MLB Rumors: Top Trade Reports Entering 2017 Deadline Day

MLB teams have to move quickly before the non-waiver trade deadline on Monday at 4 p.m. ET.

Here's the latest news surrounding three American League clubs, two of which are in the thick of the wild-card race and one that has faltered in the last few weeks and may change their strategy as the deadline looms.

Minnesota Twins: Will the Buyers Now Be Sellers?

The 49-51 Twins have won just four of their last 14 games and are in third place in the American League Central. The Cleveland Indians and Kansas City Royals, the two teams ahead of them in the division, have won seven and eight straight games, respectively. It looks increasingly unlikely that the Twins will be taking the Central title.

The other postseason route for the Twins is the wild card, but three teams outside the Central are ahead of Minnesota in the standings (New York Yankees, Tampa Bay Rays, Seattle Mariners).

With the trade deadline looming, the Twins need to make a decision as to whether they will be buyers or sellers. They already acquired Jaime Garcia from the Atlanta Braves, but there are rumors that the team may reverse course.

According to Mark Feinsand of MLB.com, teams are interested in a quartet of Twins:

It's difficult to envision the Twins making a postseason run given their pitching struggles. Through games played on Thursday, Minnesota had the sixth-worst starter ERA and the fourth-worst bullpen ERA in Major League Baseball.

Adding Garcia certainly helps the rotation, but the Twins need more arms to have a pitching staff that can contend for a postseason spot.

Therefore, expect Minnesota to trade some veterans and rebuild. It will be a difficult decision considering that (a) the Twins were in first place just one month ago and (b) they are only four games out of the last wild-card spot, but it will be the right move long-term.

Sonny Gray to the Yankees Hitting a Snag?

On paper, a Sonny Gray trade to the New York Yankees makes a lot of sense. The Yanks have the prospects to trade to the Oakland Athletics; Joel Reuter of Bleacher Report ranked the Yanks' farm system second in baseball, although that was before outfielder Blake Rutherford was traded to the Chicago White Sox.

They also have a significant need for another starter to solidify an inconsistent rotation.

There have been numerous rumors in the recent days connecting the two sides, but talks have reached an impasse, per Jon Heyman and Robert Murray of FanRag Sports and MLB's Feinsand:

Shortstop Gleyber Torres tore the UCL in his left elbow on a slide into home and is out for the season, but he has shown great potential and is just 20 years old. He hit .309 in 23 games for the Triple-A Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders and looked on track to get a call-up sometime this season.

Clint Frazier has found a home in the Yankees outfield for now, as he's hit three home runs to go along with 13 RBI and a .284 batting average. The 22-year-old has injected some life into what was a slumping Yankees lineup and plays the game with incredible enthusiasm and energy.

It's impossible to see the Yanks cave and trade either of them for Gray, even though New York's rotation needs help. The guess here is that the Yanks end up getting a deal done without trading Torres or Frazier, but they'll still have to part with at least a few top prospects to land the 27-year-old right-hander.

Will the Rays Keep Making Moves?

Many prognosticators predicted that the Tampa Bay Rays would finish last, but they are proving a lot of folks wrong as they are in third place in the American League East and competing for a wild-card spot.

The Rays have already traded for New York Mets first baseman Lucas Duda, Florida Marlins shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria and Chicago White Sox reliever Dan Jennings, but they may not be done, per Jerry Crasnick of ESPN:

Tampa Bay's bullpen ERA is 19th in the league (4.37), and it is tied for first with 18 blown saves. The bats are all set for a postseason run, and the starting rotation, once Jake Odorizzi returns from the 10-day disabled list, will be as well.

However, the bullpen could use a few more arms, which is why the Rays trading Brad Miller and/or Tim Beckham isn't inconceivable.

Miller has struggled with injuries this year, but the second baseman smacked 30 home runs last season and can mash right-handed pitching. Beckham, a shortstop who has some second base, is having his best season in the bigs, hitting 12 home runs and hitting .265 in 84 games.

Expect the Rays to make another move or two before the deadline.