Even if the Padres decide to trade closer Heath Bell prior to Sunday's trade deadline, he could be pitching for the team next season. The free-agent-to-be hasn't ruled out re-signing with San Diego this winter, perhaps even at a discounted rate. "Honestly, with everything that's happened, I wouldn't rule out anything," Bell said. "I said I'd take a discount, and I want to stay here. Everyone knows that." The Rangers are the team that has been most intensely linked to Bell.

Angel Pagan was often the life of the Mets last season, but he has struggled this season and quieted down as a result. "The reason I'm not talking to people as much is when I'm going bad, I don't want to bring my teammates down," Pagan said. "I'm just trying to focus and get better. That's all. I'm fine." Pagan batted .290, with a .340 on-base percentage in 2010, convincing the Mets that he could assume center field duties in the post-Carlos Beltran era. A team insider speculated -- while stressing that he was merely thinking aloud, and no decisions have been made -- that Pagan was a candidate to be non-tendered this winter.

Red Sox general manager Theo Epstein said in an interview on WEEI in Boston that the team would like to lock up outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury with a long-term contract. "Yeah, I think with all of our young players that we see as core members of our organization that is something we are interested in. We certainly see Jacoby as that. This certainly isn't the right forum to talk about it as conversations are always between closed doors, but it is not a secret that we have sat down and tried in the past and tried to lock Jacoby up in the past, and we will sit down in the future and try and do it again at the appropriate time," Epstein said. "He is somebody that we have believed in as a core, young member in the organization that we look to keep around. "We have certain organizational standards that have to be met, and we have worked hard to keep those standards with Pedroia and Youkilis and Lesters of the world, so we'd love to one day announce that Jacoby will be with this organization for a long time and this is where he should be and we see him as a core guy."

Mets shortstop Jose Reyes, who will be a free agent this winter, has been telling friends that he would love to sign with the Angels, according to a source. New York, once expected to field offers for Reyes, is expected to hold onto the All-Star through the remainder of the season. Angels owner Arte Moreno may be unlikely to pay the price to land Reyes if he does demand a Carl Crawford-like contract worth $142 million over seven years.

The Cardinals and the resurgent Lance Berkman both have some interest in continuing their relationship. St. Louis signed Berkman to a one-year deal this past winter and he has enjoyed a comeback season. However, it is unlikely that anything firm will be decided until after the Albert Pujols situation is solved.

As the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline approaches, Jose Reyes and the Mets are going to pop up in rumors. The All-Star shortstop will be a free agent this winter and it makes sense for the Mets to deal him this summer if they aren't going to be able to re-sign him. A high-ranking Mets source put the team's chances of re-signing Reyes at "25 percent at best. I don't think we're going to have the money." The Mets are believed to want to cut their payroll to around $100 million this offseason.

Mark Buehrle hasn't thought about the possibility that this could be his final season with the White Sox. The left-hander is 6-5 with a 3.42 ERA this season. He hasn't allowed more than three runs in his last 13 starts for a 2.47 ERA in that stretch. "Not even thinking about it — I swear," Buehrle said of his contract, which is up after the season. "My wife asked me the other day if I was thinking about it or anything, and I said no. I don't know why. Don't know if the reality of it might sink in. But I'm not thinking about it one bit."

The Brewers were smart to restructure Francisco Rodriguez's contract, eliminating his $17.5 million vesting option for 2012, but the Mets tried the same thing, according to sources. New York, prior to Rodriguez's switch to agent Scott Boras, held numerous conversations about ditching the option with former representative Arn Tellem. Ultimately, the Mets viewed a trade of the closer as a "cleaner" solution. They saved $2.5 million and will receive a pair of players to be named.

The Yankees have signed left-handed reliever J.C. Romero to a minor league contract, according to sources. Romero could make an appearance for Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Thursday night. He recently signed a minor league deal with the Nationals under the impression that he would be promoted to the majors by July 15, but Washington released him.

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz has been the face of the franchise for the last nine years. Ortiz wants at least a two-year deal with an option for a third. He is a couple of years beyond the age when the Red Sox normally get gun-shy about committing to players for the long term. "You know what? I've been in this organization for nine years. My numbers ain't that bad, you know what I'm saying?" Ortiz said. "I don't think I need to open any more eyes than I have already. If you haven't seen me, you ain't."