Yes, it is the first of July.
Yes, baseball season is getting interesting.
That doesn't mean football season should be ignored.
The Erie Times-News Fantasy Football Challenge will return this year and I'm taking names for those who want to participate.
Send me an e-mail with your best reason why you should be chosen for the league.
We'll draft sometime in mid- to late-August, but that time will be here before you know it.

If you have tickets to the All-Star Game in San Francisco and want to see John Smoltz, you might want to think about selling those tickets.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Smoltz will return to Atlanta today and meet with Braves doctors about his right shoulder discomfort.
The rest from the AP:

Smoltz will likely skip his final start Saturday at San Diego before the All-Star break, which begins Monday. Smoltz will meet with doctors Friday to discuss what type of test is appropriate, the team said.
"I think he's going to be fine," manager Bobby Cox said. "He should be fine at the tail end of the rotation after the All-Star break."
Smoltz (9-5, 3.07 ERA) was selected to his eighth NL All-Star team Sunday. The game is Tuesday in San Francisco.

If you're used to watching live scoring on your favorite internet site and following the swings of your favorite batters, the All-Star break can be a bleak time.
What can you do to fill the void?
You could watch the game.
Or, you could start planning for fantasy football season.
Here are some thoughts from the AP's Bill Konigsberg:

You know you're a fantasy baseball addict if you're irked by the only three-day break in a six-month season.
It's the equivalent of a long weekend, but every year, roto geeks grouse about the All-Star break. They don't care about the midsummer classic. Those stats are meaningless. Where will they get their fantasy fix?
Admit it: As a fantasy owner, you weren't much interested in who was leading fan voting for the All-Star game. An outfield of Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds might be a nice story for some, but you were more interested in Brian Fuentes losing his closer job in Colorado.
Take a deep breath and enjoy the break. Go out on an actual date with your significant other. Take a walk with your kids. Maybe even watch the game Tuesday night, and enjoy the lack of flutter in your chest when one of your pitchers gives up a three-run homer.
Relax. For once it doesn't matter.
And if you're such a die-hard that you can't bear not thinking about fantasy baseball for a few days, here are our picks for a fantasy All-Star squad. The winners at each position aren't the best players, but the most valuable based on how much they've outperformed their predicted worth at the start of the season:

Catcher
John Buck, Royals
After three similarly unspectacular seasons, Buck was an afterthought in fantasy drafts. He should have been; the arrival of Jason LaRue certainly meant fewer chances for Buck. So it's been a very pleasant surprise to watch the young Buck battle Victor Martinez for the most home runs among catchers in the first half. Buck (.243-14-28 in 181 at-bats) already has a career high in home runs, not bad for a guy who went undrafted in most leagues. He's unlikely to get more than 400 at-bats because of LaRue, but owners will enjoy his power all season long.

First Base
Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
With apologies to Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena (.283-19-47), who certainly wasn't drafted by fantasy owners in March since he wasn't expected to make the team, Youkilis (.329-9-44) has been among the best fantasy success stories this year. His home run total isn't stellar, but he's among the batting average leaders and for leagues that use on-base percentage, Youkilis (.420) is indeed something of a fantasy god.

Second Base
B.J. Upton, Devil Rays
Everyone knew Upton was a good hitter, but all fantasy eyes were on Delmon Young rather than Upton to start the season. All the better for those smart enough to give Upton (.320-9-31, 13 SBs) a try. A quadriceps injury put things on hold, but Upton should be back to spraying line drives in the second half. His 68 strikeouts in 200 at-bats is a concern, but for now, there is no one at 2B who has been more valuable.

Third Base
Mike Lowell, Red Sox
With all the power-hitting third basemen out there, who would have guessed that Lowell would be among the leaders in RBIs? Lowell (.291-12-55) doesn't have anything on A-Rod or Miguel Cabrera, but no other 3B player has more RBIs. The 33-year-old was considered a backup at best for standard mixed leagues, but is currently paying huge dividends for those owners who chose to draft stars at other positions.

Shortstop
J.J. Hardy, Brewers
Has he slowed down since his insane start? Sure. But he still has more home runs than any other shortstop, and that's pretty great for a guy who was mostly forgotten in March fantasy drafts. Smart drafters knew Hardy (.283-18-52) was a nice sleeper, a guy who was considered a future star before an injury ended his season early last year. I'm not sure anyone, however, saw this coming.

Outfielders
Magglio Ordonez, Tigers; Eric Byrnes, Diamondbacks, and Ken Griffey Jr., Reds
Only Alex Rodriguez has been a more valuable fantasy stud than Ordonez (.369-13-68) in the first half, and Ordonez was available well into the later rounds in most drafts. Byrnes (.314-13-46, 15 SBs) quietly was a 20-20 man last year and this year may flirt with 30-30, yet he slipped through most drafts because owners thought he couldn't repeat what was seen as a career year. Junior was avoided in drafts and with good reason; always an injury risk, he was injured to start the year and no one expected much. Instead, Griffey (.291-22-53) is on pace for his first 40-homer, 100-RBI season since 2000. If he stays healthy. If.

Starting Pitcher
Brad Penny, Dodgers
All reports were that Penny was looking strong going into the season, but who could have guessed how strong? Penny (10-1, 2.00) has been unstoppable for the Dodgers, and owners who took a chance on him know that only four times in 17 starts has he allowed more than a run in a game. His secret? He's allowed just two home runs, both in the same game, June 3 at Pittsburgh.

Relief Pitcher
Francisco Cordero, Brewers
After converting 16-of-16 save opportunities last season once he was traded to Milwaukee, fantasy owners had some interest in Cordero (27 saves, 2.91 ERA) during drafts. But he was certainly not a top-tier choice, and all he's done in the first half is lead baseball in saves. His 47 strikeouts are third among closers, behind Francisco Rodriguez of the Angels and Billy Wagner of the Mets. That's as top tier as it gets.

You've probably heard theories about the home run derby hurting a player in the second half of the season.
David Wright is an example most recently touted.
Wright struggled in the second half last season, but I wouldn't bank on it being derby related.
The winner, Ryan Howard, did just fine last year.
Here's another thought on it from Paul Gutierrez of McClatchy Newspapers:

Mike Piazza does not have especially fond memories of the two times he participated in the Home Run Derby, in his rookie season of 1993 in Baltimore and 1994 in Pittsburgh.
Oh, sure, the A's injured designated hitter had fun swinging for the fences against the likes of fellow future Hall of Famers Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas. It's just that Piazza was shut out both years and that goose egg is there for posterity.
"Well, that's the way it goes; it's all about fun," Piazza said with a smile. "They've obviously elevated it for promotional purposes, which is cool. It's a really big event. As long as the fans love it, like the dunk contest in the NBA, it's cool."
But like the dunk contest, which was Michael Jordan's showcase until he grew older and stopped competing, the derby seems to be losing steam among the game's aging sluggers. Bonds, who turns 43 on July 24, declined to take part, frustrating many of his home fans, as did Griffey, 37.
Both cited age and the physical drain the contest has on a hitter.
Then there's the age-old argument that the derby could negatively affect your swing, a theory subscribed to by the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, whose 30 homers lead the majors.
"I've worked hard for my swing and I definitely don't want to let anything get in the way of that," said Rodriguez, the All-Star Game's leading vote getter this year.
Sammy Sosa, who won the 2000 derby in Atlanta, agreed.
"We do that for the fans," Sosa said. "Normally, body-wise, it's not the same swing; you can break your back."
Then why risk it, unless bragging rights and a trophy are worth it? A Sacramento Bee survey of the previous five derby winners — Jason Giambi (2002), Garret Anderson (`03), Miguel Tejada (`04), Bobby Abreu (`05) and Ryan Howard (`06) — showed while the homer-per-at-bat rates of Giambi, Tejada and Howard improved in the second half of the seasons of their respective titles, the rates of Anderson and Abreu plummeted precipitously.
Some say Abreu, who hit a derby-record 41 homers, including 24 in the first round, has yet to recover.
Yet many think such theories are overblown. Count Minnesota center fielder Torii Hunter among them.
"There's no way because even in batting practice you try to go deep," Hunter said. "In batting practice every day you actually try to hit home runs in two or three rounds . . . try and go deep and help your power swing.
"It's like a glorified batting practice. Once you're a professional and you know what you're doing, you're stuck with it. It doesn't change anything. That's overanalyzing."
Hunter might be on to something. After all, in 2002 he hit three derby homers at Milwaukee's to finish fifth, beating Bonds, Rodriguez and Houston's Lance Berkman.
"I was happy, boy, believe me," Hunter laughed. "I didn't win it, but I did tell everybody I beat Barry Bonds and A-Rod."
Piazza is somewhere in the middle.
"This game is very mental, so I think that's more of a mental thing than a physical thing," he said. "Players are creatures of habit and we like routine, and if we do something to offset that routine, God forbid you're not doing well, because it's easy to blame (the derby)."

There are 162 games in a baseball season.
Remember that when evaluating your team.
When you draft someone at the beginning of the season, you have a particular set of statistics in mind. Just because some is underperforming, doesn't mean they'll continue that way.
On the other hand, there are players who have exceeded their value. These are guys you might want to consider trading.
Bill Konigsberg of the Associate Press offers some players to think about:

Take a look at Pedro Feliz. At the break last season, the Giants third baseman was hitting .274 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs. While not MVP numbers, he certainly looked like a breakout star. Then he hit .202 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs the rest of the way.
Other first-half stars who fell apart in the second half last year:
-Adam Dunn, OF, Reds: .229-12-32 after 28 homers in the first half;
-Hank Blalock, 3B, Rangers: .237-4-29 after a .287-12-60 start.
Some swoons are blatantly obvious. After Ben Broussard hit .330 in the first half, we were so certain of his fall that at last year's All-Star break we created a word - Broussardian - to describe it. It means "glorious at first, followed by a precipitous fall from grace." Alas, Broussard hit a Broussardian .243 the rest of the way.
Here are a few players you might want to trade soon.
REALITY BITES
Jorge Posada, C, Yankees
It's been a pleasure to watch Posada (.326-9-48) swing this season, but history tells us not to expect him to keep this up. He'll be 36 in August, and has never hit higher than .287 in a season. That was in 2000, and how often do players over 35 have career years in which they hit more than .50 points above their career averages? Expect the catcher to improve his power totals, while his average drops to a more typical level. A .290-22-90 season is likely.

Jack Cust, OF, Athletics
Cust's emergence has been among the best stories of the first half. A longtime power prospect, Cust (.267-15-42 in 178 at-bats) has finally come through after a half-decade of missed chances. The A's are sold on him; they've asked veteran Mike Piazza to go back to catching to allow Cust to keep the starting designated hitter job. They need to be careful about their expectations, and so should you as a fantasy owner; he went 6-for-29 to start July with 13 strikeouts, and his total strikeouts (72 in 180 at-bats) show the potential for a major summer swoon.

Brad Penny, RHP, Dodgers
Penny (10-1, 2.39 ERA) has been better than ever in the first half this season, but don't forget that he's done this before; Last year, he was 10-2 with a 2.91 ERA at the All-Star break, and couldn't do anything right in the second half, going 6-7 with a 6.25 ERA. In 2005, he had a 3.43 ERA before, and 4.48 after. His health has been an issue late in the season; from 2003-06, he had 70 starts prior to the break and 48 after. Don't expect a dropoff quite as extreme as last year's, but it wouldn't be shocking if his ERA jumped a full run by the end of the season.

Hunter Pence, OF, Astros
Granted, I've been wrong all year about Pence. I thought it was unlikely he had elite value as a rookie, and now he's leading the NL in hitting at the break. Here's the problem: Pence (.342-11-42) has walked 10 times in 285 plate appearances, or about 3.5 percent of the time. That's among the eight lowest walk percentages for qualifying players, and that's not a good sign. The last rookie to perform at this level for an entire season was Albert Pujols in 2001, and he walked 69 times that year. Pence doesn't yet have the kind of eye necessary to hit above .333 for an entire year.

The Pirates acquired Cesar Izturis from the Cubs on Thursday, giving them an infielder they didn't need.
Until Jack Wilson gets traded.
Izturis, is making $4.15 million in the final year of his $9.9 million, three-year contract, a deal that includes a $5.85 million club option for next year with a $300,000 buyout, the Associated Press reported.
Wilson is due to be paid $5.25 million this season and is due to make $6.5 million in 2008 and $7.25 million in 2009, the AP reported.
That would be one good move for the Pirates if it should come to pass.
Now, getting a team to acquire Wilson might be the hard part.

It's that time of year again.
Teams are looking to improve by plucking good players from losing teams. It also can help a fantasy league owner if they participate in a NL-only or AL-only league.
Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News has an update on where teams stand at the trading deadline:

National League
ARIZONA is in limbo. The Diamondbacks would like pitching help, particularly in the bullpen, but can't add payroll. The Diamondbacks are willing to move a young bat, and the names of 1B Conor Jackson and OF Carlos Quentin have been mentioned.
ATLANTA is a buyer and is looking for a starting pitcher. The Braves picked up veteran Julio Franco for a presence off the bench. The question is how much the Braves are willing to give up. With C Jarrod Saltalamacchia ready for the big leagues and the recent six-year extension given All-Star C Brian McCann, they have the potential for a major package. For now, though, they seem ready to look at Saltalamacchia at first base.
CHICAGO is a buyer, and the efforts to add pieces are deeper than the recent addition of C Jason Kendall, who brings stability behind the plate at a relatively low price. General manager Jim Hendry knows his job is at stake and wants potential new owners to be impressed with his efforts to add a quality reliever and a right fielder/run producer.
CINCINNATI is a potential seller, but the quality is limited, which means the asking price is high for the likes of Aaron Harang. The hope is to unload future payroll, but LF Adam Dunn's propensity for striking out and his defensive deficiencies make suitors flinch at his $13 million salary for next year. RF Ken Griffey Jr. has had a rejuvenated season, but his $16.5 million salary for 2008 comes with no-trade powers. RHP David Weathers can help a contender, and LHP Mike Stanton and 1Bs Scott Hatteberg and Jeff Conine are veteran pieces to fill out a puzzle.
COLORADO is a shopper. The Rockies want to add a power arm for the rotation and bullpen, but the price is too high for their tastes. The Rockies won't give up any top prospects but could become an interesting power broker since roster depth creates potential moves involving LHP Brian Fuentes and 3B Garrett Atkins.
FLORIDA is a seller but will be reluctant to make a major deal. LHP Dontrelle Willis is a 200-inning-plus guy, but he also is 0-6 since June 1. The Marlins aren't known for adding salary, and other than Willis and 3B Miguel Cabrera, they don't have any significant salaries.
HOUSTON is in the unusual position of being a seller, and the top of its list of available players is RHP Jason Jennings, the key offseason addition who is headed to free agency but also is 1-6. RH closer Brad Lidge is high on the list of contenders, and IF Mark Loretta can help a team in a pennant race. RHP Roy Oswalt has indicated to the right team he'd consider waiving his no-trade clause, but the five-year, $73 million extension he signed last August would have to be sweetened.
LOS ANGELES is a buyer with the focus on pitching, particularly in light of injuries to offseason rotation additions Jason Schmidt and Randy Wolf. The Dodgers are hesitant to give up young players, such as OF Matt Kemp, 1B James Loney and RHP Chad Billingsley. They are hoping they can lure some team into taking on 3B Wilson Betemit.
MILWAUKEE is a buyer for the first time in nearly two decades. With the struggles of LHP Chris Capuano and the latest injury to RHP Ben Sheets, the Brewers need a quality starting pitcher.
NEW YORK is a buyer. The Mets thought they had a shot at LHP Mark Buehrle, only to see the White Sox sign him to an extension. That only whetted the appetite to add a quality starting pitcher, and the guess is they will try to convince themselves they can fix Florida's Dontrelle Willis. They are hoping the return of OF Moises Alou from the disabled list fills an offensive need.
PHILADELPHIA is a buyer, looking for pitching of any type. The Phillies do have an interesting bargaining chip with potential free agent Aaron Rowand. They do want to find a way to get speedy Michael Bourn regular playing time. The preference is to get rid of LF Pat Burrell, but his contract, combined with the lack of performance and questions of desire, has scared teams away.
PITTSBURGH is a seller again. RHPs Tony Armas and Shawn Chacon are potential free agents. Chacon has rebuilt his value by doing a solid job in relief but has indicated he would like to remain with the Pirates. SS Jack Wilson and LF Jason Bay both are suffering from losing burnout and could be recharged with a change of scenario, much like LHP Oliver Perez once he went to the Mets.
ST. LOUIS is a seller. The Cardinals already tried to beef up their pitching staff with the patchwork moves of acquiring LHP Mike Maroth from Detroit and signing RH reliever Troy Percival out of retirement, and it hasn't helped. They could try to make a blockbuster deal by dangling closer Jason Isringhausen, who has an $8.5 million option for 2008, but more likely will try to find takers for SS David Eckstein and OF Juan Encarnacion, both headed to free agency.
SAN DIEGO would like to add some run production, but the payroll can't be expanded and there is no depth in the farm system.
SAN FRANCISCO is a seller, but the question is whether they can find any buyers for their overpriced, overaged talent. RHP Matt Morris has had the type of year that could create interest given the limited market place, but contract commitments will scare teams away from 2B Ray Durham and OF Dave Roberts.
WASHINGTON is a seller with two interesting players to offer. Closer Chad Cordero would require a significant package of young players. 1B Dmitri Young has to open eyes with his big year, but there remain concerns about the problems that have haunted him in the past. Remember, the Nationals were the only team that would even sign him to a minor-league contract last winter.
American League
BALTIMORE is a seller, but the Orioles' primary bargaining chip, SS Miguel Tejada, is on the disabled list, which has put a damper on his market value. The Orioles could supply an extra part for a contender with RHP Steve Trachsel, OF Corey Patterson or 1B/DH Kevin Millar.
BOSTON is a buyer with motivation. They need a right-hander for the back of the bullpen and have shown interest in Brad Lidge of Houston and Octavio Dotel of Kansas City. They would like to find an outfield bat but are stuck with J.D. Drew. They would happily move OFs Coco Crisp and Wily Mo Pena, but those two have been dangled for a year without drawing interest. The hope is rotation concerns can be eased by the return of RHP Curt Schilling from the disabled list.
CHICAGO is a seller, and other than LHP Mark Buerhle, recently signed to a four-year, $56 million extension, there are no untouchables. 1B/DH Jim Thome and RHP Jose Contreras are the only White Sox with full no-trades, but Contreras has indicated he will waive his. Problem is the Sox aren't looking for prospects. They want major league-ready players because they want to reload, not rebuild.
CLEVELAND is a buyer. The Indians want to add a power arm to the bullpen, where desperation is such that they have considered bring up top starting pitching prospect Adam Miller and checking him out in relief. They also are looking for a run-producer to go in left field or right field. Trot Nixon, Dave Dellucci and Jason Michaels are nice fifth outfielders but not everyday parts of a title team.
DETROIT is a buyer, looking for back-to-back World Series appearances for the first time since 1934-35. With the uncertainty about the return of RHP Joel Zumaya, the Tigers need bullpen help, and they'd give up LF Craig Monroe.
KANSAS CITY is a seller, and the Royals have a price for everybody on the roster. The most interest has been expressed in RHP Octavio Dotel, but OF Reggie Sanders could provide a contender with an experienced postseason bat. LHP Odalis Perez, RHP Scott Elarton and OF Emil Brown are being shopped hard with little return expected.
LOS ANGELES is a buyer, sort of. Problem is general manager Bill Stoneman does not have a reputation for being an in-season fixer-upper, whether it was in Montreal or with the Angels.
MINNESOTA could become a seller with some interesting players to offer. CF Torii Hunter, 2B Luis Castillo, RHP Carlos Silva and LF Rondell White are potential free agents. The Twins haven't made an impact in-season trade, though, since their 2003 acquisition of OF Shannon Stewart from Toronto.
NEW YORK is a buyer, feeling that it has to at least make a strong showing to keep ownership happy. The problem is general manager Brian Cashman isn't going to drain the organization of any more top prospects so it makes finding a reliever, offensive first baseman and rotation reinforcement difficult to add.
OAKLAND is a seller, having already dealt C Jason Kendall in a deal that was primarily designed to save $700,000. The A's also are hoping they can add some pieces to a rebuilding puzzle by offering DH/C Mike Piazza and 1B Dan Johnson because they want to create room for top prospect Daric Barton in the lineup. RHP Rich Harden is very available, but the A's don't want to discount value because of his long-running problems with injuries.
SEATTLE is a buyer, having already made it clear that it is serious about not only winning this year but keeping its team together by signing OF Ichiro Suzuki to a five-year, $90 million extension. While the Mariners would love to unload 1B Richie Sexson's contract, they are more interested in adding a quality starting pitcher and proven reliever to set up J.J. Putz.
TAMPA BAY is a window shopper. The Devil Rays don't feel they have to dump anybody, like a year ago when they couldn't wait to get rid of SS Julio Lugo, 1B Aubrey Huff and C Toby Hall. They are willing to listen to offers for 1B/3B Ty Wigginton and closer Al Reyes, but they would be pure baseball deals that bring back quality young players.
TEXAS is a seller with some interesting commodities in 1B Mark Teixeira, a young run producer with free-agent potential after 2008 and some veteran help in RHP Eric Gagne, DH Sammy Sosa and CF Kenny Lofton. While the expectation for Teixeira is high, talk about the other three players centers on a prospect or two.
TORONTO is a seller, although it has not made any concession speeches. The Jays want to get rid of the $24 million guaranteed the next two years to 3B Troy Glaus, who would like to parlay his no-trade clause into an even more lucrative deal.

Fantasy football season is just around the corner.
The best way to get the season off on the right foot is to have a good draft.
Fun, refreshments and sleeper picks all are part of the routine.
So, too, should be a cool draft board.
Check out fjfantasy.com for the perfect draft board to make draft day an easy one and let you concentrate on drafting the right players.

And while you're at it, join the Times-News Fantasy Challenge. Send me an e-mail for more details.

Yankee fans have a new favorite and his name is Shelley Duncan.
Duncan hit three home runs in two games this weekend, helping the Bronx Bombers beat up on the Devil Rays.
Duncan, 27, recently was called up by the Yankees and he's taking advantage of his opportunity.
Is he worth rostering in a fantasy league?
Well, if you need to take a risk, the answer's yes.
He can mash. He also can strike out.
Don't expect much help with batting average, but you could catch lightning in a bottle and pick up a few more HRs on the cheap.

The trade deadline is fast approaching, and teams are making their moves to either bolster their roster or build for the future.
My motto in fantasy leagues is to make a run for it if you have a chance. You never know when you might be in a similar position.
Here's a look at past deadline deals by Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News.

AROUND THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
Remembering trade deadline deals:
ARIZONA was so desperate for a closer that it gave up RHP Brad Penny in a 1999 package to get Matt Mantei from Florida. Mantei had 22 saves the final two-plus months for Arizona that season but only 52 more in the next five injury-riddled seasons.
ATLANTA had depth in its system at catcher with Brian McCann and Jason Saltalamacchia so when it had a chance last July to add a proven closer to a bullpen gone bad, the Braves were willing to send promising catching prospect Max Ramirez to Cleveland for Bob Wickman. The Braves then re-signed Wickman for 2007.
CHICAGO was looking at a division title and ignoring the future in 1998 when it was so desperate to add middle reliever Matt Karchner from the White Sox that it gave up RHP prospect Jon Garland. Karchner battle injuries and pitched a total of 32-2/3 innings for the Cubs in 1999-2000 while Garland developed into a key member of the White Sox rotation.
CINCINNATI was busy trying to create the impression it was trying to win a year ago, and in the process of looking for veteran relievers, the Reds picked up aging lefty Rheal Cormier from Philadelphia for RHP Justin Germano. The Phillies, for some reason, put Germano on waivers during spring training, and he was claimed by San Diego, where he has become a key member of the rotation as the Padres bid to win the National League West.
COLORADO didn't have any place for 1B Ryan Shealy with Todd Helton at the big-league level so they sent him and RHP Scott Dohmann and to Kansas City a year ago for LHP Jeremy Affeldt and RHP Denny Bautista.
FLORIDA found the emotional lift it needed in 1997 by acquiring minor-league IF Craig Counsell from Colorado for RHP Mark Hutton. The Marlins felt they caught a break. The Rockies had a choice between Hutton and Rick Helling, and general manager Bob Gebhard opted for Hutton because he threw harder. Helling won 20 games for Texas in 1998, was 55-31 the next three seasons and was still pitching this season with Milwaukee. Hutton was traded after the 1997 season for troublesome OF Curtis Goodwin and was out of the big leagues a year later.
HOUSTON was looking to win it all when it acquired LHP Randy Johnson from Seattle for SS Carlos Guillen, RHP Freddy Garcia and LHP John Halama in 1998. The Astros were not only eliminated by San Diego in the division series, but they lost Johnson as a free agent.
LOS ANGELES cleaned up its roster by moving RHP Guillermo Mota, OF Juan Encarnacion and C Paul Lo Duca to Florida in 2004 for RHP Brad Penny and 1B Hee-Seop Choi, who eventually went to Boston on waivers while Penny was becoming one of the game's more dominant starting pitchers.
MILWAUKEE was convinced it was not going to keep OF Carlos Lee, headed for free agency after last year, so the Brewers sent him to Texas for RHP Francisco Cordero, who has become their closer, and OFs Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix.
NEW YORK paid the price of wanting to force the issue when general manager Steve Phillips, who now analyzes other GM's moves for ESPN, acquired sore-armed Victor Zambrano in a 2004 deal that sent LHP Scott Kazmir to Tampa Bay.
PHILADELPHIA thought there was strength in numbers, when it sent RHP Curt Schilling to Arizona in 2000 for LHP Omar Daal, RHPs Vicente Padilla and Nelson Figueroa, and 1B Travis Lee. Schilling went on to become one of the game's dominant pitchers, but the other four ...
PITTSBURGH got involved in a messy deal with Boston in 2003 that included partially negating the trade because the Red Sox tried to send injured RHP Brandon Lyon to the Pirates. When the deal was finalized, the Pirates wound up with All-Star IF Freddy Sanchez and LHP Mike Gonzalez, since traded to Atlanta for 1B Adam LaRoche, and the Red Sox acquired RHPs Jeff Suppan and Anastacio Martinez.
ST. LOUIS took a gamble that paid off big. When Oakland couldn't find anyone to take Mark McGwire in 1997, the Cardinals finally offered RHPs T.J. Matthews, Eric Ludwick and Blake Stein for McGwire and then were able to re-sign him out of free agency.
SAN DIEGO landed RHP Clay Hensley, who has emerged in the Padres rotation, from San Francisco in 2003 for reliever Matt Herges.
SAN FRANCISCO was looking for a veteran reliever in 2000 when it acquired Doug Henry from Houston for pitching prospect Scott Linebrink.
WASHINGTON acquired RHPs Gary Majewski and Jon Rauch from the White Sox in 2004 for troublesome OF Carl Everett. The Nationals then included Majewski as the key player in a package last July that brought Felipe Lopez and Austin Kearns from Cincinnati.
AROUND THE AMERICAN LEAGUE
Remembering trade deadline deals:
BALTIMORE took advantage of the Mets' need for a veteran shortstop in 2000 by sending Mike Bordick to New York for four prospects, including Melvin Mora.
BOSTON acquired RHP Bryce Florie from Detroit in 1999 for LHP prospect Mike Maroth. Florie made only 50 relief appearances over two-plus seasons for the Red Sox while Maroth rebounded from 21 losses in 2003 to win 25 games the next two years for the Tigers.
CHICAGO acquired DH/OF Carl Everett, who became a part of its 2005 world championship team, from Texas in 2003 for three prospects who never developed -- Frank Francisco, Josh Rupe and Anthony Webster.
CLEVELAND was desperate for a starting pitcher in 1997 - so desperate it acquired RHP Jeff Juden from Montreal for reliever Steve Kline. Juden went 0-1 with a 4.22 ERA in eight games for the Indians that year, split 1998 with Milwaukee and Anaheim and was out of the big leagues for good after two games with the Yankees in 1999. Kline, meanwhile, has become one of the more effective left-handed setup men. He led the NL in appearances in 1999, 2000 and 2001, is with the Giants this season, and is 11th among active pitchers with 768 appearances.
DETROIT filled its 1B need a year ago by acquiring Sean Casey from Pittsburgh for minor leaguer Brian Rogers.
KANSAS CITY was convinced it couldn't keep OF Jermaine Dye so it traded him to Oakland in a three-team deal that brought SS Neifi Perez from Colorado. Perez, meanwhile, went from being an energy-filled, exciting player into someone who was upset at the system and never recovered.
LOS ANGELES took advantage of Colorado's lack of outfield depth in its system. When the Rockies' need became glaring at the big-league level in 2001, the Angels sent offensively challenged Kimera Bartee to Colorado for Chone Figgins, a non-descript minor-league infielder who has become the ultimate big-league utility player.
MINNESOTA dealt extra OF Bobby Kielty to Toronto in 2003 for Shannon Stewart, who became a Twins mainstay. Kielty, meanwhile, didn't translate the computer projections into on-field results, and the Blue Jays dealt him the following November to Oakland for LHP Ted Lilly.
NEW YORK wound up with RHP Esteban Loaiza in 2004 from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for RHP Jose Contreras, a key part of the Sox world championship rotation two years ago.
OAKLAND was able to entice the Mets into taking its closer, RHP Billy Taylor, a journeyman, and giving up yet-to-develop closer Jason Isringhausen and RHP Greg McMichael in 1999.
SEATTLE was the victim of the impatience of manager Lou Piniella in 1999 when it dealt C Jason Varitek and RHP Derek Lowe to Boston for RHP Heathcliffe Slocumb.
TAMPA BAY sent 1B Fred McGriff to the Cubs in 2001 for RHP Manny Aybar and IF Jason Smith. Neither Aybar nor Smith developed for the Devil Rays, but McGriff hit .282 with 12 home runs the final two months in 2001 and hit 30 home runs in 2002 for the Cubs.
TEXAS gave up future All-Star 2B Warren Morris and RHP Todd Van Poppel in 1998 to get RHP Esteban Loaiza from Pittsburgh and almost immediately began looking for ways to get his personality out of the clubhouse.
TORONTO gave up future All-Star SS Michael Young in a package to acquire RHP Esteban Loaiza from Texas in 2000.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson will have back surgery and miss the rest of the season.
"I have no intention at this time of retiring," he said at a news conference Friday.
He pitched well, but if he comes back in 2008, he'll be a risk on any fantasy team.
It's safe to cut him in all formats.

Yes, it is the first of July.
Yes, baseball season is getting interesting.
That doesn't mean football season should be ignored.
The Erie Times-News Fantasy Football Challenge will return this year and I'm taking names for those who want to participate.
Send me an e-mail with your best reason why you should be chosen for the league.
We'll draft sometime in mid- to late-August, but that time will be here before you know it.

If you have tickets to the All-Star Game in San Francisco and want to see John Smoltz, you might want to think about selling those tickets.
The Associated Press reported Wednesday that Smoltz will return to Atlanta today and meet with Braves doctors about his right shoulder discomfort.
The rest from the AP:

Smoltz will likely skip his final start Saturday at San Diego before the All-Star break, which begins Monday. Smoltz will meet with doctors Friday to discuss what type of test is appropriate, the team said.
"I think he's going to be fine," manager Bobby Cox said. "He should be fine at the tail end of the rotation after the All-Star break."
Smoltz (9-5, 3.07 ERA) was selected to his eighth NL All-Star team Sunday. The game is Tuesday in San Francisco.

If you're used to watching live scoring on your favorite internet site and following the swings of your favorite batters, the All-Star break can be a bleak time.
What can you do to fill the void?
You could watch the game.
Or, you could start planning for fantasy football season.
Here are some thoughts from the AP's Bill Konigsberg:

You know you're a fantasy baseball addict if you're irked by the only three-day break in a six-month season.
It's the equivalent of a long weekend, but every year, roto geeks grouse about the All-Star break. They don't care about the midsummer classic. Those stats are meaningless. Where will they get their fantasy fix?
Admit it: As a fantasy owner, you weren't much interested in who was leading fan voting for the All-Star game. An outfield of Ken Griffey Jr. and Barry Bonds might be a nice story for some, but you were more interested in Brian Fuentes losing his closer job in Colorado.
Take a deep breath and enjoy the break. Go out on an actual date with your significant other. Take a walk with your kids. Maybe even watch the game Tuesday night, and enjoy the lack of flutter in your chest when one of your pitchers gives up a three-run homer.
Relax. For once it doesn't matter.
And if you're such a die-hard that you can't bear not thinking about fantasy baseball for a few days, here are our picks for a fantasy All-Star squad. The winners at each position aren't the best players, but the most valuable based on how much they've outperformed their predicted worth at the start of the season:

Catcher
John Buck, Royals
After three similarly unspectacular seasons, Buck was an afterthought in fantasy drafts. He should have been; the arrival of Jason LaRue certainly meant fewer chances for Buck. So it's been a very pleasant surprise to watch the young Buck battle Victor Martinez for the most home runs among catchers in the first half. Buck (.243-14-28 in 181 at-bats) already has a career high in home runs, not bad for a guy who went undrafted in most leagues. He's unlikely to get more than 400 at-bats because of LaRue, but owners will enjoy his power all season long.

First Base
Kevin Youkilis, Red Sox
With apologies to Tampa Bay's Carlos Pena (.283-19-47), who certainly wasn't drafted by fantasy owners in March since he wasn't expected to make the team, Youkilis (.329-9-44) has been among the best fantasy success stories this year. His home run total isn't stellar, but he's among the batting average leaders and for leagues that use on-base percentage, Youkilis (.420) is indeed something of a fantasy god.

Second Base
B.J. Upton, Devil Rays
Everyone knew Upton was a good hitter, but all fantasy eyes were on Delmon Young rather than Upton to start the season. All the better for those smart enough to give Upton (.320-9-31, 13 SBs) a try. A quadriceps injury put things on hold, but Upton should be back to spraying line drives in the second half. His 68 strikeouts in 200 at-bats is a concern, but for now, there is no one at 2B who has been more valuable.

Third Base
Mike Lowell, Red Sox
With all the power-hitting third basemen out there, who would have guessed that Lowell would be among the leaders in RBIs? Lowell (.291-12-55) doesn't have anything on A-Rod or Miguel Cabrera, but no other 3B player has more RBIs. The 33-year-old was considered a backup at best for standard mixed leagues, but is currently paying huge dividends for those owners who chose to draft stars at other positions.

Shortstop
J.J. Hardy, Brewers
Has he slowed down since his insane start? Sure. But he still has more home runs than any other shortstop, and that's pretty great for a guy who was mostly forgotten in March fantasy drafts. Smart drafters knew Hardy (.283-18-52) was a nice sleeper, a guy who was considered a future star before an injury ended his season early last year. I'm not sure anyone, however, saw this coming.

Outfielders
Magglio Ordonez, Tigers; Eric Byrnes, Diamondbacks, and Ken Griffey Jr., Reds
Only Alex Rodriguez has been a more valuable fantasy stud than Ordonez (.369-13-68) in the first half, and Ordonez was available well into the later rounds in most drafts. Byrnes (.314-13-46, 15 SBs) quietly was a 20-20 man last year and this year may flirt with 30-30, yet he slipped through most drafts because owners thought he couldn't repeat what was seen as a career year. Junior was avoided in drafts and with good reason; always an injury risk, he was injured to start the year and no one expected much. Instead, Griffey (.291-22-53) is on pace for his first 40-homer, 100-RBI season since 2000. If he stays healthy. If.

Starting Pitcher
Brad Penny, Dodgers
All reports were that Penny was looking strong going into the season, but who could have guessed how strong? Penny (10-1, 2.00) has been unstoppable for the Dodgers, and owners who took a chance on him know that only four times in 17 starts has he allowed more than a run in a game. His secret? He's allowed just two home runs, both in the same game, June 3 at Pittsburgh.

Relief Pitcher
Francisco Cordero, Brewers
After converting 16-of-16 save opportunities last season once he was traded to Milwaukee, fantasy owners had some interest in Cordero (27 saves, 2.91 ERA) during drafts. But he was certainly not a top-tier choice, and all he's done in the first half is lead baseball in saves. His 47 strikeouts are third among closers, behind Francisco Rodriguez of the Angels and Billy Wagner of the Mets. That's as top tier as it gets.

You've probably heard theories about the home run derby hurting a player in the second half of the season.
David Wright is an example most recently touted.
Wright struggled in the second half last season, but I wouldn't bank on it being derby related.
The winner, Ryan Howard, did just fine last year.
Here's another thought on it from Paul Gutierrez of McClatchy Newspapers:

Mike Piazza does not have especially fond memories of the two times he participated in the Home Run Derby, in his rookie season of 1993 in Baltimore and 1994 in Pittsburgh.
Oh, sure, the A's injured designated hitter had fun swinging for the fences against the likes of fellow future Hall of Famers Barry Bonds, Ken Griffey Jr. and Frank Thomas. It's just that Piazza was shut out both years and that goose egg is there for posterity.
"Well, that's the way it goes; it's all about fun," Piazza said with a smile. "They've obviously elevated it for promotional purposes, which is cool. It's a really big event. As long as the fans love it, like the dunk contest in the NBA, it's cool."
But like the dunk contest, which was Michael Jordan's showcase until he grew older and stopped competing, the derby seems to be losing steam among the game's aging sluggers. Bonds, who turns 43 on July 24, declined to take part, frustrating many of his home fans, as did Griffey, 37.
Both cited age and the physical drain the contest has on a hitter.
Then there's the age-old argument that the derby could negatively affect your swing, a theory subscribed to by the Yankees' Alex Rodriguez, whose 30 homers lead the majors.
"I've worked hard for my swing and I definitely don't want to let anything get in the way of that," said Rodriguez, the All-Star Game's leading vote getter this year.
Sammy Sosa, who won the 2000 derby in Atlanta, agreed.
"We do that for the fans," Sosa said. "Normally, body-wise, it's not the same swing; you can break your back."
Then why risk it, unless bragging rights and a trophy are worth it? A Sacramento Bee survey of the previous five derby winners — Jason Giambi (2002), Garret Anderson (`03), Miguel Tejada (`04), Bobby Abreu (`05) and Ryan Howard (`06) — showed while the homer-per-at-bat rates of Giambi, Tejada and Howard improved in the second half of the seasons of their respective titles, the rates of Anderson and Abreu plummeted precipitously.
Some say Abreu, who hit a derby-record 41 homers, including 24 in the first round, has yet to recover.
Yet many think such theories are overblown. Count Minnesota center fielder Torii Hunter among them.
"There's no way because even in batting practice you try to go deep," Hunter said. "In batting practice every day you actually try to hit home runs in two or three rounds . . . try and go deep and help your power swing.
"It's like a glorified batting practice. Once you're a professional and you know what you're doing, you're stuck with it. It doesn't change anything. That's overanalyzing."
Hunter might be on to something. After all, in 2002 he hit three derby homers at Milwaukee's to finish fifth, beating Bonds, Rodriguez and Houston's Lance Berkman.
"I was happy, boy, believe me," Hunter laughed. "I didn't win it, but I did tell everybody I beat Barry Bonds and A-Rod."
Piazza is somewhere in the middle.
"This game is very mental, so I think that's more of a mental thing than a physical thing," he said. "Players are creatures of habit and we like routine, and if we do something to offset that routine, God forbid you're not doing well, because it's easy to blame (the derby)."

There are 162 games in a baseball season.
Remember that when evaluating your team.
When you draft someone at the beginning of the season, you have a particular set of statistics in mind. Just because some is underperforming, doesn't mean they'll continue that way.
On the other hand, there are players who have exceeded their value. These are guys you might want to consider trading.
Bill Konigsberg of the Associate Press offers some players to think about:

Take a look at Pedro Feliz. At the break last season, the Giants third baseman was hitting .274 with 15 home runs and 62 RBIs. While not MVP numbers, he certainly looked like a breakout star. Then he hit .202 with seven home runs and 36 RBIs the rest of the way.
Other first-half stars who fell apart in the second half last year:
-Adam Dunn, OF, Reds: .229-12-32 after 28 homers in the first half;
-Hank Blalock, 3B, Rangers: .237-4-29 after a .287-12-60 start.
Some swoons are blatantly obvious. After Ben Broussard hit .330 in the first half, we were so certain of his fall that at last year's All-Star break we created a word - Broussardian - to describe it. It means "glorious at first, followed by a precipitous fall from grace." Alas, Broussard hit a Broussardian .243 the rest of the way.
Here are a few players you might want to trade soon.
REALITY BITES
Jorge Posada, C, Yankees
It's been a pleasure to watch Posada (.326-9-48) swing this season, but history tells us not to expect him to keep this up. He'll be 36 in August, and has never hit higher than .287 in a season. That was in 2000, and how often do players over 35 have career years in which they hit more than .50 points above their career averages? Expect the catcher to improve his power totals, while his average drops to a more typical level. A .290-22-90 season is likely.

Jack Cust, OF, Athletics
Cust's emergence has been among the best stories of the first half. A longtime power prospect, Cust (.267-15-42 in 178 at-bats) has finally come through after a half-decade of missed chances. The A's are sold on him; they've asked veteran Mike Piazza to go back to catching to allow Cust to keep the starting designated hitter job. They need to be careful about their expectations, and so should you as a fantasy owner; he went 6-for-29 to start July with 13 strikeouts, and his total strikeouts (72 in 180 at-bats) show the potential for a major summer swoon.

Brad Penny, RHP, Dodgers
Penny (10-1, 2.39 ERA) has been better than ever in the first half this season, but don't forget that he's done this before; Last year, he was 10-2 with a 2.91 ERA at the All-Star break, and couldn't do anything right in the second half, going 6-7 with a 6.25 ERA. In 2005, he had a 3.43 ERA before, and 4.48 after. His health has been an issue late in the season; from 2003-06, he had 70 starts prior to the break and 48 after. Don't expect a dropoff quite as extreme as last year's, but it wouldn't be shocking if his ERA jumped a full run by the end of the season.

Hunter Pence, OF, Astros
Granted, I've been wrong all year about Pence. I thought it was unlikely he had elite value as a rookie, and now he's leading the NL in hitting at the break. Here's the problem: Pence (.342-11-42) has walked 10 times in 285 plate appearances, or about 3.5 percent of the time. That's among the eight lowest walk percentages for qualifying players, and that's not a good sign. The last rookie to perform at this level for an entire season was Albert Pujols in 2001, and he walked 69 times that year. Pence doesn't yet have the kind of eye necessary to hit above .333 for an entire year.

The Pirates acquired Cesar Izturis from the Cubs on Thursday, giving them an infielder they didn't need.
Until Jack Wilson gets traded.
Izturis, is making $4.15 million in the final year of his $9.9 million, three-year contract, a deal that includes a $5.85 million club option for next year with a $300,000 buyout, the Associated Press reported.
Wilson is due to be paid $5.25 million this season and is due to make $6.5 million in 2008 and $7.25 million in 2009, the AP reported.
That would be one good move for the Pirates if it should come to pass.
Now, getting a team to acquire Wilson might be the hard part.

It's that time of year again.
Teams are looking to improve by plucking good players from losing teams. It also can help a fantasy league owner if they participate in a NL-only or AL-only league.
Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News has an update on where teams stand at the trading deadline:

National League
ARIZONA is in limbo. The Diamondbacks would like pitching help, particularly in the bullpen, but can't add payroll. The Diamondbacks are willing to move a young bat, and the names of 1B Conor Jackson and OF Carlos Quentin have been mentioned.
ATLANTA is a buyer and is looking for a starting pitcher. The Braves picked up veteran Julio Franco for a presence off the bench. The question is how much the Braves are willing to give up. With C Jarrod Saltalamacchia ready for the big leagues and the recent six-year extension given All-Star C Brian McCann, they have the potential for a major package. For now, though, they seem ready to look at Saltalamacchia at first base.
CHICAGO is a buyer, and the efforts to add pieces are deeper than the recent addition of C Jason Kendall, who brings stability behind the plate at a relatively low price. General manager Jim Hendry knows his job is at stake and wants potential new owners to be impressed with his efforts to add a quality reliever and a right fielder/run producer.
CINCINNATI is a potential seller, but the quality is limited, which means the asking price is high for the likes of Aaron Harang. The hope is to unload future payroll, but LF Adam Dunn's propensity for striking out and his defensive deficiencies make suitors flinch at his $13 million salary for next year. RF Ken Griffey Jr. has had a rejuvenated season, but his $16.5 million salary for 2008 comes with no-trade powers. RHP David Weathers can help a contender, and LHP Mike Stanton and 1Bs Scott Hatteberg and Jeff Conine are veteran pieces to fill out a puzzle.
COLORADO is a shopper. The Rockies want to add a power arm for the rotation and bullpen, but the price is too high for their tastes. The Rockies won't give up any top prospects but could become an interesting power broker since roster depth creates potential moves involving LHP Brian Fuentes and 3B Garrett Atkins.
FLORIDA is a seller but will be reluctant to make a major deal. LHP Dontrelle Willis is a 200-inning-plus guy, but he also is 0-6 since June 1. The Marlins aren't known for adding salary, and other than Willis and 3B Miguel Cabrera, they don't have any significant salaries.
HOUSTON is in the unusual position of being a seller, and the top of its list of available players is RHP Jason Jennings, the key offseason addition who is headed to free agency but also is 1-6. RH closer Brad Lidge is high on the list of contenders, and IF Mark Loretta can help a team in a pennant race. RHP Roy Oswalt has indicated to the right team he'd consider waiving his no-trade clause, but the five-year, $73 million extension he signed last August would have to be sweetened.
LOS ANGELES is a buyer with the focus on pitching, particularly in light of injuries to offseason rotation additions Jason Schmidt and Randy Wolf. The Dodgers are hesitant to give up young players, such as OF Matt Kemp, 1B James Loney and RHP Chad Billingsley. They are hoping they can lure some team into taking on 3B Wilson Betemit.
MILWAUKEE is a buyer for the first time in nearly two decades. With the struggles of LHP Chris Capuano and the latest injury to RHP Ben Sheets, the Brewers need a quality starting pitcher.
NEW YORK is a buyer. The Mets thought they had a shot at LHP Mark Buehrle, only to see the White Sox sign him to an extension. That only whetted the appetite to add a quality starting pitcher, and the guess is they will try to convince themselves they can fix Florida's Dontrelle Willis. They are hoping the return of OF Moises Alou from the disabled list fills an offensive need.
PHILADELPHIA is a buyer, looking for pitching of any type. The Phillies do have an interesting bargaining chip with potential free agent Aaron Rowand. They do want to find a way to get speedy Michael Bourn regular playing time. The preference is to get rid of LF Pat Burrell, but his contract, combined with the lack of performance and questions of desire, has scared teams away.
PITTSBURGH is a seller again. RHPs Tony Armas and Shawn Chacon are potential free agents. Chacon has rebuilt his value by doing a solid job in relief but has indicated he would like to remain with the Pirates. SS Jack Wilson and LF Jason Bay both are suffering from losing burnout and could be recharged with a change of scenario, much like LHP Oliver Perez once he went to the Mets.
ST. LOUIS is a seller. The Cardinals already tried to beef up their pitching staff with the patchwork moves of acquiring LHP Mike Maroth from Detroit and signing RH reliever Troy Percival out of retirement, and it hasn't helped. They could try to make a blockbuster deal by dangling closer Jason Isringhausen, who has an $8.5 million option for 2008, but more likely will try to find takers for SS David Eckstein and OF Juan Encarnacion, both headed to free agency.
SAN DIEGO would like to add some run production, but the payroll can't be expanded and there is no depth in the farm system.
SAN FRANCISCO is a seller, but the question is whether they can find any buyers for their overpriced, overaged talent. RHP Matt Morris has had the type of year that could create interest given the limited market place, but contract commitments will scare teams away from 2B Ray Durham and OF Dave Roberts.
WASHINGTON is a seller with two interesting players to offer. Closer Chad Cordero would require a significant package of young players. 1B Dmitri Young has to open eyes with his big year, but there remain concerns about the problems that have haunted him in the past. Remember, the Nationals were the only team that would even sign him to a minor-league contract last winter.
American League
BALTIMORE is a seller, but the Orioles' primary bargaining chip, SS Miguel Tejada, is on the disabled list, which has put a damper on his market value. The Orioles could supply an extra part for a contender with RHP Steve Trachsel, OF Corey Patterson or 1B/DH Kevin Millar.
BOSTON is a buyer with motivation. They need a right-hander for the back of the bullpen and have shown interest in Brad Lidge of Houston and Octavio Dotel of Kansas City. They would like to find an outfield bat but are stuck with J.D. Drew. They would happily move OFs Coco Crisp and Wily Mo Pena, but those two have been dangled for a year without drawing interest. The hope is rotation concerns can be eased by the return of RHP Curt Schilling from the disabled list.
CHICAGO is a seller, and other than LHP Mark Buerhle, recently signed to a four-year, $56 million extension, there are no untouchables. 1B/DH Jim Thome and RHP Jose Contreras are the only White Sox with full no-trades, but Contreras has indicated he will waive his. Problem is the Sox aren't looking for prospects. They want major league-ready players because they want to reload, not rebuild.
CLEVELAND is a buyer. The Indians want to add a power arm to the bullpen, where desperation is such that they have considered bring up top starting pitching prospect Adam Miller and checking him out in relief. They also are looking for a run-producer to go in left field or right field. Trot Nixon, Dave Dellucci and Jason Michaels are nice fifth outfielders but not everyday parts of a title team.
DETROIT is a buyer, looking for back-to-back World Series appearances for the first time since 1934-35. With the uncertainty about the return of RHP Joel Zumaya, the Tigers need bullpen help, and they'd give up LF Craig Monroe.
KANSAS CITY is a seller, and the Royals have a price for everybody on the roster. The most interest has been expressed in RHP Octavio Dotel, but OF Reggie Sanders could provide a contender with an experienced postseason bat. LHP Odalis Perez, RHP Scott Elarton and OF Emil Brown are being shopped hard with little return expected.
LOS ANGELES is a buyer, sort of. Problem is general manager Bill Stoneman does not have a reputation for being an in-season fixer-upper, whether it was in Montreal or with the Angels.
MINNESOTA could become a seller with some interesting players to offer. CF Torii Hunter, 2B Luis Castillo, RHP Carlos Silva and LF Rondell White are potential free agents. The Twins haven't made an impact in-season trade, though, since their 2003 acquisition of OF Shannon Stewart from Toronto.
NEW YORK is a buyer, feeling that it has to at least make a strong showing to keep ownership happy. The problem is general manager Brian Cashman isn't going to drain the organization of any more top prospects so it makes finding a reliever, offensive first baseman and rotation reinforcement difficult to add.
OAKLAND is a seller, having already dealt C Jason Kendall in a deal that was primarily designed to save $700,000. The A's also are hoping they can add some pieces to a rebuilding puzzle by offering DH/C Mike Piazza and 1B Dan Johnson because they want to create room for top prospect Daric Barton in the lineup. RHP Rich Harden is very available, but the A's don't want to discount value because of his long-running problems with injuries.
SEATTLE is a buyer, having already made it clear that it is serious about not only winning this year but keeping its team together by signing OF Ichiro Suzuki to a five-year, $90 million extension. While the Mariners would love to unload 1B Richie Sexson's contract, they are more interested in adding a quality starting pitcher and proven reliever to set up J.J. Putz.
TAMPA BAY is a window shopper. The Devil Rays don't feel they have to dump anybody, like a year ago when they couldn't wait to get rid of SS Julio Lugo, 1B Aubrey Huff and C Toby Hall. They are willing to listen to offers for 1B/3B Ty Wigginton and closer Al Reyes, but they would be pure baseball deals that bring back quality young players.
TEXAS is a seller with some interesting commodities in 1B Mark Teixeira, a young run producer with free-agent potential after 2008 and some veteran help in RHP Eric Gagne, DH Sammy Sosa and CF Kenny Lofton. While the expectation for Teixeira is high, talk about the other three players centers on a prospect or two.
TORONTO is a seller, although it has not made any concession speeches. The Jays want to get rid of the $24 million guaranteed the next two years to 3B Troy Glaus, who would like to parlay his no-trade clause into an even more lucrative deal.

Fantasy football season is just around the corner.
The best way to get the season off on the right foot is to have a good draft.
Fun, refreshments and sleeper picks all are part of the routine.
So, too, should be a cool draft board.
Check out fjfantasy.com for the perfect draft board to make draft day an easy one and let you concentrate on drafting the right players.

And while you're at it, join the Times-News Fantasy Challenge. Send me an e-mail for more details.

Yankee fans have a new favorite and his name is Shelley Duncan.
Duncan hit three home runs in two games this weekend, helping the Bronx Bombers beat up on the Devil Rays.
Duncan, 27, recently was called up by the Yankees and he's taking advantage of his opportunity.
Is he worth rostering in a fantasy league?
Well, if you need to take a risk, the answer's yes.
He can mash. He also can strike out.
Don't expect much help with batting average, but you could catch lightning in a bottle and pick up a few more HRs on the cheap.

The trade deadline is fast approaching, and teams are making their moves to either bolster their roster or build for the future.
My motto in fantasy leagues is to make a run for it if you have a chance. You never know when you might be in a similar position.
Here's a look at past deadline deals by Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News.

AROUND THE NATIONAL LEAGUE
Remembering trade deadline deals:
ARIZONA was so desperate for a closer that it gave up RHP Brad Penny in a 1999 package to get Matt Mantei from Florida. Mantei had 22 saves the final two-plus months for Arizona that season but only 52 more in the next five injury-riddled seasons.
ATLANTA had depth in its system at catcher with Brian McCann and Jason Saltalamacchia so when it had a chance last July to add a proven closer to a bullpen gone bad, the Braves were willing to send promising catching prospect Max Ramirez to Cleveland for Bob Wickman. The Braves then re-signed Wickman for 2007.
CHICAGO was looking at a division title and ignoring the future in 1998 when it was so desperate to add middle reliever Matt Karchner from the White Sox that it gave up RHP prospect Jon Garland. Karchner battle injuries and pitched a total of 32-2/3 innings for the Cubs in 1999-2000 while Garland developed into a key member of the White Sox rotation.
CINCINNATI was busy trying to create the impression it was trying to win a year ago, and in the process of looking for veteran relievers, the Reds picked up aging lefty Rheal Cormier from Philadelphia for RHP Justin Germano. The Phillies, for some reason, put Germano on waivers during spring training, and he was claimed by San Diego, where he has become a key member of the rotation as the Padres bid to win the National League West.
COLORADO didn't have any place for 1B Ryan Shealy with Todd Helton at the big-league level so they sent him and RHP Scott Dohmann and to Kansas City a year ago for LHP Jeremy Affeldt and RHP Denny Bautista.
FLORIDA found the emotional lift it needed in 1997 by acquiring minor-league IF Craig Counsell from Colorado for RHP Mark Hutton. The Marlins felt they caught a break. The Rockies had a choice between Hutton and Rick Helling, and general manager Bob Gebhard opted for Hutton because he threw harder. Helling won 20 games for Texas in 1998, was 55-31 the next three seasons and was still pitching this season with Milwaukee. Hutton was traded after the 1997 season for troublesome OF Curtis Goodwin and was out of the big leagues a year later.
HOUSTON was looking to win it all when it acquired LHP Randy Johnson from Seattle for SS Carlos Guillen, RHP Freddy Garcia and LHP John Halama in 1998. The Astros were not only eliminated by San Diego in the division series, but they lost Johnson as a free agent.
LOS ANGELES cleaned up its roster by moving RHP Guillermo Mota, OF Juan Encarnacion and C Paul Lo Duca to Florida in 2004 for RHP Brad Penny and 1B Hee-Seop Choi, who eventually went to Boston on waivers while Penny was becoming one of the game's more dominant starting pitchers.
MILWAUKEE was convinced it was not going to keep OF Carlos Lee, headed for free agency after last year, so the Brewers sent him to Texas for RHP Francisco Cordero, who has become their closer, and OFs Kevin Mench and Laynce Nix.
NEW YORK paid the price of wanting to force the issue when general manager Steve Phillips, who now analyzes other GM's moves for ESPN, acquired sore-armed Victor Zambrano in a 2004 deal that sent LHP Scott Kazmir to Tampa Bay.
PHILADELPHIA thought there was strength in numbers, when it sent RHP Curt Schilling to Arizona in 2000 for LHP Omar Daal, RHPs Vicente Padilla and Nelson Figueroa, and 1B Travis Lee. Schilling went on to become one of the game's dominant pitchers, but the other four ...
PITTSBURGH got involved in a messy deal with Boston in 2003 that included partially negating the trade because the Red Sox tried to send injured RHP Brandon Lyon to the Pirates. When the deal was finalized, the Pirates wound up with All-Star IF Freddy Sanchez and LHP Mike Gonzalez, since traded to Atlanta for 1B Adam LaRoche, and the Red Sox acquired RHPs Jeff Suppan and Anastacio Martinez.
ST. LOUIS took a gamble that paid off big. When Oakland couldn't find anyone to take Mark McGwire in 1997, the Cardinals finally offered RHPs T.J. Matthews, Eric Ludwick and Blake Stein for McGwire and then were able to re-sign him out of free agency.
SAN DIEGO landed RHP Clay Hensley, who has emerged in the Padres rotation, from San Francisco in 2003 for reliever Matt Herges.
SAN FRANCISCO was looking for a veteran reliever in 2000 when it acquired Doug Henry from Houston for pitching prospect Scott Linebrink.
WASHINGTON acquired RHPs Gary Majewski and Jon Rauch from the White Sox in 2004 for troublesome OF Carl Everett. The Nationals then included Majewski as the key player in a package last July that brought Felipe Lopez and Austin Kearns from Cincinnati.
AROUND THE AMERICAN LEAGUE
Remembering trade deadline deals:
BALTIMORE took advantage of the Mets' need for a veteran shortstop in 2000 by sending Mike Bordick to New York for four prospects, including Melvin Mora.
BOSTON acquired RHP Bryce Florie from Detroit in 1999 for LHP prospect Mike Maroth. Florie made only 50 relief appearances over two-plus seasons for the Red Sox while Maroth rebounded from 21 losses in 2003 to win 25 games the next two years for the Tigers.
CHICAGO acquired DH/OF Carl Everett, who became a part of its 2005 world championship team, from Texas in 2003 for three prospects who never developed -- Frank Francisco, Josh Rupe and Anthony Webster.
CLEVELAND was desperate for a starting pitcher in 1997 - so desperate it acquired RHP Jeff Juden from Montreal for reliever Steve Kline. Juden went 0-1 with a 4.22 ERA in eight games for the Indians that year, split 1998 with Milwaukee and Anaheim and was out of the big leagues for good after two games with the Yankees in 1999. Kline, meanwhile, has become one of the more effective left-handed setup men. He led the NL in appearances in 1999, 2000 and 2001, is with the Giants this season, and is 11th among active pitchers with 768 appearances.
DETROIT filled its 1B need a year ago by acquiring Sean Casey from Pittsburgh for minor leaguer Brian Rogers.
KANSAS CITY was convinced it couldn't keep OF Jermaine Dye so it traded him to Oakland in a three-team deal that brought SS Neifi Perez from Colorado. Perez, meanwhile, went from being an energy-filled, exciting player into someone who was upset at the system and never recovered.
LOS ANGELES took advantage of Colorado's lack of outfield depth in its system. When the Rockies' need became glaring at the big-league level in 2001, the Angels sent offensively challenged Kimera Bartee to Colorado for Chone Figgins, a non-descript minor-league infielder who has become the ultimate big-league utility player.
MINNESOTA dealt extra OF Bobby Kielty to Toronto in 2003 for Shannon Stewart, who became a Twins mainstay. Kielty, meanwhile, didn't translate the computer projections into on-field results, and the Blue Jays dealt him the following November to Oakland for LHP Ted Lilly.
NEW YORK wound up with RHP Esteban Loaiza in 2004 from the Chicago White Sox in exchange for RHP Jose Contreras, a key part of the Sox world championship rotation two years ago.
OAKLAND was able to entice the Mets into taking its closer, RHP Billy Taylor, a journeyman, and giving up yet-to-develop closer Jason Isringhausen and RHP Greg McMichael in 1999.
SEATTLE was the victim of the impatience of manager Lou Piniella in 1999 when it dealt C Jason Varitek and RHP Derek Lowe to Boston for RHP Heathcliffe Slocumb.
TAMPA BAY sent 1B Fred McGriff to the Cubs in 2001 for RHP Manny Aybar and IF Jason Smith. Neither Aybar nor Smith developed for the Devil Rays, but McGriff hit .282 with 12 home runs the final two months in 2001 and hit 30 home runs in 2002 for the Cubs.
TEXAS gave up future All-Star 2B Warren Morris and RHP Todd Van Poppel in 1998 to get RHP Esteban Loaiza from Pittsburgh and almost immediately began looking for ways to get his personality out of the clubhouse.
TORONTO gave up future All-Star SS Michael Young in a package to acquire RHP Esteban Loaiza from Texas in 2000.

Arizona Diamondbacks pitcher Randy Johnson will have back surgery and miss the rest of the season.
"I have no intention at this time of retiring," he said at a news conference Friday.
He pitched well, but if he comes back in 2008, he'll be a risk on any fantasy team.
It's safe to cut him in all formats.