Trade discussions have to be heating up. With the Milwaukee Brewers making a classic July trade of a couple of lower level prospects for veteran switch-hitting second baseman Ray Durham, expect to see other teams begin to grab those stretch run acquistions that have their peak value with 60 games left in the year.
Here are several rumors from today. I am withholding editorial comment either way, but I particularly enjoyed the LA Times piece about the Los Angeles Angels philospohy at the deadline.
In addition to the Angels, there are rumors for the Florida Marlins, Oakland A's, Milwaukee Brewers, New York Yankees, Baltimore Orioles, Pittsburgh Pirates, Kansas City Royals, San Francisco Giants, and Colorado Rockies.
The Orioles are letting teams other than their AL East rivals know that they are willing to talk about closer George Sherrill...
Hideki Matsui's uncertain status for the rest of the year has caused the Yankees to increase their interest in Pittsburgh outfielders Jason Bay and Xavier Nady.A major-league official familiar with the Pirates organization, who asked not to be named because of the sensitive nature of trade talks, said the Yankees also have interest in lefty relievers Damaso Marte and John Grabow.
Florida is still in the middle of the National League East race, but it is considering deals that will thin its herd of arbitration-eligible players after this season.
The Marlins are currently carrying 15 arbitration-eligibles, including infielder Dan Uggla, outfielder Jeremy Hermida and starters Scott Olsen, Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco. That could prompt general manager Larry Beinfest to trade first baseman Mike Jacobs or outfielders Cody Ross and Josh Willingham.
Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel:The Brewers have scouted Oakland’s Huston Street but apparently received bad reports on the struggling closer. Street, who blew a save Saturday in New York, did himself no favors on the trade market by allowing 16 hits and nine earned runs in his last 11 2/3 innings (6.94 ERA).
General manager Brian Sabean has acknowledged that he wants to move his potential free agents to contenders.That’s about as specific as Moore gets when questioned about trade possibilities but, yes, the Royals will listen — and have listened — as offers surface for David DeJesus, José Guillen, Zack Greinke and Ron Mahay.Club officials acknowledge privately they are disinclined to trade any of those players, unless overwhelmed by an offer, and see little chance for a major deal before the deadline.
The Rockies have made clear any package would start with Nick Adenhart, the Angels' top pitching prospect. The Angels might swallow hard and say yes, but beyond Adenhart they face the same dilemma the Dodgers do: Their best young players -- their most valuable trade chips -- already are filling key roles on the major league club."I don't want to disrupt this roster," Moreno said.
However, should the Angels wish to pursue Holliday, they'll need to dig deeper than one minor league pitcher. The Rockies are believed to be interested in completing a package with second baseman Howie Kendrick, who might hit 60 doubles in Coors Field, and one of the Angels' All-Star starters, Ervin Santana or Joe Saunders.
The Dodgers don't appear to be interested in Oakland closer Huston Street.