One National League official predicted to me yesterday that we'd see "a flurry" of trades as we run right up to the July 31 non-waivers trading deadline. There are typically a lot of deals right on the 31st, although there's usually more chatter leading up to those trades than there has been this year.
It makes sense, because as long as you do your preparation _ as long as you know what players oppsing general managers want in return for their players _ you should be able to pick up the phone on the 31st and quickly execute a deal. And for whatever you want to say about our local GMs, neither Brian Cashman nor Omar Minaya has ever been accused of laziness.
Both Cashman and Minaya exhibited restraint last offseason, as many of their colleagues spent liberally. So far, the two men are being equally disciplined, not entertaining the possibility of giving up any high-level prospects. But what happens if the Yankees keep narrowing the gap on the Indians in the AL wild-card race? And if the Mets lose ground on the Braves and Phillies during what should be an easy homestand?
My prediction, here on Barry Bonds' 43rd birthday: Cashman won't make another move, after filling his biggest need of backup catcher. He'll even stick with his guy Kyle Farnsworth, refusing to pay his freight out of town. Whereas Minaya will acquire some bullpen help, although not a high-profile guy like Kansas City's Octavio Dotel or Texas' Eric Gagne.
If Mark Teixeira, Jermaine Dye and Mike Piazza get traded, then it won't have been such a horrible trade deadline, after all. We'll try and keep on top of this flurry forecast.