Week In Review: 7/31/11 – 8/6/11

Here's a look back at the week following the trade deadline..

• The Mets remain highly unlikely to offer Jose Reyes a contract similar to Carl Crawford's contract at seven-years, $142MM.  Reportedly, both the guaranteed money and the length of Crawford’s contract would be unappealing to the Mets.
• No surprise here, Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. doesn’t want to let Jimmy Rollins slip away when he hits free agency.
• After a career that has spanned nearly two decades, Matt Stairs announced that he's retiring.  The 43-year-old was designated for assignment by the Nationals last Wednesday and released on Monday.
• The Twins recently approached Michael Cuddyer about a contract extension and floated the idea of a two-year, $16MM deal.  The conversations didn’t progress from there and Cuddyer appears to prefer to postpone negotiations until after the season.
• The Braves are in the market for a right-handed pinch hitter who can complement the left-handed hitting Eric Hinske off of the bench.
• Closer Heath Bell intends to accept arbitration after the season from the Padres if the two sides have not worked out a contract extension.  Later on, Padres owner Jeff Moorad said that he doesn't mind if Bell accepts arbitration after the season.
• Baltimore released Justin Duchscherer, who never appeared in a game for the Orioles.  The 33-year-old right-hander spent the entire season on the disabled list with a strained left hip after signing a one-year deal in February that paid him $700K plus incentives.
• Later that day, the Orioles claimed Jo-Jo Reyes after the Blue Jays designated the left-hander for assignment.
• After opting out of his deal with the Athletics, pitcher Willie Eyre agreed to a deal with the Orioles.
• Brett Carroll refused an outright assignment from the Brewers and is now a free agent.
• The Mariners released Jack Cust, who was designated for assignment last week.
• The Athletics designated left-hander Jerry Blevins for assignment in order to call up Adam Rosales from Triple-A.
• David Purcey was designated for assignment by the Tigers to clear a spot for reliever David Pauley.
• The Rangers designated Arthur Rhodes for assignment, to create roster space for newly-acquired right-hander Mike Adams.
• The Phillies released reliever Danys Baez after he cleared waivers.  The veteran had been designated for assignment recently to create a spot for Brad Lidge.
• This week we learned that Japanese pitcher Hisashi Iwakuma hired Paul Cobbe of Sosnick-Cobbe Sports as his new agent several months ago.
• First baseman Lyle Overbay was DFA'd by the Pirates.
• Red Sox righty Clay Buchholz is unlikely to pitch again in the regular season due to a stress fracture in his back which explains why the Red Sox picked up Erik Bedard.