As we head to the mid-season break, lots of teams are still in the pennant races Team moves in the coming weeks will be critical to the overall outcomes.

Media reports indicate that Bengie Molina has been traded to the Texas Rangers for pitcher Chris Ray and possibly another player. While that deal hasn't been announced as I write this, it makes sense. Buster Posey can move in to the catching position for the Giants and Ray can help their bullpen. As much as the Rangers were deep in catching the past two years, their depth has dwindled in quality. Jarrod Saltalamacchia has really scuffled the entire season, even when healthy. Even though his bat isn't as potent as it was in the past, Molina could really be a force in Texas.

So now we hear that Carlos Zambrano was really only trying to light a fire under the Cubs with his dugout tirade. Apparently he wanted Carlos Silva to join in his act to stir up the team. Now Z can tell that story from the comfort of his shrink's couch.

Josh Bell has been called up by the Orioles. I saw lots of him in the Arizona Fall League and wrote a profile about him in my minor league column. He has some pop in his bat and he'll have to adjust to major league pitching. But he's someone who could hit some balls out of the friendly Camden Yards. The Dodgers got George Sherrill for Bell. A stiff price to pay, but the O's weren't going anywhere and they needed the prospects.

The Diamondbacks finally have a lefty in the bullpen. Yep, having been demoted because he can't throw strikes, Dontrelle Willis will now earn his paycheck from the bullpen. What am I missing here? If you can't throw strikes starting, can you be depended upon out of the pen? You really have to watch Willis pitch to see that there are times he isn't even in the same area code with his pitches. Oh well, maybe it'll work.

So if Carlos Santana and Matt LaPorta were with the Indians all year like they should have been (but weren't because of their arbitration clock and the money that would have cost) would the Indians have been better? We'll never know now, will we? Justin Masterson is looking much more relaxed on the mound and he's beginning to trust his stuff.

Look for the Yankees to really make a push for starting pitching. They could use and afford a Cliff Lee or Zack Greinke. The Yanks are really shy two starting pitchers when you consider A. J. Burnett's continuing struggles, the desire to limit Phil Hughes' innings and the age of Andy Pettitte. Pettitte's had a great year, but the innings are adding up. I look for the Yankees to sort through the trade offers.
Maybe they go to Baltimore for Kevin Millwood.

As if the Rangers don't have enough power arms already, they just recalled Omar Beltre, another great arm in the mold of Tanner Scheppers and Alexi Ogando. I think Beltre is further behind the other two in overall development.

Chris Johnson is off to a good start in Houston. That's a good thing because that franchise is desperate for some buzz. I'm not sure this Johnson honeymoon will last. I hope I'm wrong, but I'm just sayin'. Don't bet the old cattle ranch on Johnson.

The Yankees need bench help in addition to a starting pitcher. They'll get it.

Stephen Strasburg didn't use his breaking ball nearly as much in his most recent start. I was surprised he relied mostly on his fastball and change-up. He has a devastating breaking ball that he can use at any count. I still think he belongs on the All Star team.

You thought the Padres would be toast by now, right? Be honest. I know I did. I saw them lots and lots in spring training and I thought they were dreadful. To their credit, they are rarely out of a game.

Send your get well cards to Manny's hamstring. He's hurt again. Is this the beginning of yet another trip to the DL and a wasted season?

I think Jake Westbrook is a good starting pitcher for a contender. How about the Angels, Dodgers or Mets? I'm not sure he fits at the new Yankee Stadium. He throws lots of sinking fastballs, but when the sink stinks, he's sunk. Can't have that at Yankee stadium.

That snoring you hear is coming from Adam Lind's bat- which is fast, fast asleep.

Hope you'll stop along the way and read my profile next week of Reds prospect Yonder Alfonso on Rotowire.