Who's going where, who's staying put at deadline?

The market is thin on starting pitchers, but short relievers such as Octavio Dotel can be had. Kirby Lee/WireImage.com

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This, according to one American League GM, is "the worst trade deadline ever."

The GM didn't provide the reasons why this trading season carries all the potential to bore us into oblivion. But the five main ones are these:

1) With parity, nearly everyone thinks they're in the race, and thus hold on to their players;

2) The truly bad teams have little starting pitching;

3) The worst teams are also cheap teams, meaning their players make little money and provide no impetus to be moved;

4) Even in this golden era where everyone (yes, everyone) is making money, the value of top prospects who won't be paid the big bucks for a few years is off-the-board now (even the Yankees want to keep them); and

5) GMs of non-contending teams are afraid to worsen their situations by daring to make a misstep.

Credit goes to Rangers GM Jon Daniels, who has taken hits for a couple deals that haven't worked, and yet is doing the right thing by working overtime trying to remake his team before next Tuesday's trade deadline. Meanwhile, GMs of many other non-contenders are standing pat, apparently happy no one's calling attention to their mediocre-to-poor situations.

It's a shame, because those do-nothing GMs/owners are doing a disservice to their organizations and their fans. When a GM of a team that is absolutely out of it tells the Yankees he'd need to be "blown away" to consider trading a veteran middle reliever, and means it, that is nothing short of malpractice.

What we're left with is one headliner who'll probably go (Texas' Mark Teixeira), a couple power hitters who may go (Jermaine Dye and Adam Dunn), a bunch of complementary players, a few run-of-the-mill second basemen, a smattering of interesting relievers (Eric Gagne, Octavio Dotel and Chad Cordero) and a truly uninspiring roster of starting pitchers, not one who'll significantly impact a pennant race.

Position by position, here is the latest rundown of just about everyone who's been mentioned as having a chance to go:

Hitters

1. Teixeira, Rangers
The buzz is all about Teixeira, and that works to Daniels' advantage. The bet here is Daniels comes up with a decent package for the switch-hitting slugger. The Braves and Angels appear to be favorites, followed by the Dodgers and perhaps the Red Sox. Atlanta would have to part with Jarrod Saltalamacchia while the Angels are likely to have to highlight their offer with Casey Kotchman. Two AL execs say no way should L.A. of Anaheim give up the inexpensive Kotchman since Teixeira makes $9 million now and will make about $13 million in arbitration next year, but another exec said, flatly, "Are you kidding me? Teixeira's one of the best players in the league."
Best guess: Angels or Braves.

2. Dunn, Reds
His value appears to be diminished by his indifferent defense and ineffective clutch hitting. He'd help all three Southern California teams and Milwaukee's been mentioned, but he's probably best-suited for the AL, where he could DH.
Best guess: Southern Cal.

3. Dye, White Sox
The multitalented Dye is bombing in his walk year, batting .227 after being in the top five in MVP voting in 2006. One exec said, "The price is just two high," referring to the premium prospects the White Sox seek.
Best guess: Padres.

4. Ken Griffey, Jr., Reds
He's a homebody who doesn't seem to mind losing all that much and won't OK trades. Best guess: He stays.

5. Todd Helton, Rockies
The Rockies would deal him if they can, possibly to the Red Sox, Tigers or Angels. But time is running out to figure out the finances.
Best guess: He stays.

6. Paul Konerko, White Sox
His name hit the paper in connection to the Angels. But there isn't much smoke there.
Best guess: He stays.

7. Kenny Lofton, Rangers
He's an October staple, making the postseason 10 times with six different teams.
Best guess: Indians, Cubs or Brewers.
(UPDATE: Lofton was indeed traded to the Indians on Friday afternoon for minor-league catcher Max Ramirez.

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