There is a general consensus that teams will be looking to add pitching before the July 31st non-waivers trading deadline and that the prices requested by the selling teams are high. The Denver Post reports the Rockies have been kicking the tires on starting pitchers Matt Morris of the San Francisco Giants and Jose Contreras of the Chicago White Sox, but the asking prices are "outrageous". A previously reported offer of Jose Contreras for 3B Ian Stewart and LHP Franklin Morales bears that out. The DP also mentions that Royals' closer Octavio Dotel is a target of the Rockies.
Unfortunately, this morning's Kansas City Star offers a glimpse at where the Royals are beginning their negotiations. The paper reports the Royals want "a young, established position player" for Dotel. The two Dodgers mentioned? 1B James Loney and OF Matt Kemp. When Brewers' GM Doug Melvin says trade talk is scarce because prices are too steep unless you give-up a young player, this KC Star report bears that out as does the aforementioned DP story. (Reported in this morning's Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel.)
The latest Cleveland Indians rumor to be re-reported is the Indians' interest in Rangers' centerfielder Kenny Lofton. Today's Cleveland Plain Dealer reports the Indians had scouts at last weekend's Rangers games to check him out. Coming off OF Franklin Gutierrez's best game as a pro (4-5 with 1 HR, 3 RBI and 2 SB), this seems to be more of a secondary reason for Indians' scouts presences. The scouting of Rangers' closer Eric Gagne and injured set-up man Akinori Otsuka is more likely to be the primary reason for the trip.