Ivan Rodriguez dealt to Yankees

The Tigers have traded Ivan Rodriguez to the Yankees for Kyle Farnsworth. What a steal for the Yanks.

Manny to Marlins?

• Perhaps the biggest shocker of the past month is this new rumor: the Marlins are serious about trying to acquire Manny Ramirez. Florida would be willing to include Jeremy Hermida in any deal for Ramirez, and another name mentioned was minor-league pitcher Jeff Allison. Still, with Ramirez's contract up after this season, I cannot see the Marlins doing this, especially given the enormous potential of both Hermida and Allison.
  
• The Marlins are also close to acquiring Arthur Rhodes and are still looking for a catcher. Bengie Molina, Gerald Laird, Ramon Hernandez, Ryan Doumit, and Miguel Olivo are considered potential candidates.
  
• The Jarrod Washburn to Yankees rumors appear to be dead. The Rockies have now jumped in on Washburn. It wouldn't surprise me if Washburn was instead traded after the deadline.
• The Cubs are taking a look at Raul Ibanez. The Mariners' asking price is very high for the veteran outfielder, as the Mets have already bowed out of the running for Ibanez's services.
• Greg Maddux does not want to go to Philadelphia.
• Atlanta's Will Ohman is conjuring up plenty of interest from a bunch of teams. The general consensus is that he will be moved.
• It looks like the Royals might try to deal the reportedly unhappy Jose Guillen before the deadline.
• The Rays are talking with the Pirates for Jason Bay, but it is assumed that Pittsburgh is not going to trade the outfielder.
  

MLB Rumors, July 27th

• For some reason, the Yankees are still insisting on putting Robinson Cano on the trade block. One rumor says that the Yanks offered Cano and Melky Cabrera to the Royals for Zack Greinke and Mark Teahen. How long ago New York actually made this offer is not really known. A separate rumor had the Bronx Bombers sending Cabrera to Kansas City for Brian Bannister.
• With Casey Blake now off the market, the Mets now have their eyes set solely on Raul Ibanez. Still, the Mariners seem to be asking for Fernando Martinez, a prospect the Mets are not willing to give up. Jon Niese is also unavailable, as well as Robert Parnell.
• The Rockies have now asked the Marlins for Anibal Sanchez in return for Brian Fuentes, an offer Florida scoffed at. The Marlins may now turn their attention to the much cheaper Arthur Rhodes. The Cardinals have appeared to have taken the lead as the frontrunners for Fuentes' services.
  
• The Diamondbacks shot down any rumors about Mark Teixeira possibly going to Arizona by the deadline. One rumor mentioned Conor Jackson as a possible centerpiece of a Teixeira deal.
• The Indians are making it seem like it's almost a guarantee that they will deal Paul Byrd before the deadline.
  

Blake to Dodgers almost complete?

So much for the Mets getting Casey Blake. It appears the 34-year old third baseman/outfielder is headed to the Dodgers in a deal that would net the Indians minor-league catcher Carlos Santana and minor-league pitcher Jon Meloan. To me, it looks like Los Angeles is grossly overpaying here.

Hot Stove Report, July 26th

• Some breaking news this morning. The deal the Yankees made with the Pirates yesterday was originally announced as Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, Phil Coke, and George Kontos for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte. This information, however, was slightly false. Instead, the trade was Tabata, Ohlendorf, Dan McCutchen, and Jeff Karstens for Nady and Marte. This makes more sense for Pittsburgh, as McCutchen is a very solid pitching prospect.
  
• The Mets are still looking for a corner outfielder, and now that it looks like the Pirates won't be trading Jason Bay, their options are likely limited to Raul Ibanez and Casey Blake. However, the fact that the Mets are pursuing Blake might mean that the Mariners are asking for a price New York isn't willing to pay for Ibanez.
  
• The Yankees are still talking to the Mariners about Jarrod Washburn, but neither Kei Igawa or Melky Cabrera will be involved, contrary to earlier reports. Seattle has its eye on Brett Gardner, and it has also expressed interest in Justin Christian. The M's did ask the Yanks about top prospect Austin Jackson, but were immediately turned down. The fact that the Bronx Bombers dealt Tabata yesterday all but assures they won't be trading Jackson.
• Rumors are that the Dodgers are shopping Andy LaRoche, possibly in a deal for Huston Street.
  
• The Marlins offered the Rockies left-handed reliever Taylor Tankersley for Brian Fuentes, but Colorado came back and asked for top prospect Ryan Tucker. Florida, as one would expect, rejected that offer.

Nady, Marte traded to Yankees

The Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte sweepstakes are over. Both Pittsburgh Pirate players were dealt to New York Yankees in a deal that fetched Jose Tabata, Ross Ohlendorf, and two other minor-leaguers.

Nady, 29, is batting .330 with 13 home runs and 57 RBI this season. This will be the second stint in New York for the lifetime .281 hitter, as Nady spent part of 2006 with the Mets.

Marte has posted a 3.47 ERA in 47 relief appearances this season and has struck out 47 in 46.2 innings of work. Marte was part of the 2005 world champion Chicago White Sox. He has tallied a 3.21 ERA over the course of his nine-year career.

MLB Rumors, July 25th

• Contrary to recent reports, the Mariners have no interest in Kei Igawa. Seattle instead has asked the Yankees for Melky Cabrera and Brett Gardner in return for Jarrod Washburn. The Yanks, however, balked at that offer.
• The White Sox appear dead-set on trying to deal Orlando Cabrera by the deadline, as they are very high on Alexei Ramirez. The Dodgers could be a possibility for Cabrera, and they have been shopping Derek Lowe.
  
• The Marlins are still searching for a catcher, and may now consider Baltimore's Ramon Hernandez. They are also looking at Gregg Zaun.
• Colorado's asking price for Brian Fuentes is ridiculously high. The Rockies want a top prospect and and an MLB-ready player for the reliever.
• The catcher the Yankees most have their eye on is Gerald Laird.
• The Mets are interested in Toronto's Scott Downs. They also do not appear to have interest in Adam Dunn.
  
• The Twins and Mariners are in talks for Adrian Beltre, but it appears the two sides are at a standstill. Minnesota could offer up a package consisting of something like Brian Buscher and Denard Span, but that might not be enough.
  

A lot of Yankees' rumors

• The Yankees are still talking to the Mariners about Jarrod Washburn. Apparently, the sticking point in this deal is that the Yanks would also have to take on Jose Vidro. Seattle would still be getting back Kei Igawa and a prospect. Indications are that a deal will probably get done soon.
• There were Yankee scouts in Baltimore last night. Is it just a coincidence that they were there while A.J. Burnett was pitching in that game?
  
• The Bronx Bombers have also added three new catchers to their list: Ramon Hernandez, Paul Lo Duca and Rod Barajas. Hernandez is the only one that really makes sense to me out of that trio, but I still think their best options are either Miguel Olivo or Gerald Laird.
• Could the Yankees be willing to deal Robinson Cano? The Dodgers have supposedly offered up a package that would send Matt Kemp and Derek Lowe to New York for the second baseman. However, based on Cano's resurgence as of late, it seems unlikely that Brian Cashman would pull the trigger on this. I also find it interesting how the Dodgers are shopping Kemp around this much.

Halladay wants out? Uribe to Boston?

• Rumor has it that Roy Halladay wants out of Toronto and that the Blue Jays have even been quietly shopping him to National League teams, namely the Cardinals and Dodgers.
• The Red Sox and White Sox are in talks for a trade that would bring Juan Uribe to Boston.
  
• It appears my speculation about the Yankees and Miguel Olivo was correct, as the Bronx Bombers have expressed interest in the Kansas City catcher. They are also looking at Gerald Laird, but the Rangers are looking for a pretty steep haul in return. I would guess that means Ian Kennedy or one of their better minor-league pitchers.
• In terms of starting pitching, the Yankees remain interested in making a deal for Jarrod Washburn. If that can't get done, then they will probably turn to Bronson Arroyo. There have been several conflicting reports regarding their interest in A.J. Burnett.
  
• Greg Maddux appears to be on the move. He wants to pitch on the west coast, preferably for the Dodgers.
• Surprisingly, the Reds could make a play for Huston Street. It appears the Dodgers have backed out of the Street sweepstakes.
• The Marlins are aggressively pursuing several relievers, including Brian Fuentes and George Sherrill. However, if the Rockies asked Boston for Clay Buchholz in return for Fuentes, I imagine they would want Chris Volstad or one of Florida's top minor-league pitchers, something the Marlins would scoff at.
• Nobody is enamored with what the Pirates are asking in return for Xavier Nady. I assume their price-tag will drop as the trade deadline inches closer.

Wolf, Rauch on the move; Washburn too?

• The Padres have traded Randy Wolf to the Astros for minor-league pitcher Chad Reineke. I still don't understand what Houston is trying to do here.
• Jim Bowden pulled the trigger on Jon Rauch, sending him to Arizona for young second baseman Emilio Bonifacio. Bonifacio is a solid player with potential, but it seems like Bowden could have gotten more with the demand out there for relief pitchers. The Nationals also gave Cristian Guzman a two-year, $16 million extension.
  
• More on the Yankees/Jarrod Washburn front: Buster Olney is reporting that the Yanks are working on a deal with the Mariners that would send Kei Igawa and a prospect to Seattle for Washburn. This would be a solid, low-risk deal for New York. Igawa was never going to be anything anyway, and Washburn has a history of pitching well in the Bronx.
• Jay Gibbons is expected to sign a minor-league deal with the Brewers.

MLB Rumors, July 22nd

• The Yankees are very interested in Jarrod Washburn. They don't seem to be as enamored with A.J. Burnett as others think.
  
• The Marlins seem to be pretty keen on Brian Fuentes, not to mention several other top relievers on the market. Damaso Marte and John Grabow could also be possibilities.
• Mark Teixeira does seem to be on the block, with the Angels, Red Sox, Diamondbacks, and Rays being the most interested parties. The Angels would probably have the most to offer. They could give the Braves Howie Kendrick, Casey Kotchman, and a prospect.
• Oakland could trade Justin Duchscherer for the right price, but judging on how much Billy Beane hauled in for Joe Blanton, it's unlikely anyone would give in to those kind of demands for a late-bloomer who has had trouble staying healthy over the course of his career, as Beane would certainly expect more in return for Duchscherer than Blanton.
  
• The Mets have expressed interest in Casey Blake.
• Strangely enough, the Phillies have inquired about Matt Kemp. They have also asked about Matt Holliday and Xavier Nady. Logic tells you that Holliday would be too expensive for Philadelphia, especially with the players they just shelled out for Joe Blanton.
• George Sherrill is drawing strong interest from the Cardinals. However, the Orioles are asking for far too much at the moment.
  
• The Dodgers remain interested in Huston Street, and they may be quietly shopping Andy LaRoche.
• Houston has been talking to the Dodgers about Randy Wolf. Why? I have no clue.
• It doesn't look like the Orioles are trading Brian Roberts.
• The Tigers are in a bit of a pickle. Being 5.5 games back in the AL Central, they are not sure if they should buy or sell. If they decide to sell, expect Ivan Rodriguez to be put on the block immediately. The Marlins would quickly come calling for the veteran catcher. Fernando Rodney appears to be available under any circumstances.
• With Jorge Posada's season in jeopardy, the Yankees could look for another catcher. A good fit would be Miguel Olivo, but that's pure speculation on my part.
  

MLB Rumors, July 20th

• Apparently, teams will have to pay a very steep price to pry Matt Holliday away from the Rockies. The L.A. Times reported that Colorado asked the Angels for top pitching prospect Nick Adenhart, Howie Kendrick, and either Joe Saunders or Ervin Santana. The Marlins asked for a similar package for Miguel Cabrera in the off-season, but the Angels turned it down. As you can imagine, the Rockies were immediately rebuffed on this offer.
• The Yankees are still looking for an outfielder, and if they can't afford Holliday, they will go hot-and-heavy after either Jason Bay or Xavier Nady. New York has a bunch of prospects it can deal. Outfielder Jose Tabata would probably have to go in any trade for Bay, but the Yanks could probably get away with not including him for Nady. Ian Kennedy is another prospect whom the Bronx Bombers might consider trading if the right deal comes along. Philip Hughes seems to be off-limits.
• Could Carlos Lee be on the block? The Mets appear to be interested. Still, whether or not they have enough ammo to even get the Astros to talk with them remains to be seen. Any deal for Lee would have to involve New York's top prospect Fernando Martinez.
  
• The Brewers appear to be working on a deal with the Giants that would bring Ray Durham and/or Jack Taschner to Milwaukee. Brewers' minor-league outfielder Darren Ford was scratched from the lineup last night, so he would probably be going in the deal. It has also been rumored that Rickie Weeks could be on his way to San Francisco, but there really isn't much substance to this.
• The Dodgers are still looking for a shortstop. Although their deal for Pittsburgh's Jack Wilson fell through recently, they could make another play for him. However, the rumor that Los Angeles would be willing to give up Matt Kemp in the deal seems bogus to me. If it's true, Ned Colletti should be fired on the spot. David Eckstein is also available, and a sleeper candidate is Cristian Guzman, although the Nationals have been talking extension with him.
• Billy Beane insists that the Athletics are not trading Huston Street. Still, one might be skeptical about that due to the amount of rumors swirling around the soon-to-be 25-year old closer. The White Sox have been said to be interested, and the Dodgers seem to be making a bit of a play for him.
• Washington is certainly shopping Jon Rauch. The White Sox have inquired about him, as have the Rays.
• Now that Erik Bedard's shoulder injury appears to have progressed slower than expected, it doesn't look like the Mariners will find any suitors for the left-hander by th July 31st trade deadline.
  

Phillies acquire Blanton for three prospects

The Philadelphia Phillies have acquired Joe Blanton from the Oakland Athletics for prospects Adrian Cardenas, Josh Outman, and Matthew Spencer.

Blanton, 27, is 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA this season. Last year, the burly right-hander went 15-10 with a 3.95 ERA in 230 innings. He will join a Phillies' rotation that consists of Cole Hamels, Kyle Kendrick, Jamie Moyer, and Adam Eaton. J.A. Happ also made an appearance in the rotation and pitched two games earlier in the month, but was sent back down to the minors. There is a chance that he might be called back up and Eaton get moved.

Cardenas, a second baseman, was considered one of Philadelphia's top prospects. He was batting .309 with four homers, 23 RBI, and 16 stolen bases in the Class A Advanced Florida State League.

Who is on the market?

• A.J. Burnett, SP, Blue Jays- With the Blue Jays continuing their slide in the AL East, Burnett is probably the most valuable trade commodity on their roster. The Phillies are rumored to be interested, and I could see the Yankees jumping in so long as it doesn't take any of their young pitchers to acquire Burnett.
• David Eckstein, SS, Blue Jays- Eckstein is the kind of scrappy player that contending teams love to have. Still, there aren't many squads that are in need of a shortstop. The Dodgers are the only team that I can think of because of the injury to Rafael Furcal.
  
• Matt Stairs, DH, Blue Jays- Stairs would be a solid addition to a team that is lacking some pop in their lineup or off the bench. I could see the Tigers making a push for him, as Gary Sheffield just hasn't gotten the job done in the DH spot.
• Rod Barajas, C, Blue Jays- Plenty of teams could use a backup catcher. The Red Sox come to mind.
  
• Brian Roberts, 2B, Orioles- Now that Baltimore has all but completely fallen out of contention, it's possibly that they might start cleaning house. The Brewers could certainly use a second baseman, as Rickie Weeks has been a big disappointment.
  
• Ramon Hernandez, C, Orioles- He is having a pretty poor year offensively, but there are still teams that Hernandez come upgrade. The Marlins have been rumored to be in the hunt for a catcher, but they may just test the young John Baker for now.
• Aubrey Huff, DH, Orioles- Huff has been unbelievable at the plate this season, and there are plenty of squads who would love to add him before the deadline. Mark the Tigers and Rays down as potentially interested parties.
• George Sherrill, RP, Orioles- Although the closer hasn't had as good of a year as everyone thinks (he has a 4.12 ERA and six blown saves), he could still be of some value to another team as a setup man.
• Chad Bradford, RP, Orioles- Every contending team needs relievers.
• Joe Blanton, SP, Athletics- It seems like Oakland has had Blanton on the block forever, and his value has certainly taken a steep dive. He could, still, however, be a serviceable fourth starter for another contender. He might draw interest from the Yankees, Phillies, Cardinals, Twins, and Tigers.
  
• Gerald Laird, C, Rangers- Texas is chock-full of catchers right now with Laird, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, and Max Ramirez. It is almost certain that one of them will go, and that will most likely be the veteran Laird due to the potential of the two other youngsters. Look for the Marlins to make a run at him.
• Hank Blalock, 3B, Rangers- With the way Ramon Vazquez has been producing and with the emergence of rookie Chris Davis, the Rangers will definitely shop Blalock when he comes off the DL. The Angels might make a play for him, as might the Twins.
  
• Ichiro Suzuki, OF, Mariners- The time may have finally come for the Mariners and Ichiro to part ways. Seattle clearly isn't going anywhere this season, so trading him for some prospects might be the best thing to do.
• Erik Bedard, SP, Mariners- Even though they just acquired him over the winter, the Mariners may very well put Bedard on the market. The Yankees would definitely be interested, as would the Phillies. A sleeper could be the Tigers.
• Raul Ibanez, OF, Mariners- Plenty of teams could use his pop in their lineup. Count the Diamondbacks, Rays, and Tigers as possible destinations.
• Adrian Beltre, 3B, Mariners- The Angels could certainly use some production from the third base spot, as Chone Figgins has been terrible this season. Still, the chances of Seattle trading with their division rival are unlikely. The Brewers might be interested.
• Mark Teixeira, 1B, Braves- The only way Atlanta considers dealing Teixeira is if they fall completely out of contention in the NL East, which probably won't happen. Either way, you can't discount the possibility. The Yankees might make a move for the first baseman if he becomes available.
  
• Jorge Campillo, SP, Braves- Again, this is only if the Braves are out of it come July 31st, but Campillo could be a nice, cheap option for a team searching for a third or fourth starter. The Yankees, Tigers, and Twins might take a look at him.
• Aaron Harang, SP, Reds- Harang is having a poor year and is now injured, so the chances of Cincinnati trading him are very slim considering they would have to sell very low. The Bronx Bombers were rumored to be interested, though.
  
• Adam Dunn, OF, Reds- Dunn would fit well in the AL as a DH, as he is a terrible outfielder. Tampa Bay and Detroit could make a run at him, however Arizona has examined the possibility of bringing the cumbersome power-hitter aboard.
  
• Bronson Arroyo, SP, Reds- It's almost a guarantee that Arroyo gets dealt somewhere before the deadline. He is having an awful season, but there will be teams willing to take him on as a fifth starter for the stretch run.
• David Weathers, RP, Reds- He should draw interest from many teams. The Marlins make a lot of sense. Milwaukee is also in need of some bullpen help.
  
• Jeremy Affeldt, RP, Reds- Not only is he a decent relief pitcher, but he is a left-handed one at that. The Yankees went after him in the off-season. Maybe they try to snag him again before the deadline.
  
• Jason Bay, OF, Pirates- Pittsburgh is asking for the world for Bay. It has been rumored that the Cardinals inquired about him, but the Pirates wanted top prospect Colby Rasmus back in the deal. The Mets and Rays are also interested.
• Xavier Nady, OF, Pirates- Again, the Rays are looking for some offense in the outfield, so they could take a run at Nady. Same goes for the Mets and Diamondbacks. Nady is having an All-Star caliber season.
• Jack Wilson, SS, Pirates- It looked like he was on his way to the Dodgers recently, but that fell through.
  
• Adam LaRoche, 1B, Pirates- LaRoche is known for being a second-half player, and, as usual, he has been surging since the halfway point. That could certainly attract some teams.
  
• Damaso Marte, RP, Pirates- He may very well be the best relief pitcher on the market, but due to the injury to Matt Capps, Marte was forced to take over the closer role in Pittsburgh, making his availability on the trade market limited.
• Chris Gomez, IF, Pirates- Gomez would make a very solid utility man on a bunch of teams.
• Roy Oswalt, SP, Astros- Given that he is having a down year, it's doubtful Houston will trade him considering they will get low-balled.
• Ty Wiggington, 3B, Astros- Wiggington would be a nice addition to a team looking for a bat off the bench or a platoon at third. Maybe the Angels, who are lacking power at that position, take a stab at him.
  
• Darin Erstad, 1B/OF, Astros- Think Chris Gomez with even more versatility in the field.
• Mark Loretta, 2B, Astros- Loretta is not the player he once was, but he is still a solid second baseman and bring some good situational hitting to the table.
  
• Geoff Geary, RP, Astros- He is having a solid year out of the pen and would fit in on just about every contender.
• Bengie Molina, C, Giants- Even though everyone outside of San Francisco knows the Giants stand no chance of making the playoffs, the Giants remain firm on their stance of not selling unless they are completely out of the picture. If they do decide to move Molina, I could see the Marlins jumping on him.
  
• Randy Winn, RF, Giants- His situation is very similar to Molina's. The Mets could make a play for him, as could the Diamondbacks.
• Ray Durham, 2B, Giants- Durham is having a very solid season and will definitely have teams calling about his availability.
  
• Rich Aurilia, IF, Giants- Aurilia will probably wind up on a contender somewhere as a backup infielder.
  
• Jack Taschner, RP, Giants- Good left-hander out of the bullpen. He should draw interest from many.
• Matt Holliday, LF, Rockies- Colorado could still make a second-half run in the weak NL West (just look at what they did last year). However, dealing Holliday is not out of the question. I still say the Yankees are a good fit, but it would almost definitely take Philip Hughes, who is just about untouchable to Brian Cashman, to get a deal done. The Angels have also been rumored to be interested.
  
• Brian Fuentes, RP, Rockies- Fuentes is almost certain to get moved. The Marlins, Yankees, and Rays have all been vying for his services and appear to be the frontrunners. It was rumored that the Rockies want Ian Kennedy from the Yankees for him.
• Willy Taveras, CF, Rockies- He might not have the best bat in the world, but the man has stolen 39 bases to lead the majors.
  
• Clint Barmes, SS, Rockies- Barmes could either be a nice player to have off the bench or a nice starting shortstop for the stretch run.
• Yorvit Torrealba, C, Rockies- He is having a terrible season but could serve as a viable backup somewhere else, as that is what he is essentially doing now in Colorado with the emergence of Chris Iannetta.
• Todd Helton, 1B, Rockies- Has the time finally come for Helton and the Rockies to part ways? With young first basemen Jeff Baker and Joe Koshansky also in the mix now, that may very well be the case, even though there haven't been any rumors suggesting it.
• Garrett Atkins, 3B, Rockies- He has been putting up All-Star caliber numbers the past few seasons, which is why the Rockies won't even consider dealing him unless they're completely out of the race, much like Holliday.
• Tony Clark, 1B, Padres- I would be surprised if Clark doesn't get traded. In fact, it has been said that the Diamondbacks are working on a deal to get him.
• Greg Maddux, SP, Padres- Is there a chance he winds up back with Atlanta?
  
• Randy Wolf, SP, Padres- He is a left-hander, meaning he will stir up plenty of interest over the next two weeks. I could see the Yankees taking a chance on him, as well as the Phillies. Maybe even the Twins and Tigers think about acquiring him for the pennant race?
• Trevor Hoffman, RP, Padres- Hoffman has just been downright awful this season, but there will be a team out there that is willing to take him on as a setup man.
• Heath Bell, RP, Padres- Indications are that San Diego is not moving him, but if they do decide to make him available, Bell might become one of the deadline's hottest commodities.
• Scott Hairston, CF, Padres- Hairston is one of those guys that every manager would love to have. He has even been hitting the long ball this season.
• Brian Giles, RF, Padres- Like Bell, it doesn't look like the Padres are putting Giles on the block...yet. If they do, many teams will go hot-and-heavy after him looking to add an experienced veteran to their lineup.

Around the MLB, July 8th

• The Cubs have reportedly acquired Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin from the Athletics for young right-hander Sean Gallagher, Matt Murton, Eric Patterson, and minor-leaguer John Donaldson. This move now gives Chicago a starting rotation of Carlos Zambrano, Ryan Dempster, Harden, Gaudin, and either Ted Lilly or Jason Marquis, one of whom will probably either be dealt or moved to the bullpen. Looks pretty good to me. This move was clearly a counter to the deal that sent CC Sabathia to division rival Milwaukee.
  
• It's looking less and less like the Rockies are going to seriously shop Matt Holliday. Despite the fact that they are 38-52, Colorado sits only 6.5 games back of first place in the pathetic NL West. The Angels were rumored to be interested, but they seem to be okay with Garret Anderson and Gary Matthews Jr. in left field for now. The Rays have also poked their heads in, but the Rockies want top pitching prospect David Price, someone Tampa Bay is not willing to part with.
• There is a chance that the Braves explore trade options for Mark Teixeira. I could see the Yankees making a run at him should Hideki Matsui's knee injury keep him out for the season. The Bronx Bombers could then put Teixeira at first base and slide Jason Giambi into the DH spot.
• The Pirates seem to be taking offers for Xavier Nady. Maybe the Rays will inquire about him? He certainly won't command as much in return as someone like Holliday, but he is still producing just as well as almost any other outfielder in the league this year. Right-handed prospect Jeff Niemann would probably have to be involved.
• With Matt Treanor looking like a sure-thing for the DL, the Marlins will now probably look even harder to find a catcher. They did call up John Baker from Triple-A, but I'm sure they will look around the majors for some stability. I think Miguel Olivo would be their best option. Other names that have been thrown around are Yorvit Torrealba and David Ross. If that's the best Florida can get, then they should just stick with what they have.
• The Marlins also demoted Mark Hendrickson to the bullpen in favor of top prospect Chris Volstad, and he wasn't too happy about it. Hendrickson wouldn't say that he requested a trade, but one would be safe to assume that Florida is looking for suitors for the 34-year old left-hander.
  
• Unless the Giants fall back rapidly in the NL West race, they will most likely not be trading Bengie Molina. Believe it or not, San Francisco sits only five games back in the division.
• David Eckstein is drawing some interest, with the Orioles and Dodgers both looking at the scrappy shortstop. Jack Wilson is another shortstop who may be on the market, and there were rumors that the Dodgers were working on a deal for the Pittsburgh Pirate. However, those rumors have since been quashed.
  

Predicting the All-Star pitching staffs/reserves

The starting lineups for both All-Star squads have already been determined.

In the American League, Joe Mauer is starting behind the plate. The infield consists of Kevin Youkilis at first, Dustin Pedroia at second, Derek Jeter at shortstop, and Alex Rodriguez at third base. The three starting outfielders will be Manny Ramirez, Ichiro Suzuki, and Josh Hamilton. David Ortiz was voted in as the designated hitter, although he will not be playing because of an injury. Cliff Lee will be the starting pitcher.

In the National League, Geovany Soto gets the start at catcher. The starting infielders are Lance Berkman at first base, Chase Utley at second, Hanley Ramirez at shortstop, and Chipper Jones at third. The outfield will be made up of Alfonso Soriano, Kosuke Fukudome, and Ryan Braun. Brandon Webb will take the mound to start things off.

Now, on to the predictions for the remainder of the rosters:

American League

Reserves:
Dioner Navarro, C, TB
Justin Morneau, 1B, MIN
Miguel Cabrera, 1B, DET
Ian Kinsler, 2B, TEX
Michael Young, SS, TEX
Mike Lowell, 3B, BOS
Jermaine Dye, OF, CHW
Magglio Ordonez, OF, DET
Carlos Quentin, OF, CHW
Johnny Damon, OF, NYY
David DeJesus, OF, KC
J.D. Drew, OF, BOS
Milton Bradley, DH, TEX

Pitching staff:
Cliff Lee, CLE (starter)
Justin Duchscherer, OAK
Roy Halladay, TOR
Felix Hernandez, SEA
Shaun Marcum, TOR
Joe Saunders, LAA
Francisco Rodriguez, LAA
Mariano Rivera, NYY
Joakim Soria, KC
Jim Johnson, BAL

National League

Reserves:
Russell Martin, C, LAD
Albert Pujols, 1B, STL
Adrian Gonzalez, 1B, SD
Dan Uggla, 2B, FLA
Brandon Phillips, 2B, CIN
Cristian Guzman, SS, WAS
Garrett Atkins, 3B, COL
David Wright, 3B, NYM
Carlos Lee, OF, HOU
Ryan Braun, OF, MIL
Matt Holliday, OF, COL
Xavier Nady, OF, PIT
Ryan Ludwick, OF, STL

Pitching staff:
Brandon Webb, ARZ (starter)
Edinson Volquez, CIN
Tim Lincecum, SF
Ben Sheets, MIL
Johan Santana, NYM
Danny Haren, ARZ
Brad Lidge, PHI
Brandon Lyon, ARZ
Hong-Chih Kuo, LAD
Takashi Saito, LAD

MLB Rumors, July 1st

• The Brewers appear to be the frontrunners in the C.C. Sabathia sweepstakes. Milwaukee has plenty of young players/prospects to offer. The Rays, Red Sox, Dodgers, and Cubs have also expressed interest, and one must believe that the Yankees will at least inquire about the 2007 Cy Young Award winner.
  
• The Marlins are looking for a catcher and some bullpen help. Matt Treanor is simply not getting it done for Florida, batting only .241 with 14 RBI. Mike Rabelo was performing so badly that he was sent down to the minors. The cheapest available options include Yorvit Torrealba, Paul Lo Duca, and Paul Bako. There is a possibility that the Tigers make Ivan Rodriguez available for the right price, and I wouldn't discount Kansas City's Miguel Olivo making a return to Miami, either. In terms of relief pitching, players such as David Weathers and LaTroy Hawkins are believed to be on the market. Other than that, I can't see the Marlins picking up anyone extraordinary due to the value of relief pitchers around the league. The best reliever being shopped around is probably Colorado's Brian Fuentes, but whether Florida is willing to pay up for him is the question.
  
• Could Colorado be shopping Matt Holliday, a player whom they just gave a two-year contract extension? It seems like a pretty big possibility considering that the Rockies have all but fallen completely out of contention. The Dodgers are probably not an option because they are a division rival of Colorado's, but you would have to think the Yankees are a possibility. They currently have Johnny Damon in left and Melky Cabrera in center, but with Hideki Matsui's knee problem becoming a serious issue, I could definitely see them making a run at Holliday. Should Matsui need surgery, New York could keep Damon in left and insert Holliday at DH. Maybe a package of Cabrera, Alan Horne, and another prospect for the 2007 NL MVP runner-up?
  
• It's no secret that the Rockies have put Fuentes on the trading block. Interested parties include the Yankees, Mets, Red Sox, and Phillies. As stated before, the Marlins may make a push for the closer depending on how much Colorado is asking for him. Fuentes, however, has blown two consecutive saves and has a 3.94 ERA this season. Not really all that great for a closer.
• The Cubs will almost definitely do something before the deadline, and their top priority appears to be adding a pitcher. Sabathia is on their radar, but Chicago does not want to part with young pitcher Sean Gallagher, a player who might have to go in any deal for Cleveland's left-hander.