Let the Pedro bidding begin; is change coming to Washington?

Around the Majors

Jon Heyman's Mailbag

Got a question or comment for Jon?

Follow Jon Heyman on Twitter

• Arizona ace Brandon Webb felt pain in his shoulder while trying to throw Thursday and his comeback has been derailed, dealing another blow to the Diamondbacks. Meanwhile, Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes was on his way to Kansas City to monitor the team as he decides whether to sell some pieces. The D-Backs seem to have a more realistic view than some teams on where things stand. Trade candidates include pitchers Doug Davis and Jon Garland, reliever Chad Qualls and second baseman Felipe Lopez. Qualls might take more than the others as he is under contract until 2010.

• The Yankees will consider Jose Valverde and Huston Street if either is available to fill the eighth inning. Joba Chamberlain isn't being talked about yet as the eighth-inning pitcher, but it can't be ruled out.

• Closer Heath Bell would bring a haul if the Padres would consider moving him.

• The Red Sox are a rare contending team willing to trade one of its relievers (though not closer Jonathan Papelbon, of course). Almost every other contender believes it needs to fortify its pen.

• Benching Magglio Ordonez seems like a drastic measure by the Tigers. He's up to .271. But he does have only two home runs. His contract calls for him to have an option year kick in at $15 million if he makes it to 400 plate appearances. At this rate, though, he might not make it.

• The Tigers, though, had no choice but to put Dontrelle Willis on the disabled list with anxiety disorder again after he declined their request of a demotion to the minors. They couldn't pitch him again after his eight-walk performance against Pittsburgh. But to release Willis, who is still only 27 and who they are into for $29 million, still seems drastic. Agent Matt Sosnick praised the way the Tigers have handled the touchy situation.

• Frustrated by the increasingly weak starting pitching market, the Phillies were said to be considering looking at relief help now.

• Cincinnati, Atlanta and perhaps St. Louis are interested in a right-handed hitting corner outfielder.

• Though Boston has talked to a few teams about shortstops while Jed Lowrie's been out, Nick Green (3, 23, .293) has done a nice job in his absence.

• With Roy Halladay, Erik Bedard and Chris Young all joining Jake Peavy on the disabled list within 24 hours, the starting market is getting worse by the day.

• That last series was Toronto's season in a nutshell. Three more players went on the D.L. (Halladay, Scott Downs and Casey Janssen) and three more victories. There have been a lot of injuries in baseball. But if there's one team to have sympathy for, it's got to be the Jays.

• Word is the Cubs sale is being held up in part by the banks' more stringent cash requirements in these rough economic times. There is a thought the banks would prefer new owner Tom Ricketts to put up 50 percent of the $800-million sale price. There is also the issue of the current Cubs owner, Sam Zell, who is viewed as difficult in any circumstance.

• Nice quote by Orlando Cabrera regarding his defense: "I suck." I always liked Cabrera, though he hasn't always gotten along with teammates in past stops. That admission should endear him to someone, though.

• Tom Glavine told radio station WAGA via text, "I don't plan to pitch or do anything in baseball until at least next year." I hope the "anything in baseball" means he won't file a grievance, either. While he may have a case, I think Glavine is smart enough to know that it wouldn't look good, considering he's made nearly $130 million in baseball.

• Congrats to Joe Torre for passing Sparky Anderson with his 2,195th victory and moving into fifth place on the all-time managerial win list. I don't see Torre stopping anytime soon, either.

I am living life one tweet at a time. I can be followed on Twitter at SI_JonHeyman.