Nearly half of the teams in baseball were off yesterday. It's as if the sport is taking a breather before one of the most manic periods of the year -- the days leading up to the trade deadline.

The window shuts at 4 p.m. Monday, and right now the likelihood of anything major happening seems remote. In the American League, only four teams (Baltimore, Cleveland, Tampa Bay and Kansas City) are out of playoff contention; in the National, the only three teams more than 6 1/2 games out of the division or wild-card races are Washington, Chicago and Pittsburgh. With that many buyers and so few sellers, the pricetag for available talent may skyrocket beyond the taste of many teams.

But that hasn't stopped trade talks, or halted the circulation of trade rumors:

Likely to go

ALFONSO SORIANO

It would be a shock if Soriano didn't get dealt. He's is a free agent-to-be, it's pretty obvious the Nationals are not going to be able to re-sign him, and Washington can start its rebuilding process with a good trade. Nationals general manager Jim Bowden is asking for top prospects: shooting high, which is what you have to do when you're dealing a player that is drawing lots of interest.

Likely to stay

BOBBY ABREU

The Phillies have been talking to many teams, but it's unlikely Abreu will be moved because there's so much money a team has to take in salary. Only the Yankees and Red Sox could afford him.

The pitch . . .

Oakland's Barry Zito and Florida's Dontrelle Willis look like they're going to stay put. So the question becomes, how much do you want to spend for people like the Nationals' Livan Hernandez and the Twins' Kyle Loshe, pitchers who are only fourth and fifth starters?

Red Sox rumors

Jon Lieber, Phillies starter: The Sox have some interest in him. He's been through the A.L. East battleground, with the Yankees in 2003-04, so he isn't someone you would be unsure of when you got him. The question is going to be: How much are the Phillies going to demand for him and how much will the Red Sox be willing to part with? If there's a way to move a lesser prospect or perhaps a position prospect, then the Red Sox might be willing to take the chance.

Roger Clemens, Astros starter: The Clemens-might-be-traded talk seems misplayed. Astros owner Drayton McLane staked his season on getting Clemens back to Houston. Given that Houston entered yesterday only five games out of the wild-card lead, and remembering the second-half run the Astros made last year, it seems the Astros wouldn't consider moving Clemens. They traded for Tampa Bay's Aubrey Huff a week ago, and the rumors are that they have interest in Orioles shortstop Miguel Tejada, so they're buyers rather than sellers.

smcadam@projo.com / (401) 277-7340