This year, more teams seem to think they're in contention and fewer teams wore the tag of a true "seller." Countless names were bandied about as potential trade bait before yesterday's deadline, but as always only a few were actually dealt. Let's take a look at names on some of the teams that we'd most closely define as "sellers" this deadline that are staying put for now:
- Orioles: Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora, Danys Baez, Luke Scott, Ty Wigginton, Mark Hendrickson. They got two good prospects for the popular George Sherrill, but as time ticked away none of these guys seemed to have much interest. Team president Andy MacPhail probably didn't get any offers for the impending free agents better than what the O's might get back in draft picks this offseason, as Huff projects as a Type A free agent and Mora a Type B (though it's unlikely Mora is offered arbitration). Can't rule out a waiver deal for the more expensive guys.
- Athletics: Adam Kennedy, Justin Duchscherer, Michael Wuertz. That Wuertz comes cheap and is under control till 2011 probably meant Billy Beane wanted a big return. Duchscherer is still recovering from elbow surgery and was scratched from his rehab start yesterday, but as an impending free agent with $1.3MM left on his deal this year there's a chance he could be moved this month.
- Blue Jays: Roy Halladay, Jason Frasor, Scott Downs, Lyle Overbay, Brandon League. Some speculated that a Halladay deal would be the impetus for a Scott Rolen deal and create a domino effect, but it looks like the Rolen trade was the only one to truly bowl over J.P. Ricciardi. Overbay might be a waiver deal candidate, as he makes $7MM this year and next.
- Pirates: Zach Duke, Matt Capps. With the explosion of the Pirates' roster, it's a minor surprise neither of these guys were dealt. But they come cheap, and they're under control through 2011.
- Padres: Heath Bell, Adrian Gonzalez, Kevin Kouzmanoff, David Eckstein, Kevin Correia. By the time the deadline approached, it seemed like Bell or Gonzalez might actually be dealt despite early reports that there would be no way they get moved. Instead, it was Peavy, which seemed to mean the Padres were cost-cutting.
- Diamondbacks: Doug Davis, Jon Garland, Chad Qualls. It became more evident before the deadline passed that the D'Backs would keep Qualls. Garland and Davis are candidates to be moved in August.
- Indians: Kerry Wood, Carl Pavano. With Wood's poor year and hefty contract, he wasn't an altogether attractive option. Pavano's set to net a draft pick as a Type B free agent, which probably appeals to the Indians more than what they were offered.
- Nationals: Josh Willingham, Adam Dunn, Ron Villone, Austin Kearns. Jim Bowden is gone, but it still seems the Nationals are asking quite a lot for their veterans at the deadline. Remember when they neglected to deal Alfonso Soriano at the deadline when he was an impending free agent? Not dealing Willingham can't be worse than that non-move, but it seemed to make sense to maximize value for him for a ballclub going nowhere this year.
- Royals: Mark Teahen, Brian Bannister, Ron Mahay, Willie Bloomquist. The Royals apparently wanted a Washburn-type return for Bannister, and teams might not have agreed with that asking price.
