Relief market looks incredibly thin right now

MLB Trade Deadline 2009

Buzz leading up to July 31 non-waiver deadline

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Posted by:
Jon Heyman
06:29 PM ET 07.20
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The relief market is incredibly weak right now, with names like Chad Qualls, Rafael Betancourt, George Sherrill, Danys Baez and a diminished Takashi Saito ("He's not the same guy,'' one NL exec says) among the highlights.

With the Rockies in the race, Huston Street will stay there in Colorado. The Padres and Royals are saying Heath Bell and Joakim Soria are off limits, respectively. And even Qualls may stay now, as competing teams see the Diamondbacks leaning toward keeping him after trading Tony Pena to the White Sox.

If the Reds make their relievers available, that might boost the market a tad, especially if they'll talk about closer Francisco Cordero (though he has a big $11 million salary). But for now, it's one of the worst relief markets ever.