The 148 names you need to know before the MLB trade deadline

On the baseball calendar, Memorial Day holds a special place. First, it's a line of demarcation that historically separates good and bad — of the last 50 playoff teams in full regular seasons, 47 were .500 or better on Memorial Day. But there's another element of import: It also signifies the transition to trade season.

Yes, that magical time of year is upon us. Over the next two months, rumors will percolate, names will be bandied about and the trade-happiest sport of all will do what it does best: titillate and tantalize and build anticipation before a mad rush that leads up to the 6 p.m. ET deadline Aug. 2.

By no means is this shaping up to be a deadline littered with big names moving to contenders. Almost all of the best pending free agents — Aaron Judge, Jacob deGrom, Trea Turner, Carlos Correa, Joe Musgrove, Justin Verlander, Brandon Nimmo, Chris Bassitt — play for contending teams and won't be going anywhere. Still, there are plenty of players on the trade market worth getting excited about and plenty of others worth following — 148 to be exact.

The Big Three

Luis CastilloWillson ContrerasFrankie Montas

While Contreras is set to hit free agency this winter and thus will be moved, Montas and Castillo have another year of club control beyond this season, leaving Oakland and Cincinnati the option to wait until the winter to deal them.

At the same time, with a paucity of front-line-level starters on the market, the right-handers will generate the biggest return of anyone who is clearly, obviously available right now. Castillo's history of excellence is too long for teams not to line up. And that extra year of control only broadens his market. Beyond the obvious destinations — the Mets and Twins could use