Twins trade rumors: Justin Morneau on the block, Glen Perkins likely to stay, per reports

While Glen Perkins has been the Minnesota Twin most talked about in trade rumors, it appears teammate Justin Morneau may be the one that actually gets traded.

The Twins have told teams that Perkins is not available and have turned down several offers, reports Jim Bowden of ESPN.com. However, Bowden notes that the Twins are ready to trade Morneau and are taking offers for the first baseman.

The New York Yankees are the most heavily rumored team to be pursuing a trade for Morneau. Mark Teixeira is out for the remainder of the season due to a strained wrist, forcing the team to start Lyle Overbay at first base. Morneau will be a free agent at the end of the season, which would allow the Yankees to avoid a competition at first when Teixeira returns in 2014.

The Yankees have been said to be shopping pitchers Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain. They have placed catching prospect J.R. Murphy on the trade block as well. None of those players are likely to catch the Twins' eye in a deal for Morneau, however. Murphy would be blocked by Joe Mauer while Hughes and Chamberlain are both slated to be free agents following this season.

In addition to the Yankees, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Tampa Bay Rays have interest in Morneau according to Bowden.

The Pirates, second in the NL Central and looking to have a winning season for the first time in two decades, are starting Garrett Jones and his .302 OBP at first base.

The Rays have James Loney manning first base currently. While he has never been the best hitting first baseman, he is currently having the best season of his career with a .315/.366/.466 line in 96 games. Luke Scott, the team's DH, has an .838 OPS this season and has been on a hot streak as of late. The success of those two players likely makes the Rays interest little more than cursory, particularly given the fact that Tampa Bay rarely trades for players at the deadline.