MLB Rumors: Latest Buzz on Possible Johnny Cueto, James Shields Trades and More

The MLB All-Star Game has come and gone, as it does every season, which can mean only one thing: Time to kick the rumor mill into high gear, because the trade deadline is just around the bend.

With teams at the bottom—consigned to their fate of missing the playoffs even at the midpoint of the year—looking to build a foundation for the future, even if it means trading away some of their best players, this is always one of the more entertaining times of the season.

Top players on the move and teams looking to get that final player needed to win a World Series title—what more could you want?

Let’s take a look at some of the latest rumors surrounding a number of the league’s top stars.

The Houston Astros target Johnny Cueto

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

What a season it has been for the Houston Astros. Long considered one of the bottom-feeders of the league, the AL West side has found a way to turn things around much sooner than most expected and currently sit a half-game out of first in the division.

With the trade deadline fast approaching, the Astros find themselves in unfamiliar territory as potential buyers, and the big-ticket item the team is most interested in acquiring is Cincinnati Reds pitcher Johnny Cueto, according to Jon Heyman of CBS Sports.

There is no guarantee the Reds would be willing to part with Cueto at the trade deadline, but with the St. Louis Cardinals and Pittsburgh Pirates in their division, there isn’t much hope for a playoff appearance, and Heyman is reporting the Astros have made the pitcher their top target:

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The Astros have keen trade interest in Reds starter Johnny Cueto, and it appears he may even be their top target, if as expected Cueto hits trade market soon, people familiar with their thinking say.

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Despite his 6-6 record, Cueto has continued to be one of the best pitchers in the game this season, recording an ERA of 2.73, good for ninth-best in the NL, and 113 strikeouts, tied for the 10th-highest total.

Houston already has a top-of-the-rotation player in Dallas Keuchel, but with a possible playoff run coming, adding Cueto would make for an elite one-two punch and give the team an even better chance of reaching the promised land once again.

James Shields being shopped by the Padres

Tony Gutierrez/Associated Press

The other big name on the trading block in terms of pitchers has to be San Diego Padres starter James Shields.

After the Padres went all-in last offseason in the hopes of turning into a contender overnight, the franchise now looks ready to commit to a full rebuild, as the team currently sits eight games below .500 and 10 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West.

This leaves Shields’ future in question, with baseball writer Peter Gammons reporting the team has been gauging interest around the league in a possible trade for Shields:

It hasn’t been a stellar season for the starting pitcher, who is on pace to record his worst ERA since 2010, despite tallying 131 strikeouts this year. But Shields has shown his talent in the past, and no matter how he has performed this year, teams will still be willing to give up a lot for him.

He might not be the player he was with the Tampa Bay Rays, or even the Kansas City Royals, for that matter, but in a league with plenty of teams still in the playoff hunt looking to buy, the Padres are likely to get something for their star pitcher.

Jay Bruce also on the trading block for the Reds

Lynne Sladky/Associated Press

Cueto might be the Reds player most teams are interested in, but it doesn’t mean he is the only Cincinnati star drawing potential suitors this season.

Right fielder Jay Bruce has had a strong 2015, batting .251 with 13 home runs and 42 RBI, and he looks to be one of the players Cincinnati is most willing to part with this summer, according to Heyman:

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Reds right fielder Jay Bruce is available in trade, league sources say. The Reds are expected by rivals to become a full-fledged seller in coming days, perhaps shortly after the All-Star Game here, but to this point the one name being heard is Bruce, which is somewhat curious since they have multiple big players who are free agents after the year, and Bruce isn’t one of them.

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A recent run of good form has Bruce drawing interest from around the league, and with a number of contenders interested in his bat, the Reds will be looking to bring in a talented prospect in exchange for the right fielder.