Of course we won�t know for sure until baseball�s poker game ends sometime Saturday afternoon, but this year�s trade deadline is shaping up to be a snoozer. After turning down a potential trade to the Dodgers, Randy Johnson gave the Diamondbacks organization an ultimatum, either trade him to the Yankees by Wednesday � or �deal with an unhappy camper the rest of the year�. D-Backs executive Joe Garigiola Jr. responded by saying �we wouldn�t know the difference�. Be careful what you wish for Joey, nobody wants to see the Unit go postal.

However the trade deadline continues to have an impact on a fantasy basis, with the biggest questions being (a) Which contenders will trade for a closer and (b) what will the Colorado Rockies do. The top names who could be dealt include�

Randy Johnson � Supposedly the Yankees aren�t that interested, the D-Backs would love to be able to deal him to the Dodgers or Angels, who could offer more in the way of prospects in return. A three-way deal involving the Yanks also remains a possibility.

Kris Benson � This is the time of year where a particular pitcher suddenly sounds like Sandy Koufax to would-be contenders. You could even say Benson is becoming as hot a property as his model wife. But then again, Benson was the #1 overall pick back in 1996 so the upside has always been there, and the Pirates have been torched before giving up on potential aces too soon (see Jason Schmidt). Benson has been solid since June 1, recording a 3.01 ERA and 1.05 ratio. As of midweek Minnesota sounded like a possible destination, and Benson is from that area. But later the Mets became a frontrunner in the Benson sweeps. There are close to a half-dozen potential suitors here.

Nomar Garciaparra � Obviously it is well chronicled that Nomar wants out of Boston, and the contract is up at the end of the year. The Cubs have been mentioned along with even Florida earlier this month. But for some reason I don�t see him going at the deadline.

Steve Finley � Yet another 5/10 guy who basically can call his own shots. Finley doesn�t want to go out east so the contenders are the Padres, Angels, Dodgers, and Giants. Sounds like a Padre-like acquisition to me.

Ugueth Urbina/Jose Mesa � The Cubs and Giants are the two teams seeking veteran closers, Mesa and Triple-U are the leading candidates to be hired guns for those teams.

Carlos Beltran � Late word out of Houston has Beltran staying put, but the Astros are going nothing besides battling the Brewers and Pirates for last place. The Yankees don�t seem as interested as I thought they might be, sounds like a possible Dodger acquisition.

Larry Walker � Another 5/10 players who will be reluctant to leave the team he�s called home for the last ten years. Lets see, Manny, Damon, Walker � sounds like an interesting enough Red Sox outfield to me. Preston Wilson is another candidate to leave Bedrock kicking and screaming, but like Walker injuries are a concern.

Roberto Alomar � If he gets into the hall, whose hat does he wear?? A trade would give him an eighth team to choose from. Perhaps he can wear one of those Gaylord Perry multi-logo jerseys when he hits the Old-Timers circuit. One wild rumor has the D-Backs unloading Robby along with Randy Johnson to get rid of some additional salary.

Orlando Cabrera � Unlike Carlos Delgado, Cabrera can�t wait to leave Canada, and I don�t think he�s too excited about RFK stadium either. The Cubs could probably get a much better value with Cabrera than with Nomar.

Brad Penny/Carl Pavano � The Marlins are still only 3 � games out, but one or both members of this rotation could go in the right blockbuster deal.

The mainstream media has finally caught on with Johan Santana, who hasn�t allowed more than four hits in 10 of his last 11 outings. Santana has a 1.42 ERA since June 9 and opponents are hitting a microscopic .095 in 46 innings this month. Quick, who leads the National League in hits??? None other than Mark Loretta, what would had been the odds of that back in March. In another shocker, Cleveland�s Travis Hafner ranks third in the AL in slugging pct. (.589) and OPS (1.008). There was an interesting note in the Sports Weekly column this week, a lineup with nine Barry Bonds would create on average 20.9 runs per game (maybe infinity runs per game as opposing pitchers keep on serving intentional walks. That total dwarfs th likes of Todd Helton (11.32), Travis Hafner (9.72), and Albert Pujols (9.63). The Padres further solidified the infield acquiring Rich Aurilia in the past week, who will spit time with rookie Khalil Greene. The suspension appeal docket at the commissioners office is really getting backed up. Alex Rodriguez, Jason Varitek, Carlos Zambrano, Latroy Hawkins, and David Ortiz are among those appealing suspensions right now. One of the more interesting acquisitions of the week was the offense starved Brewers acquiring all-or-nothing hitter Russell Branyan. In his first series for Milwaukee Branyan lived up to his M-O going 1-12 with six strikeouts, however his one hit went 480 feet, the longest home run in the history of Miller Park.