MLB Trade Rumors: Buzz on James Shields and More Ahead of Deadline

The MLB trade deadline (Friday, 4 p.m. ET) will start to look a lot like the Wild West with so many teams and players on the mill. 

In a way, it already does with several deals going through. The Los Angeles Angels have been the most active so far, acquiring three new players in David Murphy, David DeJesus and Shane Victorino, per ESPN.com.

It's just the tip of the proverbial iceberg, though, as the ticking clock has a way of swaying front offices into moves. Below is a collection of the hottest rumors on the block at the moment.

Rockies Still Dealing?

Jack Dempsey/Associated Press

The Colorado Rockies announced their desire to be active at the trade deadline in emphatic fashion by shipping away Troy Tulowitzki to the Toronto Blue Jays for Jose Reyes, per Patrick Saunders and Nick Groke of the Denver Post.

Shocking, but now the question becomes simple: Is the front office in Colorado done?

Carlos Gonzalez is one player who continues to pop up in rumblings, although ESPN.com's Jerry Crasnick heard a move this summer doesn't appear to be on the docket:

Common thoughts say a few things on this.

For one, Gonzalez is 29 years old and still owed in the neighborhood of $37 million over the course of the final two years on his contract, per Spotrac. Two, he played in just 70 games last year and 91 so far this season, as he continues to struggle with his health.

To top it all off, he's on fire as of late and touts a .275/.331/.514 slash line with a 2.0 WAR, per ESPN.com. If the Rockies want to sell his contract, the time would appear to be now.

Then again, there's a reason those in the Rockies front office hold such a stature, while everyone else doesn't. No matter what happens, the Rockies are a team to watch thanks to shocking moves. Perhaps there's more to come. Or not.

Yasiel Puig on the Block

Alex Brandon/Associated Press

How's this for a twist? The Los Angeles Dodgers might want to move Yasiel Puig.

He's having a down year, but Puig is still a key name for the Dodgers, who sit in first place in the National League West. According to USA Today's Bob Nightengale, though, the team has put out the "for the right deal" feelers:

It's an odd nugget considering Puig is still just 24 years old and comes at a cheap cost through 2019. He's in the midst of a rough season with a .249/.323/.416 slash line and just six homers and 22 RBI, but the upside remains tremendous.

It seems pitchers have adjusted to Puig, whose OPS was at .925 in 2013, .863 in 2014 and now .739. The onus of adaption falls on his shoulders now, although it seems he might have to do it after a change of scenery.

Puig is a big name, but it all depends on the asking price. Given Los Angeles' deep farm system, it's not a shock teams sound more interested in prospects. They come cheaper, and some may feel Puig has already hit a peak, despite his age.

As mentioned, this has been a pretty surprising deadline so far. There will be more to come as the clock ticks down. Keep an eye on Puig and the Dodgers.

James Shields Update

Lenny Ignelzi/Associated Press

The San Diego Padres, fourth in the NL West and yet to crack the 50-win barrier, want to wheel and deal when it comes to the rotation.

James Shields and Andrew Cashner are the first names to come to mind, of course. The latter is 28 years old with a 3.93 ERA and 4-10 record, so it's not easy to see where the market would sit.

Shields is a different story. He's a household name with an 8-4 mark, 3.77 ERA and 148 fanned batters. For the right price, he's a steal for a team in need of a reliable piece of the rotation to make a push.

ESPN's Jayson Stark suggests the San Francisco Giants have an interest in a transaction:

Shields joining Madison Bumgarner and others on the 55-win Giants is a nice thought, but the division thing sounds like it might get in the way.

Also in the way is Shields' contract, as he's a $21 million hit each of the next three seasons, per Spotrac. Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal expanded on the issue with a shocking bit of rumblings:

Translation: The Shields saga might just be in its infancy stages. Some team out there is bound to have an interest, but why surrender assets in a trade to inhale a major contract if he's going to make it through waivers?

The ball is in San Diego's court—or so to speak. How the front office proceeds with its most intriguing name will create some of the biggest headlines of the period and impact the league as a whole.

Don't blink.

Stats and info courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise specified.