Longoria's Health Will Impact How the Rays Approach the Trade Deadline

Few teams are willing to sell if the possibility of reaching the postseason is realistic. It logically follows that the Tampa Bay Rays, right in the thick of the hunt for an American League wild-card spot, would not be sellers.

However, with reports that nearly anyone on the team could go—with an emphasis on James Shields—the Rays have been labelled sellers, even if the price they name is Major League talent.

That all could change, though, according to ESPN's Jayson Stark. Stark suggests that the team may decide which trade deadline-path to take based on the timetable of star third baseman Evan Longoria's return.

On July 25, Stark Tweeted:

"

#Rays telling teams they're getting encouraging reports on Longoria. If he's back sooner than though, less likely to move Shields, etc

"

Longoria, who has missed the majority of the 2012 season because of a hamstring injury, is set to begin a rehab assignment in Durham, where he will take some swings as a designated hitter.

A rehab assignment for an injury like the one Longoria has typically does not take very long—if all goes well—and the 26-year-old could be back in the bigs by the beginning of August.

A lot of deadline intrigue has surrounded the Rays in 2012, but perhaps the uplifting news of Longoria will quell some of that.

Just don't expect the news to keep the Rays out of the rumor mills completely.