Arizona infielder Ketel Marte

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is arguably one of the most electrifying times of the baseball season.This is when teams go all-in and try to win now Michael Brantley Jersey , or teams admit defeat and start the rebuilding process.There are so many trades that go down and so many players on the move prior to the July 31 non-waiver deadline that it can hard to keep up with it all.But that's what we're here for: to monitor all of these moves and keep you up to date with what's going on in this whirlwind of transactions.Here are three players and the rumors swirling around them as the deadline approaches.Pirates Interested in KelaWith a handful of promising arms in the bullpen, the Pittsburgh Pirates鈥攚ho sit just 3.5 games out of a National League wild-card spot鈥攃ould be in the market to bolster it even further.According to Evan Grant of theDallas Morning News,the Pirates reportedly have interest in Texas Rangers closer Keone Kela.As Grant pointed out, Kela is just 25 years old, but he already has so much service time that he's eligible for free agency after 2020.Kela has convertedall 23 of his save opportunities this season and has a 3.28 ERA while posting a 10.9 strikeouts per nine innings.The Pirates have solid relief help with their own closer, Felipe Vasquez, and they also have Kyle Crick and Edgar Santana.Adding Kela would give the Pirates a bullpen that wouldn't force their starters to go any longer than needed.With Kela, a starter would only need to go five innings before the combo of Vasquez, Kela, Crick and Santana came in to do its work.A few weeks ago, the Pirates might not have been interested in a move like this http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-yan-gomes-jersey , but after an 11-game winning streak that only ended Wednesday, they've put themselves in an excellent position to make a run at the postseason.Kela wouldn't come cheap, but he could definitely be a huge help in pushing the Pirates over the hump.Moustakas Drawing Interest From 9 TeamsIt shouldn't come as a shock, but Kansas City Royals third basemen Mike Moustakas is drawing plenty of interest.According to Bob Nightengale ofUSA Today,nine teams are said to be interested in him, with six of them being in the National League and three from the American League:Bob Nightengale BNightengaleKC #Royals third baseman Mike Moustakas, who has 20 homers and 61 RBI, is drawing tremendous interest. Six National League teams and three American League teams are in discussions with the RoyalsAlthough he's batting .249, he has 20 home runs and 62 runs batted in.The Royals got Moustakas on the cheap end after a lengthy free-agency stint, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $5.5 million with a mutual option in 2019 for $15 million.Being a far cry from the team they were just a few years ago, the Royals sit at 31-69 and are in last place (23.5 games back) in the AL Central. They're going nowhere at the moment and won't be going anywhere any time soon.It was surprising to see Moustakas return to the Royals Kenny Lofton Jersey , but with the draft pick compensation rules in free agency, he was in a bind.Now, Moustakas could possibly find a home and take off.A team that sticks out immediately is the Philadelphia Phillies.The Phillies were hard after Manny Machado before the Orioles traded him to the Los Angeles Dodgers and will look to upgrade the corner infield positions.Expect Moustakas to be on the move by the deadline.Adam Jones Next to Leave Baltimore?According to John Paul Morosi of MLB Network, the Baltimore Orioles could be set to trade away a third big-name player in center field Adam Jones before the deadline:Jon Morosi jonmorosiSources: #Phillies, #Indians are among most serious suitors for #Orioles CF Adam Jones. Remember that Andy MacPhail, now #Phillies president, acquired Jones as Baltimore GM in 2008. Full story: 3D9B1QCedC MLB MLBNetworkThe Phillies and Cleveland Indians are reportedly the front-runners.One important thing Morosi notedis that Jones has a full no-trade clause in his contract.But as the Orioles are one win shy of 30 this season and with Jones turning 33 this August, it would be surprising if he didn't waive it and go to a contender.Both the Phillies and Indians have needs in the outfield. The Phillies have Odubel Herrera in center field doing more than OK, but maybe Jones could bump Nick Williams for playing time.For the Indians, they have Tyler Naquin doing a serviceable job, but Jones is a definite upgrade over him.Morosi also pointed out another important fact: Andy MacPhail is the Phillies president. He acquired Jones from the Seattle Mariners back in 2008 when he was the general manager of the Orioles.There's always that one connection that could help a deal get done.The Orioles are a total disaster. They've already traded off Machado and Zach Britton http://www.indiansfanproshop.com/authentic-jim-thome-jersey , so why wouldn't they send Jones, too? Total rebuild time for O's. WASHINGTON (AP) — With so much attention focused on Daniel Murphy’s return to Washington for the first time since he was traded to the Chicago Cubs, it was his in-game replacement — David Bote — who once again tormented the Nationals.Bote had a pinch-hit RBI double and scored in the 10th inning as the Cubs came back to beat the Nationals 6-4 on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series.Bote, who hit a two-out grand slam in the bottom of the ninth to give the Cubs a 4-3 win over Washington on Aug. 12 at Wrigley Field, knocked a 100 mph fastball from Jimmy Cordero (1-2) into right field to score Albert Almora Jr. Bote came home on a single by pinch-hitter Taylor Davis.Bote, who finished the game at second base, was certain Nats fans hadn’t forgotten what he did in Chicago last month.“I heard the boos today,” Bote said. “I love it. It’s fun. You love to be part of that.”Murphy went 1 for 5 with a strikeout during his first game in Washington since he was dealt to the Cubs on Aug 21.While Chicago has the best record in the National League and leads the NL Central by 4½ games over Milwaukee, manager Joe Maddon is still looking to tighten up some things and admits he becomes a perfectionist at times.“We’ve got to work better at-bats,” Maddon said. “I’m talking about October, I’m not just talking about Sept. 6. I love the fight Manny Ramirez Jersey , tremendous fight, but there’s little things now that have held us back in the past that I don’t want to see hold us back now.”Washington has lost three straight to fall to 69-72. The Nationals are three games under .500 for the first time since April 30.Pedro Strop (5-1) pitched a scoreless ninth, and Jesse Chavez earned his third save.Washington took a 3-2 lead in the fourth when Mark Reynolds belted his 13th homer of the season, a two-run shot to left field.Murphy scored on Ben Zobrist’s sacrifice fly to tie it at 3 in the fifth.Spencer Kieboom had a career-high three hits for Washington.Stephen Strasburg pitched 5 2/3 innings for the Nationals, allowing six hits while walking three and striking out six. He gave up three runs, two earned, while throwing 111 pitches — his most since tossing a season-high 115 on May 20.SUPPORTING MARTINEZDespite being traded away, Murphy had nothing but positives to say about Nationals manager Dave Martinez.“I thought that in the midst of a lot of trials he was always positive,” Murphy said. “I thought we always played hard for him, which I think is a reflection of the manager. I wish I would have been able to play more for him. I wish I would have been able to (play) better for him.”FORMER TEAMMATESStrasburg and Murphy were teammates from 2016 until last month, and in that time the Nationals pitcher tried to learn a thing or two about hitting from the 2015 NLCS MVP. “Yeah Danny Salazar Jersey , he talks a lot about hitting, so I eavesdropped on him for a few years,” Strasburg said. “So, kind of knew what he was trying to do and have him avoid trying to barrel the ball.”TRAINER’S ROOMCubs: Maddon said OF Kyle Schwarber (back) is day to day. Schwarber left Wednesday’s game after hitting his 25th home run. He pinch-hit in the sixth Thursday, reaching on a walk. … RHP Brandon Morrow (right biceps inflammation) will throw from the mound Sunday, but his long-term plan is still uncertain. “Every time he does something we have to evaluate it afterwards and make sure everything is well,” Maddon said. “That’s where it’s at right now.”Nationals: 1B Ryan Zimmerman was rested and then used as a pinch-hitter in the ninth.UP NEXTCubs: LHP Jon Lester (15-5, 3.53 ERA) will start in Washington for the first time since the 2017 NL Division Series. Lester is 2-2 with a 4.25 ERA in seven career starts against the Nationals.Nationals: RHP Joe Ross makes his season debut and first start since undergoing Tommy John surgery in July 2017. Ross is 0-2 with a 3.44 ERA in three career starts versus the Cubs.