MLB trade rumors: Baseball's winners and losers could be dealing soon
MLB trade rumors have several players possibly moving from their present clubs out of town. One thing about MLB trade rumors: They're just rumors until a deal is made.
MLB trade rumors: Philadelphia Phillies' Jimmy Rollins in action during a baseball game against the Washington Nationals, Monday, July 8, 2013, in Philadelphia.
Matt Slocum/AP
Now that we've celebrated America's 237th birthday, conjecture can continue unabated on Major League Baseball (MLB) trade rumors until the sport's trade deadline occurs at the end of this month.
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There are a number of teams in both the American (AL) and National (NL) Leagues who could be either buyers or sellers by the 4 p.m. Eastern time trade cutoff on July 31. The biggest lead in any MLB division is currently held by the Atlanta Braves in the NL East, a five-game margin over the Washington Nationals.
Staying in the senior circuit, right behind the Braves and Nationals in the East are the Philadelphia Phillies. They have a veteran team that could be on the verge of being broken apart in order to shed big contracts and get younger. Second baseman Chase Utley's name has been bandied about as a possible trade target. Relief pitcher Jonathan Papelbon also could find himself heading out of town, if the right deal can be made.
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In the NL Central, there's a tight race between the St. Louis Cardinals, Pittsburgh Pirates, and Cincinnati Reds. The Chicago Cubs and Milwaukee Brewers bring up the rear in the division. Cubs president Theo Epstein, who helped create a two-time World Series-winning Boston Red Sox club, is looking to re-tool the Cubs in a similar fashion, and has chips like outfielder Alfonso Soriano and pitcher Matt Garza to deal.
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