LAKE BUENA VISTA, Florida (Ticker) -- Ned Colletti possesses many of the critical qualities for a general manager - knowledge of the players, creativity in making moves, and the underrated skill of flexibility.
The Dodgers couldn't land coveted sluggers Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Lee or Manny Ramirez, so they decided to change their strategy. They went for Plan B as far as hitters, signing Luis Gonzalez to a one-year deal, and also hauled in the top righthander on the market in Jason Schmidt.
"We came into the offseason looking for some starting pitching and a strong power hitter for the middle of the lineup," Colletti said. "When we couldn't find the hitter we wanted, we decided to upgrade our pitching and hold on to our young players."
Although he could not comment on his two new acquisitions because they had not officially signed, Colletti did not have to part with any of his talented, young players to bring in those pieces. He also signed pitcher Randy Wolf, catcher Mike Lieberthal and re-signed first baseman Nomar Garciaparra.
In addition, Colletti now has additional flexibility in being able to move excess pieces - starters Brad Penny or Chad Billingsley or outfielder Andre Ethier - to add a proven slugger, perhaps Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells.
Every team has a list of desires heading into the offseason. Below is a recap of what each National League team has done to this point, what's on the horizon and what might be brewing in the near future.
Arizona Diamondbacks WHAT'S DONE: The Diamondbacks have only made one significant move this offseason, acquiring starter Doug Davis from the Milwaukee Brewers in a six-player trade. Arizona sent three players, including catcher Johnny Estrada, to Milwaukee for a package centered around the 30-year-old Davis, who has won 11 games in each of the last two seasons.
WHAT'S LEFT: The Diamondbacks could fish for a leadoff hitter and will need to add one more reserve outfielder. Their rotation could use another proven starter, while the bullpen would benefit from some tinkering over the winter.
WHAT'S COOKING: Arizona seems unlikely to take a gamble on lefthander Mark Mulder, who is coming off a horrible season for the St. Louis Cardinals that ended in August due to a shoulder injury. Perhaps Mark Redman is a better option.
Atlanta Braves WHAT'S DONE: The Braves made their biggest offseason move to date on Wednesday, sending starter Horacio Ramirez to Seattle for much-needed bullpen help in the form of righthander Rafael Soriano. They also have explored a deal for Pittsburgh closer Mike Gonzalez and other lefthanded relievers.
WHAT'S LEFT: Atlanta does need another arm in the bullpen, and the team appears willing to trade either first baseman Adam LaRoche or second baseman Marcus Giles to get it. The Braves also might want to add another starter as insurance for Mike Hampton (returning from injury) and Chuck James and Kyle Davies (inexperienced).
WHAT'S COOKING: The Braves are more likely to trade LaRoche than Giles, not necessarily because he is better, but more so because there is more of a demand for first basemen.
Chicago Cubs WHAT'S DONE: The Cubs have been the most active team in baseball this offseason, having signed the premier hitter (Alfonso Soriano), a veteran lefthander (Ted Lilly) and the top third baseman (Aramis Ramirez). They have had several quieter moves, re-signing Kerry Wood to a short-term, low-risk contract and bringing in versatile infielder Mark DeRosa to play second base.
WHAT'S LEFT: If Chicago wants to play Soriano at a corner outfield spot, the team will need to move either left fielder Matt Murton or right fielder Jacque Jones, neither of whom are good options in center field. Another starter would be a welcome addition for a team with question marks in its rotation.
WHAT'S COOKING: If the lack of a true leadoff hitter and a solid defensive center fielder worries the Cubs, they could go after Anaheim speedster Chone Figgins.
Cincinnati Reds WHAT'S DONE: The Reds addressed their always-hurting bullpen by bringing in veteran Mike Stanton and re-signing David Weathers. They also improved their defense with shortstop Alex Gonzalez.
WHAT'S LEFT: Not too much. Cincinnati's areas of need are pretty much minor. The team could use an extra starter, or a righthanded hitter to platoon at first base. Probably the biggest hole is at closer, where Stanton or Weathers could get plugged in, but that duo likely isn't striking too much fear into opponents.
WHAT'S COOKING: Eduardo Perez seems to be the most likely candidate to come in and platoon with Scott Hatteberg at first base. Shea Hillenbrand and Mark Loretta are less likely options.
Colorado Rockies WHAT'S DONE: It's more about what's not done for the Rockies, who have decided, at least for the mean time, to not trade hitters Todd Helton or Brad Hawpe or pitcher Jason Jennings. The only addition they have made this offseason is veteran righthander LaTroy Hawkins.
WHAT'S LEFT: The biggest remaining hole is center field, where Cory Sullivan and Choo Freeman leave much to be desired. Among the players Colorado could acquire are Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli and less likely options like Wells and Philadelphia's Aaron Rowand.
WHAT'S COOKING: Helton will not be traded to Anaheim and Jennings will not be going anywhere. It just doesn't make sense to trade either Helton, at the lowest his value has been in years, or Jennings, who is relatively young and affordable.
Florida Marlins WHAT'S DONE: The Marlins acquired Kevin Gregg from Anaheim and fellow pitchers Matt Lindstrom and Henry Owens from the New York Mets. That's not much for the 14 Marlins fans to get excited about.
WHAT'S LEFT: The team needs a closer and could use a new center fielder. Figgins is a possibility, while Wells is not. Baldelli is an intriguing option, especially considering Tampa Bay would love some young pitching in return.
WHAT'S COOKING: Here are two dishes not on the hot stove: Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. Neither is going anywhere, at least not between now and the start of the season. Baldelli coming over in a deal for Ricky Nolasco would make some sense for both teams.
Houston Astros WHAT'S DONE: The Astros accomplished one of their primary goals of the offseason by bringing in slugger Carlos Lee. They also signed underrated veteran Woody Williams to slide into the middle of their rotation.
WHAT'S LEFT: Behind ace Roy Oswalt and Williams, the starters are all young and inexperienced. Veterans Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens are free agents and may not return, leaving Jason Hirsh and his nine career starts as the third starter. If both Pettitte and Clemens go elsewhere, the Astros' starting pitching - their strength in previous years - becomes a weakness.
WHAT'S COOKING: The rumored deal with the Chicago White Sox that would send righthander Jon Garland to the Astros for Willy Taveras and a pitching prospect appears unlikely. Houston might be better off taking aim at Philadelphia's Jon Lieber or Penny.
Los Angeles Dodgers WHAT'S DONE: The Dodgers have experienced both sides of the free agent market. They have lost a few pieces but also have added strong components like Schmidt, Gonzalez, Wolf and Lieberthal. The re-signing of Garciaparra also is a fine move.
WHAT'S LEFT: Not too much. The team could address middle relief, but it's far from a pressing issue. At this point, the Dodgers can take their excess in starting pitcher and their strong supply of young talent and explore a trade for a proven power hitter.
WHAT'S COOKING: Wells is one of the names floating around Dodgers circles. If the team wanted to include Ethier and Penny in a package, a deal could get done.
Milwaukee Brewers WHAT'S DONE: They brought in three major league players in the Davis trade - Estrada and a pair of pitchers, Claudio Vargas and Greg Aquino. They also signed reliable infielder Craig Counsell, who played for the team in 2004.
WHAT'S LEFT: The Brewers still have an overload of infielders and they also wouldn't mind moving one of their corner outfielders. The back end of the rotation still is one pitcher short, but these aren't major issues.
WHAT'S COOKING: The rumors surrounding closer Derrick Turnbow don't seem to be substantiated, but Kevin Mench appears much more likely to be on the move. He certainly could fetch Milwaukee a respectable fourth or fifth starter or a couple of relievers.
New York Mets WHAT'S DONE: The Mets have, as usual, been very active. They re-signed top lefthander Tom Glavine, inked veteran Moises Alou to play left field and re-signed second baseman Jose Valentin. They also added to their bullpen with Jon Adkins, Jason Vargas and Ambiorix Burgos through separate trades.
WHAT'S LEFT: The bullpen could still use some attention as Roberto Hernandez and Chad Bradford have departed via free agency and Guillermo Mota is a free agent and is suspended the first 50 games of next season. Adding another starting pitcher, specifically an innings-eater, is vital at this point.
WHAT'S COOKING: General manager Omar Minaya is always on the prowl. His latest target is Barry Zito, the top lefthander on the market. It's starting to look like the Texas Rangers might not be able to afford Zito, leaving the fast-spending Mets as a prime candidate to sign the former Cy Young Award winner.
Philadelphia Phillies WHAT'S DONE: Acquired starting pitchers Freddy Garcia and Adam Eaton and third baseman Wes Helms.
WHAT'S LEFT: The Phillies came to the meetings looking for a couple of relievers but added Garcia instead in a move that cost them underachieving righthander Gavin Floyd and minor league lefthander Gio Gonzalez, a top prospect the Phillies acquired from the White Sox last year in the Jim Thome deal.
WHAT'S COOKING: GM Pat Gillick now has six quality starting pitchers that he will use to acquire relievers. Philadelphia had three calls just hours after the trade asking about their availability. The Phillies were using Rowand as trade bait for a reliever, but now he'll likely be pulled off the market.
Pittsburgh Pirates WHAT'S DONE: The biggest news the Pirates have made this offseason is a deal that didn't go down Wednesday, when they were close to acquiring first baseman Adam LaRoche from Atlanta for closer Mike Gonzalez. They have not made any significant additions to their roster this winter.
WHAT'S LEFT: The most pressing need for Pittsburgh GM Dave Littlefield is to add a lefthanded bat that can play either first base or right field. A fifth starter also would be nice, but as usual, the Pirates don't have mega-millions to spend on these needs.
WHAT'S COOKING: The LaRoche deal might not be dead, but it's not looking good at this point. It's a shame, too, because it really seemed like a deal that could benefit both teams. Doug Mientkiewicz could be a backup plan.
St. Louis Cardinals WHAT'S DONE: The Cardinals are having a fine offseason simply because they are not rushing out to overpay for mediocre talent. They understand the need to put value on players and stick to it. Therefore, all they've done is re-sign reliable infielder-outfielder Scott Spiezio.
WHAT'S LEFT: There is still a lot of work to be done in the rotation, where two spots still need to be filled. Even with manager Tony La Russa talking about moving Adam Wainwright or Braden Looper to the starting rotation, one or two spots still needs to be filled.
WHAT'S COOKING: Miguel Batista appears to be a likely fit for one of the Cardinals' starting jobs. St. Louis would love to re-sign Jeff Suppan, but only at a reasonable price, while playoff hero Jeff Weaver appears to be headed elsewhere.
San Diego Padres WHAT'S DONE: The Padres surprisingly traded promising young second baseman Josh Barfield to Cleveland in November and made a minor deal with the Mets a week later. They also have agreed to terms with future Hall of Fame righthander Greg Maddux on a two-year contract that should be finalized early next week.
WHAT'S LEFT: They have been rumored in deals for Manny Ramirez and Pat Burrell, but those moves are quite unlikely. However, they do need a left fielder unless they want to give the job to Terrmel Sledge, who has done little over the years to warrant it.
WHAT'S COOKING: Todd Walker is expected to accept arbitration, locking up the second base job. If Ramirez and Burrell prove to be too expensive for the Padres' liking, Figgins would slide into their outfield nicely. The addition of another starter is all but certain, with Lieber being a good possibility.
San Francisco Giants WHAT'S DONE: The team has re-signed second baseman Ray Durham and third baseman Pedro Feliz and signed first baseman Rich Aurilia to complete the infield. The outfield now includes Dave Roberts, but there is a big name missing from the current lineup card.
WHAT'S LEFT: Barry Bonds, Barry Bonds, Barry Bonds. The seven-time MVP arrived at the winter meetings on Wednesday to try and expedite a deal with San Francisco - or perhaps another team. The Giants and Bonds both know deep down that a contract is going to be inevitable, but they still appear to be significantly apart in terms of the economics.
WHAT'S COOKING: With so much attention surrounding Bonds, it's easy to forget the Giants also need several pitchers and a first baseman. Batista could slide into the middle of San Francisco's rotation, while Seattle slugger Richie Sexson is a possibility at first base, albeit an unlikely one.
Washington Nationals WHAT'S DONE: While some teams have been quiet, the Nationals are more like mimes. There has not been a peep out of them in any sense this offseason.
WHAT'S LEFT: The Nationals are still desperate for starting pitching and willing to deal several players, including second baseman Jose Vidro, to get the arms they crave. The team also could use some help in the outfield but likely does not have the pieces to acquire an impact player.
WHAT'S COOKING: Ryan Church could be headed to Milwaukee for left fielder Kevin Mench, who appears destined for a trade. Closer Chad Cordero probably isn't going anywhere, while Vidro probably is better off staying in Washington at this stage of his career.
The Dodgers couldn't land coveted sluggers Alfonso Soriano, Carlos Lee or Manny Ramirez, so they decided to change their strategy. They went for Plan B as far as hitters, signing Luis Gonzalez to a one-year deal, and also hauled in the top righthander on the market in Jason Schmidt.
"We came into the offseason looking for some starting pitching and a strong power hitter for the middle of the lineup," Colletti said. "When we couldn't find the hitter we wanted, we decided to upgrade our pitching and hold on to our young players."
Although he could not comment on his two new acquisitions because they had not officially signed, Colletti did not have to part with any of his talented, young players to bring in those pieces. He also signed pitcher Randy Wolf, catcher Mike Lieberthal and re-signed first baseman Nomar Garciaparra.
In addition, Colletti now has additional flexibility in being able to move excess pieces - starters Brad Penny or Chad Billingsley or outfielder Andre Ethier - to add a proven slugger, perhaps Toronto center fielder Vernon Wells.
Every team has a list of desires heading into the offseason. Below is a recap of what each National League team has done to this point, what's on the horizon and what might be brewing in the near future.
Arizona Diamondbacks WHAT'S DONE: The Diamondbacks have only made one significant move this offseason, acquiring starter Doug Davis from the Milwaukee Brewers in a six-player trade. Arizona sent three players, including catcher Johnny Estrada, to Milwaukee for a package centered around the 30-year-old Davis, who has won 11 games in each of the last two seasons.
WHAT'S LEFT: The Diamondbacks could fish for a leadoff hitter and will need to add one more reserve outfielder. Their rotation could use another proven starter, while the bullpen would benefit from some tinkering over the winter.
WHAT'S COOKING: Arizona seems unlikely to take a gamble on lefthander Mark Mulder, who is coming off a horrible season for the St. Louis Cardinals that ended in August due to a shoulder injury. Perhaps Mark Redman is a better option.
Atlanta Braves WHAT'S DONE: The Braves made their biggest offseason move to date on Wednesday, sending starter Horacio Ramirez to Seattle for much-needed bullpen help in the form of righthander Rafael Soriano. They also have explored a deal for Pittsburgh closer Mike Gonzalez and other lefthanded relievers.
WHAT'S LEFT: Atlanta does need another arm in the bullpen, and the team appears willing to trade either first baseman Adam LaRoche or second baseman Marcus Giles to get it. The Braves also might want to add another starter as insurance for Mike Hampton (returning from injury) and Chuck James and Kyle Davies (inexperienced).
WHAT'S COOKING: The Braves are more likely to trade LaRoche than Giles, not necessarily because he is better, but more so because there is more of a demand for first basemen.
Chicago Cubs WHAT'S DONE: The Cubs have been the most active team in baseball this offseason, having signed the premier hitter (Alfonso Soriano), a veteran lefthander (Ted Lilly) and the top third baseman (Aramis Ramirez). They have had several quieter moves, re-signing Kerry Wood to a short-term, low-risk contract and bringing in versatile infielder Mark DeRosa to play second base.
WHAT'S LEFT: If Chicago wants to play Soriano at a corner outfield spot, the team will need to move either left fielder Matt Murton or right fielder Jacque Jones, neither of whom are good options in center field. Another starter would be a welcome addition for a team with question marks in its rotation.
WHAT'S COOKING: If the lack of a true leadoff hitter and a solid defensive center fielder worries the Cubs, they could go after Anaheim speedster Chone Figgins.
Cincinnati Reds WHAT'S DONE: The Reds addressed their always-hurting bullpen by bringing in veteran Mike Stanton and re-signing David Weathers. They also improved their defense with shortstop Alex Gonzalez.
WHAT'S LEFT: Not too much. Cincinnati's areas of need are pretty much minor. The team could use an extra starter, or a righthanded hitter to platoon at first base. Probably the biggest hole is at closer, where Stanton or Weathers could get plugged in, but that duo likely isn't striking too much fear into opponents.
WHAT'S COOKING: Eduardo Perez seems to be the most likely candidate to come in and platoon with Scott Hatteberg at first base. Shea Hillenbrand and Mark Loretta are less likely options.
Colorado Rockies WHAT'S DONE: It's more about what's not done for the Rockies, who have decided, at least for the mean time, to not trade hitters Todd Helton or Brad Hawpe or pitcher Jason Jennings. The only addition they have made this offseason is veteran righthander LaTroy Hawkins.
WHAT'S LEFT: The biggest remaining hole is center field, where Cory Sullivan and Choo Freeman leave much to be desired. Among the players Colorado could acquire are Tampa Bay's Rocco Baldelli and less likely options like Wells and Philadelphia's Aaron Rowand.
WHAT'S COOKING: Helton will not be traded to Anaheim and Jennings will not be going anywhere. It just doesn't make sense to trade either Helton, at the lowest his value has been in years, or Jennings, who is relatively young and affordable.
Florida Marlins WHAT'S DONE: The Marlins acquired Kevin Gregg from Anaheim and fellow pitchers Matt Lindstrom and Henry Owens from the New York Mets. That's not much for the 14 Marlins fans to get excited about.
WHAT'S LEFT: The team needs a closer and could use a new center fielder. Figgins is a possibility, while Wells is not. Baldelli is an intriguing option, especially considering Tampa Bay would love some young pitching in return.
WHAT'S COOKING: Here are two dishes not on the hot stove: Dontrelle Willis and Miguel Cabrera. Neither is going anywhere, at least not between now and the start of the season. Baldelli coming over in a deal for Ricky Nolasco would make some sense for both teams.
Houston Astros WHAT'S DONE: The Astros accomplished one of their primary goals of the offseason by bringing in slugger Carlos Lee. They also signed underrated veteran Woody Williams to slide into the middle of their rotation.
WHAT'S LEFT: Behind ace Roy Oswalt and Williams, the starters are all young and inexperienced. Veterans Andy Pettitte and Roger Clemens are free agents and may not return, leaving Jason Hirsh and his nine career starts as the third starter. If both Pettitte and Clemens go elsewhere, the Astros' starting pitching - their strength in previous years - becomes a weakness.
WHAT'S COOKING: The rumored deal with the Chicago White Sox that would send righthander Jon Garland to the Astros for Willy Taveras and a pitching prospect appears unlikely. Houston might be better off taking aim at Philadelphia's Jon Lieber or Penny.
Los Angeles Dodgers WHAT'S DONE: The Dodgers have experienced both sides of the free agent market. They have lost a few pieces but also have added strong components like Schmidt, Gonzalez, Wolf and Lieberthal. The re-signing of Garciaparra also is a fine move.
WHAT'S LEFT: Not too much. The team could address middle relief, but it's far from a pressing issue. At this point, the Dodgers can take their excess in starting pitcher and their strong supply of young talent and explore a trade for a proven power hitter.
WHAT'S COOKING: Wells is one of the names floating around Dodgers circles. If the team wanted to include Ethier and Penny in a package, a deal could get done.
Milwaukee Brewers WHAT'S DONE: They brought in three major league players in the Davis trade - Estrada and a pair of pitchers, Claudio Vargas and Greg Aquino. They also signed reliable infielder Craig Counsell, who played for the team in 2004.
WHAT'S LEFT: The Brewers still have an overload of infielders and they also wouldn't mind moving one of their corner outfielders. The back end of the rotation still is one pitcher short, but these aren't major issues.
WHAT'S COOKING: The rumors surrounding closer Derrick Turnbow don't seem to be substantiated, but Kevin Mench appears much more likely to be on the move. He certainly could fetch Milwaukee a respectable fourth or fifth starter or a couple of relievers.
New York Mets WHAT'S DONE: The Mets have, as usual, been very active. They re-signed top lefthander Tom Glavine, inked veteran Moises Alou to play left field and re-signed second baseman Jose Valentin. They also added to their bullpen with Jon Adkins, Jason Vargas and Ambiorix Burgos through separate trades.
WHAT'S LEFT: The bullpen could still use some attention as Roberto Hernandez and Chad Bradford have departed via free agency and Guillermo Mota is a free agent and is suspended the first 50 games of next season. Adding another starting pitcher, specifically an innings-eater, is vital at this point.
WHAT'S COOKING: General manager Omar Minaya is always on the prowl. His latest target is Barry Zito, the top lefthander on the market. It's starting to look like the Texas Rangers might not be able to afford Zito, leaving the fast-spending Mets as a prime candidate to sign the former Cy Young Award winner.
Philadelphia Phillies WHAT'S DONE: Acquired starting pitchers Freddy Garcia and Adam Eaton and third baseman Wes Helms.
WHAT'S LEFT: The Phillies came to the meetings looking for a couple of relievers but added Garcia instead in a move that cost them underachieving righthander Gavin Floyd and minor league lefthander Gio Gonzalez, a top prospect the Phillies acquired from the White Sox last year in the Jim Thome deal.
WHAT'S COOKING: GM Pat Gillick now has six quality starting pitchers that he will use to acquire relievers. Philadelphia had three calls just hours after the trade asking about their availability. The Phillies were using Rowand as trade bait for a reliever, but now he'll likely be pulled off the market.
Pittsburgh Pirates WHAT'S DONE: The biggest news the Pirates have made this offseason is a deal that didn't go down Wednesday, when they were close to acquiring first baseman Adam LaRoche from Atlanta for closer Mike Gonzalez. They have not made any significant additions to their roster this winter.
WHAT'S LEFT: The most pressing need for Pittsburgh GM Dave Littlefield is to add a lefthanded bat that can play either first base or right field. A fifth starter also would be nice, but as usual, the Pirates don't have mega-millions to spend on these needs.
WHAT'S COOKING: The LaRoche deal might not be dead, but it's not looking good at this point. It's a shame, too, because it really seemed like a deal that could benefit both teams. Doug Mientkiewicz could be a backup plan.
St. Louis Cardinals WHAT'S DONE: The Cardinals are having a fine offseason simply because they are not rushing out to overpay for mediocre talent. They understand the need to put value on players and stick to it. Therefore, all they've done is re-sign reliable infielder-outfielder Scott Spiezio.
WHAT'S LEFT: There is still a lot of work to be done in the rotation, where two spots still need to be filled. Even with manager Tony La Russa talking about moving Adam Wainwright or Braden Looper to the starting rotation, one or two spots still needs to be filled.
WHAT'S COOKING: Miguel Batista appears to be a likely fit for one of the Cardinals' starting jobs. St. Louis would love to re-sign Jeff Suppan, but only at a reasonable price, while playoff hero Jeff Weaver appears to be headed elsewhere.
San Diego Padres WHAT'S DONE: The Padres surprisingly traded promising young second baseman Josh Barfield to Cleveland in November and made a minor deal with the Mets a week later. They also have agreed to terms with future Hall of Fame righthander Greg Maddux on a two-year contract that should be finalized early next week.
WHAT'S LEFT: They have been rumored in deals for Manny Ramirez and Pat Burrell, but those moves are quite unlikely. However, they do need a left fielder unless they want to give the job to Terrmel Sledge, who has done little over the years to warrant it.
WHAT'S COOKING: Todd Walker is expected to accept arbitration, locking up the second base job. If Ramirez and Burrell prove to be too expensive for the Padres' liking, Figgins would slide into their outfield nicely. The addition of another starter is all but certain, with Lieber being a good possibility.
San Francisco Giants WHAT'S DONE: The team has re-signed second baseman Ray Durham and third baseman Pedro Feliz and signed first baseman Rich Aurilia to complete the infield. The outfield now includes Dave Roberts, but there is a big name missing from the current lineup card.
WHAT'S LEFT: Barry Bonds, Barry Bonds, Barry Bonds. The seven-time MVP arrived at the winter meetings on Wednesday to try and expedite a deal with San Francisco - or perhaps another team. The Giants and Bonds both know deep down that a contract is going to be inevitable, but they still appear to be significantly apart in terms of the economics.
WHAT'S COOKING: With so much attention surrounding Bonds, it's easy to forget the Giants also need several pitchers and a first baseman. Batista could slide into the middle of San Francisco's rotation, while Seattle slugger Richie Sexson is a possibility at first base, albeit an unlikely one.
Washington Nationals WHAT'S DONE: While some teams have been quiet, the Nationals are more like mimes. There has not been a peep out of them in any sense this offseason.
WHAT'S LEFT: The Nationals are still desperate for starting pitching and willing to deal several players, including second baseman Jose Vidro, to get the arms they crave. The team also could use some help in the outfield but likely does not have the pieces to acquire an impact player.
WHAT'S COOKING: Ryan Church could be headed to Milwaukee for left fielder Kevin Mench, who appears destined for a trade. Closer Chad Cordero probably isn't going anywhere, while Vidro probably is better off staying in Washington at this stage of his career.
