MLB Trade Rumors

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.

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.

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.

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.

With the July 31 trade deadline about to hit center-stage, rumors and speculation will be at no shortage.

This year, names such as Jose Reyes, Carlos Beltran, Heath Bell and B.J. Upton have become the primary names associated with trade rumors.  Without question, many players will be moved as the deadline approaches.

The only problem is, what rumors are worth believing?

Since the minds of many general managers around the league are anything but predictable, let's go over a few trade rumors and label them as fact or fiction.

Leading the way in the MLB Trade rumor department is a report from Buster Olney, in which he says the Detroit Tigers are asking around about pitching, while another floating rumor that has the Phillies being pegged as "front runners" for three bullpen pitchers from San Diego.

Chicago White Sox backup catcher Ramon Castro suffered a broken right hand in the eighth inning of Saturday's 4-3 win against the Minnesota Twins.

Now, with Castro likely out for an extended period of time, the White Sox must decide who is going to fill Castro's cleats behind starter A.J. Pierzynski.

The risk of any trade is that the player leaving your team will wind up having the more productive future than the player that you received.

Major League Baseball is full of these stories.

Remember when the San Francisco Giants traded Francisco Liriano, Joe Nathan and Boof Bonser for A.J. Pierzynski? I'm sure the Giants regretted moving those three.