MLB's Arms Race Heating Up as Trade Deadline Draws Near

MLB’s Arms Race Heating Up as Trade Deadline Draws Near

by Will O'Toole on Sat, Jul 28, 2012 at 1:56PM

It's that time of year in Major League Baseball.

As next Tuesday's trade deadline draws near, talk is heating up across baseball about which players are going to be dealt. As usual, the number one commodity is starting pitching, as every contender is looking for an extra arm to fill out its playoff rotation.

The fates of some players have already been decided. The Astros sent Wandy Rodriguez to the Pirates as Pittsburgh chases its first playoff appearance since 1992, while the Brewers — just a year removed from an NLCS appearance — shipped ace Zack Greinke to the Angels. One player who won't be going anywhere is Cole Hamels, who signed a six-year, $144 million extension with the Phillies on Tuesday, a record for a pitcher.

Still, with the fate of guys like Josh Johnson and Matt Garza still up in the air, there's still time for plenty of drama between now and next Tuesday.