Baseball Update: Trade Deadline Looming

The baseball season is officially at the All-Star break. With the trade deadline looming at July 31st a lot of contenders will look to bolster their rosters with talent to help them contend for the rest of the season. Cliff Lee was the first big name player traded last Friday when he was dealt to Texas. There will be more players on the move and more teams looking to add simple elements to their team such as bullpen help.

Corey Hart- With the Brewers heading nowhere, Milwaukee may be looking to move all-star right fielder Corey Hart for pitching prospects. When the Giants were in Milwaukee last week, there were talks that the Giants would trade Jonathon Sanchez for Hart. Nothing ever materialized and both teams seem to have moved on. Now the Tampa Bay Rays have shown interest in Hart. With the Rays two games out of first in the AL East and leading the AL Wild Card, the Rays are showing interest in Hart. Depending on what pitching prospects the Rays are willing to send to Milwaukee, this deal could happened. Wherever Hart goes, hopefully he shields his daughter from a beer bath.

Roy Oswalt- With Lee off the market, Houston Astros pitcher Roy Oswalt has suddenly become a hot commodity for a trade. With Jake Peavy injured again, the White Sox will try and trade for Oswalt. Oswalt could veto a trade to the White Sox via his no-trade clause. The Minnesota Twins have also said they have interest in Oswalt. Two things stand in the way of Oswalt moving to Minnesota: 1. His no-trade clause 2. His salary. Oswalt can pick and choose where he wants to go. Also any team that trades for Oswalt will have to pay for salary until 2012. Even if the Astros pay a portion of Oswalt's salary, the Twins may not want to pay for the remaining costs.

Adam Dunn- Reports so far say don't be surprised if the Nationals don't trade Dunn and instead re-sign the popular first baseman. With young sluggers such as Ryan Zimmerman and Josh Willingham and Stephen Strasburg anchoring the pitching staff with Matt Capps as the closer, the Nationals are a team of the future and may need Dunn to anchor the lineup next season.

Kerry Wood- Yes, that Kerry Wood is a trade prospect. With teams such as the Giants and Phillies in need of bullpen help, Wood could be a nice acquisition at the right price. Wood has been a closer with Cleveland but would be just another reliever on another team. Wood's stats haven't been that bad this season. He has eight saves and only three blown saves with a 1.60 WHIP and a .263 BAA. Wood could be a nice addition to a bullpen if he isn't on the disable list.

Ted Lilly- With the Cubs not going anywhere and not looking to re-sign Lilly in the off-season, Ted Lilly is a valuable trade piece. The Dodgers, Yankees, and Reds might be looking to add Lilly to their rotation.