Blue Jays starting pitcher Roy Halladay is perhaps the most sought after player for teams seeking a second-half boost at the trade deadline. (Darren Calabrese/Associated Press)
With the trade deadline a week from Friday, there are more buyers than sellers -- at the start of play Wednesday, 20 teams could make a legitimate case of being a playoff contender -- meaning prices are likely to be steep.
Who's going to step up, like the Brewers in the 2008 CC Sabathia Sweepstakes? And who's content to stand pat?
The folks moving, well, we've already got a pretty good idea. Here's a look at the prime players who'd be wise to have those change-of-address forms handy:
Starting pitchers
The prime target, of course, is Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay (11-3, 2.73), the American League All-Star starter who's spent his entire 12-year career in Toronto. This is part salary dump -- he's making $14.25 million this year and $15.75 million in 2010 -- and part rebuilding a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1993.
Because he's not a free agent until 2011, he's not your typical deadline "rental" -- meaning his value is even higher than it would be for a throwback hurler who's led the league in complete games four of the last six years.
But because he's not a free agent until 2011, the Blue Jays don't have to trade him unless the return is sufficient in the eyes of GM J.P. Ricciardi -- he went so far as to say Wednesday a deal was "unlikely."
Ricciardi set a Tuesday deadline to get a deal done. Expect the Phillies and their starters' 4.73 ERA to be at the front of the line.
Another possible landing spot is Chicago -- with the White Sox. While manager Ozzie Guillen recently said he's not anticipating major moves, Halladay, 32, could put the second-place team over the top in the AL Central, plus they've clearly got the goods to bring in a pitcher of Halladay's caliber. After all, they were believed to have finalized a trade for another former Cy Young Award winner, Padres right-hander Jake Peavy, earlier this season before the right-hander vetoed the move.
After Halladay, it's a rather steep drop-off:
Other possibilities: Kevin Correia, Padres, RH; Doug Davis, Diamondbacks, LH; Jon Garland, Diamondbacks, RH; Jonathan Sanchez, Giants, LH
Relief pitchers
There aren't many teams that wouldn't consider upgrading the bullpen. And the worst thing that could have happened for those teams actually happened: The Rockies, in typical Rockies fashion, got hot out of nowhere.
Under new manager Jim Tracy, they're 33-15 and back in the mix for a playoff spot.
So with their newfound postseason aspirations came the bad news for needy foes: Closer Huston Street (3-1, 2.68, 23 saves in 24 chances) is off the trading block. And that leaves slim pickings when it comes to quality available relief help.
Other possibilities: Rafael Betancourt, Indians, RH; Scott Downs, Blue Jays, LH; Brandon League, Blue Jays, RH; Arthur Rhodes, Reds, LH; David Weathers, Reds, RH
Position players
For some strange reason, the big bat everybody's talking about is A's outfielder Matt Holliday. But, frankly, he has yet to sufficiently prove he can be an All-Star force when he's not playing in the thin air of Denver.
His batting average (.280) is 35 points below his career average, and he's got just 11 homers and 54 RBIs -- putting him on pace for paltry numbers compared to what Holliday, 29, posted his last two completely healthy seasons with the Rockies.
Plus, he's a free agent after the season, meaning he's either going to cost a team quality prospects for just a few months of service or cost quality prospects plus the many millions of dollars he's sure to command at year's end.
But there are other -- and perhaps more-appealing -- offensive options available.
Other possibilities: Adam Dunn, Nationals, OF; Aubrey Huff, Orioles, OF; Nick Johnson, Nationals, 1B; Juan Pierre, Dodgers, OF; Freddy Sanchez, Pirates, 2B: Luke Scott, Orioles, DH/OF; Jack Wilson, Pirates, SS
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