Halladay discussions, other trade talk (cont.)

Padres will need to have Bell rung on reliever

Heath Bell has saved 24 games, and he could single-handedly save a dreary relief market.

He is available, though just barely.

The Padres are telling teams they will need to fill "multiple needs" if they deal Bell. Their needs, as identified by one competing exec, are corner bat, starter, catcher and middle infielder.

Padres' Gonzo a long way from gone

While the Red Sox are talking about Halladay and Lee, their focus remains offense. They've talked to the Indians about a deal for both Victor Martinez and Lee, but some believe they'd simply sell off Lee if they could pull off that deal.

Martinez and Adrian Gonzalez appear to be their top targets. But the Padres are saying they are even less likely to trade Gonzalez than Bell (though they're not especially likely to trade either). As one competing exec said, "There's no pressure on San Diego to trade [Gonzalez]. He's affordable, productive and local."

Chances for deals for Lee, V-Mart rising

The Indians are in an awkward position of waiting on Halladay to see what to do with Lee. The Phillies, who match up well with Cleveland as well as Toronto, see Lee as their main fallback option. But if they get Halladay, there will be no Lee for them.

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The Yankees bowed out of the Lee talks after Joba Chamberlain or Phil Hughes was requested in a package. The Dodgers and Angels might not be perfect matches, as their best young pitchers are already contributing to the big-league team. Joe Saunders has struggled lately, so a trade of him for Lee would represent at least marginal improvement. The Dodgers are said to be disinclined from trading players on their current major-league team.

The Indians are working hard on both Lee and Martinez, who's coveted by the Rays as well as the Red Sox. While the Indians may have to wait, the chances for deals for their two stars seems to be rising.

Giants working hard to try to land Sanchez

The Giants are aggressively pursuing Pirates second baseman Freddy Sanchez, who could aid their limp offense.

The acquisition of Ryan Garko certainly didn't solve all the Giants' offensive woes, and with Juan Uribe starting to slip, Sanchez makes perfect sense for them.

The Giants took Garko for well-regarded left-handed pitching prospect Scott Barnes after failing to land Nick Johnson. The Nationals requested Jonathan Sanchez in a package for Johnson, and that might have been a fair request before Sanchez's no-hitter.

The Angels and Twins also have been mentioned as Freddy Sanchez suitors, but the Giants look like the favorites.