Reds' GM Walt Jocketty commented on the offseason Saturday, admitting that the team has had trade discussions with the White Sox. "I'm not going to comment," Jocketty said. "But we have talked to the White Sox about some players. Nothing is close." There have been rumors that Cincinnati is interested in Jermaine Dye, while Jocketty shot down rumors that he is interested in shortstop Khalil Greene.

The Orioles have reportedly revisited trade talks with the Cubs about outfielder Felix Pie, and could end up as the third team in a deal that would send Jake Peavy to Chicago. Baltimore targeted Pie at this time last year, when a deal involving second baseman Brian Roberts was discussed. Orioles president Andy MacPhail said yesterday that a deal is not imminent, but acknowledged that Pie is the kind of player the team is pursuing. "We have a lot of different irons in the fire," MacPhail said. "We're in the process of determining who our trading partners might be and which free agents we might have a chance to sign. We're basically in the same position as everybody else, waiting for a couple of big dominoes to fall."

Free agency isn't the only avenue the Mets are exploring to find a closer this offseason. They reportedly have interest in the Houston's Jose Valverde, Colorado's Huston Street, Seattle's J.J. Putz, and Bobby Jenks of the White Sox. New York's bullpen this past season had a 4.25 ERA, which ranked 13th in the National League.

Toronto general manager JP Ricciardi says trading Roy Halladay, who has two years left on his contract, makes no sense, short or long term. "Two reasons," Ricciardi said Friday when he was asked why he was so opposed to trading Halladay. "We like him, and he gives us a chance to win. "That's not just the case in 2009. It's in 2010, too. I mean, let's say we were to move Roy this winter and we get Shaun Marcum back in 2010 after Dustin McGowan comes back in May this year, along with Casey Janssen being there, too. We'd be in a position where we'd be trying to recreate what we already have in Roy."

In regards to the Jake Peavy trade talks, the Padres absolutely believe Cubs' GM Jim Hendry can make this a three-way trade to get the Padres the pitching they need in addition to third base prospect Josh Vitters.

One report, courtesy of Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com, suggests the Angels have moved on to pitcher CC Sabathia as their main free agent target. It is conceivable they could sign Sabathia and also acquire pitcher Jake Peavy from the Padres, who have multiple needs the Angels could satisfy. If Jered Weaver is a centerpiece of a Peavy deal, imagine this starting rotation: Sabathia, Peavy, John Lackey, Ervin Santana and Joe Saunders.

The Tigers have reportedly lost interest in Red Sox shortstop Julio Lugo. Boston and Detroit had discussed a deal in which the Sox would send Lugo to the Tigers in exchange for either Dontrelle Willis or Nate Robertson. Industry sources report that momentum for such a swap has slowed. The possibility of a deal is now considered remote.

The A's have examined Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson's medical records, but the clubs have not seriously discussed a trade. If Washington signs free-agent Mark Teixeira, Johnson would become expendable. The news was first reported by FOXSports.com. The source also said that several other teams have Johnson's medical records.

The Braves have pulled out of the Jake Peavy sweepstakes and have turned their attention to free-agent pitcher A.J. Burnett. Burnett's agent says that the Braves are among six teams "fully engaged" in negotiations for the pitcher. "They're right in the mix," agent Darek Braunecker, said of the Braves, who appeal to Burnett in part because he thinks he could thrive in a return to the NL. "It's a place he?s always enjoyed," Braunecker said. "He loves Bobby Cox, respects the hell out of him, and he?s pretty close with Chipper [Jones]. He knows what they have, what opportunities they have [to improve]."

Cubs' manager Lou Piniella has confirmed that the team is no longer pursuing Padres pitcher Jake Peavy. "No," Piniella told the Chicago Sun-Times. "Starting we don't need. We're set. We've got six good starters, and they're all experienced. Getting [Ryan] Dempster back was the key. We're in good shape with our starting pitching. Bullpen-wise, [we're looking for] possibly one more experienced pitcher. We've got a lot of young kids out there." Piniella was referring to starters Ryan Dempster, Rich Harden, Ted Lilly, Jason Marquis, Carlos Zambrano, and Sean Marshall.