Rumor Mill Roundup: July 26

With the trade deadline right around the corner, our MLB editor brings you the top five rumors every day until July 31.

- The Mets are continuing to pursue a corner outfielder, but with Pittsburgh's trade of Xavier Nady and Cleveland's trade of Casey Blake, the list of potential additions has dwindled. Jason Bay and Matt Holliday are still out there, but New York simply doesn't have the chips to acquire an All-Star caliber bat. Seattle's Raul Ibanez is the one name remaining that the Mets have been linked to and is likely in the team's price range.


GM Omar Minaya probably can't afford to hone in on one target, though, so it's likely he'll make calls over the next few days to gauge what the Padres would want in return for Brian Giles and perhaps what the Reds would want in return for Adam Dunn or Ken Griffey Jr. The Mets are on a hot streak, but the team still has flaws -- flaws that can be taken care of in the next few days.

- Manny Ramirez was a very late scratch for Friday night's game against the Yankees, which the Red Sox lost 1-0, and the Boston Globe's Dan Shaugnessy is wondering if this is the final straw for the slugger in Boston. "Manny Being Manny" is a mantra that has come to mean many different things over the years, and part of it are these little dramas, which usually come to nothing. But the Red Sox have an option on Ramirez for next year, one they aren't even certain they will pick up, so perhaps this time it really is THE time to explore finding Ramirez's replacement. That means a middle-of-the-order bat, one which they could potentially acquire over the next few days. It wouldn't be a great surprise if GM Theo Epstein started making inquiries about Mark Teixeira, Adam Dunn and Matt Holliday, even if once again, this all amounts to nothing.

- As crazy as it would have sounded even two or three weeks ago, the Rockies have made a nice run of late and aren't even sure they're going to be sellers at the trade deadline. Entering play Saturday Colorado sits six games back of Arizona in the NL West. The club is just starting a 10-game road trip, and they have struggled mightily away from Coors Field, going 15-36 this season, so they are at a true crossroads this weekend. Closer Brian Fuentes is still the most likely player to get moved should the Rockies decide to look toward 2009, but there apparently hasn't been much movement on him, despite interest from numerous clubs. With Fuentes' availability in doubt and Damaso Marte on his way to the Bronx, Orioles closer George Sherrill sifts to the top of the left-handed relief market.

- Brewers GM Doug Melvin says he is confident in his roster, despite rumors that he is looking for more pitching -- both in the rotation and in the bullpen. It's hard to see Milwaukee entertaining the idea of another starter, but the bullpen is pretty shaky, particularly at the end of games. Melvin is clearly in win-now mode so it's kind of hard to envision him NOT adding a reliever at this point. The word out of Seattle is that the Brewers are scouting southpaw Arthur Rhodes.

- The Nationals have been pretty quiet on the trade front, perhaps because they have little of use to offer, but teams looking for middle infield help could pursue second baseman Felipe Lopez, who is unlikely to return to Washington in 2009.