MLB Trade Rumors: Latest Buzz on Clubs Likely to Be Active in Coming Weeks

The MLB trade deadline is still almost two months away, but some teams contending for a playoff spot simply can't wait that long to make a deal.

A good general manager can identify a position of need and work to strengthen that spot with a trade, even if it means parting with quality prospects. The problem at this relatively early point of the season is finding squads ready to give up on the year by giving up top contributors.  

Whether any deal can be finalized in the next few weeks remains to be seen, but these squads will be aggressive on the trade market.

New York Mets

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

It's usually pretty tough to find quality starting pitching, but the New York Mets simply have too many players at this point.

Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Bartolo Colon have defined roles in the starting rotation, and rookie Noah Syndergaard has pitched well enough to stick at the big leagues. With top prospect Steven Matz also succeeding at Triple-A and likely being promoted soon, according to ESPN.com's Adam Rubin, there aren't a lot of spots for veterans Dillon Gee and Jon Niese.

As a result, the Mets will try to find a trade partner willing to take one or both of these established starters. As Rubin notes, "The Mets ideally will add a bat via trade—whether in the deal that ships out Niese and/or Gee or otherwise."

Adding hitters to this lineup is a necessity at this point if the squad wants to compete this season. The team has struggled to produce runs all year and hit a low point Tuesday when San Francisco Giants starter Chris Heston pitched a no-hitter.

Mike Puma of the New York Post noted another pitcher could be valuable in a trade besides Gee and Niese:

When healthy, Rafael Montero remains a quality prospect with loads of potential. If he can prove the shoulder injury is not a long-term issue, he could help the Mets acquire a quality hitter.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post reported New York could have already brought in Juan Uribe but decided against it. With the pitching depth the team currently has, failing to complete any deal to improve the offense would be a major mistake.

Chicago Cubs

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

Few teams have as good of a young lineup as the Chicago Cubs with future stars all over the field. Instead of waiting to make an impact down the road, however, this group appears ready for the postseason right away.

The problem is there is still a major weakness in the bullpen, which already has double-digit losses this season and is holding the team back. Even after making a big free-agent signing, the squad is still looking for ways to upgrade in this area, per Bruce Levine of 670 The Score:

Rafael Soriano should certainly help out right away thanks to his experience as a closer. Even if he doesn't take over the ninth inning, the former All-Star should help solidify the last few innings.

Still, we saw last postseason with the Kansas City Royals how much of an impact a good bullpen can have for a team. Any additional help the Cubs can find over the next two months could transform this club into a true World Series contender.

New York Yankees

Elaine Thompson/Associated Press

Not many expected the New York Yankees to be in first place at this point of the year, but that is where they currently stand after an impressive start to the year. Despite the success, there are still holes in the roster.

Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe discussed potential upgrades at second base such as Ben Zobrist and Chase Utley, but he also added that "Yankees GM Brian Cashman is looking for relief help in front of Dellin Betances and Andrew Miller."

Tyler Clippard and Jason Grilli were both listed as pitchers who have gotten the Yankees attention in possible trades.

Of course, this was before the Yankees lost half of their great late-game pitching duo, per Bryan Hoch of MLB.com:

Miller has been fantastic all season long, but the team now has few reliable options outside of Betances. New York should now become even more desperate for relief pitchers who can be acquired as soon as possible.

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