Erik Bedard to the Phillies and Miguel Tejada to the Cardinals?

With the MLB Baseball All-Star Game around the corner, it is time for underachieving teams, as well as teams with World Series aspirations to roll the die and trade for that one missing piece of the puzzle that will make the difference come October.

High on the list of team's rumored to be looking to improve by trade are last year's champs the Philadelphia Phillies. Despite owning the best record in the National League East (36-25), the Phillies starting rotation has been horrific this season, with only one current starter sporting an ERA under 4.00. The Phillies then have been rumored to be shopping around for a solid starter. Though perennial trade-bait favorite Jake Peavy is still a target of choice (despite his recent stint on the DL), the Philadelphia Inquirer has recently speculated that they may be after Seattle Mariner starter Erik Bedard.

Bedard, a left-hander, has posted sterling numbers for the Mariners this season, going 5-2 with a 2.47 ERA, and 65 strikeouts, in 65-2/3 innings of work. Still, injury concerns and the fact that the Mariners would look for multiple top prospects in return, may be enough to keep this deal from happening.

In the NL Central, the Cardinals, who are one game out of first place are in need of replacing Troy Glaus' bat at third base. A good possibility for them would be to acquire Miguel Tejadas from divisional rival Houston. Tejadas, who has resurrected his career with the Astro's this year, is hitting a solid .344 with 29 extra base hits in his first 61 games of the season. Though he may be worth the gamble, age(35) and a hefty contract may be in the way of moving Tejadas this season.

A player who may be easier for the Astro's to move may be Relief Pitcher LaTroy Hawkins. The 37 year old Hawkins has enjoyed success both as a set-up man and a closer for Houston this year and is sporting a 2.60 ERA with 9 saves in 28 appearances thus far. The Washington Nationals are one of the teams that could desperately use Hawkins' services, since current Closer Mike MacDougal may not be up to the task.

While it's too early to tell what other teams may be jettison some players via trades this season, it is a sure bet that the sluggish economy will play a major role in trades this year. Some players, like the Dodgers Juan Pierre (Who is hitting .343 with 16 steals this year), may be hard to move due to the weight of their contracts. In the end, look for most teams to move mid tier to low end players this season.

Sources:

"Are Phillies interested in Mariners' Erik Bedard?," June 16, 2009, www.sports.yahoo.com

McNeal, Stan, "Trading deadline preview: N.L. buyers, sellers and needs," Sporting News, June 13, 2009