Kuzul

It’s all happening. 

With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, deals are coming in left and right and the rumors are even more plentiful than that. As is often the case the case this time of year, the biggest names being bandied about are that of ace pitchers, but the market is rife with talented players potentially making a move.

Perhaps no player is attracting more attention than Boston Red Sox ace Jon Lester. Gordon Edes of ESPN has more on the interest surrounding Lester:

A major league source with knowledge of Boston’s discussions said Monday night it is still ‘less than 50-50’ that the Red Sox trade Lester, based on discussions to date. The same holds true, the source said, for lefty reliever Andrew Miller, although he expects that the offers for both pitchers will be sweetened as Thursday’s trade deadline draws closer. 

The Red Sox are now actively engaged in determining what kind of return they could get in a Lester deal. They have had discussions with the Los Angeles Dodgers, they have been in contact with the St. Louis Cardinals and Seattle Mariners, and there was a report that they fielded an inquiry from the Baltimore Orioles, though it’s highly unlikely they’d move Lester within the division. 

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Milwaukee Brewers are also interested in acquiring Lester. And Sean McAdam of CSNNE adds that the Atlanta Braves, Oakland Athletics and Toronto Blue Jays are all in the market for Lester. 

Reports had emerged that the Red Sox weren’t pleased with Lester’s demands in contract-extension talks and thus put him on the trade market, though the pitcher’s agent denied them, per Edes: 

‘The discussions we had with the Red Sox were confidential and will remain that way,’ Seth Levinson, Lester’s agent, wrote in an email Tuesday. ‘There is no truth to the report, and I am not going to guess why it was written or the basis for that report.’

The Boston Globe reported Tuesday that the Red Sox had been informed of what kind of contract the pitcher has been seeking, ‘and that led to the team putting its ace on the trade market.’ The story, citing a major league source, went on to say that Lester was seeking ‘a competitive offer consistent with the market’ and speculated that would be in the range of $22 million to $24 million annually.

Given the way Lester has pitched this year, it’s not hard to see why he might want to be paid the big bucks. The slinger is currently 10-7 with a 2.52 ERA, 1.12 WHIP and has recorded 149 strikeouts in 143.0 innings pitched. And with the Red Sox 11 games out of first place in the AL East and 8.5 games back in the wild-card hunt, it makes sense to at least shop their ace.

Plus, Lester is 30 years old, perhaps giving the Sox pause when they consider signing him to a high-priced, long-term extension. One would guess the preference would be to re-sign Lester, and that seems more likely than the Sox trading him. The safe bet is him remaining in Boston. 

But if they are blown away with an offer, well, that could change quickly.

Lester isn’t the only attractive ace on the market. The Philadelphia Phillies could be enticed to move lefty Cole Hamels, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports:

Frankly, it’s been a bit surprising the Phillies haven’t had their fire sale already. The team is 12.5 games back in the NL East, 11 games back in the wild-card race and has a roster full of high-priced veterans who could help a contender and bring back a nice haul of prospects for the team. Morosi has two such players who could depart Philadelphia:

But nobody would garner a bigger price than Hamels. 

Like Jimmy Rollins and Chase Utley, however, Hamels is a life-long member of the organization, and fans of the club might find it hard to let him go, even if a slew of talented young players came back to Philly. One would guess the fire sale in Philly would have already begun if it was going to happen so for now, the safe money would suggest that Hamels would stick around.

Players like Marlon Byrd, Antonio Bastardo or A.J. Burnett, however? Don’t be shocked if all are moved.

While there are big names remaining on the trade market, the team that seems the most likely to make a big splash is the Los Angeles Dodgers. Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports has more:

Adds Joel Sherman of the New York Post:

The Dodgers are currently 2.5 games ahead of the San Francisco Giants in the NL West and have the best record in the National League, but they won’t want to rest on their laurels. Adding another ace to a rotation that already included Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke would make them truly formidable. 

Hamels and Lester will cost a huge price, while John Lackey has revitalized his career in Boston but might not be the big fish the Dodgers are trying to lure. That leaves David Price. The Tampa Bay Rays hurler is 11-7 with a 3.08 ERA, 1.04 WHIP and 183 strikeouts in 163.2 innings pitched, and he’s also postseason tested. 

On the other hand, the Rays are back in the wild-card chase, likely inflating Price’s, um, price. 

Still, a top three of Kershaw, Greinke and Price would be truly scary for the rest of the National League. If the Dodgers are willing to be buyers and aren’t afraid to overpay, Price could be on the way. More than likely, they’ll end up with a second-tier option like Lackey. It’s going to be a busy couple of days in LA, that much is for certain.

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As the minutes tick away prior to Thursday’s non-waiver trade deadline, all 30 Major League Baseball teams appear to be in a state of flux. Sure, there are a handful of teams that can feel good about their playoff aspirations, but are they championship-caliber clubs?

That’s the question every general manager faces every year, though some start the season with an understanding of what these 162 games will look like.

Now, with three months of evidence to base it on, moves that will build for now or the future are being discussed.

All of the speculation floating around is fascinating, simply because all of the scenarios make sense. That doesn’t mean deals are going to happen—most of them won’t—but you can justify a lot of these moves by thinking about it.

Here are the latest rumored deals that could shake up the landscape of MLB down the stretch.

Everyone Calling About Jon Lester

With the Tampa Bay Rays winning more games, making it harder to justify shopping David Price, the best pitching option on the market is another left-hander from the American League East: Boston’s Jon Lester.

According to Sean McAdam of CSNNE.com, there have been at least eight teams that have called Red Sox general manager Ben Cherington about Lester:

St. Louis, Seattle, Baltimore and the Los Angeles Dodgers are widely thought to be in on Lester, but industry sources say the Red Sox also have received interest from another handful of clubs, led by Milwaukee, Atlanta, Oakland and Toronto.

Of those, a source indicated, Toronto has been the most aggressive in its interest.

It’s become clear that 2014 isn’t going to be a repeat season for Boston. The Red Sox are currently 48-58, 11 games behind Baltimore in the division and 8.5 out of a wild-card spot. Lester is going to be a free agent at the end of the year, with he and the Red Sox agreeing to halt contract talks until the offseason.

Since the Red Sox have no assurances from Lester now, not to mention he’s 30 years old and in line for a massive payday, it makes sense for Cherington to explore all his options with the left-hander.

Toronto is an interesting spot because the Blue Jays have intriguing pieces in the system, though Bob Elliott of the Toronto Sun suggests general manager Alex Anthopoulos was unwilling to part with top prospects Marcus Stroman and Aaron Sanchez for Jeff Samardzija last winter.

According to Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com, Anthopoulos later rejected a proposal from the Cubs for Samardzija that would have sent Sanchez, Daniel Norris and Dalton Pompey to Chicago.

If the Blue Jays wouldn’t make those deals for Samardzija, who has another year of team control in 2015, why would Anthopoulos make what would likely have to be a similar offer for two months of Lester?

The Red Sox aren’t a poor franchise, either in prospects or finances, so they can afford to play the market however they want and take their chances with re-signing Lester in the offseason.

John Lackey A Sleeper Candidate for Dodgers

Speaking of the Red Sox, Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com speculated on a deal that would have Lester going to Los Angeles for Matt Kemp.

However, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, don’t sleep on John Lackey as a fallback option if the Dodgers can’t get one of the elite names:

While no one would put Lackey in the Lester-Cole Hamels-David Price class of pitchers, he’s still turning in very solid performances for a disappointing Boston team. The right-hander has a 3.60 ERA and 116 strikeouts in 137.1 innings.

Unlike Lester, who is a homegrown talent and five years younger, the Red Sox don’t seem intent on keeping Lackey.

However, the Red Sox are in a position to get a significant return for Lackey if they decide to move him because of how brilliantly they structured his contract. FanGraphs‘ Dave Cameron indicates Lackey’s deal would include a team option in 2015 for the league minimum, approximately $500,000, if he missed significant time from 2010-14 due to an elbow injury.

Lackey missed the entire 2012 season due to Tommy John surgery, which automatically triggered that clause in his contract.

As a result, whoever he pitches for next season will be getting arguably the best bargain in baseball relative to performance and money paid out.

Unfortunately for teams trying to trade for Lackey, that also allows the Red Sox to put a higher price tag on Lackey than if he were in the final year of his deal or had a more traditional option that would pay him close to the $15.25 million that Spotrac shows he’s making this year.

The Dodgers and Red Sox have a recent history of making big trades, so no one would be shocked to see these two come together again. Los Angeles has been unable to pull away from San Francisco in the NL West, holding a two-game lead.

The Giants already made a notable deal with the Red Sox, acquiring Jake Peavy to stabilize their rotation while waiting to get word on if/when Matt Cain will pitch this year.

The ball is in Los Angeles’ court. Ownership and the front office have not shied away from making big deals with the hopes of winning now.

Pirates Looking In-State for Deadline Deals

The top of the National League is fascinating to look at prior to the deadline. There are seven teams that have somewhere between 46 and 49 losses, no division leader is ahead more than two games and four teams are within 0.5 games of the two wild-card spots.

Last year’s Cinderella story, the Pittsburgh Pirates, currently trails Milwaukee by two games in the National League Central and is 0.5 games out of a wild-card spot, making it a very serious buyer at the deadline.

The Pirates have a serious need for power in the lineup, ranking 11th in baseball with 437 runs scored despite having the best on-base percentage at .333. They have power in the lineup, but it’s not spread out.

Of the 95 homers hit by Pittsburgh players this season, 47 of them have come from Andrew McCutchen (17), Neil Walker (15) and Pedro Alvarez (15).

Another area of need for the Pirates is the bullpen, which was so good last year with the third-best ERA (3.26). Their relievers currently rank 12th in ERA (3.45), and Tony Watson is the only left-hander in the bullpen with more than 30 appearances and an ERA under 4.00.

According to Morosi, the Philadelphia Phillies could be coming to Pittsburgh’s rescue:

The Pirates know Byrd very well after his stint in Pittsburgh last year, which included a dramatic home run in the Wild Card Game against Cincinnati. His performance hasn’t dropped that much this year with a .273/.321/.482 line and 20 homers in 411 at-bats.

Patience is never going to be Byrd’s strongest asset, but that’s not what the Pirates need right now. They can afford to sacrifice some OBP, especially with five players getting on base at a .350 or better clip, if it means spreading some of that power around.

Antonio Bastardo doesn’t have a sterling ERA at 4.17, but he’s great at missing bats with 53 strikeouts in 45.1 innings and is effective against righties (.614 OPS against) and lefties (.697 OPS against).

Unless Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro puts an abnormally high price tag on these players, which isn’t out of the question, the Pirates have the need and deep farm system to make a deal happen.

Stats courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference.com. 

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Derek Jeter continues to break career records, and at this age, it’s no surprise. Earlier in the season. he eclipsed Lou Gehrig’s doubles record of 534, and most recently he passed Carl Yastrzemski for seventh on the all-time hits list. The hit was a quintessential Jeter base hit through the right side gap on a well executed hit-and-run. With this latest accomplishment, fans have to wonder how high he will move up on the hit list.

Jeter is currently only 10 hits behind fellow shortstop Honus Wagner, who ranks sixth all time with 3,430 career hits. But the thought is prevalent amongst fans: how much more the 40-year-old shortstop could accomplish if he didn’t retire at the end of this season.

Jeter will pass Wagner in the immediate future, and he will likely also pass Cap Anson shortly after that, who, by some accounts, has 3,435 hits, while others have him listed at 3,011 hits. But despite the controversy, the Yankee legend will realistically finish either fifth or sixth all time. Although it will be close, he does have the potential to finish fifth all time by passing Tris Speaker, who has an outstanding 3,514 career hits.

Regardless, Jeter will go down as one of the greatest hitters of all time, but it’s enticing for fans to think about him finishing within the top three.

If Jeter were to play another two years, let’s say, then he would certainly achieve that, or at least come close. And it seems like he could continue on, at least physically, if he wanted to.

Jeter looks healthy after a season plagued with injuries. He is ranked fifth in the league for average from a shortstop with a .278 clip. Albeit, his average is down from what he has hit for his career, which is .311, but his current average is pretty impressive when you take all things into consideration.

At the moment, the Yankee captain has 104 hits on the season and could conceivably pick up around 180 to 185 total by the end of the year. In 2010, he had a similar year when he batted .270 and collected 179 hits total for the season. Most critics thought that season would be the demise of Jeter, but he proved them wrong with a bounce-back year in 2011 with a .297 batting average, then again in 2012 when he hit .316 and led the league in hits with 216.

Even in this subpar year by Jeter’s standards, he has proven he can still play. Pete Rose said a couple of years ago that Jeter wouldn’t be able to break his all-time hits record of 4,256. According to ESPN New York in 2012, Rose had this to say:

I don’t think he can get 200 more hits at 41, but let’s say he does. OK, now he’s 42. He’s gonna get 200 more hits then? At 42? Let me tell you, I’ve been there; the body locks up. Jeter’s a great hitter … but he’s gonna get 200 hits when he’s 42? I don’t think he will. And even if he does all that, he’s still 150 hits short.

We won’t get to find out what would happen with Jeter at 41, or 42, but it does make us think about Rose’s hypothetical. If Jeter were to play an extra two years, he might not catch Rose or Ty Cobb, but surely he’d pass (if he were able to stay healthy) Stan “The Man” Musial and possibly the great Hank Aaron, who have 3,630 and 3,771 hits, respectively.

If he were able to accomplish that feat, that would mean he’d rank third all time in hits, but it would just be icing on the cake in what has been a marvelous career. And for Jeter, he’s never been one to fret over individual stats, but rather his focus has always been on team accomplishments.

His All-Star Game performance showed shades of his youth, when he made a diving stab to almost rob Andrew McCutchen of a base hit, followed up by his leadoff double in the bottom of the inning.  And if his All-Star Game performance was indicative of anything, it’s that the man can still play.

However, it’s understandable that Jeter wants to hang it up now, when he’s still on top. Yes, he may be fading a bit, but he’s still one of the better players in the game. Some players overstay their welcome, and in turn, they don’t get to retire in the fashion they want and with the team they began with.

For Jeter, who has lived a near-flawless legacy, now is the right time. But for fans, the thought of him staying longer seems tempting, knowing that he can accomplish even more than he already has.

Follow Evan on Twitter @Emoneyball22

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With the nonwaiver trade deadline just around the corner, MLB trade rumors are swirling around at a furious pace. One such rumor that has gained a lot of momentum over the past few days is the potential dealing of Boston Red Sox ace Jon Lester.

With the Sox out of contention, it appears as though the team may be willing to move the impending free agent.

One team at the forefront of the Lester discussions? According to CSN New England’s Sean McAdam, the Toronto Blue Jays are in hot pursuit of the southpaw.

He also mentions the fact that the Sox would be willing to move their ace within the AL East (though not to the New York Yankees, who would have the financial muscle to re-sign the Washington native).

Acquiring Lester makes sense on multiple fronts for the Jays.

First, there’s the fact that McAdam mentions that the Baltimore Orioles are interested in adding Lester to their starting rotation.

Those same Orioles are just 2.5 games ahead of Toronto in the AL East entering Tuesday. Allowing the team you’re in direct competition with for a division title to bring in one of the best left-handed pitchers in the game would be a major blow to your aspirations of winning the East.

Adding him to the Jays rotation would give them the legitimate ace the team needs and would also provide them with an upgrade on J.A. Happ as the team’s second starting southpaw.

Lester would also be a great insurance policy should the club fail to win the division and end up playing in the Wild Card Game.

Imagine the Blue Jays secured the second wild-card position and had to square off against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim for the right to play in the ALDS.

Right now, there isn’t a Jays starter who would have the baseball world believing they could win that matchup.

R.A. Dickey, Drew Hutchison and Happ are far too inconsistent and Mark Buehrle’s performance has fallen back to earth. Marcus Stroman has been sensational in his time as a starting pitcher, but he’s a rookie with only 10 career starts under his belt.

Contrast them with the likes of Jered Weaver or Garrett Richards and an objective observer would have to give the Angels the edge on the mound—their lineup can also compete with Toronto’s.

This is where Lester would make a huge difference for Toronto. In a do-or-die situation, having a bona fide ace who has pitched in the World Series could make all the difference in the world.

The other encouraging part of this potential deal for Lester is that it’s a realistic acquisition for the Jays.

Not only is his contract for $13 million this season (over half of which has already elapsed), but he would be a rental-type player, meaning Toronto may only have to part with one top-tier prospect and one or two lesser ones.

If they can keep Aaron Sanchez, who has impressed in the bullpen, as well as Stroman, who’s been lights out in the rotation, it should be a no-brainer for the Blue Jays’ front office.

Any deal would likely have to include the organization’s No. 1 prospect, Daniel Norris. That shouldn’t be too much of a concern though, seeing as he’s struggling since his promotion to Double-A New Hampshire and probably won’t be ready to contribute until 2016—after Toronto’s proverbial three-year window of contention.

If Toronto is serious about making a run in the playoffs, adding Lester to a rotation already comprised of a reliable Buehrle, the up-and-coming Stroman and one-time ace Dickey is a necessity.

Jon Reid is a contributor for Bleacher Report. Follow him on Twitter @JonReidCSM.

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The 2014 MLB nonwaiver trade deadline is Thursday, July 31, and the rumors surrounding the biggest names in baseball have fans trying to predict where the top players will land.

With stars like Colorado’s Troy Tulowitzki, Boston’s Jon Lester and Minnesota’s Josh Willingham reportedly on the market, the landscape of the league could look very different by the time Aug. 1 arrives.

Here are the latest rumors and predictions as the trade deadline approaches.

Troy Tulowitzki

One of the best shortstops in baseball is Colorado Rockies star Troy Tulowitzki, and he has been at the center of trade talks for weeks leading up to the deadline. The rumors were further fueled by Tulowitzki’s appearance at a Yankees game in New York on Sunday, per Nick Groke and Patrick Saunders of The Denver Post.

According to Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com, Tulowitzki’s trip to Yankee Stadium was not related to business, but the shortstop is intrigued by the possibility of playing in New York City:

It is unrelated to his day trip, but those close to the shortstop say they believe that if Tulo is to be traded from the Rockies — a team he loves in a city he loves — the Yankees happened to be one of only a handful of teams he’d be happy to join.

Friends of Tulowitzki say that while he hasn’t necessarily presented a list of pre-approved teams for trade, he does indeed love the history and winning tradition of the Yankees, that he’d love the idea of replacing his idol Derek Jeter, and that he’d happily look past the fact that his beloved No. 2 is taken (Jeter’s number will be retired with him after this year) to accept a trade to the Bronx.

The media has run with this story, but there is little doubt that this was strictly Tulowitzki attending the game to see his favorite player one last time. While being in the stadium and seeing the atmosphere from the fan’s perspective could have intrigued the shortstop about a possible deal, nothing is imminent.

If New York were to land Tulowitzki, it would likely be after Jeter retires this offseason.

Despite Tulowitzki’s outstanding numbers in 2014—he’s racked up a .340 batting average, 21 home runs, 52 RBI and a .432 on-base percentage thus far—he is currently on the disabled list with a thigh injury.

With Colorado not looking to deal the shortstop and few teams willing to overpay without seeing him perform on his injured leg first, any potential trade would likely have to wait until the offseason at the earliest.

Predicted Landing Spot: Colorado Rockies

Jon Lester

The Boston Red Sox understand that starting pitcher Jon Lester has the right to become a free agent at the conclusion of the season. If the organization doesn’t want to pay Lester the money he has earned, trading him away will yield a hefty return.

The trade won’t bring back a player of Lester’s talent, but it’s better than allowing the team’s top pitcher hit the open market and get nothing in return.

In a series of tweets from Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com and Buster Olney of ESPN, it has become clear that Boston is doing whatever it can to move Lester before the trade deadline:

Why the Red Sox wouldn’t do whatever it took to re-sign the pitcher is beyond comprehension. Even at 30 years old, Lester is still one of the best pitchers in the league and has impressed with his 2.52 ERA, a 10-7 record and 149 strikeouts.

There are reportedly several teams interested, and that’s likely due to the fact that it isn’t often when a player of Lester’s caliber is put on the block. With little baggage attached to the player, any team in win-now mode will be kicking the tires over the coming days.

It is unclear if a team will be willing to pay what Boston is asking for what could be a rental player if he decides to test the open market this offseason, but his raw talent and consistency would make him a valuable piece to any starting rotation.

Predicted Landing Spot: Los Angeles Dodgers

Josh Willingham

The New York Yankees have serious issues with the pitching rotation, but the team is reportedly just as interested in adding another bat to the lineup as it is finding a starting pitcher on the trade block.

One of the players reportedly drawing the most interest from New York is Josh Willingham.

In a separate report from Heyman, he claims that the Yankees are interested in acquiring another offensive player, and Willingham fits the mold the team is looking for:

The Yankees, perhaps as concerned about their offensive issues as their rotation, are looking at outfielder Josh Willingham and some other bats.

The Yankees may actually prefer Willingham to Marlon Byrd or Alex Rios, perhaps partly because of Willingham’s reasonable $7 million salary and status as a free agent after the season, though Byrd and Rios haven’t been ruled out. Rios makes $12 million, with a $2 million buyout of a $14 million team option, and Byrd has an $8 million salary next year. Byrd’s deal does not seem overly high considering his solid production the past two years, but there may be some concern about his fit in the Bronx.

While it is clear that New York needs a consistent bat in the lineup, it makes little sense to add a player like Willingham. During the 2014 season, he has hit for an abysmal .219 batting average, 10 home runs, 29 RBI and a .361 on-base percentage.

Where is the consistency there?

Willingham’s numbers indicate that he would find more success in the friendly confines of Yankee Stadium, but there is a serious risk associated with a possible deal. New York would likely have to trade away a prospect to get the Twins outfielder, and if he doesn’t pan out, the team would be stuck with a 35-year-old player on the backside of his career.

Despite the holdups, the Yankees have the need and the willingness to trade for Willingham.

Predicted Landing Spot: New York Yankees

*Stats via MLB.com.

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The 2014 MLB trade deadline is scheduled for Thursday, July 31, and as it is every season, the rumors have started to come fast and furious from all corners of the sport.

With huge names like A.J. Burnett, Jon Lester, Matt Kemp and Jonathan Papelbon potentially on the move, the landscape of baseball could shift if the rumored trades come to fruition before the deadline.

Here are the latest reports from around Major League Baseball.

Phillies and Pirates Hammering Out Deal for A.J. Burnett?

The Philadelphia Phillies currently hold a 46-60 regular-season record, meaning the team will mostly likely become aggressive sellers at the trade deadline. The franchise must start thinking about the future, and that could mean dealing starting pitcher A.J. Burnett.

Burnett was brought in as a free agent to add another reliable arm to the rotation, but his services would be much better utilized on a team contending for a postseason berth like the Pittsburgh Pirates.

According to Jim Bowden of ESPN, Philadelphia and Pittsburgh are working on a deal, but the details are still being hammered out:

Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com also reported the Pirates’ interest in Burnett but revealed a snag that could hold up a potential trade:

The Phillies and A.J. Burnett wouldn’t mind working out a deal for him to go to Pittsburgh, but the Pirates’ interest, believed mild at best, might fall further if Burnett intends to pick up a player option for next year that’s likely to be worth $12.75 million.

The 2015 option is for $7.5 million at its minimum, but it will begin escalating if he reaches 24 starts this season (he has 21 so far). If he starts 32 games, the option would rise to $12.75 million, which would be a budget buster for Pittsburgh.

Giving up seven earned runs in his last start is not what a prospective team wants to see from a trade target, but Pittsburgh knows exactly what Burnett would bring to the team based the two seasons he spent there (2012-13).

Burnett’s 2014 hasn’t been his best, but he has served admirably on a struggling team. His positive attitude has helped anchor the rotation, and he has amassed a 4.15 ERA, a 6-10 record and 123 strikeouts thus far.

With the Pirates depending on Edinson Volquez and Vance Worley as the No. 4 and No. 5 starters, respectively, in their rotation, adding an insurance policy like Burnett would be a great deal if the two sides can come to an amicable agreement.

Jon Lester-for-Matt Kemp Deal on the Table?

One of the biggest names on the trade block this season has been Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jon Lester. According to reports, Lester could be the key piece in a trade for Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp.

In a report from Gordon Edes of ESPNBoston.com, Los Angeles and Boston may be laying the groundwork for a blockbuster trade before the deadline:

He has had debilitating ankle and shoulder injuries that have limited his play the last two seasons, is still owed roughly $118 million on a contract that runs through 2019, and has a mixed reputation as a clubhouse presence, but the Red Sox are considering making a move for Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, according to a club source.

With the Sox in need of more offensive production in the outfield, the right-handed-hitting Kemp could be the major piece in a trade for Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester, especially with the Dodgers reluctant to part with top outfield prospect Joc Pederson.

This would be one of the biggest trades of the year, and it would make a lot of sense for both parties involved. Boston would get a legitimate return in Kemp for Lester before he hits the open market as a free agent.

Los Angeles will have to take the educated risk regarding Lester re-signing with the Dodgers, but the team would be able to add another ace to the already-powerful starting rotation. Add in the fact that moving Kemp would alleviate some salary-cap stress and free up another outfield position for the young players in the farm system, and this is a win-win deal for both teams.

With Lester pitching well (2.52 ERA, 10-7 record and 149 strikeouts) and Kemp performing strong since returning from injury (a .277 batting average, eight home runs, 40 RBI and a .343 on-base percentage on the season), this would be a blockbuster trade that could actually come to fruition before the deadline.

Philadelphia Pushing Hard to Move Jonathan Papelbon?

As discussed in the Burnett section, Philadelphia is slipping out of contention and should be looking to sell many of the high-priced pieces that aren’t going to be part of the long-term plan.

One of the biggest names thrown around in rumors has been closer Jonathan Papelbon, but there just hasn‘t been the attention the Phillies thought they would get for a player of his caliber.

According to Heyman, Philadelphia is so desperate to move Papelbon that the team is willing to eat a substantial portion of his salary, but there is still not enough interest to make a deal worth a move:

The Phillies are telling teams they’d absorb a portion of the $18 million remaining on closer Jonathan Papelbon’s deal if they are interested in trading for the closer. Papelbon’s market seems light, if existent, after both the Angels and Tigers filled back-end bullpen needs with Huston Street and Joakim Soria, respectively.

Despite the team’s struggles, Papelbon has not lost the tenacity and toughness be has become known for, and the numbers back that up. With a 1.83 ERA, 25 saves and 40 strikeouts in 44.1 innings, there is no question that he would be a welcome addition to any bullpen.

For the teams potentially interested in Papelbon, the high-priced contract is a major issue. If the Phillies are willing to eat a huge chunk of the money, as the report claims, it will be easier to move him in a last-second deal.

Stats via MLB.com.

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Lost in all the respect and hoopla surrounding Derek Jeter’s last season as part of the New York Yankees is the fact that the squad is still very much in the race for an American League playoff spot.

Entering play Monday, the Bronx Bombers were four games behind the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East and battling with the Toronto Blue Jays, Seattle Mariners and Kansas City Royals for wild-card positioning.

Perhaps a significant move or two at the trade deadline could push the Yankees over the top? 

With that in mind, here is a look at some of the latest rumors coming out of New York.

John Danks

Jayson Stark of ESPN.com filled fans in on the latest regarding New York’s potential pursuit of John Danks:

The White Sox had scouts watching the Yankees’ system, particularly the minor league catching surplus, in the past few days. It is yet one more indication the Yankees are focused on John Danks in their search for another starting pitcher.

It is certainly interesting that the Yankees are connected with Danks because many teams would take umbrage with his $14.25 million salary the next two years, but probably not New York. Danks may have a 9-6 record, but his 4.40 ERA is certainly far from elite, as are the 17 home runs he has allowed. 

Still, the Yankees pitching staff has taken some lumps in the injury department with CC Sabathia and Masahiro Tanaka. Adding Danks would provide some depth and another solid arm to a rotation that ranks 17th in the league in ERA.

He may not be a game-changer, but Danks would certainly give the Yankees a more formidable pitching group heading into the stretch run.

Platoon Search

Despite the pitching staff concerns, there are still some other needs. Stark had another update:

While the Yankees have looked into names like Josh Willingham, other clubs say they appear most focused this week on finding a right-handed hitting platoon partner in right field for Ichiro Suzuki, and one with no long-term salary commitments. So names like Chris Denorfia (Padres) and Justin Ruggiano (Cubs) are more likely than, say, Marlon Byrd or Alex Rios.

Ichiro hasn’t exactly dominated in New York, but he is batting .270 and is still a solid glove in the outfield. If he could platoon with someone consistently at age 40, his production would probably see an uptick. 

None of the names on that list Stark provided is going to single-handedly win the Yankees an American League pennant, but more depth is critical as the wear and tear of the season takes its toll in September. Keeping fresh legs in the outfield, especially one that features older veterans like Ichiro, could be the difference in a future game or two.

Looking for Pitching

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports filled fans in on the Yankees’ search for some other more notable names:

The rival Red Sox are said to listening on ace Jon Lester and others now, but he’s more likely a winter free-agent consideration for them than a trade possibility for New York.

While Cliff Lee could become an option later if he pitches some better games in his return after a two-month absence with an elbow issue, the Yankees aren’t focused on him now since he’s all but sure to clear waivers in August and remain a trade candidate.

Lee’s teammate Cole Hamels seems barely available, and even if he is, the Yankees probably don’t have the upper-level prospects to do such a deal.

That doesn’t exactly seem promising from New York’s perspective, but one American League scout had a more positive take, via Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe:

They have more in their farm system than people think. They have some arms, they have the Aaron Judge kid, [Luis] Severino, [Gary] Sanchez, [Peter] O’Brien, [Eric] Jagielo. If they wanted to make a deal, they have enough to give up.

The name that really jumps out from that list of pitchers is Jon Lester. If the Yankees do pursue him in the offseason, it wouldn’t be much of a stretch seeing them throw big-time money his way. In fact, New York tossing dollars at the best arm on the market is almost a rite of passage for any offseason. 

It’s hard to see Boston trading a pitcher of Lester’s caliber, who just so happens to be among the best lefties in all of baseball, to its chief rival. That being said, stranger things have happened at the MLB trade deadline.

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Los Angeles Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw is the best pitcher in Major League Baseball, so if anyone can knock an apple off someone’s head with a baseball, he’s probably the best bet.

Jimmy Kimmel thought it’d be a good idea to give Kershaw a chance to try his luck.

It took the southpaw a few attempts to knock the apple off the talk-show host’s head, but Kershaw eventually did it—just not the way Kimmel had hoped.

[Jimmy Kimmel Live]

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Starting pitcher James Paxton appears close to returning to the Seattle Mariners rotation after missing nearly four months with a strained lat muscle.

Nothing official has been announced by the team yet, but Paxton is traveling with the Mariners on their current road trip and will throw a bullpen this week, per Greg Johns of MLB.com. Johns points out he could potentially start as early as Saturday against the Baltimore Orioles.

Although the Mariners lead the majors in ERA, Paxton’s successful return could be the most important factor for the team over the final two months of the season.  

It’s no secret that the Mariners need offense much more than pitching, but there simply isn’t much out there. Kendrys Morales will likely be a slight upgrade at DH, and Seattle might be able to grab an outfielder like Alex Rios before the deadline, but the Mariners are not going to be able to address every offensive need via the trade market.

If the Mariners can’t improve their offensive production enough, the next best thing for them is to improve their run prevention. With depth about to get short at the back of the rotation, Paxton may be the only pitcher in the organization who will be able to do that.

Paxton has too small of a sample size in the major leagues to make any conclusive statements, but he has pitched well so far in Seattle. Through five career starts, Paxton has allowed seven earned runs in 36 innings while posting a strikeout rate of 24.8 percent and walk rate of 6.6 percent.

While Paxton has always been rated behind Taijuan Walker in terms of upside, he looked absolutely dominant April 2 against the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim.

If Paxton can pitch anywhere close to that level in August and September, the Mariners will have an outstanding top three in their rotation for the final stretch. If Chris Young can continue to defy regression, they will have a strong top four.

Seattle’s expected Opening Day rotation has not all been healthy at one point this season, and the Mariners have not been able to find a reliable No. 5 starter as a result.

Brandon Maurer has had much more success as a reliever than as a starter, Erasmo Ramirez has a walk rate of 11.6 percent and Taijuan Walker is still learning to pitch in the major leagues at just 21 years old.   

In the No. 4 spot, Roenis Elias has stabilized himself in his last two starts after a rough month, but he is only 25 innings short of his professional career high. Elias will likely be in the bullpen by September, if he’s pitching at all.

Paxton must be effective in filling one of those two spots. If he suffers another setback or pitches poorly, the Mariners are looking at starting two of Ramirez, Walker or Blake Beavan in the rotation for the rest of the year.

With the Mariners’ current offense, that isn’t going to work out well. The other option would be to pay the high price in prospects for one of the few available pitchers like Bartolo Colon at the deadline, but any potential trade is likely to be for a bat.

The Mariners know a lat problem can be difficult, as Stephen Pryor (now with the Minnesota Twins) was initially diagnosed with a similar injury and still doesn’t look like the same pitcher over a year later. Paxton himself suffered a scary setback in May. 

However, the team is going to be incredibly careful with Paxton and must feel confident in his health if he is traveling with the team and throwing his scheduled bullpen.

Most importantly, Paxton felt good during his latest rehab start, via Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times.

I felt good. No pain at all. I feel like it’s getting closer. I’m still missing down with my fastball. The breaking stuff felt really good, curveball and cutter felt really good. My change-up was good. It’s just finding the release point with my fastball. But I feel like I took a good step forward today. … It’s better to miss there than up. I feel like it’s a small adjustment and I will be able to get my fastball where I want it.

Paxton was a bit shaky with his command Sunday, walking three batters in 4.1 innings. It wouldn’t get any easier if he were to pitch against the Orioles on the road in his return, but the Mariners have little choice but to start him if they feel he is healthy enough.

A healthy Paxton would be a huge boost to a sliding Seattle ballclub. Paxton will be one of the most important players to the Mariners over the rest of the season, if not the most critical piece.

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In the thick of the National League East race, the Atlanta Braves would be wise to make a move or two before MLB‘s non-waiver trade deadline passes on Thursday.

There are two glaring holes on this roster—left-handed relief and bench depth. The latest rumors certainly touch on the fact that the bullpen needs help, though there really isn’t too much going on in terms of bench help.

That said, there’s a bit of a surprising rumor that the Braves may be toying with ahead of the deadline that would make the lack of bench depth less apparent.

Read below for the latest buzz surrounding the Braves.

David Price, Jon Lester

Jon Lester and David Price squared off last Friday night, but that wasn’t the only clash going on in the ballpark. Multiple teams had scouts on hand to get a look at both starters ahead of the deadline, according to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal:

Both starters have been the subject of trade rumors recently, though it’s unclear which starter the Braves were in attendance for. Maybe it was both. Maybe it was just one of the two. Regardless, it appears that Atlanta isn’t comfortable with its rotation of Julio Teheran, Mike Minor, Ervin Santana, Aaron Harang and Alex Wood.

Both starters would be upgrades to the rotation. That said, the price may simply be too high for the Braves, and not only because of each left-hander’s pedigree. Their numbers this season are also superb:

The Braves have good talent in the farm system to deal, but acquiring starting pitching should not be the priority right now. Sure, it’s hard to argue with bringing in one of the two aforementioned aces, but shoring up other areas instead of masking them is paramount.

Instead of Lester or Price, the Braves need to find some depth.

Andrew Miller

“Atlanta has identified lefty in the pen as its biggest need,” writes CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman, and David O’Brien of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports that Andrew Miller is one of the team’s top targets to fix the issues in the pen:

Miller has been great for the Boston Red Sox for three straight seasons. Since he began his tenure in Boston, Miller owns an ERA of 3.83 (3.56 FIP), 1.395 WHIP and 214 strikeouts in 176.1 innings pitched. Those numbers are a bit skewed, as he was a starter in his first season with the Sox.

Now strictly a reliever, Miller is a great lefty specialist. He can strike out any of the lefties in the American League, mostly because of his great fastball and decent control.

Miller is arguably the top lefty available. This is exactly the type of move the Braves need to make. Here’s why.

Take a look at the National League East. Powerful lefties like Bryce Harper, Chase Utley, Curtis Granderson and others grace the lineups of the Braves’ biggest rivals.

Currently without a lefty-stopper in the pen, the Braves have put themselves at risk against these hitters. Miller would mitigate the risk and give them a quality option to combat those hitters.

James Russell, Oliver Perez

The Braves are desperate to add a lefty arm. Just how desperate? Well, ESPN’s Jim Bowden (Insider subscription required) reports that the Braves have looked everywhere: “The Braves have touched base with every team that has an available left-handed reliever, with James Russell of the Cubs and Oliver Perez of the Arizona Diamondbacks among possibilities.”

The Chicago Cubs and Diamondbacks should both be in positions to sell. Neither is nearing a playoff push this season. Both Russell and Perez are assets who could net solid returns considering their status as specialists in the bullpen.

Perez has re-invented himself as a reliever over the past three seasons. This year has been his best, as evidenced by his 2.04 ERA (2.50 FIP), 1.160 WHIP and 46 strikeouts in 39.2 innings pitched.

Under contract through 2015, Perez would require slightly more to acquire than a rental would. A top-10 prospect should be enough to entice the D’Backs.

Follow Kenny DeJohn on Twitter: @KennyDeJohn_BR

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