Ranking the 5 Most Likely MLB Trade Scenarios 1 Month from Deadline Day

The 2013 MLB Trade Deadline is about a month away, and as we enter July the trade talks in the MLB will become much more than just words.

Exactly 33 days remain until the trade deadline, and five guys have essentially made sure that they will be on their way out in the most likely trades we will see.

Let's take a look at five big trades that are the most likely to go down.

5. Cliff Lee Traded to Boston Red Sox

Possible Trade Details

Boston Red Sox Acquire: P Cliff Lee

Philadelphia Phillies Acquire: SS Xander Bogaerts, P Anthony Ranaudo

Why This Trade Works

Ruben Amaro Jr. has repeatedly said that he is not interested in trading Cliff Lee, but the Phillies' GM would have to be nuts not to at least sniff around a bit.

Lee would be the best player on the trade block if Amaro would say that he's open for business, as he has gone 9-2 with a 2.51 ERA and a 0.96 WHIP. His 4.6 WAR is the best in the MLB, and he has the potential to secure a playoff spot or make a team a contender for the World Series.

Assuming that Amaro is open to talks for Lee, the Red Sox are a match made in heaven.

Very few teams are competing in a tough division and trying to win it all, have the cap space to take Lee's contract and have the prospects to interest the Phils.

The Red Sox have the best record in the American League, but the team is only 3.5 games up in its own division and in the wild card. The team is far from guaranteed to make it to the postseason, but adding Lee would help.

The Red Sox have struggled to find consistent pitching outside of Clay Buchholz, who is currently on the DL. Ryan Dempster has been a bust (5-8, 4.15 ERA) and Jon Lester has completely fallen apart, watching his ERA balloon from 2.72 to 4.61 over his last nine starts.

A 1-2 punch of Lee and a healthy Buchholz would be a fearsome duo for the Red Sox, and it could potentially make Boston the World Series favorite.

While Lee has the option to veto a trade to the Red Sox, he would probably love to go to the best team in the AL, since he has said that he just wants to win.

Boston could take on Lee's massive contract, and if it is willing to part with future superstar Xander Bogaerts in the deal, there's no way Amaro can say no.

4. Bud Norris Traded to Pittsburgh Pirates

Possible Trade Details

Pittsburgh Pirates Acquire: P Bud Norris

Houston Astros Acquire: P Jason Creasy, OF Willy Garcia

Why This Trade Works

The Pittsburgh Pirates are tied for the best record in baseball, and adding Bud Norris would help the team stay atop the NL Central.

The Pirates have expressed interest in the young pitcher, and the Pirates know it.

"

Norris has been solid so far this season, and Nick Cafardo expects general managers in need of rotation help to zero in on the right-hander. Of the potential suitors, Cafardo says the Pittsburgh Pirates 'would now have to be interested.'

"

Norris is one of the biggest, most repeated names on the market, and a ton of teams are interested in the 28-year-old pitcher who is only owed $3 million and could be a solid middle-of-the-rotation option.

It's obvious that Norris will be traded away from the second-worst team in baseball, and even he knows it, saying "I haven't had an opportunity to sit down and discuss a long-term deal, and I understand where the organization is going."

The Pirates want a pitcher, and Norris is one of the better options out there. The team has the prospects to bring in Norris, but the price might be higher than expected, considering how cheap Norris' contract is.

3. Michael Young Traded to New York Yankees

Possible Trade Details

New York Yankees Acquire: 3B Michael Young

Philadelphia Phillies Acquire: P Phil Hughes

Why This Trade Works

Brian Cashman wants to make some moves for the Yankees, and it starts with looking for a new corner infielder.

Mark Teixeira will undergo season-ending wrist surgery, while Alex Rodriguez is not back yet and the Yankees desperately need a right-handed bat in the lineup.

Enter Michael Young.

The Phillies will likely be looking to unload the 36-year-old third baseman in the final year of his contract, and the Yankees will welcome his .280 batting average (.341 OBP) and veteran presence.

Jon Heyman reported that the Yankees are looking for a new third baseman, while Jim Salisbury of Comcast SportsNet Philly thinks Young would be a perfect fit in New York, as his versatility would allow him to play any position in the infield.

Young appears to be on board with this trade as well, as it's been reported that the Yanks are one of just eight teams he would accept a trade to.

The Yankees wouldn't have to give up much in return for a one-year rental, and the Phillies are looking for a young player who could make an impact soon.

The player who makes the most sense is Phil Hughes, who, at 27 years old, has already played in the MLB and could be signed long-term by the Phils.

As Andy McCullough of The Star-Ledger tweeted, selling Hughes wouldn't be worth much when he's struggling. However, the Phillies might be willing to take a chance on the young gun who has struggled with the long ball in Yankee Stadium, but could do better in Philly.

2. Ricky Nolasco Traded to San Diego Padres

Possible Trade Details

San Diego Padres Acquire: P Ricky Nolasco, cash considerations

Miami Marlins Acquire: P Joe Ross

Why This Trade Works

The Miami Marlins want to deal pitcher Ricky Nolasco, and it seems all but certain that he's headed out west.

The NL West has one of the tightest races in baseball, and it could come down to the pitching over the last few months.

Surprisingly, the San Diego Padres find themselves in the thick of the division race, just 3.5 games behind the Arizona Diamondbacks and sitting half-a-game up on the Colorado Rockies and San Francisco Giants. The Padres have the worst pitching staff in the division, however, with the team's starters posting a 4.53 ERA.

The Padres are obviously interested in Nolasco, and that interest increases when taking into account that Nolasco is a known Giant-killer, going 5-3 with a 2.09 ERA vs. the Giants including 4-0 with a 1.47 ERA in San Francisco.

The Padres are desperate for a starter, and they have been talking with the Marlins about Nolasco for quite a while now.

Nolasco is signed through the 2013 season and his contract would be a lot for the Padres to take on, but the Marlins should be able to take on part of the contract in return for better prospects.

1. Matt Garza Traded to San Francisco Giants

Possible Trade Details

San Francisco Giants Acquire: Matt Garza

Chicago Cubs Acquire: 3B Christian Arroyo, two prospects to be named later

Why This Trade Works

Matt Garza is one of the biggest prizes on the trade block, going 3-1 with a 3.83 ERA. He hasn't been spectacular this year, but he has given up just two earned runs in 22.0 innings in his last three starts.

Garza is hot right now, so it makes sense that the Cubs want to sell high and deal him quickly, as Nick Cafardo of The Boston Globe tweeted.

Where Garza will go still remains a question, but the San Francisco Giants appear to be the front-runners.

Jon Heyman reported that the Giants are one of the top teams pursuing Garza, who has dominated the NL West. Since 2010, Garza has made 12 starts against NL West teams, going 6-4 with a 2.89 ERA, and has gone 5-2 with an ERA of 2.48 against teams other than the Rockies, who the Padres only play six games against in the second half of the season.

The Giants are certainly looking for an elite player at the deadline, as the team's GM has said he has financial flexibility this year.

Garza is the best player the team can get, and I expect the Giants to go hard after the talented starter who could potentially decide the NL West.

Follow @JoshSchoch