Hot- Stove

Center fielder Coco Crisp, whom the Red Sox intermittently shopped last winter following the emergence of Jacoby Ellsbury, is again being made available and drawing interest. One executive at the general managers meetings talked to the Sox recently estimated that “five or six” teams have shown a willingness to discuss a deal for Crisp. … The Chicago Cubs, a team periodically linked to Crisp, don’t seem as interested this time around. One Cubs official yesterday said that while Chicago does need a center fielder, the NL Central champion would prefer one with more extra-base power, citing the lack of power shown by current outfielders Reed Johnson and Kosuke Fukodome. Other teams with interest in Crisp might include the Chicago White Sox, Oakland A’s, Atlanta Braves and San Diego Padres. At 29, Crisp is in the prime of his career and his remaining salary ($5.75 million in 2009, $8 million club option for 2010 or a $500,000 buyout) is hardly off-putting, even for small market teams. — Boston Herald

The Yankees have been very aggressive in calling teams to see who might be available. They called the Astros about Roy Oswalt and Lance Berkman and were told they were not going to be dealt — Boston Globe

Kansas City, the New York Yankees, Chicago White Sox and Atlanta have indicated interest in Rockies CF Willy Taveras. — Rocky Mountain News

Interest exists in returning Edgar Renteria after the Detroit Tigers last week declined to pick up his option for 2009, making Renteria a free agent. The Cardinals would probably have interest in a short-term deal worth considerably less than the $10 million-a-year deal Renteria signed with the Boston Red Sox in December 2004. — St. Louis Post-Dispatch

The Phillies should be cautious going longer than two years, because Pat Burrell is 32 and his athleticism has declined. Jose Guillen got three years and $36 million from Kansas City last winter. Burrell certainly could seek a similar deal, but he might have to go to the American League, where he could be a designated hitter, to get it. Baltimore and Tampa Bay could be fits for him. — Philadelphia Inquirer

The Mets are still eyeing Mariners free agent Raul Ibanez. They need a consistent hitter in the outfield, and Ibanez seems to fit what GM Omar Minaya is looking for. — Boston Globe

As many teams as were interested in a closer, like Brian Fuentes of Colorado, there is no chance of him being dealt because his ability is too high and his contract too reasonable for the Rockies to be able to get him through waivers. Remember, the Rockies declined to deal him prior to July 31 unless they received a quality young pitcher ready to step into the rotation — like an Ian Kennedy or Aaron Poreda or Clay Buchholz — because they are willing to offer him arbitration in free agency or take two top 50 picks in next June’s draft as compensation if they lose him.

So what does it take to make a deal in August? It takes a player with a contract a team wants to unload, and that most other teams don’t want so they avoid putting in a waiver claim. If teams aren’t careful they can get stuck, like San Diego with Randy Myers back in 1998.

The Blue Jays put Myers on waivers for the sake of putting him on waivers, but the Padres put in a claim and the Jays didn’t hesitate letting the sore-armed pitcher go. He was 1-3 in 14 1/3 innings the remainder of the year with the Padres, but never did pitch while collecting $13.6 million from San Diego in 1999 and 2000.

That said, here are 10 players who could be dealt this month:

INF Rich Aurilia, San Francisco
Contract situation: Roughly $1.125 million remaining on $4.5 million contract for 2008. Free agent after season.

Aurilia can play first and third, and fill in at short. He turns 37 on Sept. 2. He’s not part of plans for a Giants team that is finally trying to get younger. They’d like to save a million or so, and if he cleared waivers, a contender needing a veteran off the bench might throw a marginal prospect in the deal.

RHP Paul Byrd, Cleveland
Contract situation: Roughly $1.875 million remaining on $7.5 million contract for 2008. Free agent after season.

Byrd is a veteran known for his ability to grind. He was 6-10 with a 4.72 ERA in his first 21 starts with Indians, but a contender would look at him as a guy who has been through stretch challenges before.

OF Brian Giles, San Diego
Contract situation: Roughly $2.25 million remaining on $9 million contract for 2008 plus a $3 million buyout on a $9 million option for 2009.

At the age of 37, and with his power disappearing (he hasn’t hit 20 home runs since 2004) his value has diminished. He’s hit a lot of leadoff for Padres, but that’s a reach. He’s never stolen 15 bases in a season. A more hitter-friendly ballpark and the adrenalin rush of a pennant race could work wonders for the competitor in Giles. For the Padres, saving $5 million would be welcomed.

LHP Mike Hampton, Atlanta
Contract situation: Roughly $3.75 million remaining on $15 million contract for 2008. Free agent after season.

The Braves might pick up some of his salary. Hampton could be a sleeper. He missed all of 2006 and 2007, and was sidelined this year until July 22 because of elbow injuries and muscle pulls. He would be a late-August pickup because teams would want to see him pitch well before taking a chance on him. If he does, the competitive nature he showed when he was healthy would make him a find for a contender. After struggles in his first two starts with the Braves at the end of July, he did pitch seven quality innings — four hits, two runs, one walk — in a win against the Giants on Tuesday. Is that a sign of things to come or a blip on the screen?

DH/OF/1B/3B Aubrey Huff, Baltimore
Contract situation: Roughly $2 million remaining on $8 million contract for 2008. Free agent after season.

Huff has shown a revived bat this year, and can fill in at a number of positions. With the Orioles pushing to replenish their farm system, and owner Peter Angelos finally convinced to build an organization. Huff is the perfect player to dangle to add a prospect.

OF Juan Pierre, Los Angeles Dodgers
Contract situation: Roughly $2 million remaining on $8 million contract for 2008 plus $10 million guaranteed in 2009 and 2010, and $8.5 million guaranteed in 2011.

In a perfect world, the Dodgers would probably prefer to unload Andruw Jones, who is guaranteed $15 million next year, but a team would really have to gamble on a free-agent push by Jones to be willing to take a chance on him considering his frightening physical condition and diminished production this year. Pierre is Pierre. He outworks and outhustles, but will never show power, plate patience or a strong arm, and that was known before the Dodgers gave him a five-year, $44 million deal. If the Dodgers would pick up half the salary that remains, Pierre could be of interest to several teams, even non-contenders this year who would like his persona in their building effort the next couple of years.

SS Edgar Renteria, Detroit
Contract situation: Roughly $2.25 million remaining on $9 million contract for 2008 plus $3 million buyout on $11 million option for 2009.

How in the world did the Tigers ever give up RHP Jair Jurrjens for Renteria, who turns 33 Thursday. His offense and defense are in decline, but an injury on a contender could create a feeling of desperation.

C Yorvit Torrealba, Colorado
Contract situation: Roughly $487,5000 remaining on $2.75 million contract for 2008 plus $3.5 million guaranteed in 2009 and a $500,000 buyout on a $4 million option for 2010.

No team was interested in Torrealba because of his contract in July. But it’s August. If a contender has a catcher go down for the season and needs a veteran catcher, where else is it going to turn? Torrealba figures to be the only proven catcher they can get. He did guide the Rockies staff down the stretch and into the World Series a year ago.

LHP Jarrod Washburn, Seattle
Contract situation: Roughly $2,462,500 remaining on $9.85 million contract for 2008 plus $10.35M salary for 2009.

The Mariners had grand ideas before the trading deadline, wanting several high-ceiling players and refusing to pick up any money. Then reality hit. Nobody pursued conversations. Now they can be realistic, look for a way to unload unwanted salary and find a contender that wants someone who has experience down the stretch and is willing to overlook his 23-39 record since joining Seattle in 2006.

OF Randy Winn, San Francisco
Contract situation: Roughly $2 million remaining on $8 million contract for 2009 plus $8.25 million salary for 2009.

Giants wouldn’t mind moving Dave Roberts, too, but his $6.5 million annual salary that carries over to next year becomes a concern in light of the left knee problems that sidelined him from April 8 to July 22 this season. Winn provides an athletic 34-year-old who fits well in a clubhouse and can provide depth for a contender, but isn’t really a fit on a team undergoing a major youth movement.

The Brewers, after trading six prospects of varying qualities for lefty CC Sabathia and second baseman Ray Durham, are unlikely to give up the players necessary to acquire Orioles closer George Sherrill or any other prominent reliever, sources say.

The Orioles want closer value for Sherrill, who is not a free agent until after the 2011 season. The Brewers bolstered their offense with Durham in part because the prices for relievers were so high. They could use Sherrill to close, but Salomon Torres has been mostly reliable since replacing Eric Gagne in that role.

The Cardinals, who lead the majors with 23 blown saves, have a greater need for Sherrill, but the Angels remain perhaps the best fit because of their depth at shortstop — a position of dire need for the Orioles.

While Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturis likely are off-limits, the Angels could offer, say, minor leaguer Sean Rodriguez and a pitching prospect. Some scouts doubt whether Rodriguez can handle short — he is playing second at Class AAA — but the position is so thin right now, the Orioles might be willing to take that chance

Ready to spell relief: Bullpen arms are always in demand in July. So here’s a partial shopping list we culled by surveying several potential buyers:

Closers: Brian Fuentes, Huston Street, George Sherrill, Chad Cordero, Jon Rauch, Eric Gagne (buyer beware).

Set-up: Juan Rincon, Jesse Crain, Chad Bradford, Jamie Walker, David Weathers, Matt Herges, Guillermo Mota, Tyler Yates, Vinnie Chulk, Jesus Colome, Frankie Francisco, Joaquin Benoit, Alan Embree, Ron Mahay, Jimmy Gobble, Damaso Marte.

The A’s say the trade price for right-hander Dan Haren will be no less than the price for lefty Johan Santana. While Santana is only a year away from free agency, Haren is under contract for $4 million in 2008 and $5.5 million in ’09, and his deal includes a $6.75 million club option for ’10. Haren tied Jake Peavy for the major-league lead with 28 quality starts last season. Santana had 21.

The Orioles, meanwhile, are driving an equally hard bargain for lefty Erik Bedard, a pitcher coveted by the Mets and other clubs. Bedard is two years away from free agency, and has succeeded against AL East competition while pitching his home games at hitter-friendly Camden Yards. However, his durability remains in question. He has yet to pitch 200 innings in a season, and exceeded 30 starts only once, in 2006.

The Blue Jays, dormant for the most part at these meetings, are attempting to sign both right fielder Alex Rios and second baseman Aaron Hill to contract extensions. Rios, 26, is three years away from free agency. Hill, 25, is four years away. Team president Paul Godfrey told the Globe and Mail’s Jeff Blair that “sooner or later we’d like to bring in a big-name Canadian player,” but they probably would have a better chance at the Pirates’ Jason Bay than the Orioles’ Bedard. It is doubtful the Orioles would trade Bedard to another AL East club.

Rival clubs continue to inquire about Rangers third baseman Hank Blalock. The Rangers are not looking to move Blalock, but the team eventually could move shortstop Michael Young to third base to make room for prospect Elvis Andrus. Blalock, signed for $5.95 million next season with a $6.2 million club option for 2009, would make sense for the Cardinals, if they trade Rolen, as well as the Phillies and Dodgers.

The White Sox-Diamondbacks trade amounts to the White Sox gambling that outfielder Carlos Quentin will return to form after shoulder surgery and the Diamondbacks gambling that first baseman Chris Carter will develop into a major slugger. Quentin underwent surgery in October but is expected to be ready by the start of spring training. Carter, 20, hit 25 home runs at Class A last season, and right-handed power hitters are difficult to find.

The Phillies are one of the teams interested in free-agent right-hander Kris Benson, who is expected to throw for teams in Phoenix around Dec. 17. Benson, 33, underwent surgery last March to repair a partially torn rotator cuff. The Orioles declined the $7.5 million option on his contract, preferring to pay him a $500,000 buyout instead.

The Royals’ preliminary agreement with Jose Guillen on a three-year, $36 million contract might not preclude them from making a run at another free-agent outfielder, Andruw Jones. The Royals also are bidding for Japanese free-agent right-hander Hiroki Kuroda, whose price has risen above $40 million for four years. They presumably could redirect that money toward Jones, but probably could sign him only if he agreed to a shorter deal.
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The Indians, drawing numerous inquiries on left-hander Cliff Lee, still are undecided about whether they would move him. Lefties such as Lee, Willis and the Giants’ Noah Lowry could be attractive alternatives for teams that are unable to get in on Johan Santana and Erik Bedard.

The Pirates are aggressively shopping Nate McLouth, who is a popular target for teams looking for left-handed hitters and/or center fielders. McLouth could be a lesser option for the Cubs if they fail to land Kosuke Fukudome, and the Padres, Phillies and Braves also are expressing varying degrees of interest. Guillen’s deal with the Royals virtually ensures that free-agent center fielder Aaron Rowand will move beyond the Phillies’ price range.