Buster Olney at ESPN speculates the trade market for Colorado Rockies closer Brian Fuentes could be torpedoed by the availability of Oakland A's closer Huston Street and Baltimore Orioles closer George Sherrill.  Unlike Fuentes, neither pitcher is a free agent at season's end.  In fact, Street won't be a free agent until after the 2010 season.  Sherrill won't test the market until the 2011 season finishes.

Mr. Olney offers his assessment of who are the best fits for Street and Sherrill.

On paper (and to be clear, what follows is pure speculation), the Orioles would seem to have a great potential fit with the Dodgers, who need a closer, or the Angels, who will need a closer next season if Francisco Rodriguez leaves and could use a lefty now. The Red Sox would probably love to land Sherrill and have a wide array of prospects to offer, but the question remains whether the Orioles would close a deal over such a significant piece with a division rival.  The Brewers could be a match for either Street or Sherrill.

I don't quite see the pressing need for either L.A. club, especially the Angels.  Pre-emptively acquiring a reliever when Fuentes can be signed in the off-season doesn't jibe with the team's inability to trade any of their prospects.  The inability to deal prospects also applies to the Dodgers although strengthening the 7th and 8th innings can be argued with the promotion of Jonathna Broxton to the closer's role.

What I find interesting is debating whether the Boston Red Sox will attempt to deal for another closer at the deadline after the debacle of last year's Eric Gagne trade.  Can they risk seeing three more players from their organization thrive for another team while a middle reliever disappoints?

Philadelphia Phillies' 1B Ryan Howard hit his major-league leading 29th HR last night and drove in his NL-leading 85th RBI.  With such gaudy RBI totals, one would expect an AVG better than Howard's current .234.

How can he have such a low AVG and great RBIs?  His AVG with RISP is .325!  Looking over his career, he hasn't been consistently better with RISP though.  Can he persist with the RBIs if his AVG stays under .250?

Mike Mussina won his 12th game against six defeats.  With a 3.49 ERA, he may be the most surprising pitcher in baseball this season - Justin Duchscherer and Cliff Lee be damned!

Cincinnati Reds' rookie sensation hit his 7th HR last night.  With a .273 AVG and 23 RBI,  one can safely conclude the hype surrounding debut week at the end of May/beginning of June (15-26, 3 HR, 2 SB) makes the recent market bubbles of internet stocks, real estate and credit lending pale in comparison.

I just won the FAAB bidding for Joe Blanton in my NL-Only.  I can only hope he is 2/3s as successful as C.C. Sabthia has been for his owner.  C.C. moved to 3-0 with a 1.88 ERA and 24 Ks since his move to the NL.  He also went 1-4 and is hitting .222.  With that kind of bat, he is going to throw a ton of innings.

The Texas Rangers called up catcher Taylor Teagarden.  With Jarrod Saltalamacchia failing to impress at catcher (four pased balls in 38 games, 17.5% CS, .977 FPCT), Teagarden may be splitting time with Gerald Laird for the rest of this season and next.  In AL-Only keeper leagues, grab him.

Am I the only person who sees Macier Izturis batting 3rd for the Angels and wonder how in God's name that team has scored enough runs to have the best record in baseball?

Instead of projecting my own opinions on to any one reporters distillation of what his or her teams needs or what his or her team wants the reporter to circulate, I am just going to give the links and a money quote.  You decide the merits of the r`umor.

While some of these absolutely scream for a comment, I am refraining. (In the body of the post, that is.  I cannot vouch for restraint in the Comments)  Amongst the players mentioned are Xavier Nady and Damso Marte of Pittsburgh, A.J. Burnett in Toronto, Barry Bonds to the New York Yankees, and Brian Fuentes of Colorado and interest in Clint Barmes and Willy Taveras by the Tampa Bay Rays.

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Yesterday saw the sixth top of the rotation starter traded since this winter.  I know conventional wisdom says top-of-the-rotation starters are gold, and it is building towards the same value of prospects.  However, I am not sure this balance of value isn't tilting towards the prospect side.

Look at the progression of value received for the starters.  Other than Johan Santana, every one of them is under their acquring team's control through 2009 at a minimum.

The Trades (minor league level is at time of deal):

1. Dan Haren and Connor Robertson for AAA OF Carls Gonzalez, High A LHP Brett Anderson, Double-A Greg Smith, LHP Dana Eveland, AA OF Aaron Cunningham, and Low A 1B Chris Carter
2. Johan Santana for OF Carlos Gomez, Double-A RHP Kevin Mulvey, AAA Phil Humber and Low A RHP Deolis Guerra
3. Erik Bedard for OF Adam Jones, LHP George Sherrill, High A RHP Chris Tillman, Double-A RHP Kam Mickolio and Low A LHP Tony Butler
4. C.C. Sabathia for Double-A OF Matt LaPorta, Low A RHP Robby Bryson, AAA LHP Zach Jackson and a PTBNL rumored to be 3B Taylor Green or Double-A OF Michael Brantley
5. Rich Harden and Chad Gaudin for RHP Sean Gallagher, AAA players 2B Eric Patterson and OF Matt Murton, and Low A C Josh Donaldson
6. Joe Blanton for High A 2B Adrian Cardenas, Double-A reliever LHP Josh Outman and High A OF Matt Spencer.  (To read what was said earlier this season about the three Phillies' prospects. click here.)

The San Francisco Chronicle reports there are trade rumblings surrounding Justin Duchscherer, a leading candidate for the 2008 American League Cy Young Award.  No specific teams were named, but its inclusion within the context of a possible Joe Blanton deal was curious.

Is Oakland GM Billy Beane trying to garner interest in Duchscherer by tipping off the beat writer?  If he did, I can certainly understand the reasoning to establish a market for a career reliever who, at 30, has established a career high in innings pitched while producing a Pedro-Martinez-in-his-prime 1.87 ERA and 0.87 WHIP.

Despite the career-high 108.2 innings, he is still 19 Ks away from his career high K total of 85 set in 2005 in just 85.1 IP.  Does the fact that Duchscherer struck out all those 85 hitters in relief make a difference?  Is it improtant that he was three years younger?

Despite his age, Duchscherer will be a 2nd-year arbitration player this Winter.  After settling for $1.1875MM last season, he can reasonably ask for Chien-Ming Wang money ($4.6MM) with the season he is having.  At that price tag, is his breakout season at 30 viewed differently?

The A's are currently paying Joe Blanton $3.7MM after his first year of arbitration eligibility.   Does it make more sense now?  Should an organization pay that kind of money to a right-handed pitcher without a proven track record of starting or durability?

With the second half of the baseball season kicking off today, here are the players in the AL who were the pre-All-Star Break leaders in the three major awards.  This also happens to be how I voted in the on-going blogger voting being run by Rotojunkie.  Expect the overall results to be up by Friday.

AL CY Young:
1. Justin Duchscherer, Oakland A's
2. Cliff Lee, Cleveland Indians
3. Roy Halladay, Toronto Blue Jays

There is no way I see Duchscherer having a second half to match his first, but, until then, he deserves the 1st place vote.  My personal favorite to win it at season's end is Roy Halladay.  To do so he will have to continue winning and lapping the field in innings pitched and complete games.

AL MVP:
1. Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers
2. Josh Hamilton, Texas Rangers
3. J.D. Drew, Boston Red Sox

I made Ian Kinsler the MVP because he is sparking the shockingly strong Texas offense.  While one can argue Josh Hamilton is the MVP, Kinsler's across the board offensive production gets the nod.

AL ROY:
1. Evan Longoria, Tampa Bay Rays
2. Jacoby Ellsbury, Boston Red Sox
3. Nick Blackburn, Minnesota Twins

Unless Joba Chamberlain goes on to post an 8-1 record in the second half, the Al ROY is Evan Longoria's to lose.  With an .861 OPS and well-regarded defense (#1 amongst AL 3B in fielding percentage), Longoria is looking in his rearview mirror to see any other competitors.

Joel Sherman of the New York Post appears to be the only local writer who can see the needs of the New York teams (outfielders and relievers) and think to report information about what either team will need to pay in the trade market.  He runs down several right-handed hitters who can play the outfield and are current residents of Traderumorville, USA.

Unmentioned is Barry Bonds, the one player Yankees' GM Brian Cashman and Mets' GM Omar Minaya have been forced to comment upon.  The Yankees appear in a better situation to resist the temptation given their deep reservoir of pitching prospects to use to address the outfield.  The Mets don't have that  and may be forced to seriously consider adding Barry Bonds.

Jason Bay and Xavier Nady, Pittsburgh Pirates:
Mr. Sherman confirms what Buster Olney said yesterday.  The Pirates want a ton for either OF - each garnering two premium prospects and Bay fetching a third B-level one.  At that price, I would be very surprised to see either dealt unless the Pirates' definition of "premium prospect" is different from my own.

To me a "premium prospect" is Matt LaPorta.  The Yankees would have to include AA OF Austin Jackson, the team's current #1 overall prospect according to Jim Callis of Baseball America.  The Mets would have to include OF Fernando Martinez.  I don't see either team dealing either player.

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Just as there were surprise hitters at the half way point, there are surprise pitchers.  These are a little more well known given the attention given to them at the All-Star Game.  Is there anyone who doesn't think the American league starting pitcher for the game, Justin Duchscherer, isn't the most surprising pitcher of the first half?  Who doesn't think he isn't followed closely by fellow All-Stars Cliff Lee and Edinson Volquez?

But I want to name a few lesser recognized surprises on the mound.  These are relievers who have racked-up Wins despite making no starts.  For many of these guys, there was no reason to think they'd have any value whatsoever.  I have also included a teammate of each who has likely garnered more interest.

1.  Jamey Wright, Texas Rangers: 6W, 1SV, 4.39 ERA in 53.1 IP
    Starting Teammate:  Kevin Millwood:  6W, 5.11 ERA in 100.1 IP
2.  Heath Bell, San Diego Padres: 6W, 2.15 ERA in 50.1 IP
    Starting Teammate:  Randy Wolf, 4W, 4.66 ERA in 114 IP
3.  Ron Mahay, Kansas City Royals: 5W, 1.84 ERA in 49 IP
    Starting Teammate:  Gil Meche, 6W, 4.71 ERA in 120.1 IP
4.  Joel Hanrahan, Washington Nationals: 5W, 4.01 ERA in 58.1 IP
    Starting Teammate:  Odalis Perez, 2W in 17 starts
5.  Matt Guerrier, Minnesota Twins: 5W, 3.35 ERA in 51 IP
    Starting Teammate: Glenn Perkins, 6 W, 4.14 ERA in 78.1 IP

With the All-Star Break upon us, now is a good time to look at those players who have completely surprised.  These are players who have been in the majors for a while and have produced at levels not previously seen.  It is not a list of MVP candidates.

To me these are the Top Five Hitting Surprises of the 1st Half and the pertinent production.

1.  2B Ian Kinsler, Texas Rangers - 83 R .335 14 HR 23 SB
2.  CF Nate McLouth, Pittsburgh Pirates - 4th in R with 68, .902 OPS, 19 HR, 65 RBI, 10 SB
3.  RF J.D. Drew, Boston Red Sox - .303 17 HR 55 RBI
4.  CF Grady Sizemore, Cleveland Indians - 23 HR, 22 SB 54 RBI
5.  CF David Dejesus, Kansas City Royals - .307 10 HR 51 RBI 7 SB

Honorable Mentions:
CF BJ Upton, Tampa Bay Rays - 61 BB 27 SB.  Coming into 2008, he had an outside shot at 40/40 with the SB being the bigger if.  With 6 HRs, Upton looks like a stretch to go 20/40.
RF Ryan Ludwick, St. Louis Cardinals - 20 HR 64 RBI.  .818 OPS in 2007 vs a .954 in 2008.  Given he has produced somewhat similar power numbers this year as he did in 2007 in the same number of ABs, I didn't put him in the Top 5
1B Kevin Youkilis, Boston Red Sox - .555 SLG 15 HR 63 RBI.  With a career .452 SLG, One wonders if the Semitic God of Walks has establoished a new level.  (Is "Semitic' more fair than "Greek" given Youkilis is Jewish and the proximity of Greece to Asia Minor?)