Cole Hamels

It remains to be seen if the activity before this year's MLB trade deadline will contain dramatic shifts of talent around the league. In a season where a lot of teams have remained within sniffing distance of a wild-card berth, there may not be many sellers on the market. 

But the teams in the hunt will still attempt to work out whatever big moves they can. 

New York Mets

One of Bud Selig’s primary goals in adding a second wild-card playoff spot to both leagues was to put more teams in postseason contention, creating more excitement and fan interest throughout the summer.

A consequence of achieving that goal has been tamping down the trade buzz heading into the All-Star break, one of the game’s most exciting and heavily debated portions of the regular season.

Philadelphia Phillies ace Cole Hamels has been the subject of trade rumors for quite some time, and that figures to continue as Major League Baseball's July 31 trade deadline draws closer.

Continue for updates.

Hamels Not Pushing for Trade From Philly

Saturday, June 6

It is clear that the Phillies are a long way from contention, but their 31-year-old No. 1 starter is in no hurry to be dealt elsewhere despite that.

Every day that passes is another day closer to the July 31 trade deadline. For the first time in what seems like ages, the Houston Astros are shaping up to be buyers, not sellers, as that time approaches.

It is already June, and the Houston Astros still have the best record in the American League. After years of trading veterans in exchange for young prospects, the shoe is finally on the other foot.

Every start Cole Hamels makes is an audition. And with each performance, his audience appears to be growing.

If that is indeed the case, they must be liking what they're seeing.

The Texas Rangers could have chosen to wave a white flag when they found out Yu Darvish had been lost for the 2015 season due to Tommy John surgery, but they're not.

Instead, they may have it in mind to acquire a suitable replacement: Cole Hamels.

Cliff Lee has sent Ruben Amaro Jr. his much-needed wake-up call.

Now it is up to Amaro to actually wake up.

Cliff Lee's left elbow made it through just one spring training start—and all of two innings—last Thursday before he was shut down the following day with another bout of elbow discomfort in the same spot that plagued him for much of 2014.

Sunblock, infield dust and...scorpions? Pitchers and catchers have barely unpacked, and we've already got the best and the worst of camp openings.

1. Best Use of Weights

Baseball season is finally underway, and Philadelphia Phillies pitcher Cliff Lee has already run out of answers for the media.

Following the pitchers and catchers' first workout of the season, Lee used a Magic 8 Ball to field questions from reporters.