The calls started Monday. For weeks, teams have danced around the looming July 30 trade deadline -- the ones looking to add not wanting to jump the market, the ones looking to divest abiding by the principle that the best return may come with a ticking clock. Monday served as the unofficially official start to trade season, with communication picking up and teams positioning themselves for a fascinating next 10 days.
Some executives believe it's bound to be frenzied, with enough teams trying to add that the market includes players beyond impending free agents. Others fear that this will be a deadline of enormous posturing and scant action. Almost all agreed: If there is going to be movement, it's unlikely to come in the next few days. Someone who may well be in the middle of it all forecast as much publicly.