NEW YORK - The Tampa Bay Rays acquired former top prospect Forrest Whitley for cash considerations on Friday afternoon, and manager Kevin Cash confirms that the

Trade season doesn't start in earnest until after the All-Star break, but with just over six weeks until the trade deadline, it's officially trade rumors season.

Christian Walker went 8-for-42 across his next 12 games, negating whatever nirvana the superstition may have spurred. He averaged at least a 96.5 exit velocity during eight of those 12 contests, continuing a confluence of poor luck and putrid results.

The Houston Astros look like they could have the makings of a team who buys at the trade deadline in order to put themselves in a position to chase another championship. With the American League still looking extremely thin as has been the case for the last couple of years,

The Mariners are in danger of ceding the division to the Astros once again but the team could turn to the trade market for help.

After reaching out to decision-makers from each of the contending teams to learn their biggest needs, I identified possible trade targets.

The Houston Astros have been playing some phenomenal baseball as of late, seizing control of the American League West again and currently holding strong with a three-game lead. After it looked like their competitive window had closed during the early part of the season,

MLB trade deadline is coming up. Which teams will be buyers; which teams will be sellers; and which teams will wait and see?