Thursday's multi-player deal between the two Chicago franchises appears to have kickstarted the trade season ahead of the July 31 deadline. The White Sox sent Jose Quintana to the Cubs for elite prospect Eloy Jimenez and other prospects in a deal that seemed to catch many by surprise.

Even before the start of the season, Quintana was regarded as the most sought-after pitcher on the market, with the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros considered among the most likely suitors for the left-hander. The Cubs weren't expected to be among the contenders for Quintana, as MLB insider Jon Heyman had even included the St. Louis Cardinals as a possible destination for the White Sox ace.

With Quintana off the market, the phone for Toronto Blue Jays general manager Ross Atkins is expected to be quite busy in the coming weeks.

In late May, Atkins said the Blue Jays were not planning on being sellers, but the Jays are 8.5 games out of the American League East race and in fifth place. Marcus Stroman and J.A. Happ could all be on the trade block, as well as impending free agents Francisco Liriano and Marco Estrada. Stroman, who has a 3.28 ERA over 18 starts, isn't expected to get dealt unless multiple top prospects are included in a deal.

Other teams expected to be sellers include the Detroit Tigers, San Francisco Giants and Cincinnati Reds.

Pitching will probably a hotter commodity than hitting in July. The Texas Rangers' Yu Darvish and Cole Hamels might be on the block, as well as the Pittsburgh Pirates' Gerrit Cole, the Oakland Athletics' Sonny Gray and the Atlanta Braves' R.A. Dickey.

It's difficult to guage how willing teams are to deal an established pitcher, even when out of the division race. The Pirates will expect a lot in return for Cole, despite an inconsistent June that included three starts in which he allowed seven earned runs. The 26-year-old right-hander is under team control until 2020 and there is no real reason for the Pirates to give him up unless they are given an extraordinary offer.

It may be a stretch for the Rangers to hold on to both Darvish and Hamels before the deadline, and the Braves may see no reason to hold onto to an innings-eater like Dickey. Yet Gray seems like the most likely candidate to get traded. Oakland is 21 games behind the Astros, and Gray has been linked to trade rumors for years.

Now that the Cubs have landed Quintana, the rest of baseball's contenders may be scurrying to find the next-best starter. Three teams most likely to be buyers are the Boston Red Sox, New York Yankees and the Dodgers.

The Red Sox own a slim 3.5-game lead on the Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays, and could be among the most active teams on the trade market.

On Sunday, USA Today's Bob Nightengale wrote that the Red Sox have may interest in Miami Marlins third baseman Martin Prado, as well as right-handed reliever David Phelps. Veteran right-handed reliever Pat Neshek, who has a 1.27 ERA this season, may also be on Dave Dombrowski's radar.

Last week, Dombrowski stated that starting pitching is "not a need." Though the Red Sox are No. 2 in baseball in quality starts (51), Boston has already used 10 starters this season and entering the postseason there might be some interest in acquiring another starter should David Price struggle after missing a good chunk of the season with an elbow strain.

The big question for the Red Sox is whether they would be willing to part ways with top prospect Rafael Devers. Baseball America lists the 20-year-old third baseman as the sixth-best prospect and he is probably considered untouchable. Dombrowski probably wouldn't consider dealing Devers for anything other than a superstar or an equally promising young star with an attractive contract.

The Yankees made a trade Thursday, sending reliever Tyler Webb to the Milwaukee Brewers for 26-year-old first base prospect Garrett Cooper. Cooper has hit 17 homers and 82 RBI in 75 games in Triple-A this year.

But Brian Cashman, who has described the Yankees' first base production as "horrific," may need a starting pitcher more than anything else. It wouldn't be surprising if the Yankees talk with the A's about Gray. The Giants' Johnny Cueto, who has an opt-out of his contract, is another possibility. Either Gray or Cueto would likely be viewed as the No. 1 starter going into the division race.

The Yankees have plenty of trade bait, even after top shortstop prospect Gleyber Torres had Tommy John surgery on his elbow. Third baseman Miguel Andujar, and right-handed pitchers Jorge Guzman and Dillon Tate are just a few players that could be attractive to selling teams.

The Yankees have only reached the postseason once since 2012, but they have a solid shot of a winning the AL East if Cashman can land some key pieces.

Due to a World Series drought that dates back to 1988, there has been added pressure on the Dodgers' front office to find the winning formula to capture a title with starting pitching to complement Clayton Kershaw.

The Dodgers appeared to have phenom Julio Urias slated for starts in the second half of the season and into the postseason, but the 20-year-old southpaw suffered a shoulder injury in June that will keep him out of action for at least a year.

While the Dodgers are tops in baseball in team ERA (3.15), and Alex Wood has proven to be among the most pleasant surprises for any team in the Majors, team president Andrew Friedman likely wants to lock in another trusty starter.

The Dodgers' best prospects include starting pitcher Walker Buehler and outfielder Alex Verdugo. Considering the inconsistent play at second base, the Dodgers may be unwilling to part ways with prospect Willie Calhoun, who is enjoying an exceptional year in Triple-A.

Friedman may also consider going after a left-handed reliever to back up superstar closer Kenley Jansen. Heyman reported that the Baltimore Orioles' Zach Britton might be an option and that the two teams have had discussions. Heyman also noted that the Dodgers could also deal for the San Diego Padres' Brad Hand and the Detroit Tigers' Justin Wilson.

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