Opinion

There are plenty of bubble players for the 2014 MLB All-Star rosters, but some have already locked up spots.

These players are not only guaranteed All-Stars, but they're MVP and Cy Young candidates as well.

4. SS Troy Tulowitzki, Colorado Rockies

The marathon feel of Major League Baseball's 162-game season can be broken down into easily digestible and debatable segments. As the 2014 campaign enters the stretch run of the first half of the season, let's take a look back on the last week of action.

While making long-term evaluations or declarations based on one week of play can be a fool's errand, each small sample does provide perspective on the season. As the months pass and each game becomes more important in a season full of pennant chases, day-by-day results take on extra meaning.

The month of July is here, and with it comes the start of another MLB trade season, as contenders look to shore up their rosters for the stretch run and also-rans look to add young talent for the future.

Last year's trade deadline was relatively quiet compared to years past, but it still saw a handful of impact players on the move before the July 31 non-waiver deadline.

A year later, we have a much clearer idea of who got the better end of each trade, so it's time to revisit each of those deals and regrade both sides.

The MLB trade deadline is July 31, but that doesn't mean general managers will sit on their hands and wait until the last second to make a deal.

There is plenty of baseball to be won in July as teams battle for supremacy in their respective divisions, and the earlier a team jumps on the players it wants, the better.

Chicago Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein showed he isn't afraid to take big risks when he dealt his two best pitchers late Friday night. 

Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports reported the details of the trade:

The Chicago Cubs landed a top prospect in shortstop Addison Russell in a trade with the Oakland Athletics, one that is bound to have ripple effects throughout the team's farm system while simultaneously setting up the big league club for future success.

The Cubs sent starting pitchers Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel to the A's for Russell, outfield prospect Billy McKinney and right-handed pitcher Dan Straily.

Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal reported the deal: 

It looks like the Chicago Cubs are loading up for the future.