MLB Trade Rumors

The MLB July 31 non-waiver trade deadline is less than six weeks away, and the rhetoric is quickly reaching a crescendo.

The quagmire in the standings is slowing, giving way to an established set of clubs that have legitimate chances of reaching the MLB postseason. As such, the number of rumors over the past seven days grew considerably from the week prior.

Here are three MLB trade scenarios based on actual need and published rumors from the week ending Sunday, June 22. 

Slowly but surely, MLB trade rumors are swirling faster by the day.

The deadline is now just over a month away. The rumors mill began quiet, but noise will continue to pick up as teams' desperation rises for one last piece of their championship-push puzzles.

Here's the latest trade buzz from around the league.

LHP David Price, Tampa Bay Rays

Major League Baseball front offices go through stages every year. Right now, with the draft firmly behind us, all the attention shifts to the trade market. This seems like a particularly interesting market, with big-name stars potentially available and many teams in playoff contention. 

Outside of the MLB postseason, the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline is the most exciting time to follow the game. The rumors come fast, and they come furious. 

Now, last week was the first time this season when the names being mentioned broke away from guys like Jeff Samardzija and David Price, who are commonly discussed. There were some outside-the-box suggestions that could make sense given the right circumstances.

The MLB trade deadline is still over seven weeks away, but we're getting to the point where teams—at least the realistic ones—know if they're going to contend for postseason play or not.

That means trade blocks are starting to open up. 

With the 2014 MLB first-year player draft behind us, it's time to set our full attention on the upcoming July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

This is, after all, when teams put their full focus on improving the current roster via trade in hopes of reaching the postseason. And with 20 teams within three games of .500 heading into Monday, the potential trades are nearly endless.

Some clubs will be looking to add depth or to fill a hole on their 25-man roster. Others will look to get a slew of top prospects in return for a star. 

With each passing week of the MLB season, the trade rumblings grow louder. That’s the way it is every year, though, as the annual frenzy that is the non-waiver trade deadline approaches.

This week has been no different.

There are the mainstay rumors involving Jeff Samardzija and the ever-present New York Yankees, of course. Over the last seven days, however, a couple of other names have surfaced on the list of MLB players who are either needed or could be available.

There are just over 10 weeks remaining until Major League Baseball’s non-waiver trade deadline. That means we all have just over 10 weeks of rampant speculation and intrigue awaiting us at every turn.

This past week only added to the anticipation with news that several players could be available. The wheels turn quickly around MLB.

Another week of the MLB season has passed, and along with it, a new set of potential trade opportunities has emerged.

In the past seven days, there have been key injuries on contending teams, rumors of relief pitchers being made available and the constant din of a starter leaving the city of Chicago.

We sit only a month into MLB's 2014 regular season, and the trade market has already heated up with a number of deals consummated between clubs, the latest of which found Lucas Harrell shipped from Houston to Arizona in exchange for either cash or a player to be named later, per Matt Snyder of CBSSports.com.