hot hot hot trade rumors

1. The Baltimore Sun’s Dan Connolly and Jeff Zrebiec are reporting the Baltimore Orioles have discussed sending SP Rodrigo Lopez to the Philadelphia Phillies for either OF Bobby Abreu or OF Pat Burrell. According to several industry sources, the Phillies would be willing to accept Lopez and perhaps another player, likely a mid-level prospect, if the Orioles were to pay a significant portion of one of the outstanding contracts.

Wow, it’s come to this. The Phillies are willing to practically give Burrell and Abreu away to whomever will pay their contracts. Burrell, by the way, is a guy who hit 32 homers and 117 RBIs last year and is on pace for similarly gaudy numbers this year. And Abreu, for all the crap that he takes about his defense, has a cannon arm, won a gold glove last year, and is second in the league in on-base percentage. Lopez, meanwhile, is 30 yrs. old, is 6-10 this year with a 6.44 ERA and has never won more than 15 games.

2. Nationals scouts have been keeping an eye on Mariners rookie outfielder Adam Jones, just recalled from Tacoma. Jones hit .277 with 14 homers and 55 RBI in the minors and is considered the Mariners’ center fielder of the future. The Mariners, who now find themselves inexplicably in the playoff hunt, are one of several teams interested in trading for Alfonso Soriano. And Jones could be the price they pay.

3. Jose Guillen may have just taken himself off the trade market. Guillen left Tuesday’s game against the Marlins with right elbow soreness. He made a throw in the first inning that skied toward third base. “It burned like it was on fire,” he said. He will have an MRI exam on Wednesday.

4. Fox Sports is reporting that the Yankees are interested in either Bobby Abreu or Reggie Sanders to help out their ailing outfield. But Newsday is reporting that Steinbrenner prefers Soriano.