We're down to about a half-hour until the 4 p.m. MLB trade deadline, and the rumors are flying all over the place.

I know there's one out there that suggests the Nats were close to sending John Lannan to the White Sox. All I can say is that this appears to all have come from one radio station in Chicago and has not been reported by anyone else. I've been asking around for the last 30 minutes or so about this one and haven't had anyone tell me this thing actually has legs. In fact, everyone I've mentioned this to has had the same incredulous response: Is this a joke?

Now, that doesn't mean it couldn't be happening. I suppose anything's possible, but it sure wouldn't make much sense. Lannan is the best pitcher the Nats have right now. He's 23 years old. And the organization absolutely loves him.

And for what it's worth, the Nats have already announced their starting lineup for tonight's game, with Lannan on the mound...

LF Harris

CF Milledge

3B Zimmerman

RF Kearns

C Flores

1B Casto

2B Belliard

SS Orr

P Lannan

UPDATE AT 3:38 P.M.

-- A club official who I floated this stuff by just told me the Nats have not talked to ANY team about either John Lannan or Joel Hanrahan. So everybody just calm down...

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