* Apparently not willing to simply wait for Milton Bradley’s next injury, manager Lou Piniella has decided to just bench him for a couple games. That three-year, $30 million deal is looking better every day.
* Ken Rosenthal of FOXSports.com reports that several teams are interested in Cliff Lee, but the Indians are holding out for “a potential top-of-the-rotation starter at the level of” Tommy Hanson or Clay Buchholz. You wouldn’t know it based on his support-deprived record, but Lee is pitching nearly as well as he did in winning the Cy Young award last season.
* General manager Ruben Amaro Jr. indicated yesterday that the Phillies are in the market for a veteran starting pitcher, but said that “the availability really isn’t there” because “the number of buyers and the number of sellers aren’t close to equaling each other.”
* Add the Rangers to the ever-growing list of teams opting to pass on Pedro Martinez, who’s reportedly still seeking a $5 million deal prorated for the remaining games.
