Waiting for the dominoes to fall

The general managers, as they did at their meetings last month inOrlando, were set to meet Monday evening to go over what they were still seeking, position-wise, now that arbitration decisions have been made and various free agents have signed.

Now it's just a question of waiting to see which domino falls first.

"I think things will move more quickly once we see where [Miguel] Cabrera and [Johan] Santana land," one GM said. "Because once those two go, it will cause teams to look at other options."

A trade involving either one is expected to send ripples in various directions.

For example, if Minnesota deals Santana to the Yankees for pitcher Phil Hughes, outfielder Melky Cabrera and a prospect, the Yankees would then be in the market for an outfielder and might decide to make a pitch for free agent Andruw Jones.

Since the Yankees gave Minnesota a Monday deadline -- though it seemed clear the Twins weren't losing any sleep over that line in the sand -- teams interested in Jones could be swayed to up their offer for the center fielder to snag him before the Yankees could get involved.

Where Aaron Rowand winds up will impact the number of suitors for Jones, and vice versa. And where Cabrera lands could juggle the third base picture considerably.

As officials broke for dinner Monday evening, here's a few of the latest whispers heard at the Gaylord Opryland Resort & Convention Center lobby:

Orioles gauging market for Bedard, Tejada

Several teams have contacted the Orioles to inquire about the availability of starting pitcher Erik Bedard and shortstop Miguel Tejada.

Andy MacPhail, Baltimore's president of baseball operations, said that he'd be disappointed if the Orioles left Nashville without making a major trade. But he also said he wouldn't be hemmed in by any artificial deadline.

"I don't think you're disadvantaged by waiting -- even if you came out of these meetings and you wanted to do something but you didn't," he said Monday night. "You haven't diminished the value of your player. It's rare when there's just [three] people that want something, two guys sign and the third guy's out of luck. Generally, it doesn't work that way."

Baltimore is apparently seeking three or four prospects that either have big league experience or are close to being ready for Bedard.

The Mets, Phillies, Dodgers, Angels and Cardinals are among the teams interested in Bedard.

The Giants inquired about Tejada and the Orioles also talked to Houston about the shortstop, but those talks did not progress.

Tigers looking at Dotel, Hawkins

Tigers president/general manager Dave Dombrowski said Monday evening that he'd be "content" if his team left Nashville with the same pitching staff it has now, but that doesn't seem to stop Detroit from looking for relief help.

Octavio Dotel's agent, Dan Horwits, was set to meet with the Tigers later Monday night, and LaTroy Hawkins' agent, Larry Reynolds, was expected to meet with the club at some point during these meetings. In addition, Dombrowski said they've had more initial trade discussions than usual after sending out their scouts and other officials to gather what other teams needed and had available to give.

Brewers, Cardinals talk trade

Brewers GM Doug Melvin and assistant GM Gord Ash met Monday with Cardinals GM John Mozeliak and discussed St. Louis third baseman Scott Rolen. The move would allow the Brewers to shift NL Rookie of the Year Ryan Braun to left field, but there are roadblocks.

Rolen is due $36 million over the next three years, and the Cardinals reportedly are unwilling to include cash in a deal. A left shoulder injury has bothered Rolen since 2005, and the Brewers are wary of trading for an injury risk. Rolen also has a no-trade clause, and Melvin is also wary of trading within the division.

The Texas Rangers and San Francisco Giants are also believed to have interest in Rolen. As an alternative, the Brewers could revisit the White Sox's Joe Crede, but Crede has similar health issues and would be a free agent following the 2008 season. The Brewers and White Sox briefly discussed Crede at the general manager's meetings.

Melvin shot down a rumor that had the Red Sox inquiring about Brewers right-hander Ben Sheets, but did say that one team not on the East Coast had called regarding Milwaukee's ace. The Brewers are not motivated to move Sheets even though he is entering the final year of his contract.

Indians could stand pat

Pirates left fielder Jason Bay is drawing interest from the Cleveland Indians, but nothing is apparently imminent on that front and Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro isn't wowed by the free agent market.

"There will be a time we'll pick back up with free agency when the bulk of them are gone and we might find some bargains," Shapiro said. "But right now we’re not in any free-agent pursuits."

Nor are the Indians close to making a trade. Shapiro met with fellow GMs from a handful of clubs Monday, but he said none of those talks are in the "advanced stages."

Lincecum sizzle turns to fizzle

Word had circulated around the hotel that the Reds spoke with the Giants about starting pitcher Tim Lincecum, with the names of top Cincinnati prospect Jay Bruce and third baseman Edwin Encarnacion floated as part the potential deal. Before the end of the day, it had proven to be untrue.

Bruce is considered the best prospect in baseball, and the outfielder was Baseball America's Minor League Player of the Year this past season. Conventional wisdom is he'd be off the table for any deal. When asked if he had any players he deemed "untouchable," Cincinnati GM Wayne Krivsky declined to name names.

Quick hits...

-- The Rangers are interested in Bay and are also considering free agents Eric Gagne, Hawkins, Kosuke Fukudome, Bartolo Colon, Freddy Garcia and Jason Jennings.

-- The Braves are probably priced out of the market for lefty reliever Ron Mahay, who is expected to land a three-year deal worth more money than Atlanta was willing to spend.

-- Houston GM Ed Wade got a call from agent Scott Boras about Gagne last week to let the GM know that three of his clients were available -- Gagne, Jeff Weaver and Rodrigo Lopez.

"It was just him making me aware of their availability," Wade said. "I wouldn't characterize it as any more than that. It doesn't mean we might not pursue something but right now it's not on the front burner for us."

-- Free agent right-hander Brett Tomko, most recently with San Diego, is interested in rejoining Cincinnati, a team he last pitched for in 1997. Tomko is also feeling out interest with the Rockies, Pirates, Marlins, Rangers and Padres.

-- Toronto doesn't figure to be a player in any blockbuster trades, but the team isn't unwilling to approach other clubs about possible swaps. "Like I've said, I like the makeup of our club," Blue Jays GM J.P. Ricciardi said. "I think for us to really do something along those lines, it's got to be us initiating something that's going to lead to us to being as good, if not better, with maybe even some down-the-road incentive."

-- Colorado lefty Brian Fuentes is heading into his final year of arbitration. Even though he lost the closer job to Manny Corpas in the middle of the 2007 season, his figure will be a raise from his $3.5 million salary for the year. But the Rockies have budgeted to pay it and deal with having two closer-level pitchers and aren't motivated to move him though they are getting calls about Fuentes.

"I think clubs know that there's no reason to move him unless we can make ourselves a better baseball club," Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd said. "There are only certain clubs that would fit. And some of these clubs, quite honestly, don’t have a whole lot to trade."

-- Arizona is interested in trading for Oakland right-hander Dan Haren, but might not be willing to give up the kind of package Oakland GM Billy Beane would require.

-- Kansas City's interest in free agent outfielder Jose Guillen appears to be waning.

"Every day that goes by, the more intrigued I get by other opportunities," Royals GM Dayton Moore said Monday.

-- The Rangers had talks with Arizona about Carlos Gonzalez, the New York Mets about Carlos Gomez and the Chicago Cubs about Felix Pie. But the Diamondbacks wanted top pitching prospect Eric Hurley, the Mets were interested in trading for catcher Gerald Laird and the Cubs have decided that Pie will be their center fielder.