As Thursday’s 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT trade deadline draws closer, teams stuck in MLB’s muddled middle must soon commit to a direction for the stretch run in 2025.

Although the lines between buying and selling are as blurred as they have ever been, there’s no question that the moves made over the next two days will factor into which 12 clubs we end up watching this October.

The Cleveland Guardians are an example of a franchise teetering on the edge this deadline season, entering play Wednesday just 3.5 games back of a wild-card spot while staring down one of the weakest strength of schedules remaining in the American League.

But after Monday’s news that star closer Emmanuel Clase was going on non-disciplinary leave as part of an MLB investigation into sports betting, Cleveland is reportedly set to reverse course after a July surge that had pulled them back into the playoff picture.

Bieber, a former Cy Young Award winner, would certainly be an intriguing piece for a team in need of rotation help as he returns from Tommy John surgery, but Kwan would represent a significant shift for a trade market that has been lacking in controllable position player talent.

Rosenthal wrote that Kwan, a Gold Glove defender with a .761 OPS, “is drawing ‘a ton’ of interest” from contending teams with the “Los Angeles Dodgers, Toronto Blue Jays, Philadelphia Phillies and San Diego Padres believed to be among the teams in the mix.”

It would take a haul to land the 27-year-old, but if Cleveland does decide to pull the plug, Kwan could transform the top of any lineup.

The Guardians, of course, are just one of many teams taking calls on their top players before the clock strikes zero on Thursday. So, with that said, here are some of the top rumours from around baseball ahead of the trade deadline.

After it seemed like a near certainty that St. Louis Cardinals closer Helsley would change teams this off-season, the fireballing right-hander stayed put into the start of the regular season. But now, Helsley has become “one of the most popular trade targets” ahead of the deadline, according to MLB.com’s Mark Feinsand.

Despite the Cardinals falling back in the National League playoff race, Helsley has continued to perform as one of MLB’s most consistent closers. Through 36 innings this season, the 31-year-old has totalled 41 strikeouts and 21 saves while allowing just four home runs.

Helsley averages 99.4 m.p.h. with his fastball and is set to hit free agency this off-season, perhaps limiting the package St. Louis may be able to demand. But it hasn’t scared off any potential suitors, as Feinsand reports that the 2024 NL Reliever of the Year has “no less than a half-dozen teams interested to varying degrees.”

He listed the Yankees, Mets, Rangers, Dodgers, Phillies and Blue Jays as clubs that could vie for Helsley’s services.

Pirates ‘comfortable’ keeping Mitch Keller

In the lead-up to this week’s deadline, Pittsburgh Pirates starter Mitch Keller seemed like a prime candidate to be on the move.

In the midst of a career year, Keller comes as a proven innings-eater with multiple seasons of team control beyond 2025. And for the offence-hungry Pirates, a swap for an impact bat may have made sense.

The 29-year-old right-hander owns a 3.69 ERA and 100 strikeouts through 127 innings of work this season — the seventh-highest total in the National League.

Pirates general manager Ben Cherington discussed the idea of moving a player like Keller, according to Hiles, telling reporters that “(Pittsburgh) would only contemplate giving up something that’s seemingly more proven if we really believe that they give us a better chance to be better by next year.”

Hiles added that the Pirates could look to deal Keller in the off-season, when they would have a better chance at “landing an established big-league hitter in return.”

On the surface, an all-star level starter may not make sense for Houston, which has Hunter Brown and Framber Valdez headlining its rotation. But beyond that duo, the Astros have had nine pitchers make starts, with injuries popping up left and right for the NL West leaders.

Cease, a pending free agent, would not only stabilize this group, but he would join Brown and Valdez in a potentially potent post-season rotation. Despite carrying a 4.79 ERA on the season, Cease has fanned 153 hitters in 118.1 innings while keeping his walk rate in check — hinting at a potential second-half surge.

The challenge for the Astros in any Cease deal “might be finding a suitable match with the Padres, who are only interested in trading the pitcher if they can improve their current major-league roster,” according to Rome and Rosenthal.

• Despite struggling to a 5.42 ERA with the Baltimore Orioles this season, veteran starter Charlie Morton has drawn “significant interest,” according to the New York Post‘s Jon Heyman, with the Red Sox, Mets, Yankees, Astros, Padres and Rays listed as possible landing spots.

• The Athletic‘s Jim Bowden reported Tuesday that the market for Miami Marlins starter Sandy Alcantara is “picking up drastically” and that there is a “real chance” the former Cy Young winner is dealt.