Sticking with the Cubs Roger Clemens Jersey , we've got the mother of all "say whaaat?" rumors, and it's centered on superstar third baseman Kris Bryant.According to ESPN.com's Buster Olney, the Cubbies "are willing to discuss trade proposals for almost all of the players on their roster," including Bryant, per sources.Bryant, Olney notes, had shoulder issues and underwent two disabled list stints in 2018. Concurrently, he hit .272 with 13 home runs in 102 games.He's also into his arbitration years, meaning he'll get progressively more expensive before he hits free agency after the 2021 season.All that stipulated, it's difficult, if not impossible, to imagine that Chicago would trade the 2016 NL MVP, especially after a down year when his value might be depressed.Executive Theo Epstein didn't slam the door on a Bryant trade, but he came close.At the general managers meetings, Epstein said the Cubs had no "untouchable" players on the roster, per Paul Sullivan of the Chicago Tribune.He later clarified those remarks."I answered a general question about whether we have untouchables," Epstein said Justin Smoak Jersey , per Sullivan. "Like most every organization, we will listen to anything, but that's just an operating philosophy.We are lucky to have some impact players, and we are looking to add to them, not subtract."The Hamels extension bears that out. This one stinks from a mile away.B.S. Meter: HighRumor: The Yankees Are Seeking Trades for Corey Kluber and Other Top SPs3 of 9Charlie Riedel/Associated PressAccording to Fancred Sports' Jon Heyman, the New York Yankees hope to add two starting pitchers this winter even after they re-upped veteran lefty CC Sabathia.New York, Heyman adds, met with the Cleveland Indians about Carlos Carrasco and Corey Kluber at the GM meetings. According to Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal, they also spoke to Seattle about James Paxton.Any of those arms would be a significant upgrade for the Yankees, whose starting pitchers fizzled in their Division Series loss to the Boston Red Sox. Kluber, in particular, would give them a bona fide ace to pair with the mercurial Luis Severino.Adding a top-level pitcher via trade would cost the Yankees multiple high-end prospects. They could look to free agency instead; Heyman name-dropped left-handers Patrick Corbin and J.A. Happ as possible FA targets.The Yanks have the minor league chips to swing a major trade or two, however, and are active on the wheeling-and-dealing front. This one makes sense.B.S. Meter: LowRumor: The Diamondbacks Might Move Paul Goldschmidt and Zack Greinke4 of 9David Zalubowski/Associated PressThe Arizona Diamondbacks are coming off a disappointing season in which they sank to third place in the National League West and missed the playoffs.They could consider drastic measures, Heyman reports, including trading All-Star first baseman Paul Goldschmidt and ace Zack Greinke.Hang on.The Diamondbacks are one year removed from a postseason appearance. Goldschmidt is the face of the franchise and is signed for an affordable $14.5 million in 2019. Yes, he'd fetch a massive prospect haul in his contract year http://www.bluejaysfanproshop.com/authentic-marco-estrada-jersey , but it's nearly impossible to imagine him in another uniform.To move Greinke, an unnamed executive told Heyman, Arizona could have to take on a third of the $105 million he's still owed. Greinke remains a productive pitcher; swallowing that much money just to get rid of him would be a bad look for the Diamondbacks.Anything is possible, but both players will begin the 2019 season in the desert.B.S. Meter: HighRumor: The Mets Could Make a Play for J.T. Realmuto5 of 9Keith Srakocic/Associated PressJ.T. Realmuto is coming off an excellent season with the lowly Miami Marlins and has expressed a desire, through his agent, to be traded.Mike Puma of the New York Post indicated the New York Mets are likely to engage the Marlins about Realmuto.They have a need behind the plate, but they also have a shallow farm system. Puma speculated they could offer a young outfielder such as Brandon Nimmo or Michael Conforto, but that might not be enough.The Mets are coming off a losing season and should be looking toward a rebuild. Realmuto makes far more sense for contenders such as the Houston Astros and Los Angeles Dodgers, to whom he's also been linked, per thePost's JoelSherman.B.S. Meter: HighRumor: The Giants Will Trade Madison Bumgarner6 of 9Ben Margot/Associated PressRumors about the San Francisco Giants' willingness to deal ace Madison Bumgarner have been percolating since last season at the July 31 trade deadline.New president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi did nothing to quash them."Everything has to be on the table," hetold reportersNov. 7, addressing a potential Bumgarner swap.Bay Area fans would surely be heartbroken if their ace and postseason hero rode out of town on his trusty steed. But their contending window appears to be closing鈥攊f it's not already closed鈥攖hey have a weak farm system and Bumgarner is entering his contract year.The 6'4", 242-pound lefty could fetch multiple top prospects from an array of contenders, even coming off an injury-marred season (notably a broken left pinky).There's a decent chance the Giants will keep MadBum at least until the 2019 deadline and try to make noise in the NL West, but his value will be lower as a half-season rental.B.S. Meter: Moderate/LowRumor: Yasiel Puig Could Be on the Trading Block, and the Dodgers Like Harper7 of 9David J. Phillip/Associated PressThis rumor dates back to last season, but it only recently came to light and could have repercussions this winter.The Dodgers Aaron Sanchez Jersey , perJorge Castillo of the Los Angeles Times, tried to acquire Bryce Harper from the Washington Nationals prior to 2018's non-waiver trade deadline. Their offer, according to Castillo's sources? Yasiel Puig.The Nats didn't bite. But if the Dodgers were willing to deal Puig last summer, surely they'd listen to offers this offseason.Whether there would be any takers is another matter. Puig brings talent but also a checkered history. The other piece of this rumor, obviously, is that L.A. had and may still have serious interest in Harper.Renting him for a half-season is not the same as handing him the massive contract he'll command this winter. But the marriagemakes sense.B.S. Meter: ModerateThe Red Sox Might Sign a Top Japanese SP8 of 9Hamish Blair/Getty ImagesThe Boston Red Sox's biggest need might be a closer if Craig Kimbrel exits via free agency. But the defending champs could also pursue a top Japanese starting pitcher.Yusei Kikuchi doesn't have nearly as much hype as Shohei Ohtani did last winter, but the 27-year-old owns a 2.81 ERA in eight seasons in Japan and could be a nice addition to the Sox rotation behind ace Chris Sale and left-hander David Price.Boston executive Dave Dombrowski said the Red Sox "have a pulse" for Kikuchi, who's expected to be posted soon, per WEEI.com's Rob Bradford.A source told Bradford the club's interest is "lukewarm," but that could change as the process unfolds.B.S. Meter: Moderate/LowThe White Sox Could Go After Bryce Harper and Manny Machado9 of 9Rob Carr/Getty ImagesHarper and fellow superstar free agent Manny Machado will be linked to every team with two nickels to rub together until they sign somewhere.Here's an interesting possible dark-horse suitor: the Chicago White Sox.As reported by MLB Network's Jon Morosi, Chicago could go after both Harper and Machado. It would be a huge course change for the ChiSox, who have been stockpiling young talent and grinding through a rebuild. But players of Harper and Machado's caliber could make them instantly competitive in the weak American League Central.Plus, as Morosi noted, the White Sox have the second-lowest committed payroll for 2019.It's highly improbable any team will land Harper andMachado. However, unlikely as it sounds at first, it makes some sense that the White Sox would get one or the other.B.S. Meter: ModerateAll stats courtesy of Baseball Reference. A rematch of last year's American League Division Series between the Boston Red Sox (97-44) and defending World Series champion Houston Astros (87-53) will start up on Friday at Fenway Park, with sportsbooks listing the opener as a pick'em matchup.The Astros won four of five games with the Red Sox last October en route to winning it all and have taken eight of 12 meetings in the series overall after the teams split four at Minute Maid Park three months ago Kevin Pillar Jersey , according to the OddsShark MLB Database.MLB betting line: The Red Sox opened as -118 favorites (wager $118 to win $100); the total is at 8.5 runs, according to sportsbooks monitored by OddsShark. (Line updates and matchup report)MLB betting pick, via OddsShark computer: 4.6-3.6, Red Sox (MLB picks on every game)Check out the OddsShark podcast on iTunes or at OddsShark.libsyn.com for more odds information, betting picks and a breakdown of this week鈥檚 top sports betting news.Why the Astros can pay on the MLB linesDespite Houston having 10 fewer wins than Boston, the team is riding a five-game winning streak and leads MLB with a plus-235 run differential. Pitching has been one of the main strengths of the Astros yet again, as they are the only team in baseball to give up less than 500 runs (460) this year.Gerrit Cole (13-5, 2.86 ERA) has been a nice addition to Houston's starting rotation in 2018, and he has gone 3-0 in his past four starts. Last time out against the Los Angeles Angels on Sunday, Cole allowed just two runs and six hits in 5.2 innings with three walks and nine strikeouts.Why the Red Sox can pay on the MLB linesThe Red Sox have won three in a row following a road sweep of the Atlanta Braves, and they should be able to all but wrap up home-field advantage through the AL playoffs by winning this series over the Astros.Boston owns MLB's best home record at 48-18 as part of the top overall mark and will send David Price (14-6, 3.60 ERA) to the mound opposite Cole, and he has been remarkable since the All-Star break in going a perfect 4-0 with a 1.62 ERA in seven starts. Price has walked only seven batters and struck out 43 in 44.1 innings during that stretch in helping the Red Sox stay hot in the second half.Smart betting pickEach of Friday's starting pitchers beat their opponent earlier this season at Houston, even though neither of them turned in a dominant outing in doing so. But Price has been much better at home, going 7-2 with a 3.10 ERA to make him the right play here.MLB betting trendsThe total has gone under in five of Houston's last seven games.Houston is 8-16 in its last 24 games on the road against Boston.Boston is 4-1 in its last five games.All MLB odds and betting trends according to Bleacher Report鈥檚 official odds partner, OddsShark. Check out OddsShark on Twitter and Instagram or head to YouTube for more betting picks and analysis on this week's top games. You can also download the free odds tracker app.