NL West Report: Trade Deadline Edition

Welcome to the week of the trade deadline. Three NL West teams figure to be buyers (Dodgers, Rockies, and Giants) while two figure to be sellers.  Colorado will probably look to add another reliever, avoiding big headline moves, but rumors are swirling around the other four teams, including some blockbuster trade possibilities.

Arizona (43-59, 4th, W2, 19.5 GB)

Last Week: 4-3. 1-2 @ Rockies, 3-1 vs Pirates. The usually sorry offense scored 7+ runs three times over the weekend vs. the Pirates.  They even shut out Pittsburgh in their last two games behind Max Scherzer and Doug Davis and are riding a 19 inning scoreless streak.

Pace:  68-94.

Divisional Change: Lost 0.5 games.

This Week:  3 game home series vs. Phillies.  4 game road series @ Mets

News:  According to Nick Piecoro, about half of the MLB teams have inquired about Chad Qualls.  Piecoro says Arizona would be unlikely to trade him, but for reference, they are looking for a starting pitching prospect.  He won't be a free agent until the offseason of 2010, so his asking price would be steeper than Connor Graham.  The Phillies reportedly have actively scouted him.

Chad Qualls

#50 / Pitcher / Arizona Diamondbacks

Height: 6-5

Weight: 220

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Aug 17, 1978

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Chad Qualls	1-1	3.54	1.16	33	5

Chris Snyder may be out in Arizona, if someone will trade for him. Snyder will be off the disabled list in about a week - he was given a 3-year, $14.25mill contract this offseason, but Miguel Montero's emergence in his absence has made him expendable.  If the Mets ambush the Rockies and get back in contention by the deadline, Snyder would be a big upgrapde over Brian Schneider.

Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports echo the common sentiment that there hasn't been much interest in Doug Davis or Jon Garland so far.  Officials hope that interest picks up by the end of the week.  The Cubs may be a possibility for Davis after Ted Lilly went on the disabled list.  Garland recently criticized his teammates, saying he "doesn't see any fight" in them.

Luis Gonzalez may be awarded with a position as a team official.

Negotiations with top pick Bobby Borchering are in a holding pattern.

Arizona would not have offered Felipe Lopez arbitration this offseason for fear he would have accepted.

Jim McLennan outlines these and other rumors at AZSnakePit.

There is no new transaction or DL news to report.

News on the other three divisional teams after the jump.

Los Angeles (62-36, 1st, L1)

Last Week: 4-2.  3-0 vs Reds. 1-2 vs Marlins.  Florida gave Los Angeles just their fourth home series loss of the season.  It was also their last series loss since their last loone at home, June 25 vs the Mariners.

Pace:  102-60.

Divisional Change:  No gain/loss to second place Colorado.

This Week: 4 game road series @ Cardinals.  3 game road series @ Braves.  LA has won their last three road series, but none of them were against serious playoff threats.  St. Louis and Atlanta are, so it will be interesting to see how they stack up.  Even though the Rockies are on an east coast swing, it may be an opportunity to make up ground.  It all starts with Chris Carpenter tonight.

News: Andre Ethier was named the NL Player of the Week for last week, his second time earning the honor this season.  Ethier was 12-for-22 for a .545/.620/1.045 line.

Since the chances of Halladay being dealt are slim, Jon Heyman reports that LA is focused on landing Cliff Lee.  Dozens of reports confirm the their interest in Cleveland southpaw. 

Cliff Lee

#31 / Pitcher / Los Angeles Dodgers??

Height: 6-3

Weight: 190

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Aug 30, 1978

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Cliff Lee	7-9	3.14	1.30	107	33

The Dodgers are interested in Aaron Harang and Bronson Arroyo, but only if they fail to land Lee.  However, Danny Knobler reports that interest is moot, as the Reds refuse to believe they are sellers.  Early last week, the Peter Gammons said the Indians would have to be overwhelmed to trade Lee.  They might come off that, but even then, the package required would be much less than Roy Halladay.

Jason Schmidt gave up 7 ER in 8 IP covering two starts last week.  He failed to pitch more than 5 innings in either game.

Ed Price says the Dodgers are scouting George Sherrill.

Check out TrueBlueLA's Week in Review.

Transactions: None.

Injuries:  Manny Ramirez was held out of Sunday's lineup due to soreness in his hand after it was hit by a pitch Tuesday.  He was held out Wednesday, returned Friday and Saturday but managed only one hit.  Eric Milton was moved to the 60-day DL, and Jason Schmidt was activated and made two starts.  Doug Mientkiewicz and Cory Wade began rehab assignments at AAA.

San Diego (38-61, 5th, L2, 24.5 GB)

Last Week: 1-6.  0-3 vs Marlins, 0-1 @ Phillies, 1-2 @ Nationals.  Lost 3.5 games in the division.  Yet another miserable week for San Diego, who scored just 17 runs in 7 games.  They are 2-9 after the All-Star Break, are a ridiculous 4-19 in July and haven't won a series since June 28 at Texas.

Pace: 62-100.

Divisonal change:  Lost 3.5 games.

This Week: 4 game road series @ Reds, 3 game home series vs. Brewers.

News: Getting Adam LaRoche hasn't slowed Boston.  The Red Sox have made Adrian Gonzalez their primary target, though San Diego doesn't want to trade him.  Ken Rosenthal suggests San Diego will listen to offers on Gonzalez and Heath Bell, but are unlikely to trade them.  Buster Olney agrees, saying teams will have to overpay for the All-Stars.  If he is traded, Gonzalez would be understanding.  Joel Sherman suggests the Padres would be more willing to trade Bell than expected.

Corey Brock suggests Kevin Correia could be traded, but no one is interested yet.

Kevin Correia

#29 / Pitcher / San Diego Padres

Height: 6-3

Weight: 200

Bats: R

Throws: R

Born: Aug 24, 1980

	W-L	ERA	WHIP	K	BB
2009 - Kevin Correia	6-8	4.84	1.36	86	41

Could Stephen Strasburg be a Padre?  It's very possible.  If Washington can't sign him, and it looks very possible, San Diego would be in the best position to select him in next year's draft, provided they continue their freefall in the standings, Strasburg remains healthy and his stock doesn't drop.  Strasburg is a San Diego native and would fit way too well in San Diego camo.  Please root for Washington to sign him.

Manager Bud Black got extended through 2010.

Transactions:  Recalled LHP Joe Thatcher.

Injuries: Edgar Gonzalez officially joined an already full disabled list with a concussion last Monday after getting hit in the head by a Jason Hammel fastball the weekend prior.

San Francisco (52-46, 3rd, W1, 7.5 GB)

Last Week: 2-5.  1-3 @ Braves.  1-2 @ Rockies.  San Francisco was outscored 37-18 last week, and the only two games they won, they allowed just one run.  They even lost Tim Lincecum's start.  They are 3-7 since the ASB,

Pace:  86-76.

Divisional Change:  Lost 2.5 games.

This Week: 3  game home series vs Pirates, 4 game home series vs Phillies.  The Pirates just beat the Giants ina  series a week ago, and the Phillies have the 2nd best record in the NL.  It might bot be so easy to get back up off the deck.

News:  Joel Sherman reports the Giants have interest in Victor Martinez, but the asking price figures to be high.

Nick Johnson

#24 / First Base / Washington Nationals

Height: 6-3

Weight: 235

Bats: L

Throws: L

Born: Sep 19, 1978

	AVG	OBP	SLG
2009 - Nick Johnson	.298	.410	.409

Andrew Baggarly discusses several other names Brian Sabean may be or should be considering, including Nick Johnson, Freddy Sanchez, Ryan Garko, Josh Willingham, Dan Uggla and Russell Branyan.  Henry Schulman also suggests Marco Scutaro and Aubrey Huff.

Willingham and Johnson were scouted this weekend. Schulman suggests a deal for one of those names sits at a 50-50 chance.

The Giants never even called about trading for Matt Holliday.

Brian Sabean says absolutely no to trading for Roy Halladay.  He likes his 'spects.

One thing is for sure though.  We should expect Brian Sabean to make a deal, especially after the Rockies have given him a small reason to panic.

Transactions:  None.

Injuries:  Rich Aurilia was placed on the 15-day DL Tuesday with a toe injury.