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According to reports around the Majors, the Arizona Diamondbacks have changed their stance on Dan Haren possibly being traded this year.

Haren, who is 7-8 with a 4.60 ERA and league leader in strikeouts with 141, had previously been almost impossible to trade. Now, it appears that the D-Backs have taken a more open stance towards trading Haren this year.

Teams that have a known interest  in the 29-year-old workhorse are the Tigers, Twins, Yankees, Phillies, and Cardinals at this point.

What are the D-Backs asking for in return? High quality pitching that is Major League-ready.

The D-Backs are exchanging names with several teams, but the Twins and Tigers are both on Haren’s no-trade list right now.

And with both the Cardinals and Phillies going hard after Roy Oswalt , it would seem that the Yankees might be the only known option for Arizona to trade with currently.

It is a strong possibility that the Yankees are just keeping tabs on what is going on in the desert, and don’t have a strong interest in acquiring Haren (at least not until the Rays or Red Sox get involved).

Who knows? Arizona might be desperate to dump the $25 million salary owed over the next two years. And if there are no other suitors for him other than the Yankees, the Yanks might get him without giving up much in return.

I highly doubt that he’ll don pinstripes next week, but if he does, the Yankees would have to center a deal around either Ivan Nova or Zach McAllister, two of the top pitching prospects in the organization, who are both at Triple-A this year.

I can’t imagine Brian Cashman parting ways with either Nova or McAllister for a guy who is having a down year, unless Tampa Bay or Boston gets involved.

My guess is that St. Louis will not be able to acquire Roy Oswalt or lose him to another team, so they will go after Haren and get him from Arizona.

A lot of things could change from now until July 31, but as things are right now with Brian Cashman reluctant to go after a starting pitcher on the trade market, I think the Yankees will not be acquiring Haren, or any other starting pitcher for that matter at this year’s deadline.

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As a fantasy baseball fan, I pay close attention to the rapidly approaching trade deadline.

For instance, I was thrilled to see Cliff Lee move to Texas, home of the long-ball, since I didn’t draft him on any teams this year. Indeed, most trades have some fantasy impact, but there is a pending trade that has the potential to make a major impact—both in fantasy and reality.

In an attempt to shore up their rotation and make a strong push to win the World Series this year, the St. Louis Cardinals have been actively pursuing Roy Oswalt.

Oswalt is having a fantastic year with six wins, 117 K’s in 124 IP, a 3.12 ERA, 1.07 WHIP, and a .220 BAA on a terrible Houston team.

Oswalt is getting along in years, and he realizes that his chances of winning a World Series with this Houston team are practically non-existent. However, winning a World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals is a strong possibility.

From a fantasy perspective, Oswalt has been very good this year, but the losses have taken what should be a career year and transformed it into merely a good overall 2010 campaign. A trade to the St. Louis Cardinals can make a monumental difference in his 2nd half stats, and here’s how.

St. Louis boasts one of the strongest offenses in the league, and this translates into run support for their starting pitchers.

Here’s the run support (runs per game) for the St. Louis Cardinals top 3 pitchers:

Adam Wainwright—6.51

Jaime Garcia—6.95

Chris Carpenter—6.73

Oswalt’s run support is 3.27 runs per start in Houston. The difference between the average run support of St. Louis’ top three starters (6.73) and Oswalt in Houston is 3.46. Theoretically, Oswalt would receive an extra 3.46 runs per start in St. Louis.

In all of the losses or no-decisions that Oswalt has had this year, he has given up an average of 2.85 runs per start. If we subtract the run differential and the average runs that he gave up per contest, Oswalt would have picked up several more wins in the first half.

If Oswalt joins the Cardinals for the rest of the second half he should sport the same strong numbers. But with the increase in run support and the improved supporting cast, expect his win totals to climb by four wins. 

For those of us that drafted Oswalt in several leagues, we can only hope that this trade happens in the near future.

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With less than a half of a season to be played, little has been decided as far as the playoff picture goes.

As what has been a slow trade deadline season thus far starts to pick up, we will have a better idea of what teams will be playing in October and what teams are looking to the future.

So with so much baseball left to be played, here are 10 bold predictions on who will be playing in October and who will take home some of baseball’s biggest awards, among other things.

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All the clamor as of late has been for the Phillies to go out and add another starting pitcher, possibly even one with “ace” qualities. While I’m not exactly a proponent of the move , it looks like that’s inevitably what’s going to happen.

But, as Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com reported recently, the Phillies aren’t looking for just any starting pitcher and will only trade for a top-flight starter. In fact, again, according to Salisbury, the Phils won’t be trading for any pitcher not named Roy Oswalt or Dan Haren.

“Baseball officials with knowledge of the Phillies’ thinking say that if the Phils can’t land a top pitcher, such as Oswalt or Haren,” Salisbury writes, “they may not add a pitcher at all.”

It’s a bit surprising initially to think that Ruben Amaro Jr. would simply give up looking for a pitcher just because he can’t land the exact guy he wants, but it makes sense.

Amaro knows as well as anyone that he can’t press and make a trade just for the sake of making a move. If he’s going to ship players out, he has to make sure he’s getting the same value in return, or else he’s going to hurt the team for a few years.

He does, however, seem to be losing options.

According to reports, Oswalt is likely going to refuse to waive his no-trade clause unless the team trading for him agrees to pick up his $16 million option for 2010.

But, with a huge deal just getting done with Ryan Howard and a couple other guys having to be paid before then, the Phils might see that as a bit pricey for a guy who would be their third starter.

As I’ve said before, I would think the wiser option would be to simply ride out the season with J.A Happ and Kyle Kendrick as your final two starters, then perhaps look to see who is available either via free agency or trade next season.

Happ was very good last year, and Kendrick really hasn’t been that bad. His most recent outing against the Cardinals was certainly one to forget, but overall he’s been an average pitcher on a very average team.

Amaro says he already knows what he’s going to do, so it’s really just a matter of waiting and seeing for Phillies fans. Even though the trade deadline isn’t until the 31st, the Phils have an opening for a starter this Sunday, so whatever move they’re going to make will likely be made before then.

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Roy Oswalt is one of the best pitchers in Major League Baseball. Even at the age of 32, he’s still got the talent to pitch at All-Star caliber.

However, his brains are a whole other story.

Jayson Stark of ESPN reported today that the Astros’ ace would okay a deal to any team that acquires him with only one condition. Sadly, the condition is nuttier than pecan pie.

He wants the team to guarantee his $16 million option.

In 2012.

This kind of demand seems so ridiculous, it’s as if Oswalt is extremely reluctant to leave town. He’s said multiple times how loyal he is to the city of Houston, and by making the prerequisite so high, he’s making it very hard for himself to leave.

And that’s his mistake. He needs to make like a newborn and head out.

Staying in Houston is a death sentence for Oswalt’s career. Yes, the Astros have had some good seasons in the past, but since the team’s World Series run in 2005, Houston hasn’t returned to the playoffs, and attendance has dropped each season.

Should we cast Oswalt for the Green Mile remake?

Not so fast. Oswalt’s clearly the diamond in Houston’s rough. While Oswalt is well below his career averages for ERA and WHIP this season, his record is a subpar 6-11, and that’s due to his teammates.

The Astros’ roster isn’t the worst in the majors, but some of the people surrounding Oswalt are more qualified to work at Denny’s than play baseball.

That’s why his demand makes as much sense as underwater arson. There won’t be much winning in Houston during the rest of Oswalt’s career, so why make it nearly impossible to go to a winner?

Even Einstein’s stumped.

If he waives this demand, everyone comes out as a winner. The Philadelphia Phillies are the front-runner to acquire Oswalt’s services, and he fits in that city better than the cheesesteak.

At this point in his career, Oswalt must be craving a return to glory and a chance to hoist the Commissioner’s Trophy. Why not join a team in a tight division race who has represented the National League in the World Series the past two years?

The only better way to guarantee winning is if he takes his talents to South Beach.

Psyche.

Both teams should be egging the pitching ace to give up his standards. The Astros are in a clear rebuilding process and can use solid prospects to build up their core. Oswalt is the kind of player that commands a couple of top-tier minor leaguers.

And no one has more young talent than the Phillies. Not even the Chinese gymnastics team.

On the other side, the Phils are struggling. Roy Halladay has been great, but not as dominant as Cliff Lee was. All their injuries have limited their offense, and the pitchers toward the end of their rotation are as trustworthy as Benedict Arnold.

Add another Roy, and that’s a chimera no one wants to face. In a seven-game series, seeing Halladay and Oswalt possibly five times is scarier than any Saw film. 

Yes, there are reasons why Oswalt would put this huge price tag on himself. He clearly won’t get $16 million in 2012 as a 34-year-old free agent, and if he’s being sent to a contender, it’s another year that he gets a chance to get the bling.

Those reasons, however, make even less sense.

First, if he can keep up near his career stats through the end of next year, he’s bound to get close to that value. For a nine-year veteran, does eight million dollars really matter if he’s holding more trophies than Cooperstown?

Second, what if he gets dealt to some chump squad? I’m sure he will regret being stuck until 2012 if he gets shipped to a team with a history of winning similar to the Cubs.

Obviously, the Phillies or another team could bend, and Oswalt could get what he wants: a trade and the guaranteed money.  That seems extremely unlikely, so why should Oswalt wait for Godot?

Just waive the clause. Hire some Astros fans to come into the office and do the Waive.

He can be loyal like Lassie in a different city. It’s a win-win-win for all sides involved, and if his only consequence is that he will lose the love of Houston, I’m sure a player with his skills can find some loving somewhere else.

Hell, he could switch to football, and his cannon arm would still be valuable.

Or he can stay in Houston, and get used to his ragtag bunch of teammates. He won’t see the playoffs until he’s on his couch watching FOX at 40 years old.

But hey, at least he’s not ditching town like LeBron. Pleasing everyone else should matter before pleasing himself, right?

Right?

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Last night, news broke that the Philadelphia Phillies were working on a major deal for a front-line starter.

While there were names thrown around, eventually it was learned that they were working extensively with Houston for right-hander Roy Oswalt. While a deal wasn’t imminent, the two sides have continued talks into Wednesday afternoon.

While that seems to have cooled from last night, another rumor has made its way to the top of the list, and it’s the Chicago White Sox and the Milwaukee Brewers trying to negotiate a deal that would send Prince Fielder to Chicago.

If that is the player the White Sox are after, it would effectively end any chase they had for Nationals’ first baseman Adam Dunn.

Prince Fielder’s potential landing spot isn’t the only hot rumor out there. There are several names being thrown around.

So, without further ado, let’s get to what else is on the MLB rumor sheets.

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Update: (10:47pm CDT) Jayson Stark has another potential development as J.A. Happ was pulled from his start in Triple-A tonight.

Update: (10:44pm CDT) Jayson Stark, via Twitter, says that Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro is apparenlty a little miffed that ESPN reported that the team was “close to a major deal.”

Stark says that their report said that the team was “working on” a big deal, not “close to” a big deal.

Buster Olney, also via Twitter, says the Tampa Bay Rays have gotten involved but says their involvement surrounds Phillies’ outfielder Jayson Werth.

Update: (10:25pm CDT) Matt Gelb , staff writer for the Philadelphia Enquirer , says the reporters still have not met with Phillies manager Charlie Manuel because his door has remained closed.

A deal seems to involve outfielder Jayson Werth but Gelb says that he can’t see Werth being dealt to a National League team, and is of the opinion that he’ll be dealt to an American League team.

Update: (10:15pm CDT) Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, via Twitter , chimes in and says that a deal is “not close.” He says the Phillies are talking to “many teams on many fronts” and that the Diamondbacks, A’s, and Astros are not close to a deal.

Update: (10:03pm CDT) According to ESPN’s Buster Olney , the Phillies have not discussed Dan Haren or any pitchers from the Rays. I misread that tweet from Olney, though it’s contrary to Jayson Stark’s article that says they have discussed Haren. That being known, it seems more and more likely that it’s Roy Oswalt about to be headed east.

Starks’ article also talks about the Phillies being more aggressive about moving outfielder Jayson Werth to free up a roster spot for top prospect Domonic Brown.

Update: (9:57pm CDT) Jayson Stark has an article up and says the Phillies have also discussed Baltimore’s Jeremy Guthrie and Oakland’s Ben Sheets. Though a “major trade” to me says “major pitcher.” Hence either Oswalt or Haren have to be the guy they’re after.

9:54pm CDT With the Major League Baseball trade deadline just a week and a half away, it seems that the wheels are in motion for this month’s second big trade.

This time, according to Jayson Stark and Buster Olney of ESPN, it’s the Philadelphia Phillies that are the center of the all the talks. It’s not known who exactly the Phillies are about to land, but rumors are that they’ve discussed Houston’s Roy Oswalt, Arizona’s Dan Haren, and pitchers with the Tampa Bay Rays.

We’ll get updates up on this story as it develops as well as the players that might be involved, so keep checking back with us.

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The faster the MLB trade rumors heat up, the more difficult it is to keep on top of all the speculation.

Nearly every team in baseball has been speculated to have their hand in at least one deal or so, making the whole situation as cloudy as the murky depths of the Atlantic Ocean.

But trade rumors are simply that—rumors.

Let’s take a look at the latest in the crazy world of speculative trade talk, and where certain players could wind up at the July 31st deadline.

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Yankees ace Andy Pettitte left today’s game in the third inning with a Grade One left groin strain, and it has already been announced that he is expected to miss four or five weeks.  Coupled with A.J. Burnett’s recent two-handed assault on a locker room door that left Burnett bloodied and his ego bruised, the Yankees will likely conclude they have to find another starter to make up for their recent failure to land top-prize Cliff Lee.

Will the Yankees decide that Roy Oswalt is their man?  I have heard very few rumors indicating the Yankees are interested in Oswalt, but there are certainly reasons to think he might be a good fit for the Bombers.

First, despite a crummy 6-11 record, Oswalt can still pitch.  His present 3.12 ERA is his lowest since 2006 and his rate of 8.5 Ks per nine innings is his highest since his rookie season of 2001.

Oswalt left today’s game after four innings with an ankle contusion after being struck by a sharply hit grounder off the bat of the Pirates’ Pedro Alvarez, but Oswalt isn’t expected to miss his next start.

Everyone has long been aware that the Astros have Oswalt on the auction block.  The big sticking point is that Oswalt still has approximately $25 million in future salary coming to him through the 2011, since Oswalt has a no-trade clause and the expectation is that Oswalt will require his $16 million 2011 option by picked up in exchange for waiving the no-trade clause.

That’s a lot of money, but, of course, the Yankees have more money than anyone for just these types of situations.  The Yankees also have loads of prospects to trade, and probably won’t have to give up the best of them if they taken on a relatively higher percentage of Oswalt’s remaining contract obligations.

The Yankees may be concerned how Oswalt would make the transition to the American League, as Javier Vasquez has underwhelmed in his second stint with the Yankees after a fine 2009 campaign in Atlanta.  However, I think Oswalt’s lack of experience in the AL is actually an advantage.

Unlike, Vasquez, who pitched four of the last six seasons in the AL before this one, Oswalt has never pitched for anyone but the Astros.  In other words, American League hitters have seen precious little of Oswalt.  A lack of familiarity usually favors the pitcher.

Here’s mlbtraderumors.com’s list of starting pitchers in play as the trade deadline approaches.  Dan Haren is probably the only pitcher on the list who ranks with Oswalt as far as the second half of this season is concerned.

The Yankees have several in-house options in a trio of 23-year-old minor leaguers, all of whom look pretty good.  They are Ivan Novoa, David Phelps, and Hector Noesi.

Novoa is 7-2 with a 3.21 ERA at AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre, and he looked pretty good in a two-game cup of coffee he received with the Yankees in mid-May.

David Phelps has a 7-1 record with a 2.04 ERA after 14 starts at AA Trenton and three starts at AAA SWB.  Phelps’s ratios are terrific.

Noesi has a fantastic 1.74 ERA after ten starts at Trenton since being promoted from A+ Tampa, where he started the 2010 season.

However, it’s hard to see the Yankees throwing a completely untested rookie into a starting slot in the middle of a pennant race.

The Yankees will almost certainly trade for somebody now that they know they’ll be without Pettitte for at least a month.  The question is who the lucky pitcher will be.

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The Houston Astros, despite their pitiful overall record this season, are beginning to take the needed steps in the right direction.

Step one, of many, was the Astros naming Jeff Bagwell as the team’s new hitting coach.

Is Bagwell the depleted franchise’s savior? No, not by any means.

But Bagwell’s hiring does mean one thing that fans should be happy about: The Astros are about to become refocused on winning and bringing a World Series championship to the city of Houston.

Are y’all ready?

Bagwell—a key figure of those original Killer B’s that Houston fans became so addicted to in the early and mid-1990s—will be a great addition to an already improved coaching staff.

Expect trades next, with the starting pitcher and fan-favorite Roy Oswalt—the player mentioned the most in trade rumors—parting ways with the Astros.

As sad as it will be to see Houston’s ace leave the only team he’s ever played for professionally, it’s another one of those needed and necessary steps in this long and sometimes painful process of rebuilding a baseball team.

Will the Astros become immediate contenders in the 2011 season with the inevitable moves awaiting this franchise?

Most likely, no (but it could happen—just look back to 2005 as a prime example).

However, they WILL be contenders again within the next two to three years.

As I mentioned earlier, this will be a very LONG and sometimes painful process when it comes to rebuilding Houston’s baseball team into National League Central leaders.

But it’s going to happen. Just give the current coaching staff and upper management time to re-create a new and solid team built on the principles that have always been important to this organization: fantastic clubhouse chemistry and a group of players that care about each other and the game of baseball more than words can express.

Houston’s heading in the right direction.

And Bagwell is going to be a major part of this rebuilding process that will likely conclude with another trip to the coveted World Series.

This time around, however, the Astros will be taking home the title.

I’m allowed to dream, aren’t I?

Denton Ramsey may be reached via email at denton.ramsey@gmail.com

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