Although summer has not yet blossomed, enough baseball is on record to begin identifying contenders and pretenders. With clubs gaining and losing ground in the standings, trading season will gradually open.
Not every team with a losing record will press the panic button, but organizations with no realistic expectations now know a miracle isn't happening. With that, several highly discussed names will once again enter the limelight.
More than two months remain before the July 31 trade deadline, but why wait to address a pressing need? Contrary to what it sometimes seems, teams are indeed allowed to make moves before the day of the deadline.