MLB Trade Speculation: Breaking Down the Hottest Trade Winds Around the League

The Major League Baseball regular season is more than one-third of the way complete, which means that MLB trade rumors are spreading throughout the media and the league as teams seek to acquire players to improve their rosters.

As of June 8, the Philadelphia Phillies sit at one game below .500 and seven games behind the NL East-leading Atlanta Braves. Despite Philadelphia's slow start, former AL Cy Young award winner Cliff Lee is flourishing for the Phillies. Lee has a 7-2 record, 1.01 WHIP and 2.55 ERA, which has drawn interest from several teams across the league, according to Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi. 

Another pitcher from the National League East, the Miami Marlins' Ricky Nolasco, has been mentioned in trade speculation as Miami looks to continue cutting costs. CBS Sports' baseball insider Jon Heyman suggests that the Baltimore Orioles could be a good fit for Nolasco.

Staying in the National League, Milwaukee Brewers third baseman Aramis Ramirez has been mentioned in trade speculation since his Brewers are in the cellar of the N.L. Central and will likely make changes to their roster. Fox Sports' Morosi wrote that Ramirez could end up in Los Angeles or the state of Ohio in a trade.

The New York Post's George King III wrote that Joba Chamberlain could be on the trading block for the Yankees since he is going to become a free agent after this season and "is not a strong candidate to return."

While these are just rumors and speculation and the non-waiver trade deadline is not until July 31, it is never too early to discuss the hottest trade talks in baseball.

Cliff Lee

Cliff Lee has been traded three times—from Cleveland to Philadelphia, Philadelphia to Seattle and Seattle to Texas—in his career and it may happen a fourth time this season. 

Philadelphia is 31-32 as of June 8, and Lee is keeping them from falling further behind the Atlanta Braves. He has 11 quality starts in 13 outings in addition to leading Philadelphia in innings (95.1) and strikeouts (83).

Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi wrote that the Texas Rangers and Baltimore Orioles are of "particular interest" in regard to trading for Lee. 

However, both teams are included in Lee's 20-team no-trade clause in his contract with Philadelphia that also features the New York Yankees and Boston Red Sox. 

Lee acknowledged the possibility of being traded as the deadline approaches, via Morosi:

"

The way we played last year, the way we’ve started out this year, it’s getting close to do-or-die time. . . . Management is going to have some decisions to make when we get closer to the trade deadline, if we continue to play the way we have. I want to do everything I can to make sure they’re not forced to make some of those decisions. I’m just going to try to pitch and do everything I can to help the team win.

"

Lee told the Philadelphia Inquirer that his first choice is to remain with the Phillies, but he said his "main thing" is wanting to win.

Philadelphia would need permission to send Lee to Texas or Baltimore, but both clubs would allow him to compete for a team that it currently vying for a division lead. 

Lee is familiar with the Rangers after starting 15 games for them in the regular season in 2010 and then appearing in five games in the playoffs. Texas is only half a game out of first place in the AL West.

Texas is without starting pitchers Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison and Colby Lewis, which means the Rangers would definitely give some thought to trading for Lee. Plus, a one-two punch of Yu Darvish and Cliff Lee could be deadly in the postseason.

Despite being seven games above .500 and only 3.5 games out of first place in the AL East, the Baltimore Orioles have the fourth-worst team ERA. Eleven different pitchers have started at least one game for the Orioles this season.

In Baltimore, Lee would immediately become the ace, and he would provide much-needed stability in the Orioles' rotation. 

Morosi wrote that the St. Louis Cardinals are one of the nine teams to which Lee cannot block a trade:

"

He figured they would be unlikely to trade for him because they have an excellent rotation and good pitching depth in the farm system, and he’s also said to be intrigued by the idea of playing for the Cardinals — thanks to their winning culture, their proximity to his Arkansas home and the ability to continue hitting in the National League.

"

With a team ERA of 3.16, three starting pitchers with at least seven wins this season and a pitching staff that has combined for 40 quality starts, the Cardinals are not in desperate need of pitching, which makes St. Louis an unlikely destination for Lee. 

Between Texas, Baltimore and St. Louis, Texas would likely be the best option for Lee. He has had a relationship with the Rangers in the past. Texas made the World Series in two of the past three seasons, and the Rangers could improve in their starting pitching. 

Lee would be a huge addition for Baltimore, but with four teams within three games of the division lead in the AL East, the playoffs are less likely for the Orioles than they are for the Rangers. 

While it is too early in the trade rumor process to determine the future of Cliff Lee, his return to Texas makes sense. In exchange for Lee, Philadelphia could use an outfielder or a second baseman since the Phillies have been struggling to produce offensively in those positions.

Kyle Kendrick, Cole Hamels and Roy Halladay would need to step up in a major way to make up for the loss of Lee, who has been Philadelphia's ace this season.

Ricky Nolasco

If the Orioles don't want to have to pay the money that it would cost to keep Cliff Lee (Philadelphia is paying him $25 million this season) around for several years, they could go after Miami Marlins starter Ricky Nolasco, as suggested by CBS Sports' baseball insider Jon Heyman. 

Heyman describes Nolasco as "second-tier" and a "mid-rotation type." 

According to Joe Frisaro of MLBlogs Network, the Marlins are willing to trade Nolasco and can expect to get a mid-level prospect in return. 

Nolasco has proven that he's a durable and capable middle-of-the-rotation starter, which could be all that Baltimore needs to jump up to first place in the AL East. He has started at least 30 games in four of his seven seasons, and he can be counted on to win 10 to 15 games per season. 

Frankie Garcia of Sports World Report, suggests that Baltimore would be a good fit for Nolasco:

"

He's an inning eater and never mind the 3-6 record, he has a 3.61 ERA with 67 strikeouts in 82.1 innings pitched. He has given up eight home runs and has only lost when giving up a home run. However, Nolasco has not received run support as all of his six losses came when the Marlins scored between 0-2 runs. That shouldn't be a problem for the Orioles who are averaging just over five runs per game. 

"

The Miami Marlins traded 12 players last season after the start of July in an effort to cut costs. Nolasco is the highest-paid player on the Marlins with a salary of $11.5 million this year, so if Miami wants to continue to clear out its most expensive players from the roster, Nolasco would be one of the first ones to go.

While trading Nolasco wouldn't seriously damage the on-field product of the Marlins, it would be a risky move because it could further alienate the fanbase. Miami shipped off its best players at the end of last season, and trading an eight-year veteran who has spent his entire career in Miami would only make things worse with the fans. 

It is much more realistic that the Orioles would trade for Nolasco than for Cliff Lee. Lee's no-trade clause could make it difficult for Baltimore to land Lee, plus Nolasco has a much cheaper price tag.

With Miami's cost-cutting mindset and Baltimore's need for pitching, I think these teams agree to terms to send Nolasco to the Orioles for a mid-level prospect in July.

Aramis Ramirez

With a record of 24-37, the Milwaukee Brewers have the third-worst record in baseball, and they are 15.5 games back of the St. Louis Cardinals in the NL Central, which means it's time for Milwaukee to think about roster changes. 

Milwaukee's veteran third baseman told Fox Sports that he's prepared for the trade rumors:

"

If we don’t turn this around, sooner rather than later, it’s going to happen. It’s part of baseball. When teams don’t perform, you see changes. If we don’t turn this around quick, it’s the natural thing.

"

Fox Sports' Jon Paul Morosi wrote that the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Angels, Cincinnati Reds and Cleveland Indians are "among the teams that could look to upgrade at third base before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline."

Juan Uribe starts at third base for the Dodgers. He is batting .276 with two home runs and 10 RBI this season. Jerry Hairston Jr. and Nick Punto have also played third base for L.A.

For the Angels, Alberto Callaspo has a .247 batting average, three home runs and 19 RBI.

Third-year player Todd Frazier is hitting .251 to go along with six home runs and 34 RBI.

Cleveland's Mark Reynolds has a .243 batting average but has hit 13 home runs and knocked in 41 RBI this year.  

It is unlikely that Ramirez would be traded to the Reds or Indians.

Milwaukee would be hesitant to trade its third baseman within the NL Central, where he could do damage against them later in the season.

Reynolds is Cleveland's best player in terms of producing runs, which is why Cleveland would want to hang onto him despite trade speculation. He leads the Indians in home runs, RBI and is tied for second in runs scored. 

Both Los Angeles teams are at least six games below .500 and at least 7.5 games out of first place. 

Morosi wrote that teams with "left-handed-dominant lineups would have particular interest in Ramirez, who has a career .895 OPS against left-handed pitching."

However, both the Dodgers and Angels only have three active position players who bat left-handed. 

Since Ramirez has expressed the possibility of retiring after next season, I predict that Milwaukee will trade him to the Dodgers or Angels in order to try to get younger talent in return. 

It could potentially be a risky move to bring Ramirez to Los Angeles. He told Morosi that he prefers to play for a team on the East Coast so that he is closer to his home in the Dominican Republic. Ramirez has spent his entire career playing for teams in the NL Central.

If Ramirez is traded, Yuniesky Betancourt, who has many years of experience as an everyday player, could fill in at third base even though his natural position is shortstop. 

Additionally, if Ramirez is traded and Ryan Braun is suspended by Major League Baseball as a result of its current PED probe, the Brewers would lose their No. 3 and 4 batters in their lineup, which could limit a Milwaukee team that is already struggling. 

Joba Chamberlain

On May 29, ESPN senior baseball writer Buster Olney tweeted that it wouldn't be a surprise if New York Yankees relief pitcher Joba Chamberlain was traded.

Olney mentioned the Atlanta Braves, Washington Nationals, Pittsburgh Pirates, Los Angeles Dodgers, Detroit Tigers and Texas Rangers as possible destinations for Chamberlain.

He tweeted that the combination of the need of relief pitching, the Yankees' surplus of pitching and Chamberlain becoming a free agent after this season make him a likely candidate to be traded.

With Preston Claiborne, Mariano Rivera, Boone Logan and David Robertson, who all have at least 13 appearances and an ERA below 2.50, the Yankees have a surplus of relief pitching. 

Chamberlain discussed the possibility of becoming a closer with George King III of the New York Post, which is why Detroit could be the most viable option. The Tigers have closed games by committee this season. Four pitchers have combined for 12 saves this season for Detroit. Eight pitchers have accumulated 24 holds. 

Since the Tigers are trying several different pitchers in a variety of roles out of their bullpen, Detroit could trade for Chamberlain in an effort to clearly establish roles for its relief pitchers. 

While Texas has shown lots of interest in Chamberlain, including sending senior special assistant Don Welke to watch him pitch in spring training, Detroit has a greater need for relief pitching. 

Trading Chamberlain wouldn't have much of a negative impact on the Yankees' bullpen due to their depth and since Robertson is set to become the closer after Rivera.