Baseball News on a Rainy Day

It's raining out and there is nothing to do, so we'll give you some baseball news to read about.

As most of you already know, the Yankees enter tonight's game in a first place tie with the Red Sox. I think it's safe to say the AL pennant is heating up, and it should be fun to watch to the finish.

What most of the baseball world is talking about is, none other than Roy Halladay. The rumor mill continues to provide new information each day on him. Yesterday, there was talk that JP Ricciardi offered Roy Halladay to the Mets for Fernando Martinez, Jon Niese, Bobby Parnell, and Ruben Tejada, but was rejected by Omar Minaya. Word is this was a false report, and if it were true, Ricciardi should have been fired for offering it, and Minaya should have been fired for rejecting it.

• Anyway, today's Halladay news is that the Blue Jays are setting a July 28 deadline to deal him. The Phillies remain the favorites to get him.
• Buster Olney suggests an alternative to Halladay, in Justin Duchscherer. Duchscherer's numbers from 2008 were 141 innings, 107 hits, 2.54 ERA, 34 walks, and 95 strikeouts. He has missed all of this year due to an injury, but is expected to return in a couple of weeks. I don't know if anyone would trade for this guy not knowing if he'll pitch this season, but he will be a free agent ater the season, so keep an eye on him.
• There has been much talk over last night's game between the A's and the Twins, where the A's came back from a 12-2 deficit to beat the Twins 14-13. It was the way the game ended that had everyone talking. Michael Cuddyer was called out at home plate after a wild pitch to end the game on a play where he was clearly safe. This is now bringing more uproar to the MLB and instant replat debate.
• Also do not expect the Rockies todeal Huston Street or Jason Marquis, because they took a 1/2 game lead in the NL Wild Card race with a 10-6 victory over the Diamondbacks.

If you are wondering on what my thoughts are for the Yankees at the trade deadline, I believe they need a middle to back-end of the rotation type of guy. I would like to see if the price for Cliff Lee isn't too high, but I think they will end up with someone like Ian Snell, Doug Davis, or Aaron Harang. If the Mariners fall out of contention, expect a push for Jarrod Washburn again.

Hopefully the Yankees get this game in tonight despite the rain.