Kuzul

A lot of the names have remained the same. Scott Feldman, Matt Garza, Lucas Harrell, Ricky Nolasco and Bud Norris have been identified as trade candidates since the start of the season. Why? Because they're pretty good starting pitchers on pretty bad teams. While those five remain strong candidates to be dealt by the July 31st deadline, there are sure to be some starters who will become trade targets because they are pitching better than expected and/or because their team's aren't in the playoff race.Here are five of those pitchers who are likely to join Norris and co. on the trade block.  Begin Slideshow

While it’s only been a few days since the conclusion of the 2013 First-Year Player draft, some teams have already announced the signing of their early-round selections. For example, Baseball America reported that the Phillies and third-round pick Cord Sandberg have already reached an agreement on an over-slot signing bonus of $775,000 and that the Reds announced yesterday that they have come to terms with first-rounder Phil Ervin for $1,812,400, the recommended slot value for the No. 27 pick. However, not every player will be an easy sign like Sandberg and Ervin. A majority of the players selected in the first round will likely hold out until the mid-July signing deadline with the hope of landing an above-slot bonus.So, of the remaining unsigned draft picks, here’s a look at the players who figure to command the highest bonuses.Begin Slideshow

There are a lot of players worthy of being selected to the 2013 MLB All-Star Game, but not all of them will make it.Thirty-three players make the AL All-Star team, and 33 players make the NL All-Star team. That means that a mere 66 players make the initial team, which is extremely tiny when you consider that 750 players are currently on active MLB rosters.Because less than 9 percent of the league's players end up on one of the initial teams, some deserving players miss the team. However, because players and managers vote for most of the All-Stars, some players who don't get any attention from the national media are recognized.This year, there are more players who have done well but have flown under the radar. Here are five of those players.Begin Slideshow

The 2013 MLB draft's 40 rounds are now all in the books as every organization has been given the opportunity to stock their farm systems for years to come.The MLB draft is always an intriguing event because of the varied approaches that teams can choose to use.While some GM's love to go for the high ceiling of unproven high school prospects, others prefer to choose the more pro-ready college prospects in hopes for a quick return.Either approach can be successful—provided teams find the right value. Here's a breakdown of how each team graded out at the conclusion of the draft based on the value of their selections.2013 MLB Draft Grades Team Grade Houston Astros A- Chicago Cubs B Colorado Rockies B+ Minnesota Twins B Cleveland Indians B Miami Marlins B+ Boston Red Sox B+ Kansas City Royals B- Pittsburgh Pirates A- Toronto Blue Jays C New York Mets B Seattle Mariners B+ San Diego Padres B- Arizona Diamondbacks B Philadelphia Phillies B Chicago White Sox B- Los Angeles ...

Welcome to the club, Mr. Pettitte.The "250-Win Club," that is. Here's your ID card and hand stamp, so you can come on in and join the gang.Andy Pettitte won his 250th career game Saturday against the Mariners. The Yankees left-hander needed a few tries, surrounding an ill-timed stint on the disabled list, to finally get in, but here he is.Of course, the victory leaves Pettitte 50 shy of the 300 barrier that has forever been used to measure the greatest of the great pitchers. Considering his age (40) and intention to retire at some point in the near future, he's not going to reach that mark.That doesn't mean 250 wins shouldn't be celebrated. After all, it's actually an achievement that should be thought of on par with the big 3-0-0.While there are 24 300-game winners in baseball history, there are now 47 hurlers with at least 250, counting Pettitte.In other words, ...

Much was made of the fact that the Boston Red Sox had a top-10 draft pick for the first time in 20 years this week—finishing last will do that for you—but it's not always the top selections that pan out. For every home run pick like Jim Rice, Nomar Garciaparra and Dustin Pedroia in the first round, the Sox have also struck out with the likes of Jason Place (2006) and Steve Ellsworth (1981).Even more intriguing, however, are those later-rounders who almost slip through the cracks and wind up playing far above expectations. As Red Sox fans speculate the future of this year's top pick, lefty pitcher Trey Ball, take a look at some Boston post-fourth-rounders who later starred for the team.Begin Slideshow

The past few seasons, the Houston Astros have been the laughing stock of Major League Baseball, but that may not last for long. Things are looking up in Houston, as the Astros continue to grow and learn in their rebuilding process. Players like Jose Altuve and Jason Castro are beginning to show glimpses of their tremendous potential. New ownership and management are in place to get this organization on the right track. The farm system for the Astros is on the rise, as more and more talented prospects join the organization via trades and draft picks. Expectations for the Astros this year were very low, which gives this team the opportunity to improve in a comfortable, positive environment without any pressure or distractions. Here are the 10 biggest reasons to be optimistic about this young team's future.Begin Slideshow

Major League Baseball All-Star voting always makes for good debate.That's because everybody's definition of an All-Star is a little different.Some like to see the players who've done best in the current season, regardless of their career history. Others prefer to pick the top players in the sport, even if their production has slipped a bit this year.And, of course, someone always gets snubbed.Monday brought the first update of All-Star voting, starting with the American League, and Tuesday gave us the National League leaders.Here, then, is a breakdown of the top vote-getters at each position, along with a rundown of a few others who could fight their way into the starting spot when it comes time to play the 2013 All-Star Game at Citi Field in New York on July 16.There's still a month left to get votes in, so if you're not happy with any of the following, well, do something about it.Begin ...

On Thursday evening, Major League Baseball teams will partake in the annual June draft, casting the future of the franchise into selections of players fresh out of high school or college. Their arrival into the minor league system will bring about projections, often towards the very, very optimistic side. Of course, many high draft picks won't pan out. On the other hand, many players will be undervalued, progress to a level not envisioned during the draft weekend and go on to become stars in the show.Assessing the future of raw talent is an unenviable task for any talent evaluator in sports. When the projection is correct, we're told that those front office minds are simply doing their job correctly. But if that projection is wrong, it often results in the loss of a job.Clearly, some talents, both good and bad, are easier to evaluate than others. Bryce Harper was supposed ...

Another banner month for the Miami Marlins.Not.After an 8-19 April, the Marlins managed to outdo themselves with a 6-22 May. Very impressive.Included in that torrid month was a season-long nine game losing streak, and the Marlins never won more than three consecutive games.And now, the report card is out on Marlins players for their miserable May, although a few did receive high marks. So delve in and, from worst to best, see what grade each Marlins received for the second month of the 2013 season.Begin Slideshow