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And of course I have to talk about the New York Yankees. First I would like to take a minute to tell you how much I think of Roy Halladay as a pitcher. I think he is the best pitcher in the league. If I needed to win one game I would pick Roy Halladay over any pitcher in the league today. That is how good Roy Halladay is. That being said, I do not want the Yankees to trade for Roy Halladay. Why? Because I think it will cost too much. I do not want to deal Phil Hughes or Jesus Montero at all. I?d be more willing to trade Joba Chamberlain but I?d have second thoughts because he would be in the same division. I would have no problem working out a deal that sent Chamberlain and more to the Cleveland Indians for Grady Sizemore or another young stud.The Yankees will probably try to get a deal done for Roy Halladay but I am certain that they will not be willing to deal the pieces necessary to get him. The first two names that the Toronto Blue Jays will ask for are Phil Hughes and Joba Chamberlain. And of is was in charge of the Blue Jays I would start there also, you need to get a young potential ace pitcher that you can control for years to come if you are going to deal the best player in the game. I am positive that Brian Cashman will not deal Phil Hughes or Joba Chamberlain. He has said he is happy that he did not deplete the farm system to get Johan Santana a couple of years ago so I don?t think he will consider doing it this year. The Next name mentioned would be Austin Jackson. I have to think that the Jays will ask for him no matter what. I?m not sure I would be willing to deal him and more. Dealing Jackson would leave the Yankees with a lack of quality outfielders in there system. I don?t think that Jackson will be that great of a player and the Yankees will be losing Johnny Damon and Xavier Nady to free agency and most likely Hideki Matsui to retirement. That leaves them with Melky Cabrera, Nick Swisher, and Brett Gardner. It wouldn?t make any sense for the Blue Jays not to ask for Jesus Montero, and I will not deal him by any means. Jesus Montero has proven to be a great hitter in the minor leagues and is only nineteen years of age. He has to be a Victor Martinez or even more. It?s been a long time since the Yankees have had a power hitter like Montero come up through their system which is why I do not want to trade him. The Yankees are stacked with catching prospects so I would give them Romine or Cervelli. After one of those two the Jays would ask for a pitching prospect such as Andrew Brackman, Dellin Betances or Zach McAllister. All three of those pitchers have the potential to be a very good number three starter. I would rather keep the prospects and let the Jays deal Halladay some place far away. That would be a win for the Yankees too (as long as he doesn?t end up in Boston).Obtaining Roy Halladay would solve a lot of problems. He the Yankee rotation would be more consistent and be the best in baseball; in fact it would be one of the best we have seen in the majors in a long time. He would give the Yankees a rotation that can get them to the playoffs and beyond. His presence in the rotation and the ability to pitch very deep into ball games will take a lot of pressure off an over-worked bullpen and help keep the bullpen arms fresh and ready for the rest of the season while keeping them effective.The Blue Jays would be smart to try and dump Vernon Wells? ridiculous contract on someone, but I would not take him in a deal for Roy Halladay. I will not deal Phil Hughes or Jesus Montero and would like not to deal Joba Chamberlain because I would like to think he will be good one day. Anyone else is fair game, but I still don?t think the Blue Jays will deal him within the division. JP Richardi has already said that, in fact, he has yet to return a phone all that Brian Cashman placed inquiring about Roy Halladay back on Wednesday.Roy Halladay does have a no-trade clause because he is a ten year veteran that has spent five or more years with the same ball club so he would have to sign off on any deal. But from what everybody has been saying it seems like he just wants to go anyplace where he can win. He has specifically mentioned the Yankees, Red Sox and Phillies.JP Ricciardi is doing the right thing by trying to deal Roy Halladay now. Teams will give up less next year because they know he has to deal him because he will not resign. Hopefully the Blue Jays learned from how the Twins screwed up a couple of winters ago when they waited too long to deal Johan Santana a got basically nothing in return. I think Halladay will be dealt before the July 31st non-waiver trade deadline. Ultimately I believe he will end up in Philadelphia. Originally I thought he would be a St. Louis Cardinal but they don?t seem too thrilled about giving up there top prospects. The Philadelphia Phillies are the front runners right now.

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Every team in contention for a playoff spot would like to add another bullpen arm. That is the case every July. If you remember correctly, the Yankees landed a deal that brought highly coveted lefty Dimaso Marte to the Bronx last July. Let?s take a look at who is on the block and for sale this year.Kerry Wood ? Kerry Wood was supposed to be great a couple of years ago. People were talking about the Cubs having the best rotation in the league with youngsters Mark Prior, Carlos Zambrano and Kerry Wood. The only one that really panned out was Carlos Zambrano. Mark Prior fell off the face of the earth after being a top prospect coming into the year and having some success, his fall off was injury related. Kerry Wood was another fire baller who was very good but got bit by the injury bug a bit too often Injuries did in his starting career. I believe he even landed on the DL for a while one time because he hurt himself getting out of the bathtub. There was also a lot of chatter about Kerry Wood and steroid use because of all the injuries and the fact that he lost a lot of weight at one point. I don?t remember if he was in the Mitchell Report or not but I think he might have been. I though transitioning too the bullpen would rekindle his career because he would have a lighter load and could really let um rip in one inning of relief. The Indians gave him a pretty big contract this winter, much to many people?s surprise. He was coveted by many teams that needed bullpen help though. He's been a disappointment in Cleveland, and the Indians owe him about $15MM before the end of next year. They are also on the hook for more in 2011. He definitely is on the block and probably will get dealt if someone wants to take a flyer on him. He could help out a few teams. I don?t think the Indians would be looking for much in return since they are on pace for 100 losses and are currently having a fire sale after dealing there most valuable trade trip, multi-position playing Mark Derosa. Would I want the Yankees to get him? Not really, not unless he will cost nothing and Dimaso Marte?s return looks doubtful. Then I would take a flyer on someone like Wood, who if he gets his stuff back could be a great reliever.Rafael Soriano ? The Braves could get creative and try to deal Rafael Soriano. Many teams would take him and he could help out any bullpen. He has great numbers on the season. The Braves started the season with Mike Gonzalez as there closer but as he struggled he and Soriano started spitting save opportunities. Would I take Soriano on the Yankees? Once again it depends on what happens with Dimaso Marte. I would be more comfortable with Rafael Soriano in the bullpen over Kerry Wood. Soriano may not have as good stuff but he is a pretty darn good reliever who could close if you needed him to. The Braves are on the hook for 6.1 million dollars for Soriano. I f they want to rid themselves of that money they could easily find a buyer for Soriano. But the Braves are in position to make a run at the division or the wild card with the Mets currently out of the picture. It doesn?t make sense to me to deal your best reliever when you?re in the middle of a pennant race. They could opt to deal the left reliever Mike Gonzalez. Mike Gonzalez was highly touted by many baseball scouts at the beginning of the year, many thought that he would be a solid reliever this year. He hasn?t been terrible but also hasn?t lived up to what everybody thought he could do. Like I said earlier, the Braves had enough faith in him to make him the closer out of spring training, but he lost part of that job and had to start sharing save opportunities with Soriano. He is definitely more likely to be dealt than Soriano. The Braves are paying him three and a half million dollars this year but he will be a free agent this winter and probably will not resign if the Braves are intent on making Soriano the full time closer. Would I take Mike Gonzalez on the Yankees? This is another one that especially relies on what will go downs with Dimaso Marte. Gonzalez could be used as a lefty specialist because he is a lefty and has success against lefty hitters. If the Yankees don?t have faith in the lefty Phil Coke, which I must mention that they do and they think very highly of Coke. If they hadn?t signed CC Sabathia and AJ Burnett, or if Andy Pettitte didn?t return, they were prepared to start the season with Phil Coke in the starting rotation. If they Yankees feel they need a lefty because Marte is not coming back and Coke can?t get it done, then I see some Yankee interest in Mike Gonzalez.Danys Baez ? He not exactly a great option for anyone trying to make a playoff spot but if he is better than what you have I guess it?s worth a shot. Especially if he can be had on the cheap since Baltimore is paying him five and a half million dollars. He is expensive and doesn?t have great numbers but I guess he could help out a contender that is short handed in the pen. I wouldn?t be getting him to be your ninth, eighth or even seventh inning guy but to his his own. Would I take him on the Yankees? No shot what so ever, I would rather see Kyle Farnsworth back in Yankee pinstripes.LaTroy Hawkins ? LaTroy Hawkins has been pretty good filling in for Jose Valverde while he was hurt. That?s hard to believe for me after what I saw him do in the Bronx last year. He was terrible last year in pinstripes and the Yankees eventually dealt him to the Astros mid-season for a cheap prospect. He has made thirty-eight appearances for the Houston Astros, who are still in playoff contention. They are only on the hook for three and a half million dollars to Hawkins as well, so they might keep him. They also have Jose Valverde, who was a top closer not too long ago. He was hurt for most of the season so far but should draw some interest. If the Astros decide they are out of the hunt, or have enough faith in LaTroy Hawkins, or just don?t want to pay the eight million dollars owed to Valverde, they could deal him for another piece they could use, I?m sure many teams would love to have him. Would I want Valverde on the Yankees? Before I answer that I just want to mention that Jose Valverde makes more money than Roy ?Doc? Halladay, who makes seven million dollars. And yes, I would like Valverde on the Yankees. I?ve always liked Valverde and if the Yankee scouts believe that he will be back in top form after the injury and Dimaso Marte will not be, then I would be all over Valverde if the Houston Astros want to deal him.Rafael Betancourt ? This isn?t the Rafael Betancourt of 2007 when he had one of his most effective years of his career. He has pitched okay this season and definitely will be available to anybody who wants him with Cleveland on pace to lose 100 games and having a fire sale. He is only making 3.35 million dollars this season so buyers won?t take too big of a hit in the pocketbook. Russ Springer ? He?s definably available but I don?t know that any team in the race would want him. He can strike some hitters out but hasn?t been anything close to good this year, I guess that?s why he is available. ESPN has him ranked the 257th best relieve pitcher in the league. That?s not saying much about the man who will be making 3.3 million dollars. Would I take him on the Yankees? Not a chance, you can find better guys in double and triple A.George Sherrill ? Probably the best value, very effective and affordable. A recent all-star, the Orioles have dangled George Sherrill out here before, but have never been able to swing a deal. They ask for too much, and rightly so, he is a great reliever and is cheap and under control until 2011 I believe. The Orioles probably missed the chance to sell high on Sherrill though. This season he was spitting save opportunities with Chris Ray. They will definitely get less in return now, but I still see plenty of contending team going after him. Would I take him on the Yankees? Yes, but I do not think that the Baltimore Orioles would deal him within the division. By the way, when I say affordable, I mean he is only making 2.75 million dollars.Chad Qualls ? Chad Qualls has gathered a lot of interest despite some pretty bad numbers this year. I understand that he hasn?t had many save opportunities because the Diamondbacks have not had any offense at all. The D'Backs already traded Tony Pena, so they may not want to deal Chad Qualls, who is only making 2.5 million dollars this season. Would I take him on the Yankees? He could come in and be a good setup man which is why I would take him on the Yankees. Without the pressure of the ninth inning and some run support, he could flourish in the Bronx.John Grabow ? He has been okay this year but has had some control problems. He is only making 2.3million dollars this year and will be a free agent this winter. So he could help out a team in need if they are in need of a reliever. Would I take him on the Yankees? Not a chance, this is another guy that you can find better of in double or triple A.Matt Capps ? He has drawn some interest and with the Pirates trading everybody for nobody you could probably get Capps for a song and a dance. He has pretty bad number this year but is a quality pitcher. Without the pressure of the ninth inning he could be another guy that flourishes in a set up role. The Yankees already showed some interest. I wouldn?t give up anything decent for him and the way the Pirates are trading everybody for nothing I don?t think they will ask for anything decent. He also only makes 2.3 million dollars this year and will be a free agent after the 2012 season.Juan Cruz ? I was lobbying for Juan Cruz during the winter and really wanted the Yankees to get him. It may have been a good thing that the Yankees didn?t sign him because he was a type A free agent and he would have costed the Yankees two draft picks. His numbers in Kansas City aren?t great, but Cruz has only given up 1 run in his last 11.2 innings. He has been very streaky, but he would definitely be another guy who could do great without the pressures of closing. Would I take Cruz on the Yankees? Yes, he would be a great eight inning guy. He still throws hard and has a great slider he only makes two and a quarter million dollars. Joe Beimel ? What can you say? He?s available, he not great and you could probably find a bunch of guy like him in your minor leagues. He is a 32 year old lefty. The only way I see a team taking him is if they are in despite need of a closer and are in contention or they need a lefty and don?t have anyone in there farm system that could do better. He make 2 million dollars this season and hasn?t pitched bad, he has been okay.Takashi Saito ? He is cheap and good. He only makes one and a half million dollars and has proven that he can get it done in the ninth inning. I think he had something like 40 saves not too long ago eighth the Dodgers. He also does not make much next year either. He would be a great addition to anny bullpen and would make a great set up man. Would I want him on the Yankees. Yes, if the price is reasonable he would be a great guy to use in the seventh and eighth innings.Heath Bell ? He is an All-Star closer that only makes 1.3 million dollars. The Padres would have to be idiots not to trade him while he is at his value is at its peak. He would also be under control until 2011. The Yankees did show interest at the beginning of the month but there haven?t been any new developments. Would I take the former Met on the Yankees. In a second. This Heath Bell is at the top of my trade deadline wish list. I hope that Brian Cashman will be able to pull off a heist and trade a couple of noody prospects in ordr to land this guy. He would be a great addition to the pen. The Yankees would be the only team with two All-star closers.

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Yesterday was a good win. Joba Chamberlain showed some improvement. His velocity was better but keep in mind that he had nine days off. You should be able to throw your hardest when you have had nine days off. His control was good today as well, not too many walks. I thought it was going to be another short appearance because he threw 22 pitches in the first inning but he had an economical second and third innings and was able to go 6.2 innings total. Girardi was smart to take him out when he did in order to get him out on a high note in a situation where he could win and not lose. Hopefully yesterday?s start was a sign of what is to come.