Bruce Miles Q&A Tomorrow!

Tomorrow at 3 PM Central Time (4 ET), I will be hosting I live Question and Answer with Cubs beat writer Bruce Miles from the Daily Herald.

Check out Bruce's blog by clicking here. He does that blog on the DH website with Scot Gregor, who covers the White Sox.

We will discuss what it's like to be a beat writer for a Major League Baseball team, the Cubs, and more. If you have a question that you would like me to ask Bruce, there are 3 ways you can do so:

• Email me at cubsblogmailbag@aol.com or brandocubbiefan1@aim.com.
• Put your question in the comments of this post.
• Come to the Live Q&A tomorrow at 3 and enter your name and submit your question.

Please include your name with all questions so I can give credit.

For those of you that are fans of other teams, this will be the first, but not the last Q&A that I have. I hope to start having them about once a week! Any suggestions as to who I should try to get? Just email me!

Hope you'll enjoy the Q&A!!!

Ken Roesenthal on Trade Market

Ken Rosenthal article:

• The Rays are still active in the Cliff Lee and Roy Halladay sweepstakes.
• The Angels are still targeting Baltimore's George Sherrill and Cleveland's Rafael Betancourt.
• The Phillies, Rays, Brewers and Dodgers are on Lee, and the Rangers have expressed continued interest" as well.
• The Rockies are after Baltimore's Danys Baez.
• The Red Sox deals "should eliminate any chance of them trading for Victor Martinez."
• The Giants want to hold onto Jonathan Sanchez, given Randy Johnson's fragility.

Mets to be Buyers

According Bart Hubbuch; the Mets GM Omar Minaya says New York will be buyers, not sellers at the trade deadline.

"Right now we do not envision [being a seller]," Minaya said. "If we're 6 ½ [back] in the wild card with a couple of teams in front of us, we are still kind of trying to find out how we can improve this team, if we can improve it through trades."

Halladay Rumors

Lets get started on these rumors:

6:51 PM: The dodgers are still in the mix for Halladay; writes Peter Gammons.

5:02 PM: Tim Kurkjian says he doesn't expect the Jays to deal Halladay because their asking price is "enormously high."

3:40 PM: Rockies GM Dan O'Dowd told MLB.com that Halladay is not a fit for his team because the cost would be "devastating" financially and in terms of talent. (just eliminating another team.)

1:02 PM: Keith Law says Diaz's glove could make him a legitimate MLB backup in spite of his bat. Strickland is "probably a reliever at best."

12:10 PM: The Jays rejected a deal form the White Sox, writes ESPN.

11:11 AM: According to Jon Heyman; the Brewers could be a major threat for Halladay, he's hearing players like Manny Parra's name and suspects Mat Gamel or Alcides Escobar would have to be involved, too.

11:07 AM: Ricciardi told ESPN.com's Jason Shark; that the talks are expected to intensify early next week. The Jays haven't told the teams that are interested what players they would want.

Ricciardi said it wont give that much time for a trade with our imposed deadline. He also mentions that 4 teams seem "seriously interested" with the Phillies leading the pack.

8:33 AM: As reported yesterday the Yankees and Mets are still not a threat for Halladay.

Nats Shopping Dunn

According to an ESPN rumor insider; The Nationals are listening to offers regarding Adam Dunn.

That would represent a change of course for the Nats. Acting general manager Mike Rizzo said earlier this month that Dunn would not be traded.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch added that the Nats had a scout attending the Cardinals' Triple-A game in Memphis on Tuesday.

Lugo for Duncan

Bernie Miklasz reports; that the Cardinals will trade Chris Duncan to the Red Sox for Julio Lugo, Red Sox will still pay Lugo's salary.

Holliday Drawing Interest

Joe Stiglich is reporting that the Giants and Tigers have "at least a degree of interest" in Matt Holliday and the Yankees have been scouting the A's.

Red Sox trade for Adam LaRoche

LaRoche rumors:

2:09 PM: The Pirates are NOT sending cash; writes Kovacevic.

1:09 PM: The Pirates are also sending cash to the Red Sox.

12:03 PM: Pirates receive pitcher Hunter Strickland and shortstop Argenis Diaz; according to Speier. Baseball America says the prospects aren't worth much.

11:14 AM: Kovacevic says the Pirates have traded LaRoche to the Red Sox.

10:58 AM: Adam LaRoche is not in the starting line-up.

10:56 AM: Ed Price hears that Adam LaRoche has been traded.

Adam LaRoche makes a little over 7 million, and is 29 years of age. At season end he could qualify for as a Type B free agent.

Giants Still Want a Bat

Jeff Fletcher says the Giants probably didn't want Adam LaRoche that much, given what very little the Red Sox gave up. Jeff also mention that the Giants could be holding out for a premium player. Could that be Matt Holliday?

Around Baseball

Around Baseball:

• Rosenthal says Russell Martin wouldn't qualify as the centerpiece of a Roy Halladay trade because he's faltered offensively.
• The Phillies could trade Rodrigo Lopez if Pedro Martinez takes over in the rotation.
• The Brewers were among the teams scouting Cliff Lee last night; according to Tom Haudricourt.
  

More to come...

Cubs Can Add Payroll

According to Gordon Wittenmyer; the Cubs can add some pieces at the deadline, apparently they have enough payroll flexibility to add a "mid-level" player and Wittenmyer suggests the team could pursue relievers such as George Sherrill and Chad Qualls. But don't expect them to join the Rooy Halladay sweepstakes.

Countdown to the Deadline: 10 Days- Injury Updates, Rumors, Links, & More!

A lot of talk, not a lot of action so far this July. Will any big moves be made before the July 31st deadline??

Let's Recap
Before we move on to the new stuff, let's take a look at what we've learned so far today. Click for link to Phil's posts from today:
-Cubs interested in Grabow
- Piniella want left handed hitting
-Today's Halladay rumors
-Steven Strasburg Update
-Lee probably won't be traded
-M's DFA Josh Wilson
-Phillies interested in Josh Willingham
-Yankees DFA Brett Tomko
- Jon Heyman Updates
-Rosenthal on the Phillies
- Olney Updates
-Qualls Sweepstakes

Wakefield to the DL
Red Sox knuckleballer Tim Wakefield has been placed on the DL with a twinge in his lower back. The 42-year old is eligible to be activated on Aug. 2. Clay Buchholtz was recalled from AAA Pawtucket to take the spot on the roster.

Berkman Scratched
A strained calf will sideline Astros slugger Lance Berkman for a few days. He had an MRI, and is available to pinch hit, but will not start.

Mets Simulated Games
Shortstop Jose Reyes had a pair of hits, and pitcher John Main tossed 65 pitches in simulated games for the Mets in Port St. Lucie this afternoon. No timetable is set for either player's return.

Martinez feels Good
Phillies RHP Pedro Martinez has taken the next step towards his return. He tossed 64 pitches, 4 innings, in a simulated game today. Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. was on hand to watch Pedro pitch and thought he pitched well. Martinez is doing his rehab in Clearwater, FL.

Aurilia to DL
The Giants have placed Rich Aurilia on the 15 day DL with a right big toe infection. The Giants made several other roster moves: Kevin Frandsen optioned to AAA, Matt Downs recalled, and Ryan Sadowski recalled from Class A San Jose. The Giants are trying to get some offense going.

White Sox and Mets Deadline Updates
White Sox GM Kenny Williams is hinting that money being a bit of issue. and there is the a possibility that reliever Tony Pena holds up as the only White Sox Trade Deadline acquisition. All Mets GM Omar Minaya will say is that the Mets are buyers, but he won't comment on any rumors.

Kendrick Staying with Phils
The Philadelphia Phillies are not looking to move top prospect pitcher Kyle Kendrick. Kendrick was scratched from today's start with AAA, but it had nothing to do with the Trade Deadline according to Phillies assistant GM Chuck LaMar.

That's it for now, stay tuned to MLB Corner for all the latest as always.