Very soon, all this morning's reporting in the various local papers will be moot. As a result, I am "dumping" every rumor I have glommed from each of them this morning. Right now, I am expecting to see the Mariners make a deal, and it will likely involve a highly-regarded prospect for an aging player.
I also have every expectation that middle relievers will be sent packing as the are considered replacable and do not offer much help for losing teams. However, if Jim Bowden's offer of Jon Rauch for Cameron Maybin is typical, then all bets are off.
Across the nation ex-Texas and New York, there are asides everywhere that the Rangers will send closer Eric Gagne to the Yankees. Is that because it is more logical to deal him there because he cannot exercise his no-trade clause? The local New York papers claim the Yankees won't deal anything of value for anyone's players. That mitigates my pie-in-the-sky conjecture of Kyle Farnsworth and AA starter Alan Horne. The best Yankees' rumor has Kei igawa going to Seattle for Richie Sexson!
Please read further to see where the Dodgers, Angels, Diamondbacks, Orioles, Nationals, Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Braves, mariners, Twins, and Rockies stand according to their local beat writers. I hope you read the latest before it becomes less than useless in seven hours time.
Los Angeles Times
The Angels could try to complete a last-minute trade for Oakland designated hitter Mike Piazza, Chicago White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye and/or White Sox right-hander Jon Garland. They also could probably cheaply acquire Houston third baseman Morgan Ensberg, who the Astros designated for assignment only two years removed from a season in which he hit 36 homers and drove in 101 runs.
The Angels' quest for additional offense could take on additional urgency because outfielder Juan Rivera is not progressing as quickly as expected in his recovery
Los Angeles Times
It's unlikely Colletti will be able to swing as significant a trade this time. According to multiple sources the only deal the team had in the works Monday would send switch-hitting infielder Wilson Betemit to the New York Yankees for middle reliever Scott Proctor...The Dodgers have been scouting relievers Damaso Marte, Shawn Chacon and Salomon Torres from the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Dallas Morning News
The deadline expires at 3 p.m. today. While the Rangers have had some feelers about right-hander Eric Gagne, it appears that the Teixeira deal will be their last before the deadline.
Chicago Sun Times
''Felix Pie is not going anywhere,'' general manager Jim Hendry said of the center fielder who made his big-league debut in April. ''There will be no trade of Felix Pie to anyone. And he's never been talked about.
Baltimore Sun
having made no moves that will dramatically alter their roster. In fact, it's very possible -- if not probable -- that the Orioles won't make any moves at all.
Atlanta Journal Constitution
The Braves continued to push on other trade fronts and made offers for Kansas City closer Octavio Dotel and Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo. The Royals might take the Braves' offer of demoted starter Kyle Davies for Dotel, the Kansas City Star reported.
Arizona Republic
He did say, however, that the club has been exploring possible additions to the pitching rotation,
New York Post
At the same time, they also remain unrelenting in their quest to find a bullpen arm, and are showing interest in Oakland starter Joe Blanton. When it comes to relievers, the Mets prioritize Washington closer Chad Cordero because they love his makeup. But Nationals GM Jim Bowden has not altered his asking price: A high-end, major-league-ready starter such as Mike Pelfrey and a good prospect. The Mets are unlikely to meet that price, or the high price for Eric Gagne, though the Mets were considered one of at least three teams (along with the Red Sox and Yankees) still trying to obtain the Texas closer
New York Times
But the Rangers have told the Yankees that they have other suitors for Gagné, the 2003 National League Cy Young award winner, who has 16 saves and a 2.16 earned run average this season. As the Yankees try to make a deal without moving their top pitching prospects, they are weighing how much of a threat the Mets and the Red Sox really are.
Seattle Times
There have been some published rumors that the Mariners would take a flier on struggling Yankees pitcher Kei Igawa (2-3, 6.79 ERA, demoted to the minors for the second time), perhaps in a contract exchange for first baseman Richie Sexson
Washington Post
one Nationals insider said yesterday he expected the club would make at least one deal, and that Rauch was the most likely to go because it is easier to find a trading partner for him. Would the Nationals, who have been reported to be interested in Cincinnati Reds outfielder Adam Dunn, want major league players in return, or prospects?
Because of Rauch's performance over the past two years, Bowden has apparently asked for high-end prospects -- Detroit Tigers outfielder Cameron Maybin, who is all but untouchable, was once mentioned -- in exchange.
Minnesota Star Tribune
Righthander Carlos Silva had drawn interest recently from Atlanta, Arizona and the Chicago Cubs. There were also some discussions with the Mets, who would have put him in the bullpen. But there might not be that strong of a market for him. Silva, a free agent after the season, would like to re-sign with the Twins.
Denver Post
While considering the Detroit Tigers' offer for Triple-A shortstop Clint Barmes, the Rockies continued to aggressively pursue late-inning relief help, with Troy Percival, Julian Tavarez and Salomon Torres among the targets.
