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The 2016 MLB trade deadline is approaching quickly, and teams are scrambling to fill their biggest needs.

The non-waiver trade deadline is August 1 this year, pushed back a day from the usual deadline due to the fact that July 31 falls on a Sunday. 

It’s been a relatively quiet week so far, but there are still a number of big names on the market who could be on the move this weekend. Here’s a look at the latest rumors around some impact players on the block:

Chris Sale, Chicago White Sox

While the Chicago White Sox are listening to offers for their ace Chris Sale, there haven’t been any concrete rumors linking him to any teams with a serious interest. However, Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball has reported that the New York Yankees are the latest team to enter the discussions. 

Heyman notes that while the Yankees are sellers this year, having already parted with closer Aroldis Chapman, they now have the farm-system depth to pursue another blockbuster trade. 

Even if the Yankees aren’t contenders in 2016, they can reasonably pursue Sale due to the fact that he’s under contract through the 2019 season. According to Spotrac, he is set to earn $39.5 million over the next three seasons—a relatively modest sum for a legitimate ace. 

Heyman also mentions the Boston Red Sox, Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Dodgers among the teams with the ability to put together a package to potentially acquire Sale.

Andrew Cashner, San Diego Padres

Perhaps the best indication of just how weak the trade market is for starting pitchers is this update from Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal:

Sources: #Orioles trying hard to get Cashner. Not necessarily front-runner; #Marlins, #Rangers still in, possibly others.

— Ken Rosenthal (@Ken_Rosenthal) July 28, 2016

It’s hard to believe anyone would be “trying hard” to snag Cashner, who is 10-23 with a 4.47 ERA over the past two seasons, while calling Petco Park—one of the most pitcher-friendly stadiums—home. 

That said, it’s easy to see why a pitching-deprived team like the Orioles would be making every effort to find even a marginal upgrade. The Orioles are desperately trying to replace Ubaldo Jimenez and his 7.06 ERA and may also want an upgrade over Yovani Gallardo (5.37 ERA) and Tyler Wilson (4.98 ERA). 

Due to his modest numbers and the fact that he hits the free-agent market at the end of the season, the Padres likely aren’t asking for much in return for Cashner.

Jonathan Lucroy, Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy remains one of the biggest bats on the trade market. 

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick reported that the Cleveland Indians are interested, while Rosenthal has added that the New York Mets and Detroit Tigers are among the teams talking to Milwaukee. 

Based on the number of teams interested in Lucroy and the lack of other impact catchers on the trade market, the Brewers could be in position to drag out the discussions in an effort to squeeze a blockbuster offer out of one of the interested franchises. 

Further increasing Lucroy’s value is the fact that he’s under contract for the 2017 season for just $5.25 million.

Daniel Hudson, Arizona Diamondbacks

According to Steve Gilbert of MLB.com, the Arizona Diamondbacks are on the verge of dealing reliever Daniel Hudson. 

Hudson was lights out early this season, posting a 1.55 ERA with a .130 opponents batting average through his first 30 games, according to Baseball-reference.com. In recent weeks, however, Hudson has fallen flat. 

Over the course of his past 12 outings, according to the same source, Hudson has surrendered 25 runs in just eight innings of work. 

USA Today’s Bob Nightengale reported that three teams have “heavy interest” in Hudson, but he did not name the teams. 

The Cleveland Indians and Washington Nationals are among the teams who have been linked to other relievers and may have an interest in Hudson as a cheaper option to some of the other names on the market. 

Due to his struggles and his expiring contract, Hudson should come with a relatively cheap price tag.

Contract and salary information courtesy of Spotrac, unless otherwise noted. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The MLB trade market is heating up as the deadline is now less than a week away.

Contenders are scrambling to address their biggest needs before the August 1 deadline, and talks surrounding some of the biggest names are intensifying. 

Here’s a rundown of the latest rumors surrounding some of the biggest names on the market.

Jonathan Lucroy, Brewers

Milwaukee Brewers All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy remains one of the biggest bats on the trade market, and it appears as though a trade may be imminent.

Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel provided the latest update on Thursday afternoon:

Will this be Jonathan Lucroy’s last day with #Brewers? I hear talks ratcheted up with more than one team in last 24 hours. One call away.

— Tom (@Haudricourt) July 28, 2016

ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick recently reported that the Cleveland Indians, seeking a replacement for the injured Yan Gomes, are believed to be a front-runner for Lucroy. Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal also reported on Thursday that the Detroit Tigers are in the mix. 

Lucroy is coming off his second All-Star selection in the last three seasons and has been flirting with a .300 batting average throughout the season. 

In addition to his immediate value, the asking price for Lucroy is increased due to his team-friendly contract. The 30-year-old is under contract for the 2017 season at just $5.25 million. 

David Robertson, White Sox

With Aroldis Chapman already shipped out of New York, the biggest impact reliever on the market may now be Chicago White Sox closer David Robertson. 

According to ESPN.com’s Buster Olney, executives from other teams have speculated the White Sox are motivated to move Robertson because of his contract. 

The 31-year-old Robertson is under contract through 2018 and will earn a combined $25 million in the final two years of the deal. 

While he’s been reasonably productive this season, converting 24 of his 28 save opportunities, the hefty contract could prevent teams from giving up any substantial prospects in return for Robertson. 

Olney mentioned that the Boston Red Sox have “discussed Robertson internally” and speculated that the Washington Nationals may also be a fit. 

It’s certainly no coincidence that Olney mentions two teams ranking near the top of the league in payroll. Most other small-market teams in search of relief help, such as the Indians, likely cannot afford to add Robertson’s contract to their books. 

Wade Davis and Ian Kennedy, Royals

The Kansas City Royals are in the process of selling off parts from their 2015 championship roster, and closer Wade Davis could be the first big name to go. 

The asking price is reportedly extremely steep—ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark reported they want more than what the Yankees got for Chapman. But a recent report from Yahoo’s Jeff Passan indicates there may be another way for teams to nab Davis without dismantling their farm system:

Sources: Royals trying to package Ian Kennedy in a potential Wade Davis deal. Dodgers a strong match. Covet Davis and can take on Kennedy $.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) July 28, 2016

The Royals signed Ian Kennedy to a five-year, $70 million contract in the offseason, but they are apparently already having buyer’s remorse. 

The 31-year-old Kennedy has a 4.41 ERA in 20 starts this season and has surrendered a league-high 26 home runs. 

Due to his age and contract, Kennedy has no value on the trade market and would simply be added to a deal as a salary dump. 

All contract info courtesy of Spotrac. 

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The clock ticking down to Major League Baseball’s August 1 trade deadline doesn’t have much time left on it. Meanwhile, plenty of teams still have holes to fill.

That makes it easy to predict that the next few days are going to be interesting. But for the sake of being thorough, let’s go more in depth.

Ahead is one last list of predictions for the MLB trade deadline. It’s not an especially long one, but it will cover the big bases: which players will and won’t move and which teams will and won’t be active. 

We’ll begin with the fates of two coveted relief pitchers. Step into the box when you’re ready.

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The Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and already we’ve seen some significant action on the MLB trade market.

Among the names that already have been on the move this month include Drew Pomeranz, Aroldis Chapman, Brad Ziegler, Melvin Upton Jr., Mike Montgomery, Joaquin Benoit, Drew Storen, Aaron Hill and Lucas Harrell.

That said, there are still plenty of impact players on the market, as the next couple of days figure to be equally busy with teams looking to shore up their rosters for the stretch run.

For now, here is a quick run through the top impact players still thought to be available and the latest rumors surrounding where they could possibly land over the next four days.

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Odds are that, at one point or another, you’ve heard the Latin aphorism “carpe diem,” which translates to “seize the day.” Seizing the day is a theme that runs through much of this week’s edition of fact or fiction.

With only five days left before MLB‘s non-waiver trade deadline arrives, teams are being forced to decide between holding on to their top prospects in the hopes of future success or parlaying those unproven youngsters into an established veteran or two that can help them win now.

Will a franchise that historically holds onto its top young talent move some in order to make a run at a World Series crown? Should the defending World Series champs trade away a key piece of last year’s championship club? Is the Jonathan Lucroy saga in Milwaukee finally going to end?

We’ll hit on all that and more after the jump.

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Days before August 1’s MLB trade deadline, two All-Star pitchers have already changed leagues.

The Boston Red Sox kicked off the summer activity by acquiring Drew Pomeranz from the San Diego Padres. While it was hardly a surprise to see them locate another arm, teams typically don’t find 27-year-olds under team control.

After weeks of asking whether the New York Yankees are buyers or sellers, they offered a hint by sending Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs for a loot of talent. Top shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres alone is a great return for a two-month reliever rental, but the Bronx Bombers also got back Adam Warren and two other prospects for their troubles.

Chapman to the Cubs shouldn’t have stunned anyone, as the National League Central leaders were on the market for a left-handed reliever. The return, however, was more than even Yankees general manager Brian Cashman could have reasonably expected.

Are there any more surprises on the horizon before Monday? It wouldn’t truly be a surprise if anyone knew, but let’s try to play psychic anyway and predict some abrupt moves that could occur this week.

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MLB‘s August 1 non-waiver trade deadline is quickly approaching, and the rumor mill is churning. 

The first blockbuster move of the season was officially completed Monday with the Chicago Cubs’ announcement that they had acquired New York Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman in exchange for prospects.

Monday’s move may start a chain reaction of other deals, especially in the National League, as teams look to keep pace with the Cubs.

Here’s a look around the league at some of the latest rumors and reports.

Chris Sale, White Sox

Despite his team-imposed suspension for a clubhouse outburst, Chicago White Sox ace Chris Sale remains the hottest name on the trade market.

Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports broke down the market for Sale on Monday, naming Boston Red Sox prospects Yoan Moncada and Andrew Benintendi as well as Los Angeles Dodgers rookie Julio Urias as potential young stars who could help pry Sale from Chicago. 

Many teams will likely view the asking price as exorbitant, but Sale’s value is sky-high thanks to his team-friendly contract, which goes through the 2019 season. According to Spotrac, Sale is set to earn $39.5 million from 2017 through 2019, a bargain rate for a top-of-the-rotation starting pitcher. 

Wade Davis, Royals

The defending champion Kansas City Royals, who are struggling to stay above .500, are reportedly willing to listen to offers for closer Wade Davis. However, the asking price will be steep, according to ESPN.com’s Jayson Stark:

Passan added that the Royals are specifically interested in Washington Nationals prospect Lucas Giolito, one of the top pitching prospects in all of baseball. 

Davis is under contract through the 2017 season, so it’s reasonable to expect a more enticing package than the New York Yankees received for Aroldis Chapman, who will be a free agent after the 2016 campaign. 

However, the Royals may have a hard time drumming up enough interest in Davis to drive the asking price that high.

One of the teams interested in obtaining Chapman was the Cleveland Indians, but the Royals are unlikely to entertain the idea of shipping Davis within the division. That may leave the Nationals as one of the only viable trade partners, decreasing their incentive to offer a top-flight prospect. 

Edinson Volquez, Royals

Another potential casualty of the Royals’ disappointing season is Edinson Volquez, who is under contract through the 2017 season.

According to Spotrac, Volquez‘s contract has a $3 million buyout option at the end of the 2016 season, so a team could view him as a rental if it’s willing to buy him out at the season’s end. 

ESPN The Magazine‘s Buster Olney reported that the market for Volquez has at least one suitor:

Volquez originally broke into the big leagues with the Texas Rangers in 2005 before being shipped to the Cincinnati Reds in the deal that brought Josh Hamilton to Texas. 

After a rough start to the season, Volquez has shown signs of settling down in recent weeks. Over his past five starts, he’s posted a 2.84 ERA.

Hector Santiago, Angels

On Monday, ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick reported that the Los Angeles Angels are listening to offers for lefty starter Hector Santiago.

Santiago, who was selected to his first All-Star Game in 2015, is in the midst of a disappointing season with a career-worst 4.38 ERA but has been regaining his All-Star form in recent weeks. 

In his past seven starts, Santiago is 5-0 with a 2.28 ERA.

Due to his recent hot streak and track record of success, the asking price for Santiago could be steep. 

Santiago is earning just $5 million this season, according to Spotrac, and will likely see only a marginal bump in salary in 2017, his final season of arbitration before he hits the free-agent market for the first time in 2018.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

Trade season is officially upon us, and with less than a week to go until baseball’s August 1 non-waiver trade deadline arrives, things are sure to pick up.

We’ve already seen one big trade go down this week, with the Chicago Cubs acquiring closer Aroldis Chapman from the New York Yankees for a package that included the team’s top prospect, shortstop Gleyber Torres.

If you’re receiving MLB trade rumor notifications on B/R’s Team Stream app, then you’ve already heard the news from Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal that the San Diego Padres have agreed to send outfielder Melvin Upton Jr. to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for a Single-A prospect. If you’re not, well, what are you waiting for?

What follows are trade ideas based on the latest chatter from the rumor mill. Some of these we touched upon briefly on Monday, while others haven’t yet been explored. 

Keep in mind that these proposed deals are pure speculation. Unless otherwise noted, there’s no indication that any of them have actually been discussed.

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A year ago, Yoenis Cespedes, Gerardo Parra, David Price and Ben Revere were some of the biggest names to change hands at the trade deadline. This year, Chris Archer, Jay Bruce, Wade Davis and Chris Sale are among the biggest being bandied about.

While we’ve already seen some deals go down—most notably the trades of Drew Pomeranz and Brad Ziegler to Boston—there are more to come. If this year’s deadline is anything like last year, there will be plenty of moves to debate and dissect.

Not every team is represented here, but that doesn’t mean your favorite team won’t swing a deadline deal. Here you’ll find our predictions (some bold, some not so much) for what will happen between now and 4 p.m. ET on Aug. 1, the last day that teams can make trades without players having to pass through waivers.

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The talk has been going on for at least a month. Many fans thought the New York Yankees, rich in relief pitching but too far down in the standings, would be willing to trade some of their assets before the Aug. 1 non-waiver trade deadline.

In particular, closer Aroldis Chapman and setup man Andrew Miller were the team’s most desirable trade chips. The flamethrowing Chapman was almost certain to be on the market because he’s set to become a free agent in the offseason.

However, there seemed to be some doubt coming from the Yankees’ ownership box. Owner Hal Steinbrenner seemed to be taking a cue from his late father, George. The Yankees were always the team that loaded up around the trade deadline. They did not sell stars for future assets; it’s not the Yankee way.

On Sunday, Jon Heyman of Today’s Knuckleball reported Steinbrenner had not given his approval to start selling off players.

However, there are strong indications that Steinbrenner may be softening his stance. Heyman later reported the Yankees and Chicago Cubs were talking about a potential trade that included Chicago minor league shortstop Gleyber Torres.

The Cubs, of course, are in first place in the National League Central and have designs on going to their first World Series since 1945 and winning it for the first time since 1908. Chapman would not guarantee either one of those scenarios, but he would provide an intimidating presence at the back end of the bullpen, which the team doesn’t have with Hector Rondon in the closer role.

Rondon has a 1.95 ERA and 18 saves, but he can’t match the 105 mph fastball that Chapman throws.

If the Yankees and Cubs don’t work out a deal for Chapman, the Cleveland Indians and Washington Nationals are reportedly interested, according to Heyman. 

Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal added credence to the idea of the Indians going after Chapman. While he did not mention the Yankees closer’s name, he noted the Indians are interested in upgrading their bullpen.

After Sunday’s 5-3 loss to the Baltimore Orioles, the Indians saw their record fall to 56-41, putting them six games ahead in the American League Central. However, they have lost three games in a row and six of their last 10.

While Cleveland could use help at the catcher position since Yan Gomes suffered a separated shoulder in mid-July, they may be able to get by without trading for a catcher, instead letting Chris Gimenez and Roberto Perez split duties behind the plate. As a result, talk has centered on bullpen help for manager Terry Francona and the Tribe.

The Chicago White Sox may be in sell mode as they sink further out of contention.

After a 23-10 start, the White Sox have fallen to 48-50. While there has been a lot of speculation on uniform-cutting left-handed ace Chris Sale, the Boston Globe‘s Nick Cafardo reported White Sox left-handed starter Jose Quintana could be available if a trade partner presents an “overwhelming” package to general manager Rick Hahn.

Quintana may have an 8-8 record, but he has a 2.97 ERA and 116-to-32 strikeout-to-walk ratio in 130.1 innings, according to Baseball-Reference.com.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com