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When the terms of the new labor agreement were negotiated a year ago, the rules about draft-pick compensation were changed in an effort to help free agents. In the past, there had been instances of second- or third-tier players not getting offers b...

Blog | December 19, 2012

The new collective bargaining agreement is causing problems for free agents such as Rafael Soriano, Nick Swisher and Adam LaRoche. Buster Olney explains why.

Blog | Conversation | December 19, 2012

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

ESPN Insider returns with the MLB Future Power Rankings, as Jim Bowden, Keith Law and Buster Olney break down how well each team is set up for sustained success. Here are teams ranked No. 16-30.

Story | Conversation | August 22, 2012

As someone noted on Twitter on Monday, the Phillies' relationship with Cliff Lee has been like Ross and Rachel, or like something out of "90210." They get together; they break up; they get back together again; they break up. To review: The Phil...

Blog | July 31, 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

Oh, sure, you can call the Minnesota Twins and ask about Denard Span, a good player who would help any good team. Span is hitting .288 with a .352 on-base percentage, solid numbers for a leadoff hitter. But an underlying factor that makes it more di...

Blog | July 29, 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

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

Ryan Dempster is pitching better than he has at any point this season, piling up scoreless innings, and Buster Olney writes that now is the time for the Cubs to trade him. That would also open up the market for Matt Garza later this month.

Blog | Conversation | July 15, 2012

No team illustrates the whole buying/selling quandary better than the Tampa Bay Rays. They reside in third place in baseball's toughest division, sitting behind the New York Yankees and Baltimore Orioles and in front of the Boston Red Sox and To...

Blog | July 05, 2012

Is the Rays' window for a World Series run slowly closing? Do the Rangers need to make a move now while they still have Josh Hamilton? Buster Olney previews what every American League team could do at the trade deadline.

Blog | Conversation | July 05, 2012

At the time the Milwaukee Brewers made the trade for CC Sabathia in summer 2008, they were 26 years removed from their last playoff appearance. Sabathia was headed for free agency, and with the New York Yankees and other big-market teams poised to ta...

Blog | July 03, 2012

In 2008, the Brewers were in a position to change the future of their franchise, and they took a chance by trading for CC Sabathia. Now, as Buster Olney writes, the Pirates, Rangers and Braves find themselves in a similar position at the deadline.

Blog | Conversation | July 03, 2012

Jayson Stark reported that the Philadelphia Phillies have let it be known to AL teams that they're willing to trade Jim Thome, but that Thome's preferred destinations -- the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox -- probably are not in pla...

Blog | June 29, 2012