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	The Mets are chasing Texas' second baseman Alfonso Soriano, but the Rangers may not be willing to give him up. Otto Greule Jr./Getty Images

It has been speculated that if the Mets try to add a bat, it would be a first baseman. But the Mets are interested in at least one second baseman -- the Rangers' Alfonso Soriano... One person familiar with the Mets' and Rangers' discussions said Texas has let it be known that the Mets would have to start their offer with Jose Reyes.
-- New York Post

A case in point is the mania surrounding rumors of the Mets' pursuit of Alfonso Soriano, a player whom the Mets have chased for seasons. According to one National League executive, this time there is smoke but no fire... The Mets' efforts to swing a deal are focused on the bullpen with the team inquiring about Eddie Guardado, Jose Mesa and Danys Baez.
-- Bergen Record

The trade deadline is Sunday, but sources say Billy Wagner still isn't being shopped and probably won't be due to the Phillies making up ground in the NL East and wild card standings on their recent 9-4 homestand.
-- PhillyBurbs.com

Rangers GM John Hart acknowledged speaking with the Mets, among other clubs, about Soriano but maintained he wasn't shopping the second baseman even though the Rangers' recent tailspin has put them on the fringes of playoff contention.
-- Dallas Morning News

Yet short of Lyle Overbay, whom Milwaukee GM Doug Melvin has said won't be dealt until the winter - if at all - the other first basemen available have unattractive, big contracts like those of Todd Helton (Rockies) and Mike Sweeney (Royals). A Mets insider recently said Cincinnati's Sean Casey hasn't been made available, and he's not a power hitter, anyway.
-- New York Daily News

The latest bit of information, according to a source, is that the Florida Marlins still are looking to deal starter A.J. Burnett, and if they pull the trigger, they intend to do it before Burnett pitches again Saturday. That doesn't mean the Sox are ready to be the team the Marlins deal with, but it would allow them some breathing room if a swap is made.
-- Chicago Sun-Times

The nonwaiver trade deadline is Sunday, and the White Sox continue turning up as favorites to land injury-prone pitcher A.J. Burnett from the Florida Marlins.
-- Daily Herald

The Pittsburgh Pirates want Florida's top prospect back in a trade for left-hander Mark Redman, but the Marlins aren't budging. Multiple baseball sources said Monday that the Pirates are asking for Class AA Carolina outfielder Jeremy Hermida, ranked as the Marlins' top prospect coming into this season by Baseball America. However, the Marlins refuse to give up Hermida and are said to be unwilling to bend.
-- Beaver County Times

After mulling over the decision for about two days, San Diego Padres first baseman Phil Nevin decided that he'd rather stay at home than become an Oriole... According to an industry source, the Rangers have interest in Ponson, whom they planned on signing before the 2004 season if the Alex Rodriguez trade to the Boston Red Sox had gone through.
-- Baltimore Sun

The Baltimore Orioles' desire to shore up their outfield has them focused on Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Matt Lawton... To obtain Lawton, 33, Baltimore would send outfielder Larry Bigbie, whom the Pirates covet.
-- Washington Post

Other pitchers that could attract the Orioles' interest are the Cleveland Indians' Kevin Millwood, the Detroit Tigers' Nate Robertson, the Los Angeles Dodgers' Jeff Weaver and the Pittsburgh Pirates' Kip Wells.
-- Baltimore Sun

They barely escaped New York before the rumor mill churned out a report that the surging Mets had approached them this weekend about the availability of second baseman Jeff Kent. Dodgers general manager Paul DePodesta quickly quashed the report Monday.
-- Los Angeles Daily News

If the Indians decide to make trades, starter Kevin Millwood will interest the Yankees. Somewhat more realistic possibilities include Colorado's Shawn Chacon and Pittsburgh's Mark Redman, who faced each other Sunday.
-- New York Times

Players who could provide answers for the Angels include Blue Jays third baseman Shea Hillenbrand and Kansas City infielder Mike Sweeney.
-- Orange County Register

Molina is a free agent after this season, and he said the Angels have yet to approach his agent about a long-term contract extension. Given that he will likely be the No.2 most sought-after catcher on the market this fall, Molina could prove costly.
-- Orange County Register

Very rarely will a team pegged early on as a non-contender find itself so unhappy with a .500 record in the final week of July. But that's just how the Jays are feeling today, less than a week before Sunday's trade deadline that Toronto will likely not be making any blockbuster moves in. Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said yesterday that he has one potential deal on tap, but the makeup of the current 49-49 squad won't be dramatically overhauled.
-- Toronto Star

Twins general manager Terry Ryan took more calls from media than other general managers Monday as the final-week countdown began toward Sunday's non-waiver trading deadline...But the Bill Mueller-for-J.C. Romero discussions, as well as the pair of hitters-for-a-pair of pitchers talk, appeared to cool for at least a day Monday.
-- St. Paul Pioneer Press

With the Milwaukee Brewers yet to return to playoff contender after a long, hard fall to the bottom of the NL Central, Melvin has had no occasion to pull the trigger on a July 31 blockbuster since taking over the club's reins at the end of the 2002 season. As the club flirts with a .500 record for the first time in 13 years, he doesn't anticipate making a big deal before the Sunday deadline this season, either.
-- Milwaukee Journal Sentinel

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