 1. Oswalt indicates stance on trade has flexibility
2. Dunn deal: 3-way trade rumors continue
3. Jays' Anthopoulos considers options as trade deadline looms
4. Yankees, Red Sox eye Jays lefty
5. Rays continuing trade talks, won't force anything
6. At least three teams inquire about Florida Marlins' Jorge Cantu
7. Is there a deal Werth making for Phillies?
1. Oswalt indicates stance on trade has flexibility
THe Houston Chronicle is reporting "Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt is a tough commodity to trade in a buyer's market but maybe not as tough as he is being made out to be.
With the July 31 trade deadline approaching, Oswalt recently has been busy clarifying — and in some cases downplaying — some of the stances he is reported to have taken regarding possible trades.
The latest clarification came Monday, when he said he has no problem being dealt to an East Coast team — provided it is the right fit.
"That's not an issue," Oswalt told the Chronicle. "Like I've said from the beginning, it's going to have to work for both of us."
Oswalt's comments were meant to address reports suggesting he is not willing to accept a trade to the Philadelphia Phillies — a team with whom the Astros have been talking about a deal since last week — because he wants to be closer to his home in Weir, Miss.
Just days earlier, Oswalt, 32, stood by his locker and was adamant that he would not let money get in the way of a trade. Oswalt tackled the subject after reports had him demanding that any team seeking his services would have to agree to pick up his 2012 option, which is worth $16 million.
"We can work on doing different things as far as restructuring (the option)," Oswalt said.
Whether Oswalt is clarifying positions or making concessions to present himself as more appealing to teams is open to interpretation. "
TO read more..
http://www.chron.com/disp/story.mpl/sports/bb/7125686.html
2. Dunn deal: 3-way trade rumors continue
The Chicago Tribune is reporting "Scouts from the Diamondbacks and Nationals watched Monday's White Sox game against the Mariners, which would seem to add credence to the rumors of a three-way deal sending Diamondbacks pitcher Edwin Jackson to the Nationals and Adam Dunn to the Sox.
While everyone is claiming ignorance of any such talks, that doesn't mean something couldn't be worked out before the non-waiver trading deadline Saturday.
As of now, the Sox are concentrating on a deal solely for Dunn — and the price in talent remains too high for the return. The Yankees and Tigers also believe that, according to the rumor mill.
Dunn is basically a younger Jim Thome — high homer totals, high strikeouts, iffy in the field — who wasn't re-signed in the winter because manager Ozzie Guillen wanted a faster, sleeker team. Guillen's thinking hasn't changed, even though the Sox are admittedly short left-handed hitting.
"In hindsight it's probably something that I should have addressed (in the winter)," general manager Ken Williams said. "I didn't, so that's why you're sitting here now and everyone is talking about it. However, we've accomplished some things without that piece."
To read more..
http://www.chicagotribune.com/sports/baseball/whitesox/ct-spt-0727-white-sox-brite--20100726,0,1105878.story
3. Jays' Anthopoulos considers options as trade deadline looms
TSN is reporting "It's late July, and the Toronto Blue Jays find themselves in what has become a familiar position: hovering around the .500 mark and a long way from division and wild-card playoff contention.
And that, coupled with the looming July 31 non-waiver trade deadline, has ignited the annual rumour mill that this year suggests that virtually any Blue Jay could be on the block this week.
One of the names mentioned most often is Jose Bautista, the surprise American League home run leader (28) who is a free agent after the season. Observers feel that the slugger's trade value will never be as high as it is right now."
To read more..
http://www.tsn.ca/mlb/story/?id=328604
4. Yankees, Red Sox eye Jays lefty
The NY Post is reporting "The Yankees and Red Sox were separated by eight games and one team in the AL East going into last night's action.
However, the blood rivals are nose to nose in the race for Blue Jays' lefty reliever Scott Downs.
"It's the Yankees and Red Sox," said a source with knowledge of Toronto's plans. "And he is clearly the best reliever out there."
With Damaso Marte on the disabled list due to a shoulder problem, manager Joe Girardi's lone lefty option in the bullpen is Boone Logan.
Thus, the interest in Downs. Fellow lefty Will Ohman is also available, but one talent evaluator said, "It's not even close between Downs and Ohman, Downs is far better."The Yankees have a scout following the Astros and Cubs, but their interest in Roy Oswalt pertains to doing their due diligence.
The Yankees also have let teams know they are willing to listen on Chan Ho Park, but that hasn't stirred much interest.
Since Joba Chamberlain continues to be inconsistent this late in the season, Downs, who lefties are hitting .185 (10-for-54) against, could help fill the eighth-inning void that still exists almost four months into the season."
To read more..
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/bombers_bosox_eye_jays_lefty_vbFyNmpMnf0NmXvvpvgTgK
5. Rays continuing trade talks, won't force anything
The St. Petersburg Times is reporting "What Rays officials are not saying is what you really want to know, which is whether they will make a trade by Saturday's 4 p.m. deadline for nonwaiver deals.
What executive VP Andrew Friedman did say Monday is much of what you may have already read or heard, which is that they are working very hard at it, are open to various possibilities, are looking to add an impact player rather than make a slight upgrade and there aren't many candidates currently available.
"I look at it that we have a very good team right now, and if we can find a deal that makes us better and does so by using some of our depth, great," Friedman said. "But I guess the challenge of navigating this week is to not make a move for the sake of making a move; doing something that fits us, that will have an impact on us and significantly improve our chances."
What he said that was kind of interesting, if not new, is that they are looking at players who would be free agents after the season as well as some they would control for future seasons.
"Obviously, it just gets into the type of player, what we're giving up, all those things factor in," Friedman said. "But we're open-minded to either."
What Friedman doesn't do is discuss specific players, actually boasting of the Rays' preference to stay under the radar and out of the headlines.
Many names have been connected with them, from big-time, big-money sluggers Adam Dunn and Prince Fielder on down. Three to keep in mind that may be more applicable are Orioles OF/DH/1B Luke Scott, Phillies OF Jayson Werth and Nationals OF Josh Willingham.
As for what the Rays would give up, they would seem more likely to prefer to deal from their rich pool of prospects at the lower level of the minors than to give up their top two advanced prospects, RHP Jeremy Hellickson and OF Desmond Jennings, or any of the players on their current squad, such as RHP Wade Davis or CF B.J. Upton.
Manager Joe Maddon said Friedman "has some interesting things out there" and suggested at least one was a three-team deal.
MORE TRADE TALK: Maddon said he hasn't sensed the trade situation being much of a distraction for the current squad, as much because they've played well as because few of their names have been bandied about.
But LF Carl Crawford — relieved his name hasn't been mentioned — said he's open to the idea of making an acquisition. "I don't think we're about to turn down help," he said. "Everybody needs help. But we have a good team here. We feel like we can do it either way, but a little extra help never hurt anybody.""
To read more..
http://www.tampabay.com/sports/baseball/rays/tampa-bay-rays-continuing-trade-talks-wont-force-anything/1111282
6. At least three teams inquire about Florida Marlins' Jorge Cantu
The Miami Herald is reporting "The Marlins have spoken to at least three teams about third baseman Jorge Cantu -- the Rangers, Rockies and Giants -- but there's also a chance they might not make any trades between now and Saturday's nonwaiver trade deadline.
``Are we going to force anything at this point? I wouldn't say so,'' said Larry Beinfest, the Marlins' president of baseball operations. ``Are we driven by the need to move money? That's a no.
``But there may be some things we may want to do now. We're going to open a new ballpark in 18 months and I think everything we do now is very important to opening that building. We want to be very competitive when we move in there. So we want to be very careful with everything we do, and also there may be moves that pay fruit when we get there, in 2011 and on to '12.''
That could indicate the Marlins would accept prospects for Cantu if they decide to trade him. Asked if that would signal to fans that the Marlins would be throwing in the towel on this season, Beinfest replied:
``Not necessarily. Not if we think that the people that are coming up to replace or we got back in that trade are going to help us possibly be better the remainder of this year and into the future. So I wouldn't say that would necessarily be a sign. If we think we have personnel who aren't here right now who can help make us better, then I think people should look at it that way.''
If Cantu is traded, the Marlins have discussed moving Chris Coghlan to third base and calling up Logan Morrison from the minors to play left."
TO read more..
http://www.miamiherald.com/2010/07/27/1747933/at-least-three-teams-inquire-about.html
7. Is there a deal Werth making for Phillies?
The Philadelphia Daily News is reporting IF RUBEN AMARO JR. becomes a buyer by the non-waiver trade deadline Saturday, it will not be for the sake of "doing something."
It figures to be a reaLee big something if the beLeeguered GM goes Full Monty - no
offense, Dave.
And the Full Monty in this case would take a big bite out of the history written by the championship Phillies teams of 2008 and 2009. Gone, but not forgotten, would be the World Series rings of rightfielder Jayson Werth and lefthander J.A. Happ.
Rays special assignment scout Mike Cubbage, a versatile middle infielder from the 1970s, continued his Werth vigil during yesterday's harrowing, 5-4 brooming of the Rockies. Werth did not start. During the Hell Week the trade deadline has become for a lot of mentioned players, the sudden disappearance of a prominent regular from a lineup could be a press conference forerunner. In this case, it was just Charlie Manuel having some lineup fun. And weekend hero Ross Gload rewarded his skipper again by triggering a three-run, secondinning rally with a leadoff single.
Werth replaced Gload in right, led off the seventh inning and launched a scout-neutralizing fly to center. The last time Werth homered, June 23, 31 games ago, the Gulf of Mexico was only 1 billion quarts low.
To read more..
http://www.philly.com/dailynews/sports/phillies/20100727_Bill_Conlin__Is_there_a_deal_Werth_making_for_Phillies_.htm l
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