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Mr Lohse has definitely been a bright spot, in a miserable season, and the team spent more than they have in a long time on international players, so the lost draft pick may not be a big deal in the long run. Go Sooper!

Brewmann, Mr Castellanos is currently the #15 prospect in all of baseball, if moving forward, they have to get excellent young talent in any trade. They need pitchers, you're right, but if Castellanos can be had, he needs to be had. If we trade for a slightly above average pitching prospect, because he is a pitching prospect, thereby leaving an impact hitter out of the picture...I will be very angry.

Detroit wants two relievers, they think they can reach the World Series this year, if they fix the back end of their bullpen; K-Rod sounds like he's their choice as closer. Remember last year when Baltimore wanted Greinke, but their farm system was pretty much Manny Machado, Dylan Bundy, and ? Detroit has a similar situation, their system isn't very deep at the moment, but at the top they have 3B/OF Nick Castellanos, and OF Avisail Garcia. These two aren't in the class of Machado and Bundy, but they're both excellent prospects. Castellanos profiles to be a .300 hitter, with 20 homers/40 doubles. He may be able to handle third base in the majors, if not, he's an outfielder. Garcia is probably the riskier of the two, he's got plenty of talent, but he's rough, a free-swinger at this point. Best case for Garcia - he becomes a 20/20-type outfielder. Both of these guys have a great deal of potential, and scouts think Detroit would deal one of them if they thought they were getting enough to make them favorites to reach the World Series...which in their case, essentially means if they get their bullpen over the top. This will mean K-Rod, and another good bullpen arm, one they control beyond this season, so Axford, or Henderson. I don't know if Detroit would give up one of these guys for two relievers or not, but it's not as crazy as it may sound, they're going for it, and a better bullpen may actually be all they need this year. If the Brewers are going to pull a deal this July that is universally praised, Detroit may be the best bet.

Torts, I'm not certain the Brewers have changed their message from, "maybe" to "we will."

Teams certainly know pitchers, "might", be available, I'm sure of that - but the final decision, "Yes, we will trade these guys" - I'm not convinced that decision has been made.

I'm not sure the Brewers have told teams their starting pitchers are definitely available.

How does Ramirez hold negative value in trade? Could the Brewers trade him away for a bag of balls right now? No, I don't think they could. So he has negative value. If he comes back on July 22 and plays well for 10 games and some team is desperate, then we could trade him for something. But if he comes back and still needs games off and still isn't hitting, then we would not get a trade for him. This, is likely the only way Aramis is moved this season. He's good, and he's proven, for sure, but he's had a bad knee all season, that didn't respond after his first trip to the DL. It's a shame, because he would have been an excellent trade chip right now.

Here's the full rundown, Oakland and Cincinnati did not win a pick... Competitive Balance Round A Rockies Orioles Indians Marlins Royals Brewers Competitive Balance Round B Padres Diamondbacks Cardinals Rays Pirates Mariners

I'll post the results later today, Jonathan Mayo will post them today.

Tweet from Will Carroll... Just confirmed that @hangingsliders nailed it. MLB believes it has authority under just cause to suspend any amount, up to lifetime ban.

Yep, it's this afternoon. I remember the same thing from last year, they don't publicize it at all. I wrote a piece on it for my website last year, and people were like, "Oh yeah, I forgot they were doing that."

The one for this year's draft was done last July, this is the one for the 2014 draft.

Today is the date listed for the Competitive Balance Lottery, but I haven't heard a peep about it.

If you're looking at potential centerpieces for a significant deal, look at this list, start around number 30 and scroll through the contending teams' prospects from 30-50. http://www.baseballamerica.com/minors/midseason-prospect-update-top-50-prospects/

http://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2013/07/weiner-on-biogenesis-suspensions.html

One interesting note on Garza, which would pertain to potential Gallardo trades as well...the Cubs are trying to get a pitcher as the centerpiece of the deal, and so far, that has hung things up. MLB Trade Rumors says Texas has told the Cubs they can't have Martin Perez, (as they told Milwaukee last year for Greinke). The Rangers have offered Mike Olt. St Louis wants to send second baseman Kolten Wong, and the Dodgers' most likely prospect is Joc Pederson. I assume the Brewers would want a pitcher at the front as well...which may be tougher than it sounds right now.

Martin Maldanado has been catching his games, and basically, he hasn't let Wily off a leash. Peralta used to nibble with his pitches, walk around a lot on the mound, shake off signs, etc...Maldanado has him working at a faster pace, with no questions asked.

The Phillies have made it back to .500, but they've lost Ben Revere to a foot injury, so they've decided to pursue a center fielder. We'll see if Aoki's name pops up.

How 'bout the difference in Wily Peralta in recent weeks? This is the guy they thought/hoped he would be, and OH do they need him to be.

Nate, you're right, but I don't think the Dodgers would be out, especially if we sent a relief arm too, and the Angels just don't have the prospects right now. Boston remains on the fence right now as far as dealing for a pitcher goes, we should be watching to see how Buchholz looks, and a lot of teams are also waiting to see if Jake Peavy looks good.

If it is Texas and Cleveland, I suppose we should be rooting for the Indians to win out, since Cleveland is on Gallardo's no-trade list.

The Cubs have now told Garza to expect a trade rather than an extension. We'll see, the supposed leaders to get him are Texas and Cleveland. There's no reason for this one to drag out past the break, he's a free agent at season's end, so every start he makes for his new team matters all the more.

There's a lot to look at, I don't think there's, "a guy" who did this. Major injuries, failed draft picks in the years immediately following the Greinke/Marcum trades, which had depleted it to begin with, and some other proven players not playing to prior standards. Yuck City.

My wife fell and broke her foot in three places...surgery Wednesday.

Chicago trades reliever Matt Thornton to Boston for outfielder Brandon Jacobs.