 1. Dodgers trying to get Ted Lilly from Cubs
2. Opponents interested in Maholm, relievers
3. Cards targeting Westbrook
4. Yankees trade for Astros' Lance Berkman to solidify DH spot
5. Rays the favorite to get Dunn?
6. Astros open to dealing Myers
7. Blue Jays may be sellers as deadline nears
1. Dodgers trying to get Ted Lilly from Cubs
The Los Angeles Times is reporting On the eve of the non-waiver trade deadline, the Dodgers remained in conversations with the Chicago Cubs about a potential deal for left-hander Ted Lilly, according to multiple baseball sources who spoke on the condition of anonymity because they were unauthorized to discuss the matter.
The Dodgers and Cubs have discussed a potential deal that would send Lilly and infielder Ryan Theriot to Los Angeles, but one source indicated that the Dodgers might be focused on acquiring only Lilly.
It isn't known what the Dodgers would give the Cubs. The non-waiver trade deadline is 1 p.m. Saturday.
Lilly, 34, is 3-6 but has a 3.69 earned-run average in 18 starts and could round out the resurgent Dodgers' rotation."
TO read more..
http://www.latimes.com/sports/la-sp-dodgers-fyi-20100731,0,5264569.story
2. Opponents interested in Maholm, relievers
THe Pittsburgh Tribune Review is reporting If the Pirates make a trade before Saturday's deadline, they want to be the ones in the driver's seat.
According to an industry source, the Pirates were in close talks Friday with more than one team regarding left-hander Paul Maholm. If the Pirates' asking price is met ? they insist on getting at least a major-league starting pitcher in return ? a deal could be completed quickly.
The trade deadline is 4 p.m. Saturday. The San Diego Padres, Los Angeles Dodgers and New York Mets reportedly have inquired about Maholm. The Pirates also have taken calls from clubs about relief pitchers Octavio Dotel, Javier Lopez and D.J. Carrasco.
"We will not discuss any specific trade rumor," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington said via e-mail. "We are in discussions with multiple teams on various players and if we get an appropriate return, we will make a move. If not, we will hold the player(s)."
Unlike the past two years, the Pirates are not in full-blown sell mode. Management says that trades which cast off veterans such as Jason Bay, Jack Wilson and Freddy Sanchez were made to boost the depth and talent level throughout the system.
"We're not looking to do that (this year)," manager John Russell said after a pregame, closed-door meeting with team president Frank Coonelly. "If anything, we're looking to build around this group. If we add something now, it's going to be something that will help this group move forward. It's a different feeling than it has been the last couple of years."
Maholm, 28, is in the second year of a three-year, $14.5 million contract. A first-round draft pick in 2003, his career stats include a 44-53 record and a 4.36 ERA.
Maholm has been inconsistent this season and is 6-9 with a 4.52 ERA. But he is the most experienced and, usually, the most reliable starter in the Pirates' rotation.
With little pitching depth in the higher levels of the minor league system, the Pirates cannot easily part with one of their starters."
to read more..
http://www.pittsburghlive.com/x/pittsburghtrib/sports/pirates/s_692825.html
3. Cards targeting Westbrook
Espn is reporting "The St. Louis Cardinals have made Cleveland Indians pitcher Jake Westbrook their No. 1 target leading into the trade deadline, according to teams that have spoken with them.
Until the last 24 hours, the Cardinals had been focusing on a diverse list of starting pitchers, from Roy Oswalt and Dan Haren to Aaron Cook and Livan Hernandez. But Oswalt and Haren are now gone. And clubs that have been talking with the Colorado Rockies and Washington Nationals now say the Cardinals are no longer pursuing Cook or Hernandez because the team has decided it's "going in a different direction."
That direction, those clubs say, is Westbrook. But the chances of Westbrook being dealt are still no better than "50-50," according to one source familiar with the discussions."
To read more..
http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=5424744
4. Yankees trade for Astros' Lance Berkman to solidify DH spot
The NY POst is reporting "Lance Berkman gave his blessing to be traded to the Yankees and, unless he changes his mind today, the club will add the switch-hitter to their already strong lineup.
And the Yankees didn't stop there. They also acquired outfielder Austin Kearns last night from the Indians for a player to be named later.
"[Kearns] is an experienced right-handed bat with power," manager Joe Girardi, declining to comment on Berkman.
The Yankees also still were trying to obtain a stronger backup infielder to spell Alex Rodriguez before today's 4 p.m. non-waiver trade deadline.
Berkman, who has 10-and-5 rights (10 years in the league and at least five with his current team) under the basic agreement between MLB and the Players Association, agreed yesterday to waive his no-trade clause and join the Yankees. He had refused to waive those rights to go to the White Sox, who also had worked out a deal for the veteran
As a technicality of the 10-and-5 rules, there is an automatic 24-hour window during which Berkman could change his mind. However, friends of his insist he is excited to join the Yankees, with whom he will be a switch-hitting designated hitter and serve as Mark Teixeira's backup at first base."
To read more..
http://www.nypost.com/p/sports/yankees/berk_ing_it_out_PE7UPUUwT9MRrEcigmDDOO
5. Rays the favorite to get Dunn?
Si is reporting Washington Nationals first baseman Adam DunnAdam Dunn(notes), who has 24 homers this year, has been getting a lot of interest on the trade market from the likes of the Chicago White Sox, Tampa Bay Rays and San Francisco Giants.
Sports Illustrated reports that the Nationals asked for Gordon Beckham(notes) or Daniel Hudson(notes) and Dayan Viciedo(notes) in a trade for Dunn, but the Sox don't want to move Beckham and thought the other combo was too high a price.
The Giants have interest in Dunn but not for what the Nationals currently want for him, according to FOX Sports.
One executive told the New York Post that the Rays are the favorites to get Dunn at this point. ESPN reports that folks inside the White Sox organization are saying they are pretty much out of the Dunn bidding.
To read more..
https://twitter.com/SI_JonHeyman/status/19881527825
6. Astros open to dealing Myers
Fox sports is reporting Earlier this week, a trade of Astros right-hander Brett Myers seemed unlikely — particularly if the club dealt Roy Oswalt.
Late Friday, however, one major-league source indicated that the Astros have become more open-minded to offers for Myers, their ace-of-the-moment.
It’s possible now that Myers, signed to a one-year, $5.1 million contract in January, will be the top right-handed starter moved in the final hours before Saturday’s 4 p.m. ET non-waiver deadline.
Perhaps Astros officials are embracing the ideas of saving money and getting younger, as evidenced by trades of Oswalt (to the Phillies) and first baseman Lance Berkman (to the Yankees).
The Twins are among the teams involved in the Myers talks, one source said.
Minnesota has a need for starting pitching and may want to counter the addition of Edwin Jackson by the rival White Sox. The Astros would probably ask them for one of their young starters — Scott Baker, Kevin Slowey or Nick Blackburn
TO read more..
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-latest-news-from-July-070110
7. Blue Jays may be sellers as deadline nears
Fox sports is reporting The Blue Jays could be one of the most active clubs in the hours leading to the non-waiver deadline.
Or not.
“It’s a total guess,” said one source with knowledge of the club’s discussions. “There are a million balls in the air.”
Among them:
Jose Bautista. At least one rival executive believes the Jays will not trade Bautista, who hit his major-league leading 31st home run on Friday night.
The Jays’ asking price, the exec said, leads him to believe that the Jays are willing to keep their right fielder. Bautista, earning $2.4 million, would be affordable for the Jays next season in his final year of arbitration, with a salary in the $5 million range.
The Giants are among the teams that have spoken with the Jays about Bautista.
Scott Downs. Many in the industry say the Jays have maintained a similarly high price on Downs, the most coveted left-handed reliever on the market.
Downs projects as a Type A free agent. If the Jays kept him and offered him arbitration, they could either re-sign him at a salary comparable to his current $4 million or recoup two high draft picks if he departed.
Kevin Gregg. The Jays will want value, though not extreme value. The Jays can retain the right-handed Gregg, who is 23-for-27 in save opportunities, on a $4.5 million club option next season.
Shaun Mar*****. The best starting pitcher not surfacing in trade rumors.
Mar*****, earning a mere $850,000, has a 2.04 ERA in three starts since returning from the disabled list. He is 10-4 overall with a 3.24 ERA, after a sterling effort against the Indians on Friday night.
Executives in the industry are divided on whether the Jays are actually willing to trade Mar*****. One reason for Toronto to keep him: He's not scheduled to become a free agent until after the 2012 season.
For what it’s worth: The scouting audience at Mar*****’s start on Friday wasn’t especially big.
*John Buck. Anybody want an All-Star catcher with less than $700,000 remaining on his contract? Buck will not come cheaply, considering his 14 homers and .814 OPS.
*Jose Molina. Buck’s backup is a top defensive asset. He would come with a .751 OPS and ample post-season experience with the Angels and Yankees.
To read more..
http://msn.foxsports.com/mlb/story/MLB-latest-news-from-July-070110
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