Tony Paul:  MLB Insider

Trade seekers beware: Pickings slim

With the trade deadline a week from Friday, there are more buyers than sellers -- at the start of play Wednesday, 20 teams could make a legitimate case of being a playoff contender -- meaning prices are likely to be steep.

Who's going to step up, like the Brewers in the 2008 CC Sabathia Sweepstakes? And who's content to stand pat?

The folks moving, well, we've already got a pretty good idea. Here's a look at the prime players who'd be wise to have those change-of-address forms handy:

Starting pitchers

The prime target, of course, is Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay (11-3, 2.73), the American League All-Star starter who's spent his entire 12-year career in Toronto. This is part salary dump -- he's making $14.25 million this year and $15.75 million in 2010 -- and part rebuilding a team that hasn't been to the playoffs since 1993.

Because he's not a free agent until 2011, he's not your typical deadline "rental" -- meaning his value is even higher than it would be for a throwback hurler who's led the league in complete games four of the last six years.

But because he's not a free agent until 2011, the Blue Jays don't have to trade him unless the return is sufficient in the eyes of GM J.P. Ricciardi -- he went so far as to say Wednesday a deal was "unlikely."

Ricciardi set a Tuesday deadline to get a deal done. Expect the Phillies and their starters' 4.73 ERA to be at the front of the line.

Another possible landing spot is Chicago -- with the White Sox. While manager Ozzie Guillen recently said he's not anticipating major moves, Halladay, 32, could put the second-place team over the top in the AL Central, plus they've clearly got the goods to bring in a pitcher of Halladay's caliber. After all, they were believed to have finalized a trade for another former Cy Young Award winner, Padres right-hander Jake Peavy, earlier this season before the right-hander vetoed the move.

After Halladay, it's a rather steep drop-off:

• Cliff Lee, Indians, LH: Last year's AL Cy Young winner is 6-9 with a 3.17 ERA and probably wouldn't hate the idea of moving to a club whose offense doesn't fall into hibernation every time he takes the mound. Lee, 30, has an $8 million club option for 2010, then likely will get a big raise when free agency strikes in 2011.

• Brad Penny, Red Sox, RH: The veteran, who signed a one-year, $5 million contract to come to Boston, is 6-4 with a 5.02 ERA -- that bloated ERA has been done in by four awful starts. Penny, 31, actually has been rather steady and, more importantly, healthy.

• Zach Duke, Pirates, LH: Who won't the Pirates trade? Duke (8-9, 3.38) is having a career year and is an attractive trade option because he's not a free agent till 2012; Duke, 26, is arbitration eligible the next two years. Another Pirate possibly on the block: Right-hander Ian Snell, 27, who handled a demotion with class.

Other possibilities: Kevin Correia, Padres, RH; Doug Davis, Diamondbacks, LH; Jon Garland, Diamondbacks, RH; Jonathan Sanchez, Giants, LH

Relief pitchers

There aren't many teams that wouldn't consider upgrading the bullpen. And the worst thing that could have happened for those teams actually happened: The Rockies, in typical Rockies fashion, got hot out of nowhere.

Under new manager Jim Tracy, they're 33-15 and back in the mix for a playoff spot.

So with their newfound postseason aspirations came the bad news for needy foes: Closer Huston Street (3-1, 2.68, 23 saves in 24 chances) is off the trading block. And that leaves slim pickings when it comes to quality available relief help.

• George Sherrill, Orioles, LH: Assuming talk of Reds right-hander Francisco Cordero being available is just a rumor, then Sherrill, 32, is the best closer to be had. With a 2.35 ERA, 1.10 WHIP and 20 saves in 23 chances, he's been a steady force.

• Chad Qualls, Diamondbacks, RH: Arizona let Brandon Lyon sign with Detroit because it was confident Qualls, 30, could handle the closer's duties. And he's been good for a bad team -- 3.63 ERA, 1.16 WHIP and 18 saves in 22 chances.

• Matt Capps, Pirates, RH: Finally, a Pirates trade possibility they could live without. He's been awful this year, with a 5.78 ERA, 1.68 WHIP, six homers and 13 walks in 31 innings. But he's got closer's experience (20 in 23 chances this year) and has a decent track record, with ERAs of 3.79,2.28 and 3.02 from 2006-08.

Other possibilities: Rafael Betancourt, Indians, RH; Scott Downs, Blue Jays, LH; Brandon League, Blue Jays, RH; Arthur Rhodes, Reds, LH; David Weathers, Reds, RH

Position players

For some strange reason, the big bat everybody's talking about is A's outfielder Matt Holliday. But, frankly, he has yet to sufficiently prove he can be an All-Star force when he's not playing in the thin air of Denver.

His batting average (.280) is 35 points below his career average, and he's got just 11 homers and 54 RBIs -- putting him on pace for paltry numbers compared to what Holliday, 29, posted his last two completely healthy seasons with the Rockies.

Plus, he's a free agent after the season, meaning he's either going to cost a team quality prospects for just a few months of service or cost quality prospects plus the many millions of dollars he's sure to command at year's end.

But there are other -- and perhaps more-appealing -- offensive options available.

• Victor Martinez, Indians, C: A hamstring injury and elbow surgery made his 2008 season a forgettable one, but he's healthy again and hammering again -- he's batting .289 with 14 homers and 61 RBIs and has played in all but two of Cleveland's games. For 2010, the club holds a $7 million option with a reasonable buyout on Martinez, 30, who is starting to make the long-overdue shift to first base.

• Adrian Gonzalez, Padres, 1B: He was born and raised in San Diego, so leaving would be tough. But Gonzalez, 27, understands the situation. The sad-sack Padres are going nowhere fast, and his stock -- he's made back-to-back All-Star teams and is on pace for a career-best 43 homers -- has rarely been higher. Also appealing is his reasonable contract: $4.75 million for 2010, $5.5 million club option for 2011.

• Scott Rolen, Blue Jays, 3B: The Blue Jays are in sell mode, and they know now's the time to part with Rolen -- at 34, he's having one of his best seasons. While his power numbers are down (seven homers, 36 RBIs), his average is .320.

Other possibilities: Adam Dunn, Nationals, OF; Aubrey Huff, Orioles, OF; Nick Johnson, Nationals, 1B; Juan Pierre, Dodgers, OF; Freddy Sanchez, Pirates, 2B: Luke Scott, Orioles, DH/OF; Jack Wilson, Pirates, SS

tpaul@detnews.com