2011 MLB Trade Deadline

Since making his MLB debut in 2007, Cincinnati Reds catcher Ryan Hanigan has without a doubt been a valuable asset to the Reds organization.

As both a backup catcher and a spot starter, Hanigan has proven himself to be a clutch hitter and a solid defender behind the plate.

Less than a few days passed after the 2011 MLB All-Star game before the first major trade domino fell as the July 31st trade deadline creeps closer.

The New York Yankees are searching for a solution to solve their pitching rotation cataclysm, and Francisco Liriano of the Minnesota Twins could be the arm for the job.

Starting pitching seems to always be at a premium these days, no matter if it's in the heat of a pennant race or the dead of winter.

That fact will continue to ring true with the approach of the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline in Major League Baseball, as a host of teams with legitimate October aspirations, including the New York Yankees, the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers, are on the prowl for support in their respective rotations.

What was once a position of great stability has turned into a position of dire need for the Twins over the last 16 months and has been further magnified over the last several weeks.

It comes as no surprise that Athletics' names are starting to pop up in trade rumors.

Expectations are that Josh Willingham, Coco Crisp, David DeJesus, Hideki Matsui, Michael Wuertz and perhaps Grant Balfour and Brian Fuentes will at least be shopped before the deadline.

As we close in on the July 31st MLB trade deadline, many teams are in the market for a shutdown closer. 

Closers can serve two purposes for these teams.

In the case of the St. Louis Cardinals, Fernando Salas has been more or less serviceable, but without Eduardo Sanchez, they could use another option in the ninth inning.

Other teams hope to make use of a closer acting as a lights-out setup man.

The Detroit Tigers have a glaring hole at second base this season. 

Will Rhymes, Scott Sizemore, and Ryan Raburn haven't fared well in their time at second.  The Tigers' front office suggests that they will address the position internally (likely with the return of Carlos Guillen from the DL) rather than with a trade. 

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports created a maelstrom of buzz last weekend when he reported that the Rockies were willing to listen to offers for Ubaldo Jimenez.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are in first place in the NL Central.  In July.

Take a minute to let that sink in.

July is the month when rival GM's are usually calling Neal Huntington to see which established major league players are available for trade.  Not this year.  The Pirates are in a position to be buyers rather than sellers at the trade deadline.