Weak Trade Winds in the Forecast - Part II - The NL

Time to take a look now at the buyers and sellers in the National League. With such frenzied races in the NL Central and West, and for the NL wild card, just about everyone is looking to do something.

NL East

The Mets have wrapped up the division and are clearly buyers looking to strengthen their rotation and bullpen. Everyone else in the division is a seller.

Phillies

The Phillies had high hopes for the 2006 season, but a team will only go as far as their pitching. They have plenty of offense, but their starting pitcher has been awful. Outside of Tom Gordon the bullpen hasn't been too spectacular either. While out of the East race, the Phillies are 5.5 out of the wild card, but have 7 teams between them and the WC leading Reds.

Bobby Abreu

The Phils right fielder has caused a stir probably only 2nd to that of Alfonso Soriano as the deadline nears. Abreu's HR numbers have diminished since he won the 2005 home run derby, but he's still driven in 60 runs in 88 games and walked 87 times for a .442 OBP. The Phillies biggest reason for moving Abreu is money. Money that could be used to bolster the team's starting rotation.

Abreu is currently making $13 million and is due $15 million in 2007. His contract also calls for a $16 million option for 2008 with a $2 million buyout. The level of players the Phils would acquire for Abreu will depend on how much of the contract the Phillies are forced to assume or will be taken by an suitors.

Pat Burrell

"Pat the Bat" has never been the consistent offensive superstar the Phillies had once hoped for (he's a .259 career hitter). He's also a poor defensive outfielder. Burrell is coming off a monster 2005 season in which he clubbed 32 HR and drove in 117 runs. He's been up and down this season, but has put up 20 HR and 62 RBI. Burrell is in the 4th year of a 6-year, $50 million deal. He's really the one the Phillies would like to move if it comes down to Burrell or Abreu.

Tom Gordon

Flash has not been a flash in the pan in his second coming as a closer. Gordon left the Yankees for a 3-year, $18 million deal to move from set up to closer. Though he's happy where he is, at 38, he wouldn't mind another shot at the playoffs.

Jon Lieber

Lieber is in the 2nd year of the 3-year, $21 million deal he signed prior to the 2005 season. Lieber has struggled in the Phillie's hitter friendly ballpark and has had an ankle problem this year. Despite his ability to be a strong starter, the Phillies would love to free up the money due him and get younger and better.

Rheal Cormier

The 39-year old veteran lefty could bring a nice ransom from one of the many teams looking to strengthen their pen. Cormier is aging like fine win as his 2-1, 1.09 record and league batting average of .209 attest.

David Dellucci

Da Looch is probably a definite to be moved. He's a serviceable outfielder with some speed and pop and would make a good bat off the bench for any team.

Could also move - Arthur Rhodes, Rick White...but who would want them?

Marlins

The Marlins appear to be definitely not moving Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. That's the smartest thing they have done in a long time. They are the young veterans surrounded by a bunch of hungry young players.

Joe Borowski

The Marlins closer could be a very hot commodity with bullpen additions at a premium. Boroswki is throwing as good as he ever did when closing for the Cubbies. He's been practically lights out since the beginning of June.

Could also move - Matt Herges

Nationals

The Nats have the most talked out name on the market in Alfonso Soriano. Soriano was not supposed to hit the pitcher friendly RFK Stadium. He's exploded that myth with 27 home runs before the All-Star break, 16 of them coming at home. He's added 2 more on the road since for a .283-29-59 season thus far. He's also swiped 23 bases in 30 attempts.

But let the buyer beware, though his assist numbers are high his play in left field has been sub par. He also hit just .207 in June and has struck out 83 times in 92 games. Remarkably, he's already set a career high in walks with 40, including 2 intentional free passes yesterday (Sunday). Sori is an exciting player, no question, but he tends to be very streaky and has a passion for chasing too many pitches out of the zone. He also tends to hit much better in the lead off spot rather than an RBI position.

Livan Hernandez

Livan has proven himself to be a big game pitcher as the 1997 Marlins will attest, but this year his balky right knee is a big issue. Hernandez had surgery on the knee this past off-season, but it's not 100%.

Hernandez still leads the team in innings pitched with 119.2, but his 5.87 ERA is well above his career mark. The NL lineups don't run as deep as their AL counterparts, but they are still smacking Hernandez around to a tune of .308. Some team, probably from the NL, will take a chance so though if the price is right.

Jose Guillen

Guillen has gotten along well with manager Frank Robinson, but his bat hasn't done as well. Guillen had a good first season in DC in '05, putting up 24 HR and 76 RBI. A very sore right elbow has hampered Guillen in '06 - meaning it also affects his strong throwing arm. Guillen would probably do best in a situation where he could DH.

Marlon Anderson

Anderson never lived up to his hype as a starter, but he's proven to be a very useful role player the last few years. The Mets would have loved to have him back prior to this year. He's become one of the better pinch-hitters in the game and is versatile in the field.

Could also move - Mike Stanton, Ramon Ortiz

Braves

With no playoffs in site for the first since anyone can remember, the Braves may actually stand pat this summer. They aren't going to move their young players and their older one are not likely to go. They will probably discuss John Smoltz, Andruw Jones, Tim Hudson, and Chipper Jones, but it's doubtful anything will take place.

NL Central

Buyers - Cardinals, Reds, Brewers, Astros. The Astros and
Brewers have faded in the Central race, but are still very much in the thick of the wild card, 4 games in back of the Reds. The only true sellers here are the Cubs and Pirates

Cubs

Jacque Jones

The former Twins left fielder is in his 1st season as a Cubbie after signing a 3-yr free agent contract in the off-season. He's hitting .300-15-48 and has a .547 slugging, but has walked just 12 times this season. His OBP would be pretty bad if it were not next to the worse Juan Pierre.

Juan Pierre

Speaking of declining numbers - Pierre's OBP sits at .322 and has just 16 RBI in 91 games. He does have 32 stolen bases and someone will probably take a chance on him.

Greg Maddux

The future Hall of Famer's name has been thrown around a lot lately and it would take his permission to get dealt anywhere. The team that keeps popping up is the Brewers where Maddux's brother Mike is the pitching coach. Maddux started out 5-0, but has lost 10 of his last 12 decisions and this could very well be his last go around.

Might move, but probably won't - Aramis Ramirez

Pirates

Roberto Hernandez

The 41-year old veteran 15-yr veteran has pitched fairly well in his first season in Pittsburgh. This comes on the heels of a very good year for the Mets last season. With relievers in demand he should bring a fetching price.

Sean Casey

The veteran 1st Baseman will bring a good bat and glove to whichever team goes after him. The soon to be free agent is still only 32-years old and is hitting .305

Craig Wilson

For some reasons he has seen less and less playing time with the Pirates. His name has also been thrown around for weeks, but supposedly the Pirates are asking for too much. He'd make a good 4th outfielder/DH for an AL club.

Jeromy Burnitz

Pretty much all or nothing these days as his .228 average, 12 home runs, and 57 Ks will attest. Someone will go after him and be disappointed.

Could also go - Jack Wilson, Damaso Marte, Joe Randa

NL West

Again, everyone is in the mix here. Only 4 games separate the 1st place Padres from the last place Rockies. Buyers and sellers mixed, because teams will start to figure out if they can seriously make a run at things.

There are players that teams want to rid themselves of and improve in those spots. They include:

Padres - 3B Vinny Castilla
Dodgers - P Odalis Perez, OF Jose Cruz Jr.
Rockies - P Jose Mesa
Giants - 2B/OF Ray Durham
DBacks - might just part with either Luis Gonzalez or Shawn Green


So there you have it....2 weeks from today we'll know a lot more.