Major League Baseball teams have until 3pm CST Thursday to make deals in advance of this year’s non-waiver trade deadline.

It will be an interesting few hours leading up to the deadline for the Milwaukee Brewers.  For weeks, a handful of names have bounced in-and-out of trade rumors.   A lot of the “heavy” interest appeared to be for OF Norichika Aoki and starting pitchers Kyle Lohse and Yovani Gallardo.  However, General Manager Doug Melvin told the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel Tuesday that the team would likely keep all three.

That doesn’t mean the Brewers will have no one to work with.  Relief pitchers John Axford and Michael Gonzalez have had their names bounced around the rumor mills but recent struggles could effect that.  Also, 2B Rickie Weeks has reportedly garnered some interest from the Kansas City Royals.  It Week were to be moved, it is likely the Brewers would have to pick up a big chunk of his remaining salary.  Aramis Ramirez could still find a new zip code by seasons end.  The oft injured 3B is currently out of action but could be sent in a waiver deal once he returns. The waiver deadline is at the end of August.  Players have to clear waivers in order to make a deal making it more difficult to work trade than the July deadline.

Milwaukee has already made one move.  Last week they sent closer Francisco Rodriguez to the Baltimore Orioles for prospect Nicky Delmonico.