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Posted: Thursday July 26, 2001 11:43 AM
Updated: Monday July 30, 2001 10:24 PM

CNNSI.com's John Donovan examines players who have a healthy chance of being dealt before the trade deadline at 4 p.m. ET Tuesday. Click here for a look at the trades that have gone through so far.
Pedro Astacio SP Colorado Rockies
Season: 6-12, 5.53 ERA, 143 H, 135 IP, 120 K

Career: 101-94, 4.53 ERA, 1,760 H, 1,708 IP, 1,342 K

Contract: $6.6 million in 2001. Scheduled to make $9 million in 2002, but team could buy out the contract for $1 million, making him a free agent.

Interested: Giants, Dodgers, Diamondbacks, Twins, Red Sox, Cardinals

The Word: Probably the best starting pitcher available -- though in this crop that's not saying a whole lot. His ERA has soared over 4.00 for the last seven years. In '98, his first season at Coors, it was 6.23. It hasn't been under 5.04 since. Still, there are tons of teams who'd like to get Astacio, 31, into the rotation. The Dodgers, who employed him from 1992 through most of '97, have been eyeing Astacio because of their beat-up staff. But in his last start -- against L.A. -- the right-hander gave up eight runs and 12 hits in 3 2/3 innings. That won't help his trade value any.

Roger Cedeno OF Detroit Tigers
Season: .284, 4 HR, 33 RBI, 35 SB, .335 OBP

Career: .279, 21 HR, 150 RBIs, 149 SB, .356 OBP

Contract: $2.7 million in 2001. Free agent after the season. Rejected a three-year, $13.5 million offer from the Tigers.

Interested: Mets

The Word: The Tigers stand to lose him anyway, so they're trying desperately to move their speedy leadoff man, who came from Houston in the offseason and makes no bones about wanting to test the free-agent market. Cedeno, 26, can hit for average (.313 for the Mets in '99) and steal some bases (66 in '99; 78 percent career success rate), so he's a threat at the top of the lineup. The Tigers also are shopping right-handed closer Todd Jones, another free agent in the making who is making nearly $4 million in 2001. Outfielder Juan Encarnacion and first baseman Tony Clark also are possible trade bait.

Jeff Conine 1B Baltimore Orioles
Season: .318, 10 HR, 52 RBI, .396 OBP, .466 SLG

Career: .289, 142 HR, 649 RBI, .353 OBP, 455 SLG

Contract: $3.5 million in 2001. Free agent after the season.

Interested: Twins, Cubs, Braves

The Word: The Twins are hot for Conine, 35, who's enjoying one of the best years of his career. He's a versatile player who can play first base or the outfield, and a patient hitter with the ability to hit 25 homers a year. Add that he's good in the clubhouse and Conine seems a great fit for the tightly knit Twins. There are few drawbacks. He's cheap for the rest of the year, and it probably wouldn't take much to sign him beyond that if a team were so inclined. The O's also might be willing to deal 24-year-old starter Sidney Ponson (5-6, 4.43 ERA), a righty who has thrown at least 200 innings in each of the past two years. He has a contract for $2.1 million for 2001.

Jose Cruz Jr. OF Toronto Blue Jays
Season: .283, 14 HR, 51 RBI, 21 SB, .496 SLG

Career: .252, 96 HR, 282 RBI, 68 SB, .461 SLG

Contract: $3.7 million in 2001. Eligible for arbitration next season.

Interested: Mariners, Rockies, Mets

The Word: Both Cruz, a center fielder, and left fielder Shannon Stewart are being dangled by the Jays, but only one is likely to go. Cruz, 27, is speedy and smart on the bases (successful on 81 percent of his steal attempts) and has some power. He hit a career-high 31 homers last season. Stewart, a solid leadoff man (51 stolen bases in '98), is making $2.15 million this season and also is eligible for arbitration after the season, but he's fallen out of favor with the Jays. Either can be dealt because minor leaguer Vernon Wells is ready to play, but the Jays probably would prefer to trade Stewart and keep Cruz.

Ugueth Urbina RP Montreal Expos
Season: 1-1, 4.43 ERA, 15 S, 3 BS, 44.2 IP, 42 H, 54 K, 21 BB

Career: 30-26, 3.54 ERA, 125 S, 24 BS, 404.2 IP, 329 H, 477 K, 182 BB

Contract: $4.2 million in 2001. Eligible for arbitration next season.

Interested: Red Sox

The Word: The hard-throwing right-hander flunked a physical earlier this year or he would be with the Yankees right now. He had two operations for bone chips in his elbow in 2000 and there are concerns about the 37-year-old's arm. But he keeps throwing in the 90s, and opponents have hit just .218 against him over his career. Above-average heat, a hard slider and a closer's mentality are wonderful commodities in a pennant run.

Daryle Ward OF Houston Astros
Season: .260, 7 HR, 27 RBI, 62 G, .473 SLG

Career: .263, 35 HR, 104 RBI, 249 G, .503 SLG

Contract: $287,500 in 2001. Eligible for arbitration next season.

Interested: Yankees

The Word: He just turned 26 and has awesome potential as a hitter -- he had 20 homers and 47 RBIs last season in 119 games -- but with the emergence of Lance Berkman in an already crowded outfield, Ward has become expendable. He's a liability in the field right now and there are concerns about his weight. He's no threat on the basepaths. But if teams are looking for a run-producing slugger on the rise, this may be the guy.

Note: All stats through Wednesday.


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