According to a report in the Toronto Sun, the Jays are shopping Burnett and would like a shortstop in return.

New manager Cito Gaston, who took over the Toronto job from John Gibbons on June 20, has been platooning the shortstop position of late, going with a rotation of David Eckstein, John McDonald and Marco Scutaro. Second baseman Aaron Hill has been on the disabled list since May 30 with a concussion, giving Scutaro some additional starts at second.

Eckstein signed a one-year $4.5 million deal this past offseason and is hitting .273 with a .360 on-base percentage and 22 runs scored in 56 games. McDonald is hitting .163 in 29 games and is signed through next year for another $1.9 million. Scutaro, who is also signed through 2009 and will earn $1.1 million next year, is hitting .262 with 34 runs scored in 74 games.

But the Jays are apparently ready to deal and willing to part with a quality starter before the July 31 Non-Waiver Trade Deadline.

"They're offering Burnett to any team that needs pitching," an American League general manager told the Sun. "They've told us they're not happy with either David Eckstein or John McDonald."

Burnett is 8-7 with a 4.74 ERA in 17 starts this season; he also tossed an inning of relief against Texas in April. But he's won his last two starts and allowed just a single run over 15 innings while striking out 18. The right-hander is signed through 2010, but can opt out of his contract at the end of this season and leave $24 million. Burnett also has a limited no-trade clause that blocks 15 clubs.

One team that has emerged as an interested party in Eckstein, at least, is the Orioles. The Baltimore Sun reported the two teams are talking.

The Pirates are another team that appeared ready to put some players on the market, with outfielders Xavier Nady and Jason Bay attracting attention along with relievers Damaso Marte and John Grabow.

But the loss of Matt Capps may slow the Pittsburgh front office's interest in dealing away pieces, specifically in the bullpen. The closer had converted 17 of 22 save opportunities before a sore right shoulder landed him on the DL on Wednesday.

The Pirates are currently 10 games back of the Cubs in the National League Central and are considered one of the likely sellers during this trading period, but will have to first assess the effect of Capps' absence, expected to be until September.

"We'll see how the replacement options step up and perform, and how they react will dictate how we are going to move forward," Pirates general manager Neal Huntington told MLB.com. "We have talked repeatedly about needing depth for injuries or when we have players underperforming, and this is just another test of that."

Marte is making $2 million this season with a $6 million option for 2009 and a $250,000 buyout while Grabow has a year of arbitration remaining after earning $1.135 million in 2008.

Washington general manager Jim Bowden declined to elaborate on which Nationals might be available, but infielder Felipe Lopez and catcher Paul Lo Duca are candidates.

The Nationals are currently last in the NL East, 13 1/2 games behind the Phillies, and Bowden has said he would like to get younger. Willie Harris, Jesus Flores, Ryan Zimmerman, Austin Kearns, Elijah Dukes, John Lannan and Collin Balester are considered part of the team's future.

But Bowden also hinted at the possible need of dealing value to ultimately improve the team and speculation has centered on pitchers Jon Rauch or Tim Redding as in that category.

The Marlins are looking for catching depth and have been linked with Lo Duca, who played there for part of 2004 and all of 2005. Lo Duca is making $5 million while Lopez is making $4.9 million this season and both will be free agents at year's end.

The Nationals are looking for young Major League-ready players or Minor League prospects in return.

A rumor looking to gain traction but little ground is one floated by Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News and seconded by Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com.

Ringolsby linked the Angels with Rockies outfielder Matt Holliday while Rosenthal added the possibility of unloading Gary Matthews Jr. and the $33 million he's owed in years 2009-11.

It's all plausible, as many proposed trades are, with Holliday adding a big bat to a team that could use more production while jettisoning Matthews would free up some needed cash.

But MLB.com reporter Lyle Spencer cited the Angels' reluctance last winter to trade for Miguel Cabrera and parting with a host of the team's young talent. A similar deal that could include names like Ervin Santana, Howie Kendrick, Nick Adenhart or Jeff Mathis or any combination thereof would be necessary to secure Holliday.

The Angels are more likely to make a less flashy deal or none at all.