Latest MLB Trade Rumors on Yankees, Dodgers, Phillies and World Series Contenders with Hours to Go

The MLB Trade Deadline is Monday at 6:00 p.m. EST, and several of the game's top teams continue to look for options to improve their club's positional needs.

The Dodgers struck first with their trade for ace Tarik Skubal. Now, the Phillies, Yankees, and Red Sox are among the organizations looking to make upgrades.

What is the latest on each? Find out in these reports from the game's most trusted insiders.

Starting Pitching Remains Top Commodity

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The Los Angeles Dodgers made headlines Saturday night with their trade for two-time defending AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal. The Tampa Bay Rays followed suit and acquired their own starter, Freddy Peralta, from the New York Mets on Sunday afternoon.

Buster Olney of ESPN reported, "The Cubs, Braves, Phillies, Rays, Brewers and other teams will land a starting pitcher (and in a couple of cases, maybe two)."

He added that the Mets' Clay Holmes and San Francisco's Robbie Ray could be the next two off the board.

Starting pitching is crucial to any team's World Series hopes. The Brewers are a legitimate contender but need another quality starter to go along with Jacob Misiorowski. The Phillies have a Cy Young candidate of their own in Christopher Sanchez, but could use a fifth arm to give their starting rotation a boost and turn around what has been an underwhelming second half of the season.

The Braves and Cubs are on the verge of being genuine contenders but need another starter to compete against the Los Angeles and Milwaukee in a loaded NL. The Cubs, in particular, need the depth as they await the return of Justin Steele and after DFA'ing Jameson Taillon.

Red Sox Pursuing Shortstop

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The Boston Red Sox are red-hot, having bounced back from the bottom of the AL East to become a contender for the division title and a potential league representative in the World Series.

Despite their tremendous success (23-3 in their last 26), the team is still looking to upgrade the shortstop position in the wake of Trevor Story's injury and a lack of production.

ESPN's Jeff Passan reported, "Zach Neto, Otto Lopez … even CJ Abrams -- the Red Sox have the pieces for any of them, and teams are hoping to be the beneficiary of Boston's aggressiveness. Because all are excellent and controllable for multiple years, though, the asks are exorbitant."

Neto has been most closely linked to Boston as the deadline approaches, and it is not difficult to see why. The Los Angeles Angels star has 19 home runs, 47 RBI, and 99 hits. He has been a bright spot in another down season for the Angels and is under team control through 2029.

Abrams would be a blockbuster deal for the Red Sox. The Washington Nationals star has come into his own this season, making an All-Star appearance while hitting .287, with 28 home runs, 85 RBI, and 117 total hits. The return would likely be sizeable, but for that kind of production at a spot of need, it would be worth it. Especially with team control through 2028.

Either Neto or Abrams, or hitting machine Lopez, would give the Red Sox a considerable boost offensively and shore things up defensively at a key position on the diamond. If Boston is able to execute a deal for any of them, a deep playoff run is a real possibility.

Yankees Looking for Upgrades

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The New York Yankees are just 2.5 games back in the AL East, even without Aaron Judge available to them, and will use the trade deadline to improve their situation.

Olney reported, "The Yankees will add a reliever and a right-handed hitter."

The team already attempted to address the reliever portion of that report, with USA Today's Bob Nightengale reporting that the San Diego Padres rejected a trade in which New York would have received set-up man Adrian Morejon in return for starter Will Warren.

One reliever the team knows well, Luke Weaver, is currently available with the across-town Mets. Whether they would consider a reunion is unknown at this time, but such a move would certainly bolster the bullpen.

Perhaps the team retools its offer for Morejon, who appears to be their first choice.

Regardless, expect Brian Cashman and the Yankees front office to make every attempt to address their weaknesses in what could be a wild conclusion to the season in a stacked AL East division.