The 2015 MLB season is winding down and eventually we’ll know for sure who stands above the rest, both in the standings and in individual statistics. Most people will only really care if their team makes the playoffs, but for the ones that don’t, often player awards are something to hang your hat on.

That can be the case with an MVP award, which at the very worst suggests the team who holds the winner had one of the best (or most entertaining) players in all of baseball. It’s always going to be up for debate, and if it goes to a guy who doesn’t make the playoffs there are sure to be questions. But we have our top contenders and we’re getting close to an actual verdict.

Let’s see if our predictions can’t ring true as we break down the lasting contenders for the AL and NL MVP awards:

AL MVP Top Contenders: Nelson Cruz, Dallas Keuchel, Josh Donaldson, Mike Trout

Cruz is on a bad team, so he has that working against him. He’s also not a beastly defender and is hanging his hat largely on his heavy bat. That’s fine, since he’s one behind Chris Davis for the league lead in homers. Keuchel is our only pitcher making the list from the AL, as he’s been quite the force for the Houston Astros all season – specifically at home. He hasn’t lost in his home stadium all year and has been unflappable there.

The two mashers that probably are going head to head for the AL MVP, of course, are Josh Donaldson and Mike Trout. Trout was surging and enjoying an amazing year earlier in 2015, as he had the Angels in playoff contention. He took a slide in August, though, and so did his team. Donaldson only heated up, though, as he’s within striking distance for the league lead in home runs and has his Jays in position to claim the AL East.

Who Wins: Josh Donaldson

It’s Donaldson, and it shouldn’t be all that close. Not only is Donaldson knocking the long ball and doing it while winning, but he’s doing it all in crunch time when Toronto needs him the most. He doesn’t just go yard and take a break, either, as he’s an efficient hitter (.305 on the year) that brings the power when the Jays need it (119 RBI). You can make an argument for Trout, but barring a crazy September run, this is Donaldson’s MVP trophy to lose.

NL MVP Top Contenders: Clayton Kershaw, Nolan Arenado, Jake Arrieta, Yoenis Cespedes, Bryce Harper, Paul Goldschmidt

Kershaw is Kershaw. He’s the best pitcher in the game and has been absolutely unstoppable for the past two months. Even when the run support isn’t there, he’s brought his A game, night after night. Arrieta has been a pretty close second, but he had more struggles this year. He’s been as close to perfect as you can get lately, though.

As for hitting, pick your poison. Arenado has been a total hammer with the long ball, but he gets a slight discredit for playing at Coors and being on a bad team. The same in a big way for Goldy, which probably puts this NL MVP race down to Cespedes and Harper if we’re only talking hitting. Harper has been a stretched out machine for much of the year, while Cespedes has been rock solid and really found a way to turn it on ever since being traded to the Mets.

Who Wins: Clayton Kershaw

Who else? Pitchers don’t normally win MVP awards, but Kershaw isn’t a normal pitcher and his dominance needs to be respected. It’s true that Kershaw falls apart come playoff time, but who knows, maybe this season is different? For now, all we can go off of is the fact that his Dodgers own the NL West and no one has striked out more batters in baseball this year. Other pitchers have more wins and a few have a slightly better ERA, but no one has been more dominant. When picking a league MVP, you have to ask yourself two questions: could that player’s team still be elite without them and would baseball be the same?

No and no. Kershaw should be the NL MVP.

Got a different take? Let us hear it in the comments below!

If the 2015 MLB season ended today, some really good baseball clubs would be out of a shot at the playoffs. Guess what? That’s going to happen a month from now, regardless. The bottom and the top are what they are for a reason, but sometimes really solid teams just catch fire too late and they end up stuck in the middle. They’re in the land of the forgotten, and when we look ahead to the playoffs, it’s impossible to predict which of them could make one of those historic runs.

The Boston Red Sox? Unlikely. The Seattle Mariners? Doubtful. There are some hot teams and there are slumping teams, but all we can really do is take everything for what it’s worth. That’s brought us to taking a look at the standings and predicting how the 2015 MLB playoffs could go down if we had to enter the teams as they stand today:

AL Division winners: Toronto Blue Jays, Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros

Toronto is just barely above New York and with two more huge series against the Yanks this year, things could still change. They’re still headed for the playoffs either way, while the Royals are for sure in and the Astros should have their division locked down before long.

AL wild card matchup: New York Yankees vs. Texas Rangers

The Yanks take on the Rangers as we probably see a duel between Cole Hamels and Masahiro Tanaka. New York definitely has the offensive edge and might even be the better defensive squad. It’d be a good one, but we like the Yanks to move on to round two.

NL Division winners: New York Mets, St. Louis Cardinals, L.A. Dodgers

This is very likely how it will end, as the Cards and Dodgers have solid leads and the Mets should be able to grind out a division win over the Nats. All three of these teams can provide timely offense, but really hang their hat on defense with some elite arms.

NL wild card matchup: Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Chicago Cubs

If it ends like this, the NL Central will produce the supposed best team in baseball, plus two more teams that will duke it out for the right to advance to the next round. The Cubs have some deadly offense and Jon Lester could be trouble for Pittsburgh’s touch and go offense, but the Pirates are the more well rounded team and should get out of this clash alive.

AL Divisional Series: Royals vs. Yankees, Jays vs. Astros

This is where things could get dicey, as the Yanks have superior bats than Kansas City, but the Royals should have the overall upper hand in the pitching department. Kansas City has been one of the best teams all year long and they have unfinished business stemming from last year, so as long as their offense shows up they should be able to sneak past New York.

Toronto is a tough team to gauge, as they have probably the most explosive offense in all of baseball but can run cold in the worst moments. Doing so at anytime when facing the likes of Dallas Keuchel, Colin McHugh could be catastrophic. As good as they are and could be, I see them running out of gas in this series.

NL Divisional Series: Cardinals vs. Pirates, Mets vs. Dodgers

The two bitter NL Central rivals go at it with their seasons on the line, as fans get what they wanted when Pittsburgh and St. Louis clash. These teams are very similar in that they have solid offenses but rarely explode and aren’t really known for dominating opponents with scoring. Team defense and safe pitching has been their best path to success, as two of MLB’s top defenses go at it in this series. St. Louis appears to have the slide edge in the defense department, although this series just might be a toss-up. Even so, the Cards have the best record in the majors for a reason, so we’ll take them to at least get to the League Championship Series.

The Mets and Dodgers are tough to figure out, since they only played each other seven times this year. New York held a slight edge, taking the season series 4-3. They really brought the offense in those seven games, too, dropping 33 runs on the Dodgers and only giving up 19. New York seems like a team of destiny after swinging some big trades, while they have the arms in Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard to combat the Dodgers. Even more, Clayton Kershaw has thus far come up lame in crunch time, so it’s tough to buy him suddenly destroying when the season is on the line again.

League Championship Series: Royals vs. Astros, Cardinals vs. Mets

The team of destiny theme lives on here, as the Royals, Astros and Mets all have weird feels to them where you just know they’re going to pull it off. Kansas City runs into Houston a series away from returning to the World Series, though, and they can’t match their pitching. The only way the Royals advance is if they go nuts offensively, and I see the bats coming up lame in this matchup.

St. Louis is really good at overachieving and they’re doing it in a lot of ways this year. New York is doing the same thing in a lot of respects, but they’ve improved their offense so much that they’ve slowly become quite arguably the most balanced team in baseball. We thought that was the Cardinals, but after losing to the Mets here, we know that’s just not the case.

World Series: Astros vs. Mets

We could have had a matchup between the two teams with the best records in baseball (Royals and Cubs) and we could have even potentially had another Subway Series (Mets and Yankees). We’ll go halfway, as both the Mets and Astros certainly can pack an offensive punch, but both used elite defense to get here. Going back to the “destiny” aspect, it just seems like nothing can stop the Mets. The whole Matt Harvey debacle about innings limits is going to look really funny once New York rides him and the rest of their defense to a world title.

Think we got it all wrong? Let us know how you think the MLB playoffs will play out in the comments below!

The MLB regular season has just about a month of action to go before we know for sure who will be participating in the 2015 MLB playoffs. We already have a pretty good idea as to who the best and worst teams are, but the middle of the pack can change within a week and we never know what team will get hot late and surge into post-season play.

Let’s pause to see how each team is doing so far in our September MLB power rankings:

30. Philadelphia Phillies

The Phillies are good for some random good outings, but they’re still at the bottom of the NL East and haven’t shown much life lately (3-7 in last 10), so it’s tough to give them a boost in our September MLB power rankings.

29. Atlanta Braves

Atlanta’s offense has been putrid all year and the defense has often even been worse. As bad as they’ve been lately (1-9 in last 10), they’re still a hair above the Phillies.

28. Cincinnati Reds

Cincinnati has some nice young pitching to look at down the stretch and their offense can show up big, but a huge lack of consistency has doomed them all season long. They’ve at least been decent lately (5-5 in last 10 games) but still reside at the bottom of the NL Central.

27. Oakland Athletics

Oakland lost a good amount of offense in trades and the same goes for their pitching, so it’s fairly understandable that they’ve struggled in the second half. A recent 4-6 run drops them even further in our power rankings.

26. Colorado Rockies

Colorado is barely in the bottom five and they could be switched with the Marlins possibly, but both teams have had nice 6-4 stretches. Colorado’s defense is just significantly worse and they’re at the bottom of their division, so they drop one spot lower.

25. Miami Marlins

Miami has had a nice little surge that has helped keep them out of the bottom of the AL East, and it’s even more impressive because they’ve made it happen with Giancarlo Stanton (hand) still on the shelf. They’re not a great team, but they’ve turned things around lately with a nice 6-4 run and could look to end the season strong.

24. Detroit Tigers

Detroit pretty much gave up at the trade deadline and has been in an epic slide ever since. A once playoff contender, the Tigers have gone just 3-7 in their last 10 games and won’t be making the playoffs in 2015.

23. Milwaukee Brewers

Milwaukee was once regarded as one of the worst teams in baseball, but they’ve used a spirited run (8-2 in last 10 games) to climb out of the bottom of the NL Central. The playoffs are out of reach (26 games back from first), but the hot run is encouraging.

22. San Diego Padres

San Diego’s offense has been touch and go and their defense has been pretty spotty all year. Both were an issue in their last 10 games, when they lost seven of 10.

21. Baltimore Orioles

The Orioles were once in contention to make a run at the AL East, but they’ve fallen apart in a 2-8 slide over their last 10 contests.

20. Arizona Diamondbacks

Arizona continues to bring the bats on offense, but their problem remains touch and go defense. A 3-7 slide hurts them considerably, although they can still try to close out the year at .500.

19. Chicago White Sox

The White Sox boast one of the best pitchers in the game in Chris Sale, but their offense has really hurt them for much of 2015. They’re not an awful team, but they’re wading in the murky waters of mediocrity (5-5 in last 10) and will likely stay put to close the year.

18. Boston Red Sox

Boston’s offense has been fantastic all year and they’ve even upped their play recently (7-3 in last 10), but they’re still a whopping 13 games out of first in the AL East. They did ascend out of last place, though, so they could be a team to keep tabs on throughout September.

17. Tampa Bay Rays

Tampa Bay has squandered it’s once solid positioning in the AL East and a once four-team race is now officially just two. The Rays could still surprise with a hot September (11 games out of first), but they’ll likely fade down the stretch due to a shaky offense.

16. Seattle Mariners

Seattle has brought the offense over the past two months and more recently has actually been quite good, winning seven of their last 10 games. They’re suddenly just nine games out of first place in the AL West and although their playoff hopes are faint, they have something to strive for.

15. Cleveland Indians

Cleveland’s season is all but over, but that hasn’t kept them from trying. The Indians have been a strong team lately, winning 7 of their last 10 and creeping closer to .500.

14. Minnesota Twins

Minnesota is probably toast in their bid to claim the AL Central, but they’ve shown nice signs of life recently (6-4 in last 10) and are 11 games behind the Royals. It would take an epic collapse from Kansas City, but it’s not yet impossible for the Twins to hope for the playoffs.

13. L.A. Angels

L.A. has really failed offensively lately and may not have the power to make it back from a mini collapse. They’re still just 5.5 games out of first place in the AL West but it’s starting to look like they’re just slipping away.

12. Texas Rangers

Cole Hamels has stood his ground on the mound and Texas has been getting it done on offense as they’ve pulled within two games of the Astros for first place in the AL West. There is still a lot of baseball to be played, but they’re without a doubt a team to monitor (7-3 in last 10).

11. San Francisco Giants

The defending champs have fallen down the ranks due to shaky pitching and some injuries, but they’re still alive, being 8.5 games back behind the Dodgers. They’ll need a hot September to turn things around and make sure they can get into the playoffs, of course.

10. Washington Nationals

Bryce Harper has heated back up over the past few weeks and has his Nats in contention for the NL East. The New York Mets have been better, though, and Washington has some work to do if they want to erase a five game hole.

9. New York Yankees

The Yanks are in a dead heat with the AL East-leading Blue Jays, and they’re only back half a game. New York’s offense is good enough to beat anyone, but they continue to be held back by their shaky defense. Regardless, they’ve been red hot lately (8-2 in last 10) and could very well end up winning their division when it’s all said and done.

8. Houston Astros

Houston has looked a little lethargic lately (4-6 in last 10), but still has the pitching and offense to be a very dangerous playoff team. That’s if they can stave off the Rangers, of course, who have stormed within two games of first place.

7. New York Mets

It’s arguable the Mets are the most balanced team in MLB, as they have elite pitching and really have come alive offensively over the past month thanks to some key trades. They’ve just been getting by lately, though (5-5 in last 10), otherwise they might be inside the top-5 of our MLB power rankings.

6. Chicago Cubs

Chicago has ascended the ranks with a four-game winning streak (6-4 in last 10). They’re still unlikely to win the NL Central, but just 7.5 games back, aren’t out of the running just yet.

5. Kansas City Royals

Kansas City’s magic number is just 15 to clinch a playoff spot, which goes a long way to tell us all just how good they’ve been all year long. Kansas City would be higher if not for a sluggish 4-6 run in their last 10 contests, but they remain a top-5 team and legit World Series threat.

4. Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto has remained strong as they’ve gone 7-3 in their last 10 and hold a minor 0.5 game lead over the rival Yankees. The race for the AL East will go down to the final week of the season, which naturally could have the Jays ascending these ranks or taking a dramatic drop.

3. Los Angeles Dodgers

Clayton Kershaw has rounded into form over the past 2-3 months and the Dodgers once again look like a tough out come playoff time. L.A. should have the NL West in the bag and could very well end up making it to this year’s World Series.

2. Pittsburgh Pirates

The Pirates are destined to make the MLB playoffs, and even gained some ground on the Cardinals in their recent series. They’ll need a very strong close to September to take over the NL Central, however.

1. St. Louis Cardinals

The Cardinals have endured some big injuries to remain the top team in all of baseball. Their offense comes and goes, but they still have MLB’s best defense and look like they have what it takes to win it all in 2015.

Think our MLB power rankings are all jacked up? Let us hear it in the comments below!

The 2015 MLB playoffs are closing in, as October brings a ton of great matchups and loads of excitement. If your favorite team is in the playoffs, that is. If not, baseball can be tough to watch in October and may have you already looking ahead to what your team can hope to do in 2016.

It might even have you thinking about who they can hope to sign. There are some massive names that could hit MLB free agency this year, and depending on where they go, they could shake up the entire league quite a bit. Let’s take a look at the biggest names that could hit the open market:

David Price (SP)

There won’t be a better pitcher to possibly hit the open market this year than David Price. He’s bounced around the past two years, but is headed for a massive paycheck and hopefully lands in a situation where his elite arm can vie for a World Series. That could even be in Toronto this year, but win or lose, Price could be headed elsewhere this off-season. The New York Yankees have waited long enough to add another elite arm to their rotation, so don’t be shocked if they get involved in the David Price sweepstakes.

Johnny Cueto (SP)

Cueto has been pretty shaky over his last several starts with the Royals, but he still produces that beautiful gem about twice a month. His next team would probably love to be banking on a more consistent ace, but Cueto still has a big arm and can take down the toughest of lineups when he has his stuff. Considering he hasn’t worked out quite as planned with the Royals after being traded out of Cincinnati, there’s a decent chance he’s headed elsewhere in MLB free agency. Plenty of teams need lively arms, but the Yankees, Tigers and Red Sox stand out the most.

Yoenis Cespedes (OF)

One of the top mashers in free agency, Cespedes has been traded in each of the last two years and simply responding by beating the life out of baseballs. He’s been a tremendous addition to a suddenly stacked Mets lineup, but he’s going to have to be paid a large sum to be kept around. There has been some chatter that the Tigers could bring him back with a massive deal (they just traded him away this summer), but the Mets may have something to say about it first.

Scott Kazmir (SP)

Kazmir’s 2015 MLB season has been up and down, but the 32-year old still has the goods to be a top ace in the right crew. It seems like he’s been a good fit with the Astros and considering he’s from Houston, it makes a lot of sense for him to just sign a big deal and stick around for good.

Justin Upton (OF)

Still very much in his prime, Justin Upton brings the long ball and has enjoyed a stellar season in San Diego. You can consider him gone after the Padres were shopping him in trade rumors all season long, but where does he go? He’s going to be valued by half of the league, but in the end he’s probably going to Kansas City or Anaheim. The Angels have no offense beyond Mike Trout and Albert Pujols, while the Royals will probably let Ben Zobrist go. Upton won’t be cheap, but he’s only 28 and can do it all. He brings a lot of value to the table for a playoff contender.

Chris Davis (1B)

Crush is just a total masher and he really turned on the long ball this season for the Baltimore Orioles. Another big hitter still in his prime, Davis stands a good chance to return to a pretty loaded Orioles offense. Of course, there’s something about his game that has pinstripes written all over it. Baltimore should be in the lead to hang on to him, but don’t be shocked if we hear about the New York Yankees trying to steal him away. Division rivals tend to be sneaky like that.

Jordan Zimmerman (SP)

Zimmerman’s game hasn’t really lived up to his big name in 2015, but he’s still a quality ace in his prime. In the right situation he could thrive, and that could end up being a number of spots. The San Francisco Giants don’t have much beyond Madison Bumgarner, while teams like the Astros, Blue Jays, Yankees and Royals all could use help on the mound.

The 2015 MLB trade deadline is in the books and has been for almost a full week now. By now we can start to fully digest the plethora of moves that had big name stars relocating and either crushing the soul of one team as they give up on the 2015 season, or lift the spirits and hopes of another.

Every sport has buyers and sellers when it comes to the trade market, and several teams paid the iron price to beef up their squad to the point where they’re either strong enough to make a serious playoff push, or so elite that it’s hard not envisioning them competing for a World Series title. Only one team can win in the end, but after all the chaos, we at least have to have a leader. Let’s break down the top five contenders coming out of the trade deadline smoke and see who – once and for all – is going to win this thing this year:

Los Angeles Dodgers

Any team going full speed ahead with Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke leading the way was probably going to be a problem. Then the Dodgers traded for a surging Mat Latos and the solid Alex Wood. A star-studded pitching staff got even deeper and with a strong offense backing them, the Dodgers look ready to hold off the defending World Series champion San Francisco Giants in the NL West. They may have to, after all, if they want to even get into the playoffs. As tough as just getting in could be due to their competition inside their own division, the Dodgers now have the balanced attack needed to go the distance.

Kansas City Royals

Kansas City has one of the better offenses in baseball and even with outfielder Alex Gordon on the mend (groin), they weren’t a unit anyone wanted to face. The big problem? Pitching. The Royals opted to address their big need by bringing in Reds ace Johnny Cueto, and then topped off their offense by trading for do-it-all man, Ben Zobrist. Cueto may or may not be the missing link between the Royals and a deep playoff run, but he was certainly needed on a Royals team that lacked a truly elite arm. Now they have that arm, and with a 9.5 game league in the AL Central, are fully equipped to make some noise in the MLB playoffs.

Houston Astros

The Astros were one of the more balanced teams in all of baseball, but with studly pitching, their clear weakness remained on the offensive side. It was never really a weakness, though, as their glaring hole was just how much they can strikeout at times. To be safe, the Astros brought in some extra power in Carlos Gomez and even beefed up their elite pitching rotation by landing Scott Kazmir. Already a team to fear, Houston is as balanced as ever and has a great chance at holding down the fort atop the AL West.

New York Mets

New York is pretty stacked when it comes to arms, as they already had Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom and Noah Syndergaard leading a solid pitching rotation. Offense was their real problem. Lucas Duda has come alive lately and getting catcher Travis D’Arnaud back to full strength helps a ton, but neither of those happenings is as big as landing outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. Yo has already made a huge impact in just a few games and he could really liven up the Mets’ bats, long-term. If this recent surge of offense holds strong, New York could potentially hold off the Washington Nationals and win the NL East. If that happens, they could be a serious title contender.

Toronto Blue Jays

Toronto already boasted the strongest offense in the league (most runs), but they lacked elite pitching. What did they do to get better? They upgraded at shortstop with Troy Tulowitzki AND went out and got an ace in David Price. The Blue Jays did a terrific job improving a major strength and then went out and picked up a stud pitcher to bolster a pitching rotation that – with an elite arm leading the way – now doesn’t look so bad. Are the Jays a legit World Series contender, though? Not just yet, but they’re close. The key will be a crucial series this week with the AL East-leading New York Yankees. How they fare at Yankee Stadium could go a long way in telling us if this team is ready for a real playoff push.

If we’re picking straight from this list, the Dodgers still carry the heaviest stick. Kershaw could be ready to finally deal some gems when it matters most and the Dodgers have a good enough offense to match just about anyone. Teams like the Giants and Cardinals didn’t do much at the trade deadline and still could be obvious trouble, but the Dodgers may take the cake and these five teams all got better. We expect the Dodgers to finally take that next step and win it all this year, but all of this trade action made one thing perfectly clear: whoever does win it all in 2015 won’t be doing so easily.

There has been tons of speculation for the past few months as to who would go where when it comes to MLB trade rumors. The whispers behind closed doors are about to come to an end, when MLB teams can finally no longer swing trades after Friday’s 4:00 pm ET deadline.

With names like Johnny Cueto, Cole Hamels and Scott Kazmir already traded over the past two weeks, it’s hard to believe the trade market can get much crazier. There still remain some heavy hitters and big arms that could be dealt, however, and there is a whole day of action potentially awaiting us.

Let’s scour over the top names that are still likely to be traded and analyze what the latest buzz suggests:

All of the San Diego Padres

There isn’t one exclusive player, as the Padres aren’t going anywhere this year and are said to be very interested in making some deals. It certainly is worth noting that there’s been a lot of talk and entering the final day nothing has happened, but we can’t look past them. The biggest names by far are outfielder Justin Upton and pitchers Andrew Cashner, James Shields and Tyson Ross. Upton is leading the way in talks and has gotten serious interested from the Baltimore Orioles and Chicago White Sox, among others. He should be dealt on the final day of MLB trades for 2015.

As for the pitching, with the Padres so open to getting a deal done, at least one of them is probably on their way out. The Padres like Ross and he’s safely under roster control for a few years yet, so trading him makes less sense than trading one or both of their other top pitchers. That being said, the Chicago Cubs have shown strong interest and could end up prying him out of San Diego’s grasp. Cashner bombed in his most recent trip to the mound so I think his value dips a bit, but I’d be surprised if Shields isn’t moved to a contending team before Friday’s MLB trade deadline.

Yoenis Cespedes and Rentals

Detroit doesn’t totally want to give up on making a late run this season, but they also don’t want to lose a ton of talent for nothing. They already shipped off David Price and Yoenis Cespedes is the next big name that comes off the books after this season. Cespedes and any other Tigers player that is currently a rental is going to be a big time candidate to get dealt. I think that has Cespedes going elsewhere, while the Orioles and White Sox (just like with Upton), seem very interested in making a deal. Don’t rule out the New York Mets, either, as they whiffed on Carlos Gomez and should still be seeking a hot bat.

Parra Next Brewer to Go?

With Carlos Gomez finally shipped off in a trade, it’s clear the Milwaukee Brewers are open for business. Ourfielder Gerardo Parra is rumored to be the next Brew Crew member on the trading block and the Baltimore Orioles are the leading contenders. Baltimore is still pushing for a wild card spot and could use a consistent bat to take a step up.

Mets After Bruce

There hasn’t been a whole lot of word about the Cincinnati Reds now that Johnny Cueto is gone, but word is the team could consider parting ways with masher Jay Bruce. The New York Mets still badly need some offense and are reportedly smitten with the outfielder.

Yovani Garnering Interest

Yovani Gallardo just got slapped around by the New York Yankees but is said to be getting a good amount of interest from roughly five MLB teams. Gallardo is a solid arm in the right spot in a rotation and had largely been throwing good stuff until Thursday evening’s debacle. Gallardo could be on the move as the Rangers make room for star Cole Hamels to take over.

Chapman on the Move?

Easily one of the top closers in the game right now, Aroldis Chapman could be on his way out of Cincy. Chapman has the fastest toss in all of baseball and several teams are looking to pry him away from the Reds. The Arizona Diamondbacks are the latest team to poke around at Chapman’s status, but he’s by no mean’s a lock to leave Ohio.

The 2015 MLB trade deadline is almost here. Just two days remain before playoff hopefuls will find out if they have the ammunition needed, whether by arm or bat, to make that final push. Several trades involving star players have already gone down and we’re almost sure to see a few more before the deadline hits at the end of the month. The big question, naturally, is which ones get shipped out of town?

Rumors have swirled, but once the smoke clears there are still a ton of top shelf players that haven’t been moved. Let’s break them down and assess their top likely destinations if they end up getting traded:

Cole Hamels, SP, Philadelphia Phillies

Hamels remains the most highly sought after arm and his value couldn’t be higher thanks to a recent no-hitter. His top suitors remain the same, as the Yankees and Rangers are both interested. The trick with Hamels, of course, is that he can block any trade he doesn’t like. There has been a gigantic list of interested teams, but Hamels is really only considering a handful. Ultimately, he’s either sticking on the Philly roster or probably going to the Yanks.

David Price, SP, Detroit Tigers

Price is an interesting trade target, since the Tigers seemingly don’t even know if they want to keep trying to win this year or not. They’re expected to make a decision on that this week, and if they decide to tank the rest of the way, trading away their top ace could be a big part of that. Price isn’t wanting for suitors, as the Yankees, Dodgers and Blue Jays all are reportedly interested. L.A. could back off after acquiring Mat Latos from Miam, however.

Jeff Samardzija, SP, Chicago White Sox

Samardzija is on his second Chicago-based MLB team and it very well could be his last. Despite enjoying a nice run of late, Samardzija is very much on the trading block for a struggling White Sox team despite the team making a nice run recently. Of course, there are contradicting whispers that suggest the White Sox could be growing confident in what they have after their recent success. Samardzija is a free agent after this season, however, so Chicago would be risking an unlikely playoff run for getting nothing in return for one of their top aces.

James Shields, Andrew Cashner and Tyson Ross, SP, San Diego Padres

The Padres aren’t very good and it seems they know it. Pretty much anyone and everyone is up for grabs, and that includes all of their best pitchers. Shields and Cashner are quality arms that have been negatively impacted by shaky run support and Ross is a nice young ace that could be a cornerstone for the right club. The Padres should be less willing to give up Ross due to his contract, but it’d be a minor shock if one of these guys isn’t shipped off in a trade this week.

Carlos Gonzalez, OF, Colorado Rockies

CarGo has been ablaze lately and despite mildly slowing down on Tuesday night, he’s going to be high atop team’s lists if they’re looking for some nice offense. Recent reports suggest the Rockies may hold off on dealing Gonzalez before the deadline, but his recent tear suggests now is the time. With Colorado already getting rid of Troy Tulowitzki this week, it wouldn’t be surprising to see more Rockies on their way out of town.

Justin Upton, OF, San Diego Padres

Upton is probably the top hitter on the trading block that is almost certain to be dealt. The New York Mets were said to be extremely close to landing the 27-year old outfielder, but San Diego’s asking price was said to be too much. The lack of a deal has opened the door to other teams to get involved and the Baltimore Orioles are one of them. Odds are Upton gets dealt within the next two days and either the Mets or O’s are the likely landing spot.

Carlos Gomez, OF, Milwaukee Brewers

Gomez isn’t the only other hitter than can be had, but he’s probably the last high profile batter on the trading block. Milwaukee has been pretty bad and despite a nice run a few weeks ago, they’ve slowed back down and are probably ready to sell. Gomez isn’t the most efficient hitter but he brings major power to the table and is still in his prime at 29 years old. He could put the right offense over the top and has been tied to the Rangers and Indians.

Got an even bigger name you think gets dealt before the 2015 MLB trade deadline hits? Tell us in the comments below!

The 2015 MLB trade deadline is just a few days away, which understandably has MLB trade chatter churning out at an all-time high. Huge likes like Scott Kazmir and Johnny Cueto have already changed hands and given some teams a much-needed boost, but plenty of stars could be on the move as teams try to make a last ditch effort to improve their World Series odds.

On top of that, losing teams are simply conducting fire sales, rendering many players that normally wouldn’t otherwise be shopped completely available. We’ll be tracking the latest MLB trade buzz as we get closer to the deadline, but let’s first go over the hottest updates for today:

Tigers in Buy Mode

David Price has been a hot name on the trade market due to speculation that the Detroit Tigers might be ready to mail in the 2015 season. Not so fast, says Jon Morosi, who suggests Detroit still like their balanced talent and for now is giving it a strong go at beefing up their roster and trying to make a run in the second half. Morosi does imply that the Tigers could quickly change their tune if they don’t far well against the Tampa Bay Rays this week, however.

Orioles, Padres Talk Upton

It’s been no secret that San Diego Padres star outfielder Justin Upton is available, while the Padres in general have made it known that just about everyone is available for the right price. Discussions have approached a serious level with the Baltimore Orioles regarding Upton, though. A potential deal could also include Andrew Cashner or Tyson Ross, although the Padres don’t seem overly excited about the idea of letting Ross go. Baltimore looks to stay in the race for the AL Wild Card (as well as the AL East), and landing a big bat and another useful arm could make that happen.

Suitor List For Hamels Grows

Who isn’t in the Cole Hamels sweepstakes at this point? Hamels was surely regarded as a strong arm to beef a rotation before this week, but a no hitter against the Chicago Cubs naturally has even more teams now excited to land the veteran ace. Reports suggest he’s done in Philly and it’s only a matter of time before his exit is complete. Too many teams are involved to know where he’s going just yet, though, while the Arizona Diamondbacks strangely are the latest team to be added to the list of interested clubs.

Victorino Sent to Angels

Trade rumors are flying left and right, but actual trade news is slow to creep out to start the week. Shane Victorino is the first casualty, though, as the Boston Red Sox have shipped him off to the L.A. Angels. Victorino is still a capable bat at times, but this isn’t a groundbreaking deal for either side.

We’re following all of the top MLB trade rumors closely, as it’s just a matter of days before the 2015 MLB trade deadline arrives. The Toronto Blue Jays made a solid move to bolster an already elite offense by trading for shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and more moves could be coming on Tuesday afternoon.

Let’s scour the MLB trade rumor mill and see what other star players could be headed elsewhere within the next few days:

CarGo on the Go?

There might not be a better time to shop Carlos Gonzalez, who is fresh off of back-to-back outings with two home runs. The 29-year old outfielder hasn’t always had the best of luck when it comes to health and lacks consistent efficiency, but he’s a top shelf power hitter that numerous contending teams would love to have. Per reports, he’s more than available, and no one is doubting that after Colorado just dealt one of their top star players. The Mets have been very active in their pursuit for more hitting, so they could be the top team to watch as the trade deadline nears.

Giants Pushing For Hamels

The Cole Hamels trade rumors won’t quit until the trade deadline because he’s easily the hottest name on the market. Numerous teams have been tied to Hamels throughout the season, but the defending champion San Francisco Giants have now thrown their hat into the ring. San Francisco is making a “strong push” despite facing major competition in the Cole Hamels sweepstakes. The Dodgers, Yankees and many others will go hard after Hamels until a deal is final, but the Giants will have loads of cap room coming next year, making a deal for Hamels quite realistic. Already a top World Series contender, landing Hamels could be the finishing touch on a loaded pitching staff for SF.

Zobrist Interest Still Hot

Ben Zobrist has been one of the hottest name in the MLB trade rumor mill all year long and the utility man is still being eyed by numerous teams. The Mets need his offense the most, but the Pirates, Angels, Cubs and many others have continued to poke at him in trade talks. New York might be the slight leader due to their need for healthy bats, but it’s a guessing game as to precisely where he goes at this point. It’s also possible the A’s just keep him for the remainder of the season.

Mets Eyeing Papelbon

One of the game’s top closers could be on the move. Per reports, the New York Mets desire more than just an offensive boost, as they also are in talks to land Phillies pitcher Jonathan Papelbon. Papelbon is wasting away on one of the league’s worst clubs, but the 34-year old righty still has racked up 17 saves on the year. Papelbon reportedly won’t OK the deal unless he’s slotted to be New York’s closer, however.

Ozuna Inquiries

The Miami Marlins aren’t said to be shopping Marcell Ozuna, but that hasn’t stopped “numerous” teams from inquiring about his availability. Miami isn’t going anywhere anytime soon, so it’s possible they’ll start listening to offers for the 24-year old. Ozuna was recently demoted to the minors, but still carries plenty of upside.