MLB Rumors: Analyzing Latest 2017 Trade Chatter

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is rapidly approaching, and while a number of key trades have already taken place, more moves are on the horizon.

The Chicago Cubs made a trade with their cross-town rival Chicago White Sox to upgrade their pitching staff by adding Jose Quintana. That trade was made at the All-Star break, and the Cubs have played much better since acquiring the left-handed starter.

The White Sox, in the middle of a rebuilding plan, also completed a trade with the New York Yankees. The Bombers appeared to be rebuilding themselves at the start of the season, but a better-than-expected start has apparently put general manager/senior vice president Brian Cashman in a go-for-it mode.

The Yankees acquired third baseman Todd Frazier and reliever David Robertson from Chicago to improve their roster, and Cashman is likely to pursue other deals.

While the Yankees appear to have plenty of power with superstar rookie Aaron Judge and catcher Gary Sanchez, baseball insider Jon Heyman tweeted that the Bombers have made inquiries about Giancarlo Stanton of the Miami Marlins.

While the Marlins are not ready to part with Stanton right now, a possible deal may be more likely by the July 31 deadline if the team's sale is completed.

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The Yankees may also be interested in upgrading their starting pitching staff. Yankees scout Brandon Duckworth was in Tampa over the weekend while the Tampa Bay Rays hosted the Texas Rangers, and George A. King III of the New York Post wrote that the Yankees were interested in the services of Texas pitcher Yu Darvish.

The Yankees' starting pitching staff could use help because Michael Pineda is finished for the season and Masahiro Tanaka is suffering through a poor season. The 31-year-old Darvish will be a free agent at the end of the season, and the Rangers have concerns about their ability to keep the Japanese pitcher in the fold.

Reliever A.J. Ramos of the Marlins could bring a solid return to his current team, because at least six teams are interested in acquiring him, according to a tweet from Heyman. 

Those teams include the Arizona Diamondbacks, Colorado Rockies, Boston Red Sox, Milwaukee Brewers, Cubs and Rays. Heyman also indicated that other teams are interested as well.

Ramos has 19 saves for the Marlins along with a 3.86 earned-run average. He has struck out 46 batters in in 37.1 innings of work.

The Brewers have a need to upgrade their starting pitching, and if they make a move, there is a strong connection between pitching coach Derek Johnson and Oakland A's starter Sonny Gray.

Heyman related a story in his weekly National League notes column that Johnson was like a "father figure" to him when he served as Gray's pitching coach at Vanderbilt.