Trade Deadline...

[DocTee]

A's send Jason Kendall to Cubs for minor league pitcher Jerry Blevins and backup backstop Rob Bowen, thus paving the way for Mike Piazza to resume some catching duties when he returns from DL.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2938997

[MFS62]

Maybe this should become the official Trade and Trade Rumor thread up until the deadline.
What rumors are you folks hearing? Are they from fairly reputable sources?

Later

[nymr83]

Rumor: the Mets can totally get Oswalt if they'd just offer up Heilman and a bag of balls.
Source: WFAN caller

[metirish]

I wouldn't make that deal,Heilman has pitched good this week.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Plus it's a trick. That bag of balls is actually Wright's scrotum.

[duan]

is David being put out to stud already.

[Benjamin Grimm]

Not if they make him a gelding he's not.

[Benjamin Grimm]

I don't know whether or not you'd call Mike Celizic "fairly reputable." I've never heard of him before. But I did spot this paragraph in an article on MSNBC.com about how we should expect a dull trading deadline this year:

="Mike Celizic"]The Mets are said to be doing everything they can to pry Roy Oswalt from the Astros, but while Houston may know it has no chance this year, it still doesn�t want to ship one of the premier starters in the game out of town. Mike Celizic is a frequent contributor to MSNBC.com and a free-lance writer based in New York.

While getting Roy Oswalt would certainly be nice (especially given the ages of Glavine, Hernandez, and Pedro) I think their more immediate need is a bat and not an arm.

[metirish]

Houston would probably start with Milledge and end with Maine with players they would want,and some others in between.

[Theoldmole]

If it was alphabetical, they'd start with Maine and end with Milledge, and they'd also have to throw in Pedro and Fernando Martinez.

[DocTee]

Cubs remain active, send SS Cesar Izturis to Pittsburgh, paving the way for Jack Wilson's departure from the steel city.

[Guest Edgy DC]

Is he the good Izturis or the not-as-good Izturis?

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Edgy DC wrote: Is he the good Izturis or the not-as-good Izturis?

The better-but-still-pretty-terrible one.

[metirish]

yankees get Jose Molina from the Angels,they sent a minor league pitcher to the Angels.

[Frayed Knot]

Rangers deal Kenny Lofton to the Indians (his 3rd go-around in Cleveland) in
exchange for a minor league (A-ball) catcher.

[Willets Point]

="Frayed Knot"]Rangers deal Kenny Lofton to the Indians (his 3rd go-around in Cleveland) in exchange for a minor league (A-ball) catcher.

Mr. Postseason has another chance at postseason play on his third go-around with the wild-card leading Indians.

[Guest Johnny Dickshot]

I just assumed Lofton had long retired.

[Willets Point]

Lofton played for the Dodgers in the NLDS against the Mets last fall.

[DocTee]

Phils beat Mets to the punch, land ChiSox 2B Tad Iguchi

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

The Phillies didn't waste any time getting a fill in for the injured Chase Utley. The Phils got Iguchi for 21 year old right handed pitcher, Michael Dubee who is 4-4 with one save in 50 appearances for the Phillies Sally League (A) affiliate.

I would have expected Iguchi would have cost more than one minor league reliever. Michael is the son of Phillies pitching coach, Rich Dubee.

[nymr83]

I like to think that i know prospects, but I've never heard of this guy. Looks like the Phillies got a steal and I have to wonder why the mets couldn't top such a #### offer.

[smg58]

Iguchi is not playing better than the guys the Mets have.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

As mentioned by ira in the game thread, there was some hot hot ex-Met action as Ty Wigginton was traded to Houston for Dan Wheeler.

[metirish]

Poor Dan ..

[Guest Edgy DC]

I suspect that he'll be flipped right back over.

[Guest OlerudOwned]

Edgy DC wrote: I suspect that he'll be flipped right back over.

I wouldn't be so sure. The earlier rumors on Wiggy was that he'd go to the Yankees for Scott Proctor. I'm thinking Tampa just wants to build something along the the lines of a respectable bullpen before that talented young rotation forms a suicide pact out of frustration.

[DocTee]

Guess this means Lidge is staying in Houston

[Gwreck]

...but Loretta might not be.

[metirish]

Astros designate Ensberg for assignment.

[Guest Rockin' Doc]

metirish - "Astros designate Ensberg for assignment."

Ensberg is in a rapid free fall. He was a promising slugger two years ago. Now, at the age of 31, he finds himself unwanted and likely back in the minor leagues.