From Jason Starks Fingers to Your Eyes

Here's all you need to know about the trade-deadline climate, 2006: The A's keep suggesting they're willing to listen on Zito, a 28-year-old Cy Young who leads all AL left-handers not named Johan Santana in quality starts. Yet they have nothing going. Nada. Now it may also tell us something about how much teams enjoy the idea of trading for a soon-to-be-free-agent who just hired Scott Boras. But that's a side issue. The fact is, the A's have done everything but rent a billboard on the Brooklyn Queens Expressway to advertise their interest in trading Zito to the Mets. And there is still no evidence to suggest the Mets have been swayed by that advertising blitz one iota. Instead, according to a variety of clubs who check in with the Mets, they're focused on a less glamorous (and way less pricy) group of starting pitchers. Livan Hernandez apparently pitched his way back onto that list with his win Wednesday. Also on it (if the price is discounted enough): Jon Lieber and Tony Armas Jr. The Mets prefer a hard thrower. They just can't find one. They've backpedaled on Kip Wells. They don't think Jason Schmidt is gettable. They made a fruitless run at Oliver Perez. So there's no reason to think they're suddenly about to turn their attention to Zito, who would require them to deal Lastings Milledge or Aaron Heilman, plus another lesser player. Zito is a Nordstrom's kind of item. And the Mets clearly are just Target shoppers these days.

They still say Aaron Heilman or Lastings Milledge. If that is the case, I expect Omar to be all over that since Heilman has all of a sudden become expendable in their eyes.

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From ESPN rumor mill on Miguel Tejada:

Many suitors for Miggy
Jul 28 - According to ESPN.com's Jayson Stark, the Rangers and Dodgers have joined the Angels and Astros in the pursuit of Miguel Tejada.

Even after making that Carlos Lee strike, Texas could be a good fit for Tejada, who's still owed $38 million over three-plus seasons. The Rangers have a hotshot shortstop prospect in Joaquin Arias. And they might be willing to include their third baseman, Hank Blalock, if they decide to play Tejada at third.

The Dodgers, meanwhile, have Cesar Izturis and a busload of attractive prospects to offer. And no team was doing more active bat-shopping Friday than the Astros. Shortstop Adam Everett would be in the deal.

The Orioles also have been scouting the Angels' prospects, and would prefer to get a pitcher in return. But the Angels are unlikely to move Jered Weaver or Ervin Santana, meaning the Orioles would likely target second baseman Howie Kendrick and/or shortstop Brandon Wood. The Angels have maintained that they will not trade either Kendrick or Wood.

How about them Rangers? I guess pitching is not something they think they need.

I heart Pedro. After a rough first, he buckled down to work six innings with only 77 pitches thrown. Oh, David Wright and Jose Reyes aren't too bad either.

Mike Carp is a stud. He went 5 for 5 with a two runs scored, a double, his tenth homer, and four RBIs in St. Lucie's 9-2 win over Lakeland. This is a bold statement by me, but I think he will be better than Eric Duncan. He's really having a breakout year.

Fernando Martinez went 0 for 3 with a two walks and a run scored in Hagerstowns loss to Asheville.

From Benny...

I just shit my pants. Yulieski Gurriel has defected. Get him Omar. Get him at ANY cost.