Opinion

Most of Major League Baseball's best players were on hand as Yoenis Cespedes won the 2014 Home Run Derby, but team executives likely spent the night working the phones and trying to work whatever deals they're pursuing before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

It makes for a strange rumor mill when the New York Mets and Boston Red Sox have a ton in common.

Both franchises are floundering around near the bottom of their respective divisions and are very much sellers at this point with the trade deadline approaching at the end of July.

The 2014 MLB All-Star Game rosters are officially set. 

Injuries and other players being deemed unavailable may send managers John Farrell and Mike Matheny scrambling for some last-minute replacements, but for the most part, we know who will be taking part in the Midsummer Classic at Target Field. 

The excitement surrounding the 20th annual MLB Home Run Derby has baseball fans of every team anticipating which of the contestants will steal the show this year.

The 2014 Home Run Derby takes place July 14 at Target Field in Minnesota.

No team likes to consider itself out of contention, especially when the standings say that, with a hot streak and a bit of luck, a team could find itself leading in its league's respective playoff race.

Only seven of MLB's 30 teams sit at least 10 games out of a playoff berth, and with so many clubs still believing that they've got a chance to play meaningful baseball in October, even the most astute and experienced general manager can fall victim to poor decision-making.

Baseball is a sport steeped in tradition, and the 2014 edition of the MLB All-Star Game has the unenviable honor of trying to live up to the high standards of the annual event.

Fortunately for hardcore and casual fans alike, the rosters for both the American and National Leagues are stacked with elite hitters and dominant pitchers. The game should be a fierce battle with home-field advantage in the World Series on the line.

Most fans will be looking forward to the 2014 MLB All-Star Game, but on Sunday, July 13, another exciting tradition will be rekindled during the MLB All-Star Legends and Celebrity Softball Game.

Some of the biggest names in baseball history will join forces with some of the top personalities from other sports and from the world of entertainment in a celebrity softball game. With the event taking place in Minnesota, there is a local feel to the stars participating.

Predicting the MVP of the MLB All-Star Game is like sticking your hand in a beehive and trying to guess which of the little suckers is going to sting you first.

There's probably some rhyme or reason to it, but mostly, it's pretty random.

Nevertheless, we'll take a look at the list below and try to focus on three players most likely to do damage on Tuesday at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

The 2014 MLB All-Star Game will take place Tuesday from Target Field in Minneapolis. While Derek Jeter will be participating in his 14th and final All-Star Game, there's a large group of players who will be making their debuts in the Midsummer Classic.

At least three of them figure to be perennial All-Stars in their careers, provided injuries or other issues don't derail their careers.