MLB

The Los Angeles Dodgers are calling up pitcher Julio Urias, and he is expected to make his MLB debut Friday against the New York Mets, the team announced Thursday.   

The MLB trade market generally doesn't heat up until the beginning of July, but it's never too early to start speculating about some potential deals that teams could explore.

We've broken down the following article into buyers, sellers and teams still on the fence, as it's not clear where all 30 teams will fall at this point with so much baseball left to be played.

For buyers, we've proposed a trade to help plug one of their areas of need and for sellers we've suggested a deal that could turn a veteran piece into young assets.

Even without a career that included six All-Star appearances, four Silver Sluggers and three seasons in which he finished in the top 10 in NL MVP voting, Chase Utley would still forever remain in the baseball lexicon.

Albeit because of one play.

Another year, another season of Major League Baseball having more talented rookies than it knows what to do with. And if nothing else, that makes for enticing Rookie of the Year races.

Zero. That's how many dollars the New York Yankees spent on major league free agents this winter. 

Considering they've got MLB's second-highest payroll and a well-earned reputation for cutting cartoonish checks, that's sort of a big deal.

What gives?

It's too obvious to call Boston Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts an X-factor (get it?). And it's an understatement to simply call him a factor in Boston's rise to the top of the American League East standings.

Bogaerts has been much more than a mere factor. He's been a revelation. And he might just be the best of the Red Sox's current, enviable crop of homegrown impact players.

San Francisco Giants first baseman Brandon Belt suffered an ankle injury Wednesday during his team's game against the San Diego Padres. 

Continue for updates. 

Belt's Ankle Sprain Considered "Mild"

Wednesday, May 25

According to CSNBayArea.com's Alex Pavlovic, Belt may need "a couple days off" to let the injury heal.  

Legendary Los Angeles Dodgers broadcaster Vin Scully, who is in his 67th and final season calling games, has declined Fox Sports' offer to work the MLB All-Star Game on July 12 in San Diego, SI.com's Richard Deitsch reported Wednesday. 

After considering demoting starting pitcher Matt Harvey to the minor leagues, the New York Mets' leadership has agreed to stick with him at the MLB level.  

Following Monday's outing against the Cincinnati Reds, Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Clayton Kershaw had thrown as many shutouts (3) in the month of May as the rest of MLB combined, per ESPN Stats & Info. 

Of course, this isn't the only gaudy statistic Kershaw has churned out lately.