MLB Trade Rumors

Coming off one of the most-discussed postseasons in recent memory, Major League Baseball is not resting on its laurels. The offseason is in full swing, which means teams are preparing offers to free agents and lining up their trade chips. 

Well that didn't take long.

Less than a week after the conclusion of the World Series, before the Hot Stove League has truly opened its doors for business, we've already seen some big names come off the rumor mill, which is still weeks away from kicking into high gear.

Whether it's as a free-agent signing or a potential trade candidate, there's been no shortage of intriguing rumors and speculation for baseball fans to feast upon. It really is the most wonderful time of the year for fans because, at this point, anything's possible.

To many, July 31 is known simply as the trade deadline. Of course, that's not entirely accurate.

Plenty of deals go down in August; the process just gets more complicated.

To be traded post-July, players must clear revocable waivers. Meaning, in essence, other teams have an opportunity to snatch a guy off the trading block, and the team that offered him up has a chance to yank him back.

To be eligible to play in the postseason, however, a player must be traded by Aug. 31 (11:59 p.m.).

As the end of August approaches, clubs looking to bolster their MLB rosters in advance of a playoff run will need to pull off waiver trades in the next 11 days if they want the new addition to be eligible for postseason play.

The immediacy of the situation cannot be overstated. It also leads to a question: What types of trade ideas are possible with the information we already have at hand?

The Chicago Cubs have done an exceptional job at collecting assets in recent years, but with many of their young players ready to contribute, they will soon need to turn those assets into a balanced roster built to compete for a World Series title.

The July 31 MLB non-waiver trade deadline was almost two weeks ago, but that doesn't mean there aren’t still plenty of rumors and ample speculation regarding possible trade scenarios.

The July 31 MLB non-waiver trade deadline began with a bang and ended with an explosion.

It's all happening. 

With the MLB trade deadline fast approaching, deals are coming in left and right and the rumors are even more plentiful than that. As is often the case the case this time of year, the biggest names being bandied about are that of ace pitchers, but the market is rife with talented players potentially making a move.

As the minutes tick away prior to Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline, all 30 Major League Baseball teams appear to be in a state of flux. Sure, there are a handful of teams that can feel good about their playoff aspirations, but are they championship-caliber clubs?

That's the question every general manager faces every year, though some start the season with an understanding of what these 162 games will look like.

With the nonwaiver trade deadline just around the corner, MLB trade rumors are swirling around at a furious pace. One such rumor that has gained a lot of momentum over the past few days is the potential dealing of Boston Red Sox ace Jon Lester.

With the Sox out of contention, it appears as though the team may be willing to move the impending free agent.