With two months left before the non-waiver trade deadline, the White Sox are expected to be active in talks. Chicago general manager Ken Williams is expected to become more active beginning on June 15, when teams can begin trading players that were signed as free agents this past winter. "In the past, I'd say I'm happy with what I have," manager Ozzie Guillen said Saturday night. "This team has been so inconsistent. One week we play unbelievable, and the next week we don't. The way we're play right now, I will take my chances with this club." Jermaine Dye is hoping that the White Sox improve on the field so that Williams doesn't have to make any improvements. "Hopefully we keep playing well and he doesn't have to make any decisions to make us better, where everyone continues to pitch and swing the bat well," Dye said.

It is possible that Roy Oswalt would welcome a trade from the Astros, who have struggled to begin the season. Some believe that Oswalt is at odds with Houston manager Cecil Cooper, and the pitcher was upset that the team didn't make a play for San Diego's Jake Peavy.

The Mariners could be close to placing pitcher Erik Bedard on the trade market, despite their decent start to the season. Bedard's value could rise based on the status of San Diego's Jake Peavy and other team's decision about their ace pitchers. Bedard, who is reasonably priced at $7.75 million, could be a target for contending clubs like the Phillies, White Sox and Mets.

Brewers general manager Doug Melvin says that the team isn't searching the trade market for a second baseman or starting pitcher. "We don't have any trade discussions going on with anybody," Melvin said Friday night. Melvin did admit that he has spoken to some free agent infielders in the wake of Rickie Weeks' season-ending wrist injury. "There's no doubt we're going to miss Rickie over the course of the summer," Melvin said. "(But) we're not going to sit here and say that every week because there's nothing you can do about it."

Phillies general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. said earlier this week that the team is open to tweaking their roster via trades. "We will not have unlimited spending - that's not how we operate, and I don't think we need it," Amaro said. "[But] the fact of the matter is, every year around trade-deadline time, it's been a rare moment that we have not been allowed to do what we felt is necessary to make our team better. How much flexibility, I could not tell you, but I do know that if we can improve the team, we think we will have a chance to do that." Amaro is expected to search for right-handed hitting and pitching.

Dodgers GM Ned Colletti said the pitching staff needs significant improvement. "We can't go to the bullpen every day as early and as often as we do," Colletti said. Colletti said he had talked this season with the San Diego Padres about Jake Peavy. "If we could make a move, we'd do it, no matter the lead, no matter the deficit," Colletti said. "The goal is to improve the club."

With Jake Peavy wanting to stay in the National League, it begs the question whether he would approve a trade to the Phillies. "I have not discussed Philly with Jake because nobody has asked us to discuss Philly," said Peavy's agent, Barry Axelrod. Peavy has a full no-trade clause, which means he can veto any trade. He recently vetoed a trade to the Chicago White Sox. "He has a strong preference to play in the National League," he said. "He also wants to play for a contender. Both of those two things play into Philly's hands. ... The personnel is awesome. If there is one downside, it's the geographical difference for him, given that he has made his family home in the San Diego area."

The Phillies might be able to increase payroll via a midseason trade. "We will not have unlimited spending - that's not how we operate, and I don't think we need it," said Ruben Amaro. "[But] the fact of the matter is, every year around trade-deadline time, it's been a rare moment that we have not been allowed to do what we felt is necessary to make our team better. How much flexibility, I could not tell you, but I do know that if we can improve the team, we think we will have a chance to do that."

Mark DeRosa has been the subject of trade rumors for several weeks, but he's still not accustomed to that kind of attention. "I remember when the Cubs traded me to Cleveland over the winter, I had no idea it was happening," DeRosa said. "I'd heard my name mentioned in the Jake Peavy talks, but that had all died down. "It's not something you get used to. I just try not to think about it."

There have been rumors that the Mets are interested in Nationals first baseman Nick Johnson. Johnson spent time with the Yankees earlier in his career, and isn't opposed to a return to the Big Apple. "I can't worry about rumors or any of that stuff, I just have to go play. If it happens, it does; if I'm here, great," Johnson said. "I don't deal with anything until it happens.... But I enjoyed (New York). Fans are into it, they want to win. It's all about winning and that's what I want to play for, to get that ring on my finger. I definitely had a good time while I was here those three years."