Interesting inquiries on the part of the Phillies. After a wretched start to the season, they have rebounded quite well and are now in second-place in the National League East.

The Phillies believed that Buehrle’s asking price was too high and with regards to Dontrelle, he is simply not available. The Marlins must be thinking that it wouldn’t be smart to trade Dontrelle to a division rival.

One must think that Chicago’s GM is trying to ensure that Buehrle doesn’t stay with the team that he’s traded to by not wanting to grant a negotiating window for an extension. It would be a smart move: trade Buehrle for MLB players/prospects and then Buehrle signs with the Cardinals for 2008 and beyond. The new ‘cool’ in fleecing other GM’s. Rentals are the new pink.