MLB Trade Deadline: 5 players that could shape the trade market

The MLB Trade Deadline is fast approaching and these five players could have help set the market for other players and teams.

July 31st is fast approaching, and with it, the MLB non-waiver trade deadline. Already, the rumor mill is churning hard and scouts are in full deployment, evaluating talent at both the major and minor league levels.

Still, with all the rumors swirling there has yet to be any clear indication in regards to which teams are buying and which are selling. That creates a big sense of intrigue as the days count down to the non-waiver deadline. What that might lead to is anybody’s guess, but we can be assured of one thing that is a certainty.

There will be some significant players moved prior to the deadline.

That’s right, I said significant players. Last season, we saw Jon Lester, David Price, Jeff Samardzija, Yoenis Cespedes, Martin Prado, Joakim Soria, Chase Headley, and many more dealt before the July 31st deadline. Each of those players had some bearing on the fate of others as some teams moved to build up for the postseason and other looked to the future instead.

So which players will bear the most weight on the 2015 MLB Trade Deadline? We take a look at five that may shift the market in one direction or another.

Next: Johnny Cueto: Cincinnati Reds