Now that the NBA free agent frenzy is over, let’s now concentrate on the MLB Trade Deadline. We have buyers looking to make a splash to maybe grab a playoff spot and sellers looking to slash payroll and think about next season. All in all this should be an interesting 10 days as the baseball trade deadline is July 31.  In the following article I will go over some MLB trade rumors I have been tracking.

SELLERS:

Baltimore Orioles: I believe that the Orioles could be the most interesting team in the American League. Infielders Ty Wigginton and Miguel Tejada have been mentioned by 3-4 teams in both leagues and both players can still produce on offense and defense.

Kansas City Royals: The Royals are always sellers, and I know this team would love to trade pitcher Kyle Farnsworth. Jose Gullien could also help a playoff contender with his defense and his bat.

Chicago Cubs: Every team that is looking for a playoff push is inquiring about lefty pitcher Ted Lilly. Xavier Nady could also be traded, but I look for Derek Lee to go and maybe help the Los Angeles Angels. The Cubs would also love to find a buyer for Kosuke Fukudome and Alfonso Soriano, but if any one goes it will be Kosuke.

Pittsburgh Pirates: The Pirates actually have some good pitching this season and most likely one or two of them will be wearing new uniforms. Paul Maholm is most likely to go, but I wouldn’t be shocked to see Octavio Dotel also gone. To me the Pirates are and will always be the farm system to the rest of the MLB teams.

BUYERS:

New York Mets: The Mets are looking for pitching and the two players that are being mentioned are the Cubs lefty Lilly and Indians pitcher Jake Westbrook. Would be shocked to see the Mets not land a pitcher during this trade deadline!

Los Angeles Dodgers: Here is another team that needs starting pitching, but this team is going through some ugly front office divorce. Yes, I said a divorce! The Dodgers are looking at Westbrook (Cleveland), Maholm (Pittsburgh), Dan Haren (Arizona), and Scott Downs (Blue Jays). My sources are telling me that Maholm could be wearing Dodger blue by the end of the month.

New York Yankees: Andy Pettitte went down on Sunday with injury, so of course the Yankees now need to revamp their starting pitching staff. Lilly’s name has been mentioned and so has Roy Oswalt, but I believe the Yankees don’t make a big splash during this deadline. If I’m the Yankees I look at the bullpen and maybe get another arm there.

Chicago White Sox: The South Siders are looking for DH help and my sources are telling me it’s 50/50 if they get their man. The White Sox are looking hard at Adam Dunn (Washington) and Cecil Fielder (Milwaukee). If they do land one it will be Dunn.

Texas Rangers: The Rangers landed the big fish in Cliff Lee already but I can see Texas trying to get some bench help. Names I’m hearing are Nady (Cubs) and Mike Lowell (Boston).

San Diego: The Padres are always looking for some offense and names I’m hearing are Tejada (Baltimore) and Cory Hart (Milwaukee). Do I believe the Padres make a move -- if they want to win the division they will need more offense.

Detroit Tigers: Pitching and defense wins close divisions and the Tigers are looking at both. Pitchers that the Tigers are looking at are Lilly (Cubs) and Westbrook (Cleveland). The Tigers are also looking at infielder Ryan Theroit (Cubs) and maybe the Tigers can get a package deal for both Lilly and Theroit. Diamondbacks shortstop Stephen Drew is also on the Tigers radar.

Since I was in the casino gambling side for many, many years people always ask me if player trades change odds. The answer is, YES! A trade like the Lee deal changes the Rangers odds to win the World Series and the AL Pennant. Do you I think another trade is out there that could change the odds for another team? Probably not! But if a Oswalt, Dunn, Fielder, or even a Derek Lee could make me move a number slightly. But don’t hold your breath!

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