ESPN Search

The trade market is a long way from evolving, leaving many weeks for the Tampa Bay Rays to determine when they'll begin earnestly marketing David Price, whether it be before the July 31 deadline or in the fall. There's plenty of time for Gi...

Blog | April 25, 2013

Buster Olney looks at a few players who could be trade candidates as the summer progresses.

Blog | Conversation | April 25, 2013

NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- Over the past decade, the winter meetings have been dominated by free-agent signings rather than by trades. Zack Greinke and Josh Hamilton could command nine-figure deals, so it's possible they will dominate the stage here. ...

Blog | December 02, 2012

Buster Olney previews the 2012 MLB winter meetings, examining storylines from across the league including what the Cleveland Indians will do with Shin-Soo Choo and Asdrubal Cabrera and if Kansas City will trade a top prospect for pitching.

Blog | Conversation | December 02, 2012

Buster Olney examines four key forces at play in this year's free-agent and trade markets, including the sticker shock some teams have experienced when looking at top free agents, which has led to a run on early bargain signings.

Blog | Conversation | November 17, 2012

SAN FRANCISCO -- Within the sport, the criticism of the Dodgers' trade with the Boston Red Sox is very strong. It's as if this is Major League Baseball's version of the infamous Herschel Walker deal, which transformed the Dallas Cowboy...

Blog | August 26, 2012

Buster Olney writes that the general opinion around baseball regarding the Dodgers-Red Sox trade is that it was great for Boston and quite risky for L.A. Still, the Dodgers believe the deal fits their short- and long-term goals.

Blog | Conversation | August 26, 2012

In the aftermath of the Ryan Dempster trade, a smart person in baseball said the other day he wondered whether there would be a moment on the pitcher's flight to Texas when Dempster might think: "My God, what have I gotten myself into?" Demps...

Blog | August 03, 2012

Ryan Dempster had a chance to join the Atlanta Braves, but gave the Cubs the cold shoulder. Instead, he was willing to mess with Texas. He mighyt very well regret it.

Blog | Conversation | August 03, 2012

If the Phillies were determined to trade Cliff Lee, a lot of teams would be interested in him. But as Buster Olney writes, there's a huge hurdle to clear in any potential deal given Philadelphia's financial investment in the left-hander.

Blog | Conversation | July 31, 2012

At the trade deadline, value isn't found only in trade packages. As Buster Olney writes, players with team-friendly contracts, like Minnesota's Denard Span, can be valuable simply due to the language of their deals.

Blog | Conversation | July 29, 2012

There's some excitement around the Ichiro Suzuki trade because of who he is and what he's done, but there's also plenty of evidence that suggests he may not play well with the Yankees. If that happens, Buster Olney writes, it could become embarrassing.

Blog | Conversation | July 24, 2012

Since the beginning of July, the Oakland A's have been on fire and are now in wild-card contention. Buster Olney writes that Yoenis Cespedes has led the charge and changed Oakland's plan at the trade deadline.

Blog | Conversation | July 22, 2012

As the second half of the season began, there were eight teams within 2.5 games of the lead in the AL wild-card race, an early sign that the expanded playoff field will do exactly what The Powers That Be want it to do. More opportunity for the posts...

Blog | July 17, 2012

When baseball adopted the second wild card, it was meant to give more teams hope of making the postseason, and it has. But as Buster Olney writes, it could also be depressing the trade market as teams decide whether a wild card berth is worth it.

Blog | Conversation | July 17, 2012

Ryan Dempster's six scoreless innings for the Chicago Cubs on Saturday were probably his last with the team, because now is the best time to trade him. Dempster is healthy now, after being on the disabled list earlier this year, and if the Cubs ...

Blog | July 15, 2012