MLB Trade Rumors: Every Team's Hottest Rumor Heading into the Second Half

The MLB All-Star game is tonight, but once the festivities wrap up, the impending trade deadline—which is now just three weeks away—will take center stage in the baseball world.

As such, the rumor mill is starting to pick up steam as we anticipate the first big move of deadline month, the time of year where contenders look to shore up their rosters and struggling teams sell off their veterans to build for the future.

Before the season's second half begins, here is a look at the hottest rumors/news currently surrounding each MLB team.

Arizona Diamondbacks: Will the Diamondbacks Really Move Justin Upton?

Expected to be in contention for an NL West title entering the season, the Diamondbacks have struggled to a 42-43 record and not only look ready to become sellers, but could move one of their franchise cornerstones as well.

According to Fox Sports, the team is willing to listen to offers for 24-year-old outfielder Justin Upton, a two-time All-Star who has been in the big leagues since the age of 19.

He has struggled to a .273 BA, 7 HR, 37 RBI first half, but he is just a year removed from a .289 BA, 31 HR, 88 RBI, 21 SB season in which he helped the Diamondbacks reach the postseason.

He's signed through 2015 and is due a fairly reasonable $38.5 million over the next three years, so the Diamondbacks' asking price will no doubt be through the roof, but in a trade market short on impact bats, there may very well be someone willing to pay the price.

Atlanta Braves: Zack Greinke Is at Least on the Braves' Radar

The Braves entered the season with depth at starting pitcher, but with Brandon Beachy and Arodys Vizcaino lost for the year due to Tommy John surgery, and with Julio Teheran unable to snare a rotation spot, the team will likely look to add a pitcher.

Six teams were on hand for Zack Greinke's start this past Saturday, and according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the Braves were among those teams.

It remains a long shot at this point, and Buster Olney reported last Wednesday that the Braves are unlikely to pull the trigger on a deal that doesn't include an agreement from Greinke to sign long-term.

Baltimore Orioles: Orioles Will Look to Add a Starter

The Orioles have managed to stay in contention through the first half of the season, no thanks to their starting pitching, and they look ready to overhaul their rotation in the second half.

The team demoted Jake Arrieta (3-9, 6.13 ERA), Tommy Hunter (3-4, 6.11 ERA) and Brian Matusz (5-10, 5.42 ERA) in the weeks leading up to the break, and it'll look to add an arm or two to fill out its rotation.

The popular rumor has been Zack Greinke, as the team is said to be "going hard" after him, but the team has also been linked to Astros left-hander Wandy Rodriguez. 

One thing is for sure: The Orioles look ready to make a deal to boost their starting rotation, albeit one that more than likely will not include top prospects Manny Machado or Dylan Bundy.

Boston Red Sox: Team Will Not Consider Trading Josh Beckett

The Red Sox have been a major disappointment this season, and their pitching staff has been at the root of the problem, as no regular starter has an ERA under 4.00.

However, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports, the team views starter Josh Beckett (4-7, 4.43 ERA) as "part of the solution," and they will not consider trading him.

The 32-year-old has two years and $31.5 million remaining on his contract after this season, so he would be tough to trade either way, but the team has made a point of saying that he is not available.

Chicago Cubs: Will Matt Garza Fetch Better Return Than Cole Hamels/Zack Greinke?

The Cubs are set to be as aggressive of a seller as anyone in the league, with starter Ryan Dempster a sure thing to be moved and a number of other guys potentially on their way out as the team continues to rebuild.

Of the group, starter Matt Garza undoubtedly has the most trade value as a 28-year-old who is under team control through next season.

It is because of that fact that Jon Heyman of CBS Sports recently reported that GMs around the league feel that Garza will draw a bigger return than either of the two top arms likely to be on the market—Cole Hamels and Zack Greinke.

Both of those guys are set to hit free agency at season's end and likely amount to little more than a rental player for whoever picks them up. That means there would be no draft-pick compensation if the team acquiring them does not re-sign them at season's end under the new CBA.

Chicago White Sox: Team Will Wait and See on John Danks and Phil Humber

The White Sox have surprised this season, as many expected them to begin rebuilding this year, but they instead enter the break with a 47-38 record, three games out in front in the AL Central.

The team addressed its most glaring hole already in acquiring Kevin Youkilis from the Red Sox to step in at third base, and its attention will now turn to the starting rotation.

With John Danks and Phil Humber both on the DL, Jose Quintana (8 GS, 4-1, 2.04 ERA) has stepped up. Dylan Axelrod (5 GS, 0-2, 6.59 ERA) has filled the other rotation spot and has struggled to miss bats.

Jon Morosi of Fox Sports tweeted that the team's deadline plans will hinge heavily on how quickly Danks and Humber return from the DL. If they are expected to miss extended time, Morosi says to expect GM Kenny Williams to go after a starter.

Cincinnati Reds: Looking to Upgrade in Left Field

The Reds need to upgrade the top of their offense ahead of the impressive trio of Joey Votto, Brandon Phillips and Jay Bruce, as Zack Cozart (.252/.298/.409) and Drew Stubbs (.215/.286/.367) have struggled to consistently get on base.

If they are to make such an upgrade, it would likely come in the form of a new left fielder, as Ryan Ludwick (.239 BA, 12 HR, 34 RBI) has been inconsistent, and the team likes Chris Heisey (.268 BA, 3 HR, 19 RBI) in a fourth outfielder role.

One option could be Phillies outfielder Juan Pierre (.307 BA, 33 R), and Buster Olney tweeted that the Reds do in fact have interest in the veteran speedster.

Another option would be Padres slugger Carlos Quentin, whom CBS Sports' Jon Heyman linked to the Reds among a handful of other teams. If he were acquired, Brandon Phillips would likely move up in the lineup.

Cleveland Indians: Interested in Carlos Quentin

The Indians remain in the thick of things in the AL Central thanks to a disappointing start from the Tigers, and they are now in a position to make a move that could help them push towards a postseason berth.

According to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports, the team is among a handful that have expressed interest in Padres outfielder Carlos Quentin as it looks for an offensive shot in the arm in the second half.

Veteran Johnny Damon (.215 BA, 4 HR, 17 RBI) and Shelley Duncan (.222 BA, 8 HR, 21 RBI) have manned left field for the team so far.

Coincidentally, Duncan told reporters recently that he does not think the team needs to make a deal at the deadline. I can't imagine why he'd feel that way.

Colorado Rockies: Marco Scutaro Will Be in Demand, Has High Asking Price

The middle infield market is incredibly thin this season, as it is most seasons, and the premier name on the market this year could be Marco Scutaro of the Rockies.

Acquired from the Red Sox this past offseason, the 36-year-old infielder is clearly available as a free-agent-to-be on a struggling Rockies team.

According to Danny Knobler of CBS Sports, the Tigers have shown some level of interest to this point, but are not "all that enthused" at the prospect of trading for him.

One reason for that hesitation could be a reportedly high asking price, but that is something the Rockies will likely come down from as we move closer to July 31.

Detroit Tigers: Could Tigers Stand Pat?

The Tigers shocked the baseball world when they opened their wallets on a nine-year, $214 million contract to sign Prince Fielder, and they immediately became one of the favorites in the American League.

However, they have fallen short of expectations to this point with a 44-42 record despite a payroll in excess of $133 million entering the year.

They have been linked to a number of pitchers already, but a recent report suggests that the team could simply stand pat at the deadline and hope for the best out of a talented roster that has underperformed.

Houston Astros: Wandy Rodriguez and Brett Myers Are Both Likely on the Move

The Astros have already sold off one of their three veteran pieces when they dealt Carlos Lee to the Marlins for a pair of prospects.

Starter Wandy Rodriguez (18 GS, 7-6, 3.37 ERA) and closer Brett Myers (18-of-20 SV, 3.34 ERA) both do not figure into the team's future plans, and both should have plenty of value on the market.

The Blue Jays have shown interest in Rodriguez, as have the Orioles, as the left-hander is a more attractive option than some because he is signed through next season.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports also pointed to the Cardinals as a potential fit for both pitchers, given GM Jeff Luhnow's first-hand experience with the Cardinals prospects.

Kansas City Royals: Could Royals Become Buyers?

The Royals enter the break with a 37-47 record, as their complete lack of starting pitching has kept them from taking the next step forward towards contention.

Despite their record, they have been playing better of late, as they have gone 34-33 since starting the season with a 3-14 slide. However, that improvement was capped by another skid as they closed out the first half on a 2-8 slide.

Back in late June, Buster Olney blogged about how the Royals could look to add a veteran starter and make a push in the second half instead of becoming sellers.

Danny Knobler of CBS Sports again touched on that point when talking about whether or not closer Jonathan Broxton would be made available. In the end, he said they won't give Broxton away because "they badly want to win games" in the second half. 

Los Angeles Angels: Peter Bourjos Could Be Used as a Trade Chip

The Angels entered the season with a starting outfield of Vernon Wells, Peter Bourjos and Torii Hunter from left to right.

Now, at the midway point in the season, Wells and Bourjos have been replaced in the starting lineup by a pair of All-Stars in Mark Trumbo and Mike Trout, and those two won't be going anywhere in the second half.

Wells has been on the DL since May with torn ligaments in his thumb, and there are concerns he could become a distraction once he returns. However, with another two years and $42 million on his contract after this season, he isn't going anywhere.

Bourjos, on the other hand, would no doubt be of interest to several teams. He hit .271 BA, 12 HR, 43 RBI, 22 SB last season while playing Gold Glove-caliber defense, but he has seen limited playing time and hit just .230 BA, 3 HR, 18 RBI over 126 at-bats so far this season.

Jon Morosi of Fox Sports tweeted that he would interest the Phillies if the Angels make a play for Cole Hamels, while Jayson Stark of Fox Sports suggested he could be used to acquire a "really good bullpen piece."

Los Angeles Dodgers: Chase Headley Atop Dodgers' Wish List?

The Dodgers limped into the All-Star break, going 5-15 over their final 20 games, and they were without both of their star outfielders entering July, with both Matt Kemp and Andre Ethier on the DL.

Those guys will be back sometime early on in the second half, but the Dodgers still have some work to do if they are to be legitimate contenders this season.

Shoring up third base, where Juan Uribe (.194 BA, 1 HR, 13 RBI) has been absolutely useless and a bevy of other players have seen sporadic time, may be their No. 1 priority.

Chase Headley is the top name on the market at the hot corner, and there are seven teams reportedly interested in him on some level, with the Dodgers among them.

The Padres are open to trading within the division, so that is not an issue, and while it will likely cost a good deal, seeing as Headley is under team control through 2014, it would be a big boost for the Dodgers.

Miami Marlins: Carlos Lee Deal the End of Moves?

There has been nothing to report as far as Marlins rumors are concerned since the team dealt for Astros first baseman Carlos Lee last week, and that looks to be the end of their dealing for now.

The team will be getting another addition in reliever Juan Carlos Oviedo (formerly Leo Nunez), who will rejoin the team after serving an eight-week suspension for age and identity fraud.

Manager Ozzie Guillen called his return the "biggest trade of the year" and has indicated that he will share time in the closer's role with Heath Bell.

Milwaukee Brewers: Where Will Zack Greinke End Up?

As recently as July 3, there was talk of the Brewers making one more run at attempting to re-sign Zack Greinke to a long-term deal, but they have made it clear they are open to trading him if said extension is not reached.

Scouts from six different teams were on hand to see him get ejected after just four pitches on Saturday, so there is no shortage of teams interested in the right-hander.

However, no one has come forward as a clear front-runner at this point, and it is anyone's guess as to where he ends up pitching down the stretch.

Minnesota Twins: Teams Still Wary of Acquiring Francisco Liriano

After a terrible start to the season saw him demoted to the bullpen, Liriano has been a different pitcher since returning to the rotation with a 3-2 record and 2.74 ERA in eight starts.

However, a relatively high walk rate has left few, if any, teams interested in the free-agent-to-be at the deadline.

Matt Capps is far more likely to be on the move, and if the Twins do find a taker for Liriano, the return won't be top-level prospects.

New York Mets: Relievers and a Catcher Top the Mets' Wish List

The Mets have far exceeded expectations and will enter the second half with a legitimate shot at earning a postseason berth.

Their most glaring needs are in the bullpen and behind the plate, as they have an MLB-worst 4.94 bullpen ERA and lack a proven veteran presence behind the dish.

Jon Heyman of CBS Sports listed potential trade targets for the Mets, and while it is a more or less speculative view on his part, a number of the names would make sense and come fairly cheap.

He listed Francisco Rodriguez, Grant Balfour, Huston Street, Brett Myers, Brandon Lyon and Jonathan Broxton as potential arms to bolster the bullpen and Ramon Hernandez, Kelly Shoppach and Miguel Olivo as veteran catchers to target.

New York Yankees: Yanks Won't Be in on Hamels/Greinke, Prefer Matt Garza

With Andy Pettitte and CC Sabathia currently on the DL and Michael Pineda lost for the season before it even started, it has been a tough year for the Yankees rotation.

Given Zack Greinke's history with social anxiety disorder, he likely is not a fit pitching for the Yankees, while Cole Hamels would be little more than a rental player if he were acquired because the Yankees would likely not be able to afford him within the new luxury-tax threshold.

That would make Cubs starter Matt Garza the most appealing option for the team, and they have reportedly already said that among the starters on the market, they prefer Garza over anyone else.

Oakland Athletics: Sellers Once Again Despite Solid First Half

Thanks in large part to an AL-best 3.38 team ERA, the A's have enjoyed a solid first half, as they entered the break with a 43-43 record and just 2.5 games out of the final wild-card spot.

However, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports the team will once again enter the deadline as sellers rather than buyers.

This comes after an offseason that saw them trade a pair of good, young starters in Trevor Cahill and Gio Gonzalez.

Knobler even goes so far as to say that the team hopes emerging ace Brandon McCarthy can return quickly from the DL and prove healthy so he can be traded before the deadline passes.

Philadelphia Phillies: Cole Hamels Will Be Traded, Still Re-Sign with Phillies

Saddled by injuries to superstars Chase Utley, Ryan Howard and Roy Halladay, the Phillies struggled through a 37-50 first half that has left them well out of contention moving forward in a tough NL East.

That was enough for the team to open the door to entertaining Cole Hamels deals, as the left-hander is set to hit free agency at season's end.

It remains a toss-up as to whether or not anyone will be able to meet the Phillies' asking price for the 28-year-old, but should he in fact be traded, that does not necessarily mean the end of the road for him in Philadelphia.

He told reporters earlier this week that even if he were dealt, he would give the Phillies the first chance to sign him this offseason, as it appears he would genuinely like to stay in Philadelphia moving forward.

Pittsburgh Pirates: Will Pirates Land a Big-Time Bat?

Following a surprise first half that has left them at 48-37 with a one-game lead in the NL Central, the Pirates are "in buying mode," according to manager Clint Hurdle.

The team has shown interest in both Carlos Quentin and Justin Upton as it looks to add someone to help Andrew McCutchen carry the offensive load.

It would take a significant package to land Upton, as the 24-year-old is under contract for three more seasons, and that would likely mean the Pirates giving up either Gerrit Cole or Jameson Taillon.

The team would reportedly prefer to keep Cole, as he is closer to being big league-ready and the team is looking to contend sooner rather than later.

As of now, a Upton-to-Pittsburgh trade may be the most intriguing rumor of deadline month, and it will be interesting to see if it comes to pass.

San Diego Padres: Is Chase Headley the Most Coveted Player of the Deadline?

While Huston Street was more than deserving of being the Padres' All-Star representative, a strong case could be made for third baseman Chase Headley as well.

He's hit .267/.368/.413, 8 HR, 42 RBI, 39 R while posting a 2.3 WAR, and he provides terrific plate discipline and solid overall production at an incredibly thin position.

That's enough that no less than seven teams have expressed interest in Headley, and ESPN's Buster Olney went as far as to suggest that he could be the most coveted player of the deadline.

With two more years of team control, the asking price will be high, but given how few impact bats there are on the market combined with how many teams could use an upgrade at third base, there could very well be someone willing to pay.

San Francisco Giants: Out of Options, Nate Schierholtz Could Be Moved

Much like Seth Smith last year, a somewhat unheralded outfielder could pop up on a number of teams' radars in the weeks to come in Giants outfielder Nate Schierholtz.

He's seen limited playing time this season, hitting .246 BA, 3 HR, 12 RBI in 134 at-bats, and he is out of minor league options.

However, when he received a career-high 335 at-bats last season, he responded with a .278 BA, 9 HR, 41 RBI season. The 28-year-old has no place on the Giants roster, but as a solid left-handed bat, he could have plenty of trade value.

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports views him as someone who has been largely forgotten but could generate plenty of interest from teams.

Seattle Mariners: King Felix Going Nowhere, Team Still Has Several Trade Chips

Buster Olney of ESPN recently wrote a piece previewing the AL trade market, and while we have heard time and again (and again) that Felix Hernandez is not going anywhere, the Mariners do have some players who could be of interest to a contender at the deadline.

Olney lists Jason Vargas, Kevin Millwood, Brandon League and Chone Figgins as potential players who could be on the move.

Vargas (19 GS, 8-7, 4.07 ERA, 126 IP) has been a workhorse for the Mariners this season, and he is under team control through next season, which will undoubtedly add to his price tag.

Millwood (16 GS, 3-6, 3.69 ERA, 90.1 IP), on the other hand, can likely be had fairly cheaply, as the Mariners have gotten far more than they expected out of the 37-year-old already this year and would no doubt love to flip him for a prospect or two.

League and Figgins have both underperformed, but could be of use to a contender looking for some relief depth or a versatile utility player, respectively.

St. Louis Cardinals: Cardinals Interested in Reliever Brian Fuentes

The Cardinals bullpen has been relatively solid this season, but it lacks a solid left-handed reliever it can rely on.

Marc Rzepczynski (40 G, 5.52 ERA) has been used frequently, but has struggled with consistency all season. The only other lefty on the current roster is Barrett Browning (30 G, 1.89 ERA at Triple-A, 4 G, 0.00 ERA), and while he's been perfect through his first 4.1 innings, he is far from a proven commodity.

The A's designated Fuentes for assignment on July 3, and they will need to decide what to do with him moving forward on Tuesday.

The Cardinals have some interest despite his 6.84 ERA through 26 appearances with the A's, as they are buying his track record much like they did with Arthur Rhodes last season.

Tampa Bay Rays: A's Catcher Kurt Suzuki on Rays' Radar?

The Rays have a few glaring holes in their lineup right now, and if they do decide to become buyers, the first area they address could be the catcher position.

Jose Molina (.190 BA, 137 AB), Chris Gimenez (.191 BA, 68 AB) and Jose Lobaton (.221 BA, 77 AB) have provided little to nothing offensively this season.

According to Jim Bowden of ESPN, A's GM Billy Beane has admitted to discussing catcher Kurt Suzuki with Rays GM Andrew Friedman.

Suzuki entered the season having averaged a line of .252 BA, 14 HR, 68 RBI over the past three years, but he has struggled to a .211 BA, 0 HR, 16 RBI line so far this year. Any deal for him would be hoping that a change of scenery works wonders.

Texas Rangers: Favorites to Land Cole Hamels?

Despite their impressive record, the Rangers have been hit as hard as anyone by the injury bug this season, as Colby Lewis and Neftali Feliz are both currently on the DL and Derek Holland just recently returned.

With Feliz out for an extended period of time and the team's lack of a true staff ace, their name has routinely popped up as a potential landing spot for Phillies lefty Cole Hamels.

On Sunday, Buster Olney tweeted that the belief among MLB officials is that if Hamels is in fact made available, the Rangers are the front-runners to land him.

It would no doubt take a package centered around top prospect Mike Olt (.294 BA, 22 HR, 63 RBI at Double-A), and it will be interesting to see if the Rangers can pull this off, as that would make their already loaded team that much better. 

Toronto Blue Jays: Blue Jays Prefer Matt Garza and Wandy Rodriguez

The Blue Jays have been hit as hard, if not harder, as the Rangers in their starting rotation, as they lost Kyle Drabek and Drew Hutchinson for the season and Brandon Morrow for a significant amount of time.

With that in mind, the team is in the market to upgrade over current fill-ins Carlos Villanueva and Aaron Laffey, and, according to Jon Morosi of Fox Sports, the Jays prefer pitchers under control beyond this year.

That puts Astros lefty Wandy Rodriguez and Cubs righty Matt Garza atop their list, and they have the farm system to pull off a deal for either of those players.

Washington Nationals: Nationals Not Interested in Rental Players

The Nationals have not only been a pleasant surprise in the first half, as they are currently 49-34 and four games out in front in the NL East, but they look to have the pieces to make a legitimate postseason run this season.

The team has no glaring holes, but owner Mark Lerner has indicated he is willing to increase the team's payroll in order to add a player at the deadline.

However, he went on to say that the team does not want someone who will be a rental player, as the Nationals are clearly committed to keeping their young pieces in an effort to not only win now, but sustain that success.