is just one of a few teams trying hard to acquire the 29-year-old pitcher:

The Astros will have to be willing to part with some of their prized prospects, but it might be worth it to get back to the playoffs for the first time since 2005.

Minnesota Twins

The Minnesota Twins were one of the biggest surprises in the first half of the season, coming out of the All-Star break with a 49-40 record. However, they will not be able to remain in the hunt for a playoff spot unless they find a way to upgrade a big weakness in the bullpen.

Glen Perkins has been outstanding with 28 saves and a 1.21 ERA, but even with these stats, the club only ranks 18th in the majors with a 3.71 bullpen ERA. Meanwhile, Blaine Boyer and Aaron Thompson have been overworked all season long.

As a result, the team is looking for external help to potentially ease some of the stress from the back of the bullpen.

“The Twins’ primary concern is their bullpen, and they’re doing their due diligence in exploring possible upgrades, sources say. Among their potential targets: The Padres’ [Joaquin] Benoit,” wrote Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports.

Even though he’s 37 years old, Benoit has valuable closer experience and is seemingly only getting better as his career progresses. Over the past year-and-a-half with the San Diego Padres, he has 10 wins and a 1.86 ERA.

On the other end of the spectrum, a struggling player such as Steve Cishek could represent a high-upside option who shouldn’t cost too much. As Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe noted, the Twins are one of the teams interested in the former closer:

The Falmouth native had been sent to Double A to work out a mechanical issue, which he did, according to manager Dan Jennings, even though he didn’t have a good outing against Boston last week. Yet Cishek, who has been a successful closer, is drawing interest. The Twins, Tigers, Blue Jays, Red Sox, and others have been watching Cishek of late.

The current 5.14 ERA is concerning, but he might be worth the risk after totaling 73 saves in the past two seasons.

Pittsburgh Pirates

Josh Harrison was a big part of the lineup both physically and emotionally, so losing him for about seven weeks could be devastating for the Pittsburgh Pirates.

According to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune, the organization has taken a look at some potential additions to the lineup to make up for Harrison’s absence:

As Biertempfel noted, finding a new leadoff hitter should be a top priority for the Pirates, and Ben Revere is as solid of an option as you can find. He is currently hitting .297 with a .337 on-base percentage and 21 stolen bases.

He has a knack for getting himself on base and into scoring range for the teammates behind him to bring him home.

Meanwhile, Jeff Francoeur could represent a quality platoon option opposite Gregory Polanco, who has just a .152 batting average and zero extra-base hits against left-handed pitchers this season. It also likely won’t take much to acquire a struggling player like Francoeur from the Philadelphia Phillies.

Neither of these players would be able to directly replace a versatile producer like Harrison, but each could represent a quality upgrade to the current squad for a reasonable price on the trade market.

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After surviving two of the dullest days on the sports calendar, Major League Baseball returns Friday to save sports fans from a dearth of news and excitement, at least stateside.  

With MLB the only one of the Big Four American sports leagues in season in July—but on a small break after the All-Star Game—sports talk is difficult to come by on these long summer days. Sure, the NBA Summer League is in session, and the British Open began Thursday in Scotland, but other than that, there’s little to speak of at this juncture.

Even the ever-churning baseball rumor mill has turned quiet, but expect teams to have used the break to reassess, recalibrate and find out where they stand in anticipation of the looming trade deadline July 31.

Here’s a quick look at the latest chatter from around the league.

Mariners Reportedly In the Market for a Catcher

This one has been in the wind for a couple of days now, but the Seattle Mariners are reportedly looking to trade for a catcher, as Fox Sports’ Jon Morosi noted Wednesday via Twitter:

Morosi used the word “close” and even brought up a potential deal involving A.J. Pierzynski, who, at 38 years old, is having a resurgent year with the Atlanta Braves. Morosi did note, however, that the potential Pierzynski deal wasn’t related to the catcher rumor. 

However, Ryan Divish of the Seattle Times wasn’t getting quite the same vibe from his sources and said as much Wednesday, just hours after Morosi‘s report:

The M’s are 41-48 on the year, fourth in the AL West and 7.5 games back of the division-leading Los Angeles Angels. Starting catcher Mike Zunino has been an absolute travesty at the plate this year, batting well below the Mendoza line at .160 with a .292 slugging percentage and 100 strikeouts in 81 games.

Jesus Sucre has also seen time at catcher, but he has been a complete non-entity at the plate. The Mariners are an AL team, but in terms of production, their lineup looks like it has a pitcher’s spot—and it’s worse in some cases, per the Outside Corner’s Liam McGuire (via FoxSports.com): “Just how bad have Mariners backstops been? The club’s collective catchers are batting .150. The Mets (.176), Reds(.174), Giants (.165) and Nationals (.160) pitching staffs (> 100+ plate appearances) all have better averages at the plate. That’s horrendous.”

McGuire also noted that Seattle traded away the one person who might’ve been able to save the position:

Now the team finally got some help when they traded a decent reliever in Yoervis Medina to the Chicago Cubs for veteran Welington Castillo. Castillo had regular experience as a decent starting catcher with the Cubs and was thought to provide some stability for the Mariners behind the plate.

His tenure with Seattle last six games as the Mariners traded him to the Diamondbacks in theMark Trumbo deal.

The kicker is Castillo has been dynamite for the Diamondbacks. In 25 games, he’s hit five home runs (three more than Trumbo) with 15 RBIs while batting .286 with a .368 OBP. The Mariners could sure use that kind of production.

Pierzynski may be old, but his offense is light-years beyond what the Mariners are currently getting from their backstop crop. Neither Zunino nor Sucre can claim to have hit with much consistency in their brief MLB careers—although Zunino did slug 22 home runs last year—so there cannot be much expectation of a second-half surge from this position.

With the team also suffering from poor seasons from the likes of Mark Trumbo, Logan Morrison and Robinson Cano, one has to wonder if the Mariners should even try to play buyer at the trade deadline.

The best thing for this team may be to wait to see if the rest of the squad picks up after the deadline and try to salvage the catcher position through a waiver-wire deal, or it could punt on the season and try to find a viable hitting catcher in the winter meetings.

Rangers Willing to Make a Deal 

Perhaps the Texas Rangers can save the Mariners, per MLBlogs.com’s T.R. Sullivan: “Clubs are looking for catching. The Rangers are open to moving Carlos Corporan and bringing up Tomas Telis.”

But it’s hard to find good help at catcher, as Carlos Corporan is also suffering through a very poor offensive season at 31 years old. 

Corporan is a career .218 hitter, so it’s doubtful the Mariners would be inquiring about his availability. It’s easy to see why the Rangers would like to clear up a roster spot for Tomas Telis. The 24-year-old catcher is hitting .291 with five home runs and 25 RBI in 70 games at Triple-A Round Rock this year, although his production at the plate has slowed in recent months, hitting just .242 in June and .273 thus far in July, per MiLB.com.

Corporan might be a suitable backup for a team looking to add depth at catcher, but he’s no answer to the Mariners’ woes. He’s also apparently not the only player the Rangers are shopping around, per Sullivan: “The Rangers have found there is some interest in left-handed pitcher Wandy Rodriguez, who starts on Monday against Colorado. Clubs have told the Rangers that Rodriguez could be a fallback option if they are unable to land a bigger name starting pitcher in a trade.”

Wandy Rodriguez, 36, has been solid if unspectacular this season, sporting a 6-4 record with a 4.07 ERA and a 4.14 fielding-independent pitching mark (FIP), per Baseball-Reference.com. There is always demand for a southpaw with even a halfway-decent resume. 

Rodriguez could end up going to a team that fails in the possible Cole Hamels sweepstakes. Hamels, also a lefty, has been the subject of rumor and speculation for some time now as a talented member of the moribund Philadelphia Phillies. 

The Los Angeles Dodgers could certainly use a player like Rodriguez. The Blue Crew has been without the services of lefty Hyun-jin Ryu all season due to an injury, and they should be willing to do anything and everything to maintain their control over the NL West.

Rodriguez doesn’t quite eat innings—84 innings pitched in 15 starts this year—but he would be a nice fix for a first-place team that has had to resort to “staff days,” throwing relievers out to start games. For a team with an already taxed bullpen and World Series aspirations, this isn’t a good sign. Rodriguez would likely be a Plan C for the Dodgers but an improvement over their current situation nonetheless.

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The MLB trade deadline is just two weeks away, and with the All-Star Game finally in the rearview mirror, the rumor mill is starting to heat up.

Big names like Johnny Cueto, Aroldis Chapman, Jeff Samardzija and numerous others are potentially available, and new names seem to pop up every day in reported trade discussions. Here, we’ll discuss some players who have already been linked to trade talks, along with relative newcomers like James Shields and Jay Bruce.

So, with the July 31 trade deadline finally in sight, here’s a look at the latest buzz surrounding some of the biggest names being tossed around the rumor mill.

Johnny Cueto

At this point, it looks as though Cueto leaving Cincinnati is a relative lock. Recently, his name has been swirling around the insider circle, and recently, USA Today insider Bob Nightengale noted that three teams have been the most aggressive in their pursuit of Cueto.

Cueto is an ace in every sense of the word. To this point in the 2015 season, the 29-year-old righty boasts a 6-6 record to go along with a 2.73 ERA, a 0.90 WHIP and peripherals including 8.6 strikeouts per nine innings, 1.7 walks per nine and 5.14 strikeouts per walk.

All three teams mentioned by Nightengale look like legitimate landing spots for the former All-Star, but according to Jon Heyman, the Houston Astros are in hot pursuit. The CBS Sports insider stated, “The Astros just fell a half game out of first place after a very nice first half in which they led the AL West basically the whole way, and one person connected to their team said that ‘they know they need a starter.'”

The Astros are easily the best match for the Reds, as their farm system is as deep as any in baseball. Fans’ expectations for a return package should be reeled in a little, though, as Cueto is just a rental for the remainder of the season.

Fortunately for the Reds, Evan Drellich of the Houston Chronicle notes that a half-year rental of a player like Cueto is exactly what the team is looking for:

But sources say a two- to three-month rental pitcher who will become a free agent this winter, or possibly someone whose contract runs for one more year, is the most likely acquisition for the Astros. In other words, [Cole] Hamels appears a long shot.

Cueto, sources said, is the most attractive potential acquisition to the Astros at the moment. The Los Angeles Dodgers, Yankees and Toronto are also interested in Reds pitching, a source said.

Cueto would be a perfect fit along with Dallas Keuchel atop the Astros’ starting rotation, but he’s going to cost a pretty penny. The Astros have a farm system deep enough to handle that sort of trade, though, so it’s a scenario worth keeping an eye on moving forward. 

Toronto Blue Jays

Staying on the topic of starting pitching, according to Sportsnet’s Shi Davidi, the Toronto Blue Jays have been asked routinely about the availability of young right-hander Marcus Stroman.

On the subject of making a trade to boost the starting rotation, Davidi noted that it’s “easier said than done, when word is they’re being regularly asked for Marcus Stroman in return by potential trade partners, even for rentals.”

The Blue Jays, as noted by Drellich and Nightengale in the previous section, are very interested in Cueto. Any deal with Cueto will likely include one of the team’s top pitching prospects—Daniel Norris, Stroman or Jeff Hoffman—but the team’s reluctance to include Stroman could be a bugaboo in their quest for adding a starter.

Davidi goes on later to suggest that a more likely trade scenario is one similar to the Samardzija deal between the Chicago Cubs and Oakland A’s last season.

The Blue Jays, Davidi reports, are more interested in acquiring a starting pitcher with extra years of club control, and he suggests a combination of soon-to-be free agents like Ian Kennedy or Joaquin Benoit along with Andrew Cashner or Tyson Ross, who have one and two years of club control left on their contracts, respectively.

Toronto needs help both in the starting rotation and the bullpen, but in order to keep pace with the rest of the American League East, they may need to relent and give up a starter like Stroman—or at least a top prospect.

Jay Bruce

Returning to the Reds rumor mill, Bruce is rumored to be available, according to multiple sources, including ESPN’s Buster Olney. 

Fox Sports MLB insider Ken Rosenthal also made mention of Bruce’s availability in a recent piece, stating, “For all the talk about Cueto, Chapman and right-hander Mike Leake, some around the Reds believe that right fielder Jay Bruce is as good a bet as anyone to be traded.”

Cueto, Leake and Chapman seem like sure things to be moved at this point, but Bruce is arguably the most intriguing trade chip the Reds hold.

Bruce is under club control through 2016, with a $13 million team option for 2017 and a $1 million buyout for that season. Bruce, one of the game’s premier right fielders when healthy, is affordable through the next two seasons and has been on a tear of late, averaging a .330/.385/.606 batting line with four home runs, 12 doubles, 13 RBI, 15 runs scored and 16-9 K/BB ratio over his last 25 games.

Bruce is peaking after having started the year off rather poorly, and adding him to the trade market could provide the Reds farm system with a huge boost.

This year’s list of potential trade chips is loaded with starting pitchers, and Bruce would be one of the few marquis position players available at the deadline.

A quick perusing of Bruce’s contract, via Baseball Prospectus, shows that he’s able to veto trades to eight teams—the Diamondbacks, Red Sox, Marlins, Twins, Yankees, A’s, Rays and Blue Jays—but several of those teams could work as potential landing spots anyway given their status as division-title contenders.

Bruce would be an attractive option for a number of teams given his relatively team-friendly contract status, making him a prime candidate to move at the deadline.

James Shields

Starting pitching rules the market this year, and according to MLB insider Peter Gammons, James Shields is another name to add to the long list of starting pitchers who figure to be available at the deadline.

The interesting thing about Gammons’ story is that the Padres are the ones gauging teams’ interest in trading for Shields, not the other way around. If the Padres are looking to deal Shields, then that, along with the bevy of trade rumors including prized outfielder Justin Upton, surely signals that they’re looking to blow the whole thing up.

The Padres acquired Upton and Shields—among other acquisitions—prior to the 2015 season, and to this point, the moves haven’t paid off. Through 90 games, Upton and the Padres own a 41-49 record, good for fourth place in the National League West and 10 games back of the division-leading Dodgers.

Ben Zobrist

Our final update comes in the form of more news on Oakland A’s jack-of-all-trades Ben Zobrist. According to Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe, Zobrist is drawing interest from multiple teams.

Despite not having the best of years, Zobrist remains sought-after, including by the Mets, Yankees, Giants, and Nationals. Zobrist, 34, has played three positions this season — 25 games in left field, 25 at second base, and three in right field. Zobrist has played only four career games at third base but could play there if needed.

Zobrist can literally do it all, and the team that would eventually acquire him would be getting one of the hottest players in the American League West. Over his last 30 games—he’s only played 44 since returning from the DL in late May—Zobrist is slashing .308/.392/.495 with three home runs, nine doubles, 16 RBI, 21 runs scored and a 13-16 K/BB ratio.

Zobrist is a fit on any number of teams, as the 34-year-old can slot into practically any position on the field. The list of suitors keeps growing for Zobrist, and he’s now been linked to the four teams above as well as the Cubs and Angels.

Zobrist figures to be a hot-ticket item as we approach the deadline, and we could be looking at a good ol’ fashioned Yankees-Mets bidding war come July 31.

All stats current through play on July 16, 2015 and are courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

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Major League Baseball’s All-Star Game is giving its players some much-deserved rest, but the trade market is starting to heat up, as some of the game’s best could be on the move in the coming weeks. 

Those available sit on each end of the spectrum from All-Stars to vital role players. Continue below for some of the latest buzz surrounding the most recent trade rumors: 

Johnny Cueto

Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Johnny Cueto is not seeing the kind of success that made him one of the National League’s best last season. After a 20-9 year with a 2.25 ERA in 2014, Cueto is just 6-6, but he still holds an impressive 2.73 ERA this year. 

He is an ace on a struggling Reds team that has entered the All-Star break with a 39-47 record, 15.5 games behind the National League Central leading St. Louis Cardinals. Their play has Cueto on the trading block, as USA Today‘s Bob Nightengale reports that there are a few teams interested in the right-hander:

The Houston Astros are in need of a second arm that could help put them over the top of the American League West, as they trail the Los Angeles Angels by one-half game. At this point, however, they just need some healthy ones. They currently have just three starters active on their depth chart, as Scott Feldman and Brett Oberholtzer are on the disabled list. 

They do have the American League All-Star team’s starting pitcher, though. Dallas Keuchel is 11-4 with a 2.23 ERA, and adding the likes of Cueto could create one of the best one-two punches in the American League. 

Over in the American League East, the Toronto Blue Jays’ reported interest in Cueto shows that they are very much looking to be buyers, despite trailing the New York Yankees by 4.5 games in the division. 

Their offense is not the problem. With the likes of Josh Donaldson, Jose Bautista and Edwin Encarnacion, the Blue Jays can score runs. Unfortunately for them, their pitching is giving up just as many. 

Four of their five starters this season hold an ERA of 3.50 or higher, including Drew Hutchison’s 5.33 mark. Former Cy Young Award winner R.A. Dickey is having a dreadful season with a 3-10 record to go along with a 4.87 ERA. 

While Cueto would be acquired by the first two sides listed in order to help turn around, even save their seasons, the Kansas City Royals could be World Series favorites if they nab their target.

Kansas City is 52-34, 4.5 games ahead of the Minnesota Twins for the American League Central lead. Cueto could bolster a rotation that could use a bona fide ace in their pursuit of their first World Series title since 1985. 

Without Jason Vargas, who is on the DL with a left flexor strain, the Royals have put their faith in 26-year-old Danny Duffy. Duffy is one of three Royals pitchers with an ERA over 4.60, and Cueto could help bring that number down. In doing so, he could also help take some pressure off of Kansas City’s offense, which is capable of putting up big numbers on any given night. But attaining postseason success relying on big-time offensive production could be a dangerous game to play.

Jay Bruce

A teammate of Cueto‘s, Reds outfielder Jay Bruce is also on the block, ESPN’s Buster Olney reported on Sunday, July 12:

Bruce is a two-time All-Star, experiencing his best seasons from 2011-13 when he hit 30 or more home runs in each of those years. He experienced his worst season in 2014 as his average dropped to .217 with 18 home runs. 

He looks to be back on track this year with 13 long balls and 42 RBI through 84 games, but his improved play is not resulting in wins for the Reds. 

There should be teams that are interested in making a deal for Bruce, especially teams that desperately need an offensive boost. 

One team that comes to mind that could make a move for Bruce would be the New York Mets. The Mets have had problems scoring runs this season, including a four-game stretch from June 30 to July 2 where they scored just three times. They’ve been shutout 10 times this season.

Michael Cuddyer has been underperforming this season, as a player that usually sees his average over .300 is batting just .244. At 36 years old, a younger option in Bruce could make Cuddyer a dangerous bench player. It could also make Bruce a bat that could help ignite the Mets offense. 

The 28-year-old is signed through 2017, according to Spotrac.com and would not just be a rental for a team that is looking for a long-term fix in the outfield.

Ben Revere

Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Ben Revere could be on the way out of the City of Brotherly Love, according to the Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo:

The Mariners have been a disaster this season, one of the more disappointing teams to date, along with the Red Sox and Padres. They added some power in the form of Mark Trumbo in a deal with the Diamondbacks, but are now in need of a leadoff hitter. Revere, who had been eyed by the Angels a couple of weeks ago, is one of the players they’re considering, according to a major league source.

Revere has been one of the bright spots on a struggling Phillies franchise the past two seasons. He saw career highs in 2014 in at-bats (601), average (.306) and hits (184) which led the National League.

He’s doing it again this season in a contract year. He holds a .297 batting average while playing a defensively solid center field on a Phillies team that is an MLB-worst 29-62.

The Mariners, while faring better than the Phillies, are 7.5 games behind the American League West leading Angels with a 41-48 record, despite a roster that includes stars like Nelson Cruz and the underperforming Robinson Cano. 

They’ve received little contribution from the center field position as well. Austin Jackson is batting just .251 with four home runs and 19 RBI with a .295 on-base percentage. Revere could provide a true leadoff hitting talent for the Mariners with a .337 on-base percentage and six triples, which leads the league this season. 

His 21 stolen bases would add a lot of speed to a Mariners roster that has just 35 as a team in 2015. Seattle would have to try and lock him up long-term if they do acquire Revere as his small ball talents would help rejuvenate a Mariners team that is desperately looking for a spark.

Stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com

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The 2015 All-Star break comes just over two weeks before the July 31 MLB trade deadline.

Bleacher Report MLB Insider Scott Miller is at the MLB All-Star Game in Cincinnati and is listening to all of the latest trade buzz.

Stephen Nelson catches up with Scott to find out which teams are ready to deal and which players could be on the move between now and July 31.

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The addition of a second wild-card slot has had a huge effect on the MLB trade deadline the past three seasons.  With so many teams on the fringes of contention, teams that have actually chosen to auction off assets have enjoyed a thriving seller’s market due to the scarcity of real impact.

Entering the All-Star break this season, 18 of the 30 teams have at least a 16 percent chance of reaching the Wild Card Game, per Fangraphs‘ playoff odds.  While teetering teams like the Cleveland Indians and Detroit Tigers may add to the list of sellers, there again figures to be fierce competition for the top trade assets on the block.

With the league at a standstill for the next few days, let’s round up the latest trade buzz roughly two weeks before the July 31 deadline, starting with a pair of Cincinnati Reds stars.

Astros in on Cueto

The Houston Astros have been the biggest surprise of the season, and despite losing the AL West lead they held for most of the first half, Fangraphs still pegs the young squad with a 56.2 percent chance of reaching the postseason.  Consequently, Houston is looking to boost those odds with the highest-profile rental of the deadline period, per CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman:

The Astros have keen trade interest in Reds starter Johnny Cueto, and it appears he may even be their top target, if as expected Cueto hits trade market soon, people familiar with their thinking say.

The Astros just fell a half game out of first place after a very nice first half in which they led the AL West basically the whole way, and one person connected to their team said that “they know they need a starter.”

The Astros do have a nice one-two punch at the top of their rotation with All-Star starter Dallas Kuechel and potential Rookie of the Year Lance McCullers.  However, apart from Collin McHugh, the rest of the rotation has been a sinkhole, especially after Scott Feldman’s knee injury in May.  Brett Oberholtzer and Vincent Velasquez have been roughly replacement-level starters, and the Astros need at least one pitching upgrade if they intend on swimming with the top contenders in 2015.

Though Cueto got snubbed of an All-Star berth, his numbers aren’t all that far off from last season, when he finished runner-up in the NL Cy Young voting.  His 3.06 FIP is actually lower than the 3.30 mark he posted in 2014, and he’s cut his walk rate from 2.40 BB/9 to 1.67.  Cueto has gotten opposing hitters to chase 37 percent of his pitches outside the zone, the fifth-highest mark in the league, as his swing-and-miss stuff is clearly there:

Houston’s offense could use another table-setter besides Jose Altuve who can get on base, but pitching looms as an equally strong need.  Cueto would only be an Astro for two months given his expiring contract, but he would also enhance Houston’s chances of delivering a playoff berth ahead of schedule.

Bruce on the Block

Cueto isn’t the only player who could ship out of Cincinnati, as right fielder Jay Bruce could also end up elsewhere come August.  Heyman reports that the Reds are about to become full-fledged sellers, so despite being under contract, the 28-year-old could still move at the deadline:

Reds right fielder Jay Bruce is available in trade, league sources say.

The Reds are expected by rivals to become a full-fledged seller in coming days, perhaps shortly after the All-Star Game here, but to this point the one name being heard is Bruce, which is somewhat curious since they have multiple big players who are free agents after the year, and Bruce isn’t one of them.

Bruce has offered a proven power bat in the middle of the lineup for years and, according to Heyman, is under contract for a reasonable $19.5 million total through the end of next season (plus a $13 million player option for 2017).  With at least two years of team control, the Reds might be able to extract as large a haul for Bruce as Cueto or Mike Leake, both of whom are free agents after this season.

After a horrid start, Bruce has heated up recently, posting a gorgeous .342/.390/.632 line in July.  The poor BABIP luck that plagued him last season has begun to rebound, and with his lowest strikeout rate (22.2 percent) since 2009, teams in need of lefty power like the Angels and Royals could start a bidding war for Bruce’s services in the upcoming weeks.

 

Padres Shopping Shields 

The San Diego Padres were one of the biggest spenders this offseason, but the money hasn’t bought them a contending ticket.  Sitting 10 games behind the Dodgers in the NL West and 7.5 games behind the second wild-card spot, Fangraphs pegs the Padres’ playoff odds at a minuscule 2.4 percent.  Facing that bleak outlook, San Diego is apparently shopping one of their big offseason adds, according to Peter Gammons:

On the surface, James Shields has regressed from his Kansas City days, posting a 4.01 ERA that would be his highest mark since 2010 and a career-high 3.09 walk rate.  However, as Beyond the Boxscore’s Murphy Powell argues, Shields’ peripheral stats suggest poor flyball luck that could spell a second-half rebound:

James Shields is striking out more than 10 batters per nine innings and walking nearly three per nine. If you prefer percentages, he’s striking out about 27 percent of the guys he faces and walking 7.7 percent, all of which are career highs. The home run rate will likely come down — it would be fairly remarkable to see that mark stay higher than 17 percent all year when the league standard is about 11 percent. Shields has made some changes with his curveball usage, and it’s been useful for the most part. The strikeouts and whiffs are great. With a 3.21 xFIP, we might see some better overall results for Shields soon.

Powell notes how Shields’ fastball and cutter have both gotten pounded for power this season, a troubling development given how often he throws those pitches.  Nonetheless, Shields’ batted-ball profile is virtually copy-pasted from last year, as he’s not giving up much more hard contact.  If the Padres really do sell low on Shields, they might be underselling his bounce-back potential.

Shields’ market might not be robust given his age (33 years old) and $62 million salary over the next three seasons, though he can technically opt out after 2016, per Spotrac.  Given his “Big Game” moniker, it would only be fitting for Shields to return to a contender in time for October once again.

*Unless otherwise cited, all stats via Fangraphs.

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The upcoming Major League Baseball All-Star Game is notable for being the official end to the season’s first half, but it also marks the real beginning of trade season. 

This year’s deals are going to be fascinating because so many teams are bunched close together in the playoff race. Entering play on Saturday, 20 of the 30 teams were in the playoffs or within five games of a wild card spot. 

That grouping will lead many general managers to believe their team is an actual playoff contender instead of a false idol. It can make the July 31 trade deadline dull because teams won’t want to sell off their assets in the hopes of catching fire, and they will want to convince their fans they are still going for it. 

Yet there are still plenty of teams out there that have come to the realization that now is the time to go into sell mode. Whether that means a deal materializes or not is another story, though at least some will try to make something happen. 

A case in point involves these rumors. 

Phillies Price Still Steep for Cole Hamels

Even though Philadelphia Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. may be busy putting foot to mouth about some players on his roster, he’s not changing his tune in terms of trading Cole Hamels. 

According to CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, a recent conversation between the Phillies and another team shows that the Phillies aren’t going to sell their ace left-hander for less than what they want. 

“One Phillies person told an interested team executive that they are “not bending” on Cole Hamels, leaving the impression he could stay in Philly for the foreseeable future,” Heyman wrote.

It’s not clear what exactly the Phillies seek in return for Hamels. Last summer, when the southpaw was also being discussed as a trade candidate, Heyman quoted a rival general manager as saying “they want the world.”

If Hamels remains with the Phillies for the rest of this season, while decreasing his value (that’s an extra two months a team won’t have control over him), it won’t be the worst thing in the world. 

However, given where this franchise is at owning the worst record in baseball, the Phillies need to strike while the iron remains hot for Hamels. That means this winter would be the absolute latest they should wait to deal him.

As good as Hamels is, he’s 31 years old and his numbers have started to drop in 2015. 

There’s a very short window of time that a team has to maximize a player’s trade value. The Phillies may be past that point with Hamels, even though he’s still a very good pitcher. But it doesn’t seem to be changing their hopeful return. 

Padres Ready to Sell James Shields

A potentially interesting alternative for teams seeking pitching help that can’t afford Hamels is San Diego Padres right-hander, James Shields. 

According to Peter Gammons of Gammons Daily, the Padres have already been exploring options for Shields:

It’s hard to overstate how bad things have gotten for the Padres, who certainly did everything in their power over the winter to make a playoff push for the first time since 2006. Shields, Craig Kimbrel, Justin Upton, Wil Myers and Matt Kemp were supposed to bring the franchise back to prominence.

Instead, San Diego has lost six straight games and is just one game ahead of last-place Colorado in the National League West. 

The Padres signed Shields to a four-year, $75 million deal in February. He’s performed well in some areas, with a career-high 10.2 strikeouts per nine innings, but somehow pitching in spacious Petco Park hasn’t prevented him from having his second-worst home run rate (1.4 per nine innings). 

One problem San Diego could face if it’s serious trying to ship Shields out is how much money it has to eat. Keep in mind, he was an old free agent at 33 years old and will be 37 by the time his contract ends. Some of his declining numbers, especially pitching in a division with three big parks, are going to scare off teams.

Shields isn’t without value, as every team would love to have a pitcher who has thrown at least 203.1 innings and made at least 31 starts in eight straight seasons. But there’s only so high they can go with some of his numbers.

There’s also the public relations image the Padres would have to deal with after selling one of their high-profile acquisitions five months after signing him. The team isn’t succeeding now, but the raw talent on the roster could provide hope to fans that they won’t have to go through another full rebuild. 

San Diego general manager A.J. Preller has a lot to mull over in the next three weeks, so expect more buzz around this franchise as July comes to a close. 

Giants Seeking Michael Morse Reunion

Michael Morse played a role in the San Francisco Giants’ postseason run last October, notably with his game-tying home run in Game 5 of the NLCS, so it’s no wonder the defending champions would look to reunite with the veteran slugger. 

According to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, the Giants have had some contact with Morse’s current team.

“San Francisco has shown some interest in re-acquiring first baseman Michael Morse from the Marlins but would have to be willing to pay a good chunk of the $11 million remaining on his contract for Miami to consider this,” Jackson wrote. 

Looking at each of San Francisco’s three World Series wins since 2010, one thing that’s remained consistent is the front office making a midseason acquisition that pays off in October.

Cody Ross was claimed off waivers in August of 2010 and was named NLCS MVP. Marco Scutaro was acquired from Colorado in July 2012, won NLCS MVP and drove in the series-winning run in Game 4 of the World Series. 

Only last year didn’t feature a big deal that paid off in the postseason, but that was only because Madison Bumgarner was so dominant that no one else really needed to do much. 

Things haven’t gone well for the Giants so far this season, which has been a pattern for the franchise after championships. They are hovering around the .500 mark and in the playoff mix, but they have work to do catching the Dodgers in the division, as well as the Cubs for the second wild card spot. 

Morse isn’t a dynamic hitter, as evidenced by his .204/.266/.296 slash line with Miami this season, but the Giants have the ability to hide him on the bench as a pinch hitter.

That’s not an ideal role for a bad defensive player, especially one owed as much money as he is, but the Giants have a knack for getting the most out of their talent, like few other teams can. 

Stats via Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted

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