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With the Home Run Derby in the rear-view mirror and the MLB All-Star game set to follow suit Archie Bradley Jersey , we will soon be able to look ahead to the rest of the season.Well, after we take care of the July 31 trade deadline, that is.Aside from the World Series, the trade deadline is arguably the most exciting portion of the baseball season.Other professional sports also have similar deadlines, but none see as much movement as baseball can, with a myriad of players taking on new looks after the day.Here, we look at the rumors surrounding three players as we approach the end of July.Let's get started with a pitcher from the Charm City. Cubs Interested in Zach BrittonAfter dealing with a ruptured Achilles at the beginning of the season, Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton has since played in 15 games, accumulating four saves and an ERA just under 3.70 in that time.In the final year of his contract, the 30-year-old could be on the move from an Orioles squad that has been nothing short of abysmal this year, with a 28-69 record heading into the All-Star break and 39.5 games back of the AL East-leading Boston Red Sox.Now is the time for the Orioles to cut bait with some top talent and overhaul the roster, and they may have a buyer for Britton.According to Bruce Levine of670 The Score,that team could be the 55-38 Chicago Cubs, though the article noted there are eight other contending teams vying for his services.As Levine reported Curt Schilling Jersey , the Cubs have had a solid bullpen through this point in the season, though adding Britton would make it even more formidable for another NL Central title.If the Cubs can pull it off, they'll have Britton along with Brandon Morrow, Steve Cishek and Pedro Strop.That would make for an incredibly daunting quartet and that doesn't even include Carl Edwards Jr. Nationals 'Eyeing' Nathan EovaldiThis nugget was a little surprising.According to Marc Topkin of theTampa Bay Times,the Washington Nationals are reportedly "eyeing" Tampa Bay Rays starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi.In nearly 125 innings of work, the 28-year-old has mustered up a 9-8 record with an ERA of 4.76.While those numbers aren't appealing, what is even more head-scratching is that the Nationals rotation is a bit full, especially with Stephen Strasburg returning from the disabled list.However, it is possible he could replace Jeremy Hellickson or spot start here and there for Tanner Roark who has struggled as of late.Nick Cafardo of theBoston Globealso reported the Milwaukee Brewers and Atlanta Braves "among others" have also been interested in Eovaldi.The Rays are floating above .500, but being nine games out of a wild-card spot headed by the New York Yankees and Seattle Mariners could be tough to compete with.If they get a solid enough offer, Eovaldi could be on the move from Florida.Manny Machado on the Verge of Being DealtThis is what makes the MLB trade deadline the best in all of the professional sports: One of the top players is expected to be on the move and soon.According to Roch Kubatko ofMid-Atlantic Sports Network,the Orioles don't have a deal done with the Philadelphia Phillies and the Los Angeles Dodgers and Brewers are still involved:Roch Kubatko masnRochMultiple sources say #orioles don鈥檛 have deal done with #phillies for Machado.#dodgers and #brewers also still involved. Told 鈥渧ery close鈥?but nothing has been agreed upon yetWherever Machado ends up, he's going to make that club much better.All three teams鈥擯hillies, Brewers and Dodgers鈥攁re either leading their respective divisions or are 2.5 games out.Machado is hitting.315 this season with 24 home runs and is just 26 years old.The Phillies have more than enough assets to swing a trade for the phenom Luis Gonzalez Jersey , with guys such asEnyel De Los Santos, Cole Irvin, Ranger Suarez, Franklyn Kilome and JoJo Romero lurking in their farm system.Of course, the Orioles will likely try to get Sixto Sanchez in return, but the Phillies probably will try all they can to not trade one of the best prospects in all of baseball.If they can swing a deal for Machado without giving up Sanchez, that is a huge win. Granted, the Baltimore star is in the final year of his deal, so they could use that as leverage.Adding Machado will really put the Phillies over the top after the Midsummer Classic break as they seek their first NL East title since 2011. All statistics and contract information courtesy of Baseball-Reference. CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs announced Friday that shortstop Addison Russell had been placed on administrative leave after he was accused of domestic violence by his ex-wife.Then Jose Quintana struggled against his former team.The Cubs dropped their second straight game when Quintana was tagged for a three-run homer by Kevan Smith, sending the crosstown White Sox to a 10-4 victory.Russell was placed on leave by Major League Baseball after a blog post attributed to Melisa Reidy contained detailed allegations of years of physical and emotional abuse. The 24-year-old Russell can challenge the leave before an arbitrator, and the leave can be extended for additional seven-day periods if the players’ union agrees. He continues to be paid his $3.2 million salary.“It’s unfortunate, but we’ve got to wait until the hearing and the investigation’s done,” teammate Kyle Schwarber said. “We don’t have, I guess Gregor Blanco Jersey , all the facts, so we have to wait until that wraps up.“It’s something that’s not ideal, but we’re going to have to move forward from this and be able to focus on baseball.”Last year, Reidy posted a photo on her Instagram account with a caption suggesting her husband of about 18 months had been unfaithful to her. In another post, a user — described by Melisa as a close friend — made the accusation that Russell had “hit” his wife. The post was later deleted. Russell denied the allegation and the two divorced.“These allegations are completely false,” Russell said in a statement put out by the union. “I made that clear to Major League Baseball last year and reiterated it to the Cubs today. I’m confident any full and fair investigation will fully exonerate me.”The Cubs’ lead in the NL Central was trimmed to 1 1/2-games over Milwaukee, which rallied for an 8-3 victory at Pittsburgh.The White Sox finished with 19 hits. Daniel Palka also homered, and Ryan LaMarre went 3 for 3 with three RBIs.White Sox right-hander Reynaldo Lopez (7-9) struck out eight while pitching seven innings of one-run ball. He improved to 3-0 with a sparkling 0.79 ERA in his last five outings.“I did what I usually do — execute my pitches keep hitters off balance and try to attack the strike zone,” Lopez said through a translator. “It was a very good outing today.”Quintana (13-11) was charged with five runs and nine hits in five-plus innings. The left-hander had been pitching well, going 3-1 with a 2.10 ERA over his previous six starts.“I pushed the margin trying to put on a better show for the fans today,” said Quintana, who made his first start at Guaranteed Rate Field since the White Sox traded him to the Cubs in July 2017. “But every time we go to the mound, we try to do our best.“For now, we’re still in first place and tomorrow is a new day.”Daniel Murphy led off the game with his 12th homer Blake Parker Jersey , but the White Sox went ahead to stay with three in the second. Matt Davidson and Welington Castillo singled before Smith hit a drive to center for his second of the year.White Sox manager Rick Renteria sent Palka up to hit for Smith in the sixth, and he responded with a two-run shot for a 6-1 lead.Castillo and Yoan Moncada also had three hits, helping the White Sox even their crosstown series with the Cubs at two games apiece.Murphy had three hits and David Bote had two RBIs for the Cubs.“Their pitcher was good,” manager Joe Maddon said. “Give him some credit too. He’s got good stuff.“I think a big part of why we didn’t look so good was him.”RUSSELL’S FUTURECubs President of Baseball Operations Theo Epstein didn’t want to speculate on Russell’s future with the team.Russell is batting .158 with one RBI in 18 games in September. Maddon said Russell was playing well defensively, but wouldn’t speculate whether off-field issues were affecting him at the plate.TRAINER’S ROOMCubs: Schwarber (lower back) returned to the lineup as the DH and went 0 for 4. He said he felt good, although his timing was off.White Sox: INF Jose Abreu (right thigh infection) missed his fourth straight game. He was scheduled to be re-evaluated by doctors later on Friday. Abreu was treated for the condition, caused by an ingrown hair, at a Cleveland hospital on Tuesday. “I’m still a little sore, but I am feeling a little better,” he said through a translator.UP NEXTCubs LHP Jon Lester (16-6, 3.43 ERA) takes the mound against White Sox RHP Lucas Giolito (10-11, 5.77 ERA) on Saturday. Lester is 3-1 with a 2.08 ERA in his last five starts.