MLB Trade Rumors: What Team Is the Best Fit for Each Top Pitching Target?

There's always a ton of demand for starting pitching at the trade deadline. This year, the supply may actually match the demand for a change.

The July 31 trade deadline is still over two full months away, but the trade market is already starting to take shape. It just so happens that the market is well-stocked with starting pitchers, quite a few of whom bear big names.

On Tuesday, ESPN's Buster Olney presented a list of marketable starting pitchers that could be on the move later this summer. The names on the list include former NL Cy Young winner Jake Peavy, Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels and veteran right-hander Bartolo Colon.

In all, there are 10 names on Olney's list. Ahead of you is a full breakdown of what they bring to the table, why they could end up getting moved before the deadline and which teams would be perfect for them.

Joe Blanton, Philadelphia Phillies

What Blanton Brings to the Table

Joe Blanton is rarely spectacular, but on a good day, he'll throw strikes, pitch six innings and keep crooked numbers off the board. He's been a lot better than usual this year, as he has a 4-3 record and a 2.96 ERA.

Why the Phillies Could Put Him on the Block

This is the final year of Blanton's contract with the Phillies, and it's surprising he's lasted this long with the team. As Olney notes, the Phillies have tried to deal him before. The Phillies could use him in a deal to acquire a bat. In other words, they'll deal him if they're buying at the deadline.

Perfect Fit: Cincinnati Reds

The Reds have three solid starters in Johnny Cueto, Mat Latos and Bronson Arroyo, but the back end of their rotation is an issue. The Reds would seem to prefer to keep Aroldis Chapman in their bullpen, so any upgrades to the back of their rotation would have to come from without. And to catch the St. Louis Cardinals, they're going to need to upgrade.

The Reds wouldn't have to give up any talented prospects to get Blanton. The Phillies would probably settle for a quality power bat, a la Ryan Ludwick. That's a deal that would help both teams.

Bartolo Colon, Oakland Athletics

What Colon Brings to the Table

Bartolo Colon has made 360 starts in his career, which is well over a decade old at this point. He's won a Cy Young award, and he has experience pitching in the postseason. He's pitched poorly in his recent starts for the A's, but he still has a solid 4.13 ERA, and he's currently sixth in the AL in innings pitched.

Why the A's Could Put Him on the Block

The A's have been much better than advertised this year, but they're not going to catch the Texas Rangers in the AL West. Even if they're still alive in the AL wild card chase in July, don't put it past Billy Beane to trade Colon. The A's seem to be in a perpetual rebuilding mode until they get a new stadium, and Colon could help them add to their farm system.

Perfect Fit: St. Louis Cardinals

Cardinals GM John Mozeliak said on MLB Network Radio awhile back that the team's pitching has been much better than expected this season, and it certainly has been. Despite the absence of Chris Carpenter, the Cardinals starting rotation has an ERA of 3.31.

Nonetheless, a lot of things could go wrong with St. Louis' rotation, and the Cardinals will know they're in trouble if Carpenter's return is pushed back or called off altogether. If they hit the trade market, Colon is a guy they could target because he'd be relatively easy to acquire. The Cardinals have a habit of getting the most out of pitchers, and you just get the sense that Colon is a guy they could do wonders with.

Ryan Dempster, Chicago Cubs

What He Brings to the Table

Ryan Dempster is one of the most experienced pitchers in baseball. He's been in the league since the late 1990s, once winning as many as 17 games in 2008. This year, he has a 1.74 ERA in six starts, and he's pitched at least six innings in every one of them.

Why the Cubs Could Put Him on the Block

The Cubs are trying to build a dynasty under new boss Theo Epstein, and Dempster doesn't have a place in the team's long-term plans. His trade value is high right now, and the Cubs can use that to their advantage by trading Dempster for prospects.

Perfect Fit: Detroit Tigers

The Tigers have a true No. 1 in Justin Verlander, a very solid No. 2 in Doug Fister and Drew Smyly has been a pleasant surprise. Unfortunately, Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello have been killing them this year.

The Tigers have the goods to win the World Series this year, but they need to stabilize their starting rotation. Dempster would provide a ton of stability behind Verlander and Fister, and he'd also help take some pressure off Detroit's bullpen. He could also rest easy knowing that the Tigers have the best lineup in the AL Central.

There's not a lot left in Detroit's farm system, but trading for Dempster wouldn't be nearly as costly as trading for Jake Peavy or Cole Hamels.

Zack Greinke, Milwaukee Brewers

What Greinke Brings to the Table

Zack Greinke won the AL Cy Young award in 2009 when he was with the Kansas City Royals, and he was one of the most dominant pitchers in the National League after the All-Star break last year. This year, he has a 4-1 record and a 2.88 ERA in eight starts. He hasn't allowed an earned run in either of his last two starts.

Why the Brewers Could Put Him on the Block

Greinke is going to be a free agent at the end of the year, and he's due to earn more than the the small-market Brewers can pay him. They'd no doubt prefer to keep him for the stretch run and beyond, but things aren't looking too good for the Brew Crew right now, and Greinke is definitely a guy who could provide their farm system with a boost.

Perfect Fit: Atlanta Braves

The Braves are back on top of the NL East, but that's not exactly thanks to their starting pitching. Atlanta's starting rotation has one of the worst ERAs in the National League, and it's a rotation that could very much use another tried-and-true ace to go along with Tim Hudson, who is injury-prone.

The Braves are one of the few organizations in the majors that has the farm system to pull off a deal for Greinke. They have some great young arms that they could offer the Brewers, who need young arms. Just as important, Atlanta is not a city that is going to trigger Greinke's social anxiety disorder.

Atlanta has been hesitant to deal its young talent, but this team would be capable of doing big things if it acquired a pitcher like Greinke.

Cole Hamels, Philadelphia Phillies

What Hamels Brings to the Table

Cole Hamels is one of the best left-handed starting pitchers in baseball. He's won at least 10 games each of the last five years, and he helped the Phillies win the World Series in 2008. This year, he has a 2.28 ERA in seven starts.

Why the Phillies Could Put Him on the Block

Hamels is going to be a free agent at the end of the season, and he may end up being too pricey for the Phillies. They won't think about dealing him if they're still in the NL playoff chase, but they've had a hard time getting on track this season. If they're still struggling in July, they could decide to get what they can for Hamels. Their farm system could use a boost.

Perfect Fit: Toronto Blue Jays

A lot of people expect Hamels to end up on the Los Angeles Dodgers at some point down the line, but he won't get there via a trade. The Dodgers don't have the assets to trade for him.

The Blue Jays do have the prospects to pursue a trade with Hamels, and Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com has already reported that Jays general manager Alex Anthopoulos has inquired about Hamels and Shane Victorino.

It makes sense that he would be interested in Hamels. The Jays have a very good young rotation, but it lacks a veteran ace to take charge in a playoff push. Hamels could be that guy, and the Jays can make a better offer for him than any team in the league.

Derek Lowe, Cleveland Indians

What Lowe Brings to the Table

Derek Lowe's sinker is legendary, and he uses it to rack up a ton of ground balls. The sinker has been working very well for him this season, as he has a 6-1 record and an AL-best 2.05 ERA in eight starts. His most recent start was a complete-game shutout.

Why the Indians Could Put Him on the Block

The Indians won't trade Lowe as long as they remain at or near the top of the AL Central. However, we saw them start hot and fade down the stretch last year, and they shot themselves in the foot by giving up a package of prospects to get Ubaldo Jimenez. If the Indians fall out of the race again, they could fix that mistake by trading Lowe.

Perfect Fit: Texas Rangers

Just as they have in recent seasons, the Rangers have gotten good work out of their starting rotation this year. What they lack, however, is a tried and true ace who they can use as a go-to guy when the postseason rolls around.

Lowe is an intriguing option for the Rangers because their infield defense is well above-average. All Lowe would have to do is keep the ground balls coming and let Adrian Beltre, Elvis Andrus and Ian Kinsler do the rest.

The Rangers have more than enough minor league talent to swing a deal for Lowe. If the Indians fall out of the race, he should be on their radar.

Shaun Marcum, Milwaukee Brewers

What Marcum Brings to the Table

Shaun Marcum is a crafty right-handed pitcher who can eat innings and keep runs off the scoreboard. He's been a quality start machine this year, as he's gone six innings and given up three runs or fewer in six of his seven starts. He has an ERA of 3.07.

Why the Brewers Could Put Him on the Block

Like Greinke, Marcum is due to become a free agent at the end of the season. He's not going to be as pricey as Greinke, but the Brewers could decide they may as well deal him if they're going to deal Greinke too. Both of them could go in a fire sale meant to bolster Milwaukee's farm system.

Perfect Fit: Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers' starting rotation has been surprisingly good this season, but they're kidding themselves if they think Chris Capuano and Ted Lilly are going to maintain ERAs in the low 2.00s.

From the sound of things, they aren't kidding themselves. Olney wrote in his article that the Dodgers are poised to be the "most aggressive team" at the trade deadline, and they'll be in the market for starting pitching.

Marcum's stuff would play well in the NL West, and he's a guy who could be had for a relatively small price. He's also a guy the Dodgers could sign long-term after the season is over.

Carl Pavano, Minnesota Twins

What Pavano Brings to the Table

Carl Pavano is nothing special as a pitcher, but he is nothing if not an innings eater. He's pitched at least six innings in all but one of his starts this season. He also has a cool mustache.

Why the Twins Could Put Him on the Block

The Twins aren't going anywhere this season, and the future isn't much brighter. The Twins need to find talent for their farm system, and Pavano is a guy who could fetch at least one talented prospect if the Twins find a desperate team willing to take him.

Perfect Fit: Washington Nationals

Yes, the Nationals already have an excellent starting rotation, and they have more starting pitching depth than most teams too. Chien-Ming Wang is there if the Nats need him, as is John Lannan.

Both of them, however, could be used as trade bait, and the Nats might just choose to trade one or both of them if they still need hitting and bullpen help at the deadline. That would create a situation in which they'd need to bolster their starting pitching depth.

Pavano is a guy they could target because his experience would be a welcome addition for a rotation that doesn't have a lot of it. He could fill in for Stephen Strasburg after the Nats pull the plug on his season, and his stuff would play well at Nationals Park.

If you have a better idea, I'm all ears.

Jake Peavy, Chicago White Sox

What Peavy Brings to the Table

Peavy won the NL Cy Young in 2007 when he was with the San Diego Padres. He's battled injuries in recent seasons, but he's been one of the better pitchers in the American League in 2012. He has a 4-1 record and a 2.65 ERA, and he's gone at least six innings in all but one of his starts.

Why the White Sox Could Put Him on the Block

The White Sox have one of the worst farm systems in baseball, if not the worst farm system in baseball. It needs to be rebuilt, and Peavy is a guy who could fetch an impressive package of prospects in a trade. The White Sox would also be able to get what's left of his massive contract off their books.

Perfect Fit: Toronto Blue Jays

It's all but a certainty that Peavy will be moved at some point this season. When the White Sox do start to field offers, Peavy is quickly going to become the most sought-after player on the market.

Peavy is a fit for the Blue Jays for all the same reasons that Hamels is a fit for them. He's the kind of veteran ace that they need, and he's a guy who could teach their youngsters a lot, actively or by example.

And once again, the Jays have the assets to swing a deal for a pitcher like Peavy. If they decide to go for it this year, they should do all they can to land either Hamels or Peavy.

Carlos Zambrano, Miami Marlins

What Zambrano Brings to the Table

The last couple years of Zambrano's tenure with the Chicago Cubs were brutal, but he's reinvented himself in Miami. He has a 1.88 ERA in seven starts, and he's allowed just one earned run in his last three starts.

Why the Marlins Could Put Him on the Block

The Marlins have played their way back into the NL East race after a disappointing first month of the season, but they showed us in April that they are far from a perfect team. If they fall out of the race, they could dangle Zambrano as trade bait and hope that no teams are scared off by his rocky history.

Perfect Fit: Chicago Cubs

Just kidding...

Actual Perfect Fit: Los Angeles Dodgers

I have to admit, this is a tough one. There just aren't many places Zambrano would fit, and there are even fewer teams that would consider trading for him given his track record. Honestly, I don't think he's going anywhere this season.

The Dodgers are in play because Zambrano is a pitcher they can afford to pursue and because his stuff would play well in the NL West. The way he's pitching now, he'd be a great No. 2 behind Clayton Kershaw.

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