Baseball Trading Deadline Looms

By Benjy Lipsman in News on Jul 31, 2007 2:00PM

Baseball's non-waiver trading deadline passes this afternoon, and while both our clubs have been attached to rumored moves, little has happened yet. While the Cubs look to add any missing pieces for a playoff push, the Sox were expected to be big sellers as they remain well below .500 for the season.

With hours to go, so far the biggest move has been the White Sox's trade of Tadahito Iguchi to the Philadephia Phillies last week in return for a minor league pitcher. While Iguchi was certainly one many expected to be moved on account of his looming free agency, the names that have been the focus of the media for months have been the likes of Mark Buehrle, Jose Contreras and Jermaine Dye.

Clearly, Buehrle's staying after signing a four-year $56 million extension. But many felt that Kenny Williams would have to cut payroll by dumping one of his starting pitchers. For a time, Contreras looked like the most likely to be traded. But with his recent loss of velocity and sky high ERA, who'd want him? Thus, he remains on the Sox roster.

Jermaine Dye is perhaps the most attractive piece the Sox are shopping. Reports suggested Dye was headed to Boston in return for Wily Mo Pena, and while Boston refused to throw in any of the other players Sox GM Kenny Williams asked for, he was sleeping on some names the BoSox proposed. Will Dye be changing his Sox today?

As for the Cubs, GM Jim Hendry insists that no blockbusters are in the works as the Cubs remain just a couple games behind the first place Brewers. But what GM is going to fess up to something before it's official? We believe he said the same thing in 2004 before he landed Nomar Garciaparra. Will the addition of Jason Kendall be the biggest move he makes?

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