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The AL Central race tends to last a while. We have seen extra games played to determine the divisional champ each of the past two seasons. This year, the race is as close as ever. The White Sox lead the Tigers by half a game and the Twins by 3.5 games. One or two major trades could shape the pennant race, so let's consider one deal that each contender could realistically make to gain some traction and win the Central:

• The White Sox could acquire Adam Dunn – This is nothing new, since the White Sox realize Dunn would help them. He has 22 homers and a .959 OPS; current DH Mark Kotsay has six homers and a .709 OPS. Nats GM Mike Rizzo has made it clear that Dunn would cost a lot in terms of prospects, partly because Dunn projects to be a Type A free agent (which means his team can obtain picks in the 2011 draft by offering arbitration). One positive for the White Sox: Dunn may be losing interest in signing an extension that would keep him in D.C.
• The Tigers could acquire Dan Haren – The back of the Tigers' rotation is thin. Haren's 4.36 ERA isn't astounding, but his strikeout and walk numbers are strong (8.7 K/9, 1.8 BB/9). It doesn't take a sabermetrician to notice that batters are hitting 42 points higher than usual against Haren, so he may have been unlucky so far this year. He's not cheap, though. About $3.6MM remains on his contract this season and nearly $33MM remains overall. The Tigers won't be paying Jeremy Bonderman, Dontrelle Willis and Nate Robertson eight-figure salaries next season, so they may be able to absorb the hit. 
• The Tigers could consider shortstops (like Haren's teammate Stephen Drew), but given Ramon Santiago's strong play and the state of the team's rotation, the Tigers' biggest need may be on the mound.
• The Twins could acquire Ted Lilly – Like the Tigers, the Twins could use pitching. Unlike the Tigers, they have already committed $72MM to next year's team and would have difficulty taking on Haren's contract. Ted Lilly, who makes $12MM this season before becoming a free agent, would be a major upgrade over Nick Blackburn. Lilly has a 4.08 ERA and 6.0 K/9, while Blackburn has a 6.40 ERA with just 3.2 K/9. Lilly projects to be a Type A free agent after the season, so the Twins could obtain draft picks in 2011 if they acquire him now. Like Dunn and Haren, he would be difficult to obtain. 

Several contenders might be looking for help at first base, including the Rockies, Angels, Giants, and Rangers.  Potentially available players:

• Prince Fielder, Brewers.  The Brewers are listening on Fielder, though we haven't heard much about interested parties.  Fielder is under team control through 2011, after which point he'll pursue an extension worth well over $100MM.
• Adam Dunn, Nationals.  Dunn is losing patience with the Nationals due to their lack of urgency about an extension, reports ESPN's Buster Olney.  The White Sox have interest in Dunn, who might be forced to fill a designated hitter role for them.  Dunn profiles as a Type A free agent, at least in the National League.
• Lance Berkman, Astros.  Like Dunn, Berkman could technically play outfield for a few months.  Berkman has a full no-trade clause and $8.46MM left on his contract.  He's up to .255/.369/.459 on the season. 
• Derrek Lee, Cubs.  The Cubs should probably consider trying to clear some of the $5.79MM still owed to Lee.  The problem: he's yet to slug .400 in any month this season, and his strikeout rate is his highest in a long time.
• Adam LaRoche, Diamondbacks.  LaRoche is more affordable than those listed before him ($3.51MM remaining), but he hasn't hit much since May.  He's consistently posted big second halves.
• Jorge Cantu, Marlins.  Aside from the 52 RBIs, Cantu isn't having an impressive season.  Even if ownership doesn't require it, clearing his $2.67MM salary is a solid baseball move. 
• Ty Wigginton, Orioles.  Wiggy made the All-Star team with a strong April and May, and he'll be a useful piece for a contender. 
• Mike Lowell, Red Sox.  As we wrote yesterday, Lowell hasn't played the field much and the Red Sox would have to pay his entire salary. 
• Xavier Nady, Cubs.  The Rangers have strong interest in Nady, reported Bruce Levine of ESPNChicago a few days ago.  Nady hasn't done anything offensively this year, but he hasn't played regularly either.  He's got $1.47MM remaining plus performance bonuses. 
• Kila Ka'aihue, Royals.  Ka'aihue, 26, already has 77 walks for the Royals' Triple A club (and a .463 OBP).  Certainly there are teams out there that would like to see how much of that skill translates to the Majors. 
• Russell Branyan, Mariners.  It was an odd acquisition, but maybe Jack Zduriencik feels that he can trade Branyan again for more than he gave up. 
• Casey Kotchman, Mariners.  The Mariners would have to eat most of his remaining $1.57MM to move him now, as Kotchman is a probable non-tender after the season. 
• Lyle Overbay, Blue Jays.  If you like Derrek Lee, you should like Overbay more.  Overbay is having a better year, especially lately, and has $3.12MM remaining.
• Recently MLBTR also profiled the market for catchers, second basemen, shortstops, and third basemen.

The Phillies, Red Sox, Rockies and Mets could consider adding a second baseman sometime this month. Here are some of the names that may come up in conversation for those teams, sorted from highest 2010 salary to lowest:

• Dan Uggla, $7.8MM (free agent after 2011) – The Marlins haven't officially made him available yet, but the Rockies are interested. Uggla produces every season and 2010 is no exception; he has a .285/.369/.483 line.
• Mark Ellis, $5.5MM ($6MM option for 2011) – There's a good chance the A's keep Ellis, according to Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports. If they decide to part with the 33-year-old, his .278/.347/.356 line and reputation as a solid defender should intrigue teams, though his salary is substantial.
• Ty Wigginton, $3.5MM (free agent after 2010) – Wigginton struggled mightily in June (.594 OPS) and July (.477 OPS), but he does have 14 homers on the season. He has split time between second and first, and can also play third.
• Ryan Theriot, $2.6MM (free agent after 2012) - We have yet to see a clear indication that the Cubs are shopping Theriot and his .278/.317/.313 line.
• Kelly Johnson, $2.35MM (free agent after 2011) – Johnson is hitting .276/.374/.497 with 14 homers. Trade rumors have dogged the 28-year-old all season long, partly because he has hit so well and partly because the 34-55 D'Backs have played so poorly.
• Jose Lopez, $2.3MM ($5MM option for 2011) – Lopez moved to third base this year, but didn't bring his bat along with him. His OPS has dropped 150 points to .610 and he has just six homers.
• Adam Kennedy, $1.25MM ($2MM option for 2011) – Kennedy and Cristian Guzman are reportedly drawing interest, though that probably has more to do with Kennedy's experience and versatility than his .643 OPS.
• Jeff Keppinger, $1.15MM (free agent after 2012) – Keppinger, 30, is hitting .284/.335/.385 and has a solid glove, according to UZR. 
• Jamey Carroll, $1.05MM ($1.8MM in 2011) – Playing both middle infield positions and more for the Dodgers, Carroll has a sparkling .391 OBP.  The Dodgers could move Carroll, but it'd leave them thin in shortstop depth. 
• Cristian Guzman, Mike Aviles, Alberto Callaspo, Jeff Baker and Andy LaRoche have played some second base this year.
• Free agent Mark Grudzielanek is available.
• Rickie Weeks is not available now, but it's not hard to imagine the Brewers changing their stance. 

We looked at potentially available shortstops, third basemen and catchers earlier in the week.

The Tigers, Cardinals, Rockies and Padres could improve at short and other teams, like the Yankees, have interest in adding a versatile infielder. Here's a look at some shortstops who may be available between now and the end of the month, sorted according to their 2010 salaries:

• Cristian Guzman, $8MM (free agent after 2010) – Guzman is hitting .294/.343/.369 and has also appeared at second and in right field. He can hit for average and play average defense (according to UZR), but the Nationals would presumably have to eat salary in a trade because there are cheaper options available. Guzman has ten and five rights, so he can veto any deal.
• Jason Bartlett, $4MM (free agent after 2011) – Reid Brignac and Sean Rodriguez can both play short, so the creative Rays could conceivably trade Bartlett. However, he is hitting .231/.314/.335 and UZR suggests his defense is below average, so teams may not consider him an upgrade.
• Stephen Drew, $3.4MM (free agent after 2012) – Drew boasts a .275/.348/.416 line and plays solid defense at short (+3.2 UZR this year). The Tigers are interested.
• Alex Gonzalez, $2.75MM ($2.5MM club option for 2011) – Gonzalez leads all shortstops in homers (Home Run Derby finalist Hanley Ramirez is four shy of Gonzalez's 17) and he has been a sound defender for the Blue Jays. The 33-year-old doesn't get on base much (.296 OBP), but he offers more power than any other available shortstop (.497 slugging percentage). The Blue Jays are open to deals.
• Cesar Izturis, $2.6MM (free agent after 2010) – Izturis is hitting .239/.286/.283, so teams figure to have limited interest in him.
• Ryan Theriot, $2.6MM (free agent after 2012) – The Cubs could part with Theriot, who is hitting .278/.317/.313. To date, we haven't seen a clear indication that the Cubs are shopping the 30-year-old, though they would presumably listen to offers.
• Craig Counsell, $2.1MM (free agent after 2010) – Counsell isn't hitting much (.614 OPS), but he can play short, second and third.
• Jamey Carroll, $1.05MM ($1.8MM in 2011) – His walk rate is at a career high, and he's playing more shortstop than any other position this year.  He could be too valuable a utility player to move.
• Yunel Escobar, $435K (free agent after 2013) – Teams are calling about Escobar, though the Braves don't appear to be shopping him. The 27-year-old is still cheap and promising, despite his .238/.334/.284 line this season.
• Ronny Cedeno and Bobby Crosby could be available; Jhonny Peralta played shortstop for years; Alberto Callaspo has some experience at short and Adam Everett is a free agent.

We examined the market for third basemen and catchers earlier in the week.

If your team is looking for help at third base this summer, we've got players who could conceivably be available for trade:

• Jose Bautista, Blue Jays.  Amazingly, he's the MLB home run leader at the All-Star break.  He's played more right field than third base this year.  Bautista is under team control for 2011.
• Edwin Encarnacion, Blue Jays.  Encarnacion cleared waivers last month, as no team wants to assume the $2.14MM owed to him.  Someone might take a chance on his power if the Jays eat his salary, but he could just be signed after the season given the expected non-tender.
• Mark Reynolds, Diamondbacks.  So far Reynolds is following up his breakout '09 with an even higher strikeout rate and a .214 batting average.  He's owed only $226K more this season, and then $13MM through 2012.  He's not known to be available, but the contract was signed under previous GM Josh Byrnes.
• Miguel Tejada, Orioles.  Tejada isn't hitting much for the O's, and he's still owed $2.71MM plus a $150K bonus if traded and $100K if he reaches 630 plate appearances.
• Ty Wigginton, Orioles.  Wiggy made the All-Star team with strong work in April and May.  He has $1.58MM remaining.
• Jhonny Peralta, Indians.  Peralta has a lot in common with the 2010 version of Tejada. 
• Jorge Cantu, Marlins.  His OBP and SLG aren't great, yet he remains an RBI man.  He's got $2.71MM left and is known to be available. 
• Wes Helms, Marlins.  Occasionally, Helms still shows something against left-handed pitching.
• Alberto Callaspo, Royals.  He's battling a wrist injury, but Callaspo has a decent bat for someone who can handle second and third base, and even shortstop in a pinch.  He'll be arbitration-eligible for the first time after this season.
• Andy LaRoche, Pirates.  He was bumped to a utility role with Pedro Alvarez's promotion, not that Alvarez has fared better in his first month. LaRoche will be arbitration-eligible after the season, though he could be non-tendered. 
• Jose Lopez, Mariners.  Lopez switched from second base this year and has been abysmal with the bat.  He hit 25 home runs last year, and only has $1.29MM remaining on his contract.  He could be non-tendered after the season if his $5MM club option is declined.
• Aramis Ramirez, Cubs.  Aramis usually hits well despite trips to the DL, but this year he was brutal for the season's first two months.  He'd be an interesting deadline pickup, but he has $7.1MM remaining this year, a $1MM assignment bonus if traded, and a $14.6MM player option for 2011.
• Pedro Feliz, Astros.  There's not much left with Feliz, aside from the $2.03MM on his contract.
• Mike Lowell, Red Sox.  He's played only 72.6 innings in the field this year and is owed $5.41MM, so the Red Sox would have to pick up the tab.
• We've mostly discussed offense here, as the defensive samples are so small.  Still, I'll mention that Lopez, Callaspo, and Reynolds have above-average UZR/150 numbers at third base this year. 
• Keep in mind that overpaid players like Tejada, Ramirez, Feliz, and Lowell are candidates to be traded in August.

One team has a clear need for catching depth and a few others could upgrade behind the plate. Here's a look at some teams that could look to acquire catchers before the July 31st deadline:

• The Red Sox are relying on Kevin Cash and Gustavo Molina with Jason Varitek and Victor Martinez on the DL. There's no timeline for Martinez's return to action, according to Amalie Benjamin of the Boston Globe.
• Like the Red Sox, the Tigers have other areas of need (shortstop, pitching), but they could upgrade behind the plate. Gerald Laird has a .524 OPS and just two homers. He and Alex Avila have both limited the running game well, but the Tigers aren't getting much offense from their catchers (Laird has thrown 29% of would-be base stealers out; Avila has nabbed 41%).
• Russell Martin is also throwing out his share of runners (37%) but he isn't hitting the way he once did. Martin (.679 OPS) and A.J. Ellis (.544 OPS) aren't providing Joe Torre with much pop, so the Dodgers could look to add a backup with power.
• Jason LaRue hasn't hit much for the Cards (.622 OPS) and All-Star starter Yadier Molina hasn't either (.595 OPS).

These clubs have a few options to consider over the course of the next few weeks:

• The D'Backs called the Red Sox about Chris Snyder, so he figures to be available, especially with Miguel Montero around. Snyder's ten homers and .240/.355/.448 batting line would appeal to teams, but the $8.6MM remaining on his salary would not. With that salary, there's a chance Snyder would clear waivers, enabling interim GM Jerry DiPoto to trade him in August.
• Ryan Doumit has at least $7.2MM remaining on his contract, but has a solid .260/.334/.415 line.
• John Buck, who makes $2MM this year before hitting free agency, is a cheaper option. Like Snyder, he has power (13 homers, .502 slugging percentage).
• The Rays have two catchers other than John Jaso (who boasts a surprising .393 OBP). Kelly Shoppach or Dioner Navarro could become trade bait.
• The Indians would presumably part with the recently-DFA'd Mike Redmond.

For contenders looking to acquire a new leadoff hitter, here are a few potentially available options (100 plate appearances leading off required):

• Kelly Johnson, Diamondbacks.  Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports finds the D'Backs likely to retain their second baseman, as he's under team control for 2011.  We've read that Josh Byrnes was willing to listen on Johnson, but it's less clear what Jerry Dipoto is planning.
• Rickie Weeks, Brewers.  It appears that Weeks would be even tougher to pry loose, as ESPN's Buster Olney recently tweeted that the Brewers have no interest in trading him.
• Fred Lewis, Blue Jays.  He cost only cash for the Jays to acquire, so perhaps they'd consider flipping him.
• Scott Podsednik, Royals.  The Royals hold a $2MM club option on Pods for 2011, though if he tallies 146 more plate appearances he can void it.  He should be available.
• David DeJesus, Royals.  It's rumored the Royals will wait a little longer before deciding whether to trade DeJesus, who can be retained in 2011 for $6MM.  The Padres and Giants could make sense.
• Corey Patterson, Orioles.  He's never been known for getting on base, but he's doing a decent job overall back with Baltimore.  But if he's healthy, you'd think the Orioles would want to give more playing time to another former Cubs "next big thing," Felix Pie.
• Nyjer Morgan, Nationals.  Four days ago, Rosenthal noted that "some within the Nats’ organization are in favor of trading Morgan to clear center field for Roger Bernadina."  However, the Nats would be selling low on Morgan.
• Ryan Theriot and Kosuke Fukudome, Cubs.  Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports recommended a month ago that the Cubs consider moving both players.  Theriot is under team control through 2012 as an arbitration-eligible player, while Fukudome is signed through '11 at a large salary and has no-trade protection against 15 teams.

If you're a regular MLBTR reader, you'll be familiar with our chats, our Week In Review posts and Mike Axisa's Baseball Blogs Weigh In feature. Here's some more detail on when you'll see our weekly features and exactly what to expect from them:

• Radio Appearances – I appear on the Shore Sports Report every Monday at 4:05 CST and Tim Dierkes appears on 590 KFNS in St. Louis every Tuesday at 1:25pm CST. You can always listen live to Tim here.
• MLBTR Chats – Come by every Wednesday at 2pm CST to chat with Tim or me about the latest trades, signings and rumblings around the major leagues.
• Baseball Blogs Weigh In – Every Friday morning, Mike Axisa directs you to some of the best writing on baseball blogs around the web. Whether it's opinion, stats or something else entirely, you can connect to the best of the blogosphere once a week on MLBTR. If you want to send Mike a post of yours, reach him at: mike@riveraveblues.com.
• Week In Review – It's amazing how much happens in seven days. Every Sunday night, we summarize the week's biggest stories and link to some of our original content in our Week In Review posts.

Baseball fans obsess about trade rumors in July, trying to get the first word on who their favorite team might acquire.  MLBTradeRumors.com is the #1 destination on the Internet to find this information, and the site will receive over two million pageviews on July 31st alone.

Though certainly not limited to this demographic, the most common MLBTR reader is an 18-34 year-old male.  If you're looking to reach this crowd, MLB Trade Rumors is the perfect place to advertise.  And since there is no ad agency acting as a middle man, MLBTR is able to keep rates low compared to other major sports websites.  If you are interested in advertising and would like to learn more, please contact mlbtradvertising@gmail.com.

There's more at stake than a player's legacy when it comes to All-Star selections. Depending on a player's contract, a place on the All-Star team can be worth thousands of dollars. Here is a list of the 2010 All-Stars who will receive bonuses for their place on this year's teams, from contract information on Cot's Baseball Contracts:  

$100K Bonuses:

• Tim Lincecum, Giants
• Torii Hunter, Angels 
• Cliff Lee, Mariners 

$50K Bonuses:

• Yadier Molina, Cardinals
• Albert Pujols, Cardinals
• Chris Carpenter, Cardinals 
• Matt Capps, Nationals – According to MLB.com's Bill Ladson
• Chase Utley, Phillies
• Hanley Ramirez, Marlins 
• Josh Johnson, Marlins
• David Wright, Mets
• Jose Reyes, Mets
• Ryan Braun, Brewers
• Ichiro Suzuki, Mariners  
• Evan Longoria, Rays
• Carl Crawford, Rays
• Ian Kinsler, Rangers
• Jon Lester, Red Sox
• Victor Martinez, Red Sox
• Dustin Pedroia, Red Sox
• Adrian Beltre, Red Sox - According to WEEI
• David Ortiz, Red Sox
• Joakim Soria, Royals

$25K Bonuses:

• Adrian Gonzalez, Padres
• Troy Tulowitzki, Rockies
• Ubaldo Jimenez, Rockies
• Scott Rolen, Reds
• Matt Holliday, Cardinals
• Joe Mauer, Twins
• Justin Morneau, Twins

Unknown Bonuses:

• Brian McCann, Braves

This list may be incomplete, since not all contract details are publicly available.