On Wednesday, the second major deal of the month happened when the Phillies acquired Roy Oswalt from the Houston Astros in exchange for 2009 NL Rookie of the Year runner-up J.A. Happ.
Like the Lee deal, the Oswalt trade was filled with speculation and swirling rumors for weeks beforehand.
And while there still may be plenty of trades to be made before and after the July 31 deadline, don’t expect there to be anything that could be described as "blockbuster."
With about 19 MLB teams — including the Red Sox — still within realistic striking distance of a playoff spot with just over two months to play, every contender is looking to beef up their weak spots on the trading block.
Unfortunately, none of the players that remain on the block can really be considered "game-changers."
For starting pitchers, the Cubs’ Ted Lilly, Pittsburgh’s Paul Maholm and Cleveland’s Jake Westbrook and Fausto Carmona are the best names out there.
Carmona was an All-Star this year, and Lilly has made the team in the past, but none of the four are bona fide, top-of-the-rotation aces like Oswalt or Lee.
On offense, there are a few sluggers available, including Washington’s Adam Dunn and Josh Willingham and Milwaukee’s Prince Fielder and Corey Hart.
Dunn and Willingham are the most likely to be dealt, with the Nationals looking to unload big salaries as they move into the "Stephen Strasburg era." Fielder and Hart are still possibilities, but with the Brewers playing good ball — they won five in a row before dropping two straight to the Reds — it remains to be seen if Milwaukee wants to part with two of its All-Stars.
Philadelphia’s Jayson Werth and Florida’s Cody Ross have also been kicked around in various trade rumors, but with Phillies right fielder Shane Victorino recently heading to the DL, the team cannot possibly move Werth if it wants to compete. In Florida’s case, Ross could still be dealt, but at just eight games out in the NL East, the Marlins still may want to take a crack at winning the division and hold onto their center fielder.
The bullpen is likely to make the most noise at the deadline, with everyone and their mother looking for relief help.
And while Toronto’s Scott Downs, Kansas City’s Joakim Soria and Pittsburgh’s Octavio Dotel could certainly be a perfect fit for any contending ballclub, none would qualify as a landmark acquisition.
So as we head into the July 31 trade deadline and the waiver period that follows, remember that while the big deals may be done, the trading season is just getting started.
