Pirates Rumors

-The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reports that the Pirates will still have to be blown away by an offer for Jason Bay, but the A's, Braves, Mets, and Phillies are interested. Pittsburgh initially took an offer involving Phil Coke, but went in another direction because he reportedly has a damaged labrum. "If the Pirates could have traded Nady and Marte straight up for Jose Tabata last winter, Bucs GM Neil Huntington said, 'We would have done it in a heartbeat.'"

Cubs Standing Pat, Tigers & Braves Rumors

-The Boston Globe reports that the Cardinals have the best shot to acquire AJ Burnett if he's traded.
-The Cubs are very happy with standing pat, according to the Chicago Tribune. GM Jim Hendry believes that Alfonso Soriano will begin to swing a hot bat and be as good an acquisition as they can get.
-MLB.com reports that the Tigers had a scout watching the Giants' Jack Taschner. The Brewers, Mets, and Phillies are also interested.
-MLB.com's Mark Bowman reports that the Braves appear to still be buyers and will be hesitant to deal Mark Teixeira (Arizona?) or Ron Mahay.
-Jarrod Washburn will apparently make his start with the Mariners today, meaning that a trade hasn't been made.
-The Rockies may call up Jeff Francis for tomorrow's start.

Washburn, Mets, and Rays Rumors

-Ken Rosenthal reports that the Yankees have agreed to absorb all of Washburn's salary and trade an average prospect, but right now no deal has been reached and Washburn is slated to start for the M's at 1pm at Toronto. Washburn appears willing to waive his no trade clause, but the team's asking price appears to be too much for New York right now.
-The NY Daily News reports that the Mets' focus is now on Raul Ibanez, but Seattle could be asking for too much.
-The SF Chronicle reports that the Rays are looking at relievers Brian Fuentes, George Sherrill, Alan Embree, and Jack Taschner.

Bannister To Yankees?

-The KC Star reports that the Yankees are looking at Brian Bannister as someone they can insert into the rotation if the Jarrod Washburn talks don't work out. Something involving Melky Cabrera is a posibility. The Yankees has offered Cabrera and Robinson Cano for Zach Greinke and Mark Teahan, but KC rejected it. Sources say that Seattle rejected an offer of Cabrera and Kei Igawa for Washburn and are trying to obtain Brett Gardner.
-The Cardinals, Brewers, Marlins and others are interested in George Sherrill. Baltimore should be able to acquire at least two future major leaguers.

Tex To Snakes False, Twins Standing Pat

-The East Valley Tribune reports that the Diamondbacks rumors for Mark Teixeira are completely false. Conor Jackson, Chad Tracy, Jarrod Parker and Dallas Buck were mentioned. People that could be dealt for him (as per the Atlanta Journal Constitution) include Kevin Youkilis, James Loney, and Casey Kotchman.
-The St Paul Pioneer Press reports that the Twins will probably not make any moves before Thursday and definitely won't deal way any veteran talent. To get players they can deal one of their pitchers like Nick Blackburn, Kevin Slowey, Glenn Perkins, Brian Duensing, or Kevin Mulvey. Melvin Mora, Adrian Beltre, Garrett Atkins, and a setup reliever were mentioned.

Cardinals Talk & The Asinine Astros

-The St Louis Post-Dispatch reports that talks have cooled with the Jays for SP AJ Burnett and the Rockies for a number of players including Brian Fuentes. They tried dealing for Jon Rauch and Damaso Marte before they were dealt. Fuentes, Ron Mahay, George Sherrill, Eddie Guardado and Will Ohman are still available and they've had talks about Giants IF Rich Aurilia and Padres OF Brian Giles though the team is reluctant to deal top shelf prospects.
-The Houston Chronicle reports that the Astros will have a scout on hand when Freddy Garcia has his workout. First the Randy Wolf trade and now this? Why are the last place Astros acting like they're contending for the playoffs? Am I missing something?
-Former Astros prospect Jason Hirsh will likely start for Colorado tomorrow.
-Nats SS Christian Guzman has a right thumb contusion and will likely miss the next couple of days, says the team website.

Early Morning Roundup

-In a radio interview at about 1am last night, Jayson Stark took the Yankees' acquisition as a surefire eventuality. He said that the Marlins would be the most likely to acquire Brian Fuentes and George Sherrill (though he thought the Orioles would not deal him), and if Mark Teixeira gets traded (which would be decided by today's Atlanta result) it would most likely be to Arizona.
-The NY Post reports that the Mets have inquired about the availability of Manny Ramirez, but the Phillies would be best equipped to make a deal. The Post also reports that the Mets now have their sights set on Raul Ibanez, Randy Winn, Adam Dunn, Austin Kearns, or maybe Jose Guillen. "I guess you would say I'm less optimistic," said Jerry Manuel about an outfielder.
-At 1:14 this morning, Jon Heyman of SI.com reported that the Mets won't make a deal for Manny. Ramirez was said by some, according to Heyman to have his eyes set on the Angels. The Mets now turn their attention to Ibanez with an eye on the high asking price of Jason Bay, considering they asked Omar Minaya for Fernando Martinez in exchange for Xavier Nady.
-TSN quotes the NY Post story I had on here last night, saying that the Yankees were set to acquire Jarrod Washburn for "several prospects".
-The Philly Inquirer reports that several teams are interested in Fuentes but doesn't mention any of them. Great job...