It was a wild 24 hours across Major League Baseball on Wednesday as the rumor mill heated up.
There were a few minor trades made, but the real fireworks should come on Thursday. The non-waiver trade deadline is at 4 p.m. ET, and many of the best players rumored to be available have not been dealt, including Jon Lester, John Lackey, Cole Hamels and David Price.
Check back to NESN.com on Thursday for the latest rumors and news in our trade deadline day live blog.
Click here for Thursday’s MLB trade deadline live blog >>
11:38 p.m.: The Phillies are being patient.
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10:37 p.m.: The Marlins are still trying to acquire some pitching.
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8:46 p.m.: Injuries are a quick way to ruin a possible trade.
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7:15 p.m.: Rays manager Joe Maddon comments on the David Price trade rumors.
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6:38 p.m.: The latest on the Orioles-Jon Lester rumors.
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6:25 p.m.: The Dodgers are hesitant to give up on their top prospects.
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6:11 p.m.: Toronto isn’t looking for hitting.
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6:00 p.m.: More rumors involving the Cubs.
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5:45 p.m.: The Kansas City Royals asked about John Lackey.
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5:41 p.m.: The Cubs have made the Doubront trade with the Red Sox official.
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5:35 p.m.: An update on the latest Red Sox-Marlins rumors.
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5:13 p.m.: The Orioles general manager comments on the trade rumors.
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4:56 p.m.: The Rays haven’t closed any doors yet.
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4:45 p.m.: Confirmation of a trade between the Dodgers and Cubs.
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4:32 p.m.: ESPN’s Buster Olney shares some insight on the Yankees’ plan for the trade deadline.
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4:23 p.m.: Jon Lester could pitch Sunday if he stays with the Red Sox.
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4:16 p.m.: What would the Red Sox want in return for Jon Lester, if he’s traded?
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4:12 p.m.: Another Jon Lester update from Yahoo! Sports.
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4:10 p.m.: In some non-trade news, veteran infielder Eric Chavez is retiring. He last played for the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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4:06 p.m.: David Price expects to be in Tampa Bay by the time Thursday’s trade deadline passes.
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3:53 p.m.:Â And we have the first reports of a mystery team in regards to Jon Lester.
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3:50 p.m.:Â David Price doesn’t think he’s going anywhere.
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3:40 p.m.:Â Here’s more information on the Red Sox’s reported trade that will send Felix Doubront to the Chicago Cubs. That trade might be confirmed soon, as Red Sox manager John Farrell will probably meet with the media soon for his daily pregame briefing.
3:20 p.m.:Â So much for that whole Red Sox-Marlins trade discussion centered around John Lackey, at least according to one report.
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3:18 p.m.:Â The Red Sox will reportedly get a player to be named later back for Felix Doubront.
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3:15 p.m.:Â The Red Sox have made a move, but it doesn’t include one of their top two starting pitchers. Felix Doubront is on his way to the Chicago Cubs, according to multiple reports. It’s unclear what the Sox will get in return.
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3:05 p.m:Â The Dodgers really sound like they’re out on top-line starters like David Price and Jon Lester after reportedly being one of the front-runners for either pitcher.
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Very interesting.
2:55 p.m.: The Cards have confirmed the Masterson deal.
2:48 p.m.:Â The Oakland Athletics sound like they’re making a hard push for Jon Lester.
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2:40 p.m.:Â The Los Angeles Dodgers have been connected through rumors to just about every available starting pitcher available. They’re now reportedly out of the running for a starter.
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However, the Dodgers may just be trying to drive down the prices of the available starting pitchers.
2:30 p.m.:Â The John Lackey trade talks are heating up, according to FOX Sports MLB reporter Jon Morosi. The Red Sox reportedly are talking to the Miami Marlins about a potential trade involving the right-hander.
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2:20 p.m.: The Yankees have been busy in the days and weeks leading up to the trade deadline, and they’re still looking to wheel and deal.
CBSSports.com reports that the Yankees are among multiple teams showing interest in San Diego relief pitcher Joaquin Benoit. The Los Angeles Dodgers are also showing interest, according to CBS Sports.
2:07 p.m.:Â The St. Louis Cardinals have found some pitching help. According to multiple reports, the Cleveland Indians have traded right-handed pitcher Justin Masterson to the Cardinals in exchange for James Ramsey.
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1:25 p.m.:Â Despite the fact that David Price is pitching for the Tampa Bay Rays right now, the organization is reportedly still open to moving the left-hander.
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1:23 p.m.: The Miami Marlins have said publicly that they’d be interested in adding a starting pitcher who’s not a rental. However, they may still be one of the handful of teams with reported interest in Red Sox left-hander Jon Lester.
The Sun-Sentinel (via MLB Trade Rumors) cites an American League source in contact with the Red Sox who has said the Marlins are “not completely” out of the Lester running. However, the Marlins are unlikely to part with top pitching prospect Andrew Heaney for Lester or any other rental.
12:58 p.m.:Â The Royals may have interest in John Lackey, but they reportedly have cooled on another Red Sox player. They’re looking to add an outfielder, but it’s unlikely that outfielder will be Boston’s Jonny Gomes.
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12:52 p.m.:Â The latest on the Atlanta Braves:
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Who isn’t at this time of the season, though?
12:40 p.m.:Â The Kansas City Royals reportedly have interest in Red Sox starting pitcher John Lackey. According to both ESPN.com and The Kansas City Star, the Royals either have expressed interest in or looked into acquiring the Boston right-hander. Lackey has been very effective since having Tommy John surgery in 2011, and he has a team-friendly team option for the 2015 season.
The Royals might not be alone, either.
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12:30 p.m.:Â The Orioles are still looking to add pitching.
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12:25 p.m.:Â It certainly looks like David Price is staying put. The Tampa Bay Rays’ matinee game has started, and Price is getting the start. If there was a trade in the works — or even if the Rays were contemplating a trade — he likely wouldn’t have started. Any team looking to acquire the left-hander would almost certainly have wanted him to sit out the start for two reasons. One, that team wouldn’t want to risk injury. Two, that team would want Price to start as soon as possible after acquiring him.
This also could affect the Red Sox. If Price is indeed off the market, the return in a potential trade for Jon Lester will be even bigger now that one big-name starter won’t be moved.
11:50 a.m.:Â The New York Yankees were one of the teams rumored to have interest in Colorado Rockies left-hander Brett Anderson, but it doesn’t sound like Anderson is going to be moved before the deadline.
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However, things change quickly this time of year.
11 a.m.:Â The talks don’t all center around starting pitching. Here’s the latest on Texas Rangers outfielder Alex Rios, who could be on the move before Thursday afternoon.
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10:45 a.m.:Â Here’s what Jon Lester has to say on the matter via his Twitter account.
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10:35 a.m.: Philadelphia Phillies left-handed pitcher Cole Hamels is a name that’s been thrown around in reports. It sounds as if there is plenty of interest in the southpaw. With that interest comes high demand, and the Phils reportedly are asking for a lot in return.
This is what the USA Today wrote Wednesday morning about a potential haul in return for Hamels.
“Yet, according to one ranking official directly involved with the talks, the Los Angeles Dodgers recently asked for Hamels. They were told the price would be three of their top prospects – center fielder Joc Pederson, shortstop Corey Seager and left-handed pitcher Julio Urias.”
USA Today’s Bob Nightengale quickly added that the Dodgers said thanks, but no thanks.
The reason the asking price for Hamels is so high is that he’ll have four years left and $90 million left on his contract after this season.
10:18 a.m.:Â Then again…
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10:10 a.m.: The Red Sox reportedly were willing to deal Jon Lester within the division, but one American League East team is out on the left-hander.
CBSSports.com reports that the Baltimore Orioles aren’t willing to part with a top prospect to rent Lester. They’ve instead turned their attention to Houston Astros pitchers, according to CBSSports’ Jon Heyman. Both Dallas Keuchel and Jarred Cosart are on their radar, according to Heyman.
10 a.m.: The Major League Baseball trade deadline doesn’t arrive until Thursday afternoon, but baseball’s midseason hot stove is already kicked all the way up to high.
The deadline is still more than a day away, but there are already plenty of rumors flying around the league, and a lot of those rumors center around starting pitching. Two of baseball’s best left-handers — David Price and Jon Lester — have been dominating the conversation this week. However, a pair of Philadelphia southpaws — Cole Hamels and Cliff Lee — have also been in the news a lot lately.
We’ll keep you updated with all of the latest news and notes from across the league right here at the MLB trade deadline live blog. You can also get caught up with everything that’s happening across the league by checking out NESN.com’s MLB Trade Deadline page.
