Will rotation problems around major leagues lead to early trades?

With a month to go before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, the Orioles and Nationals are surging, but each could use help.

In addition to health, the Nationals' biggest need is bullpen help that bridges the rotation to closer Drew Storen. The Orioles' bullpen is fine, but will they trade for a bat or pick up a starter that they can control for a couple years, given Wei-Yin Chen and Bud Norris are eligible for free agency after the season? Should Norris be traded so Kevin Gausman can join the rotation and the Orioles save $4 million salary?

Let the speculation roll. And, if last year is an indication, there could be early trades.

Last July 4, Oakland acquired pitchers Jason Hammel and Jeff Samardzija from the Cubs in an attempt to make a run at winning the American League West. They were a wild card and lost to Kansas City. But more teams should be like Oakland: Get pitching ASAP.

Samardzija is with the flailing White Sox and could be a trade chip this time. So will Philadelphia's Cole Hamels and Aaron Harang and Cincinnati's Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake. Miami will likely make Mat Latos and Dan Haren available.

Hamels says he's open-minded, but who knows if that will happen if the Phillies work out a trade with a team that isn't on his pre-approved list? The only teams that Hamels will agree to go to are the Braves, Cardinals, Cubs, Dodgers, Mets, Nationals, Padres, Rangers and Yankees.

Here's a look rotation situations:

- The Dodgers are the odds-on favorites to acquire Hamels. They have Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke, but who else? The Dodgers need another All-Star starter if they are going to challenge the Nationals and Cardinals in October.

- The Giants' rotation is not stable, but Hamels could fix that. Matt Cain (forearm) and Jake Peavy (back) come off the disabled list this week, but ineffective starters Tim Hudson and Tim Lincecum will go on the DL. Madison Bumgarner, Chris Heston and Ryan Vogelsong are the other starters. Bumgarner is Bumgarner. Heston could be too young, Vogelsong too old.

- The Cubs are trying to keep pace with the pitching-rich Cardinals and Pirates in the National League Central. Jake Arrieta, Jon Lester and Hammel are the Big Three, but after that? Not much. Lester signed for $155 million, but has two bad (6.23 and 5.74 ERA) and one good month (1.76). Does Lester's contract keep the Cubs from going after Hamels and the $90 million-plus on his contract?

- The Mets have too many starters and an aging lineup that doesn't hit. The rotation includes Matt Harvey, Jacob deGrom, Noah Syndergaard, Steven Matz, Jon Niese and Bartolo Colon. The first four are untouchable, so it will be interesting to see what GM Sandy Alderson meant when he told reporters that he's willing to "overpay'' to help the Mets' lineup.

- The Yankees have the money to pick up Hamels, but are they going to drain their weak farm system? They need more than one pitcher. CC Sabathia is a question and Masahiro Tanaka's injured elbow could blow at any time. That leaves Ivan Nova (coming back from Tommy John), Nathan Eovaldi and Adam Warren.

- The Blue Jays' lineup pounds other teams into submission, but they need rotation and bullpen help. They are not likely to fix both. They banked on prospects Aaron Sanchez (disabled list) and Daniel Norris (minors with command issues). Marcus Stroman is out for the season. R.A. Dickey and Mark Buehrle are fine, but Drew Hutchinson at No. 3 isn't ready for prime time. The Blue Jays have traded plenty of prospects over the years, so it will be difficult to part with more to pick up a starter.

- The Astros, surprise leaders in the AL West, are good with Dallas Keuchel and Collin McHugh at the top, but after that, who knows? The Astros are counting on two prospects, Lance McCullers and Vincent Velasquez. Scott Feldman and Brad Peacock are on the disabled list and not close to returning. The Astros are interested in Hamels. They have a rich farm system and are willing to spend.

- The Royals are one starter away from being a threat in the postseason. Yordano Ventura and Jason Vargas are injured. Danny Duffy returned from the disabled list. Edinson Volquez is all right. The Royals are banking on a comeback from Joe Blanton, who has pitched well, and the continued consistent pitching from Chris Young. Their project is Kris Medlen, a pitcher who is coming back from his second Tommy John surgery. A deal for Cueto would work for them because it would be two-month rental.

- Even if Justin Verlander pitches well, Detroit relies more on offense than pitching, and that's a switch from when the Tigers dominated the AL Central. Doug Fister and Max Scherzer are in Washington. Drew Smyly, although he's injured, is in Tampa Bay and Rick Porcello in Boston. But, they still have David Price and Anibal Sanchez.

- The Rangers, 9 1/2 games out on May 20, have a chance to contend in the NL West. Yovani Gallardo has taken over as staff ace for the injured Yu Darvish. Matt Harrison is out for the season and Derek Holland should be coming back from the DL in the second half. Colby Lewis is a reliable No. 2, but the Rangers are counting on prospects Chi-Chi Gonzalez and Nick Martinez and a comeback from Wandy Rodriguez.