ESPN Buster Olney Blog

Some executives report that in the past couple of weeks, they've started the process of defining their own team's needs, of glancing over the rosters of opposing teams and formulating possible trade options. It might be weeks before those conversations turn into serious trade talks, or it might be days, depending on what happens in the immediate future.

The Brewers need a second baseman after losing Rickie Weeks for the year, as Tom Haudricourt writes. A baseball source made it clear Monday night that the Brewers will first examine internal options. First and foremost of those is Craig Counsell, whose chances of keeping the job might improve if Mat Gamel upgrades the Brewers' offense with how he hits at third base, and Gamel mashed a homer Monday night. The Brewers, the source says, "are not looking outside yet."

The Red Sox are not looking for a hitter yet, but at some point, Boston is going to need some offensive production from David Ortiz. The Red Sox could live with him if he were hitting .250 or .260 with some power, but so far, he's been nothing short of awful. Boston ranks dead last in OPS among designated hitters in the majors, and of course, Boston is the only team that has not gotten a single home run from the DH spot.

In a division that contains four strong contenders, there is very little margin for error, and the Red Sox cannot continue to lose run production in big spots because Ortiz is not hitting, as they did last week.

Ortiz will be back in the lineup today, when the Red Sox begin a series against the Blue Jays, and we don't yet know if Terry Francona is going to place him in a lower spot in the lineup. If Ortiz doesn't start hitting soon, the Red Sox will need to look for an alternative, using their surplus of pitching to try to make a deal for some talented young hitter, like a Matt LaPorta of the Indians.

The Mets already are considering first-base alternatives, because Carlos Delgado is having surgery today, writes Steve Popper. Mark DeRosa would be a perfect alternative, because if Delgado comes back in August, the Mets could use DeRosa in other ways. Talent evaluators with rival teams don't think the Mets have a lot to surrender in a trade, so they expect that New York will opt for a mid-level solution rather than a high-end player who would cost a lot.

Certainly, if the Indians trade DeRosa during the season, they will want pitching in return. The frustration level is high for Mark Shapiro and Eric Wedge.

The Royals are searching for more consistency on offense, writes Sam Mellinger, and some sources say if Kansas City starts looking for help, the Royals' preference would be to add a shortstop (unless Mike Aviles starts to hit). What is not clear right now is how much financial flexibility the Royals will have, and whether they'll be able to take on some salary. Here's one indication that they might have a chance to add some salary: Attendance has increased by 16 percent at Kauffman Stadium.

Yankee sandbox?

After the Yankees played their first home games of the regular season, I wrote here about how new Yankee Stadium appeared to be playing like Coors Field East; one player said it was like playing in a sandbox because it felt like every ball hit into the air to right field seemingly would go out. I got a lot of response to those pieces about how the sample size was too small to even possibly consider. Fair enough.

However, after five homers were hit in the Yankees' win over the Twins on Monday, there have now been 63 homers in 17 games in new Yankee Stadium: 32 by the Yankees, 31 by the Yankees' opponents. Last year, the Yankees' pitchers allowed 68 for the entire season, and the Yankees' hitters mashed 92, for a total of 160. So at the current rate, there will be more homers hit in new Yankee Stadium by July 17 -- the first home game after the All-Star break -- than there were during the entire 2008 season in old Yankee Stadium.

Is it still too early to say the new place plays small?

Phil Coke got the first save of his career in the Yankees' win, their sixth in a row, as Tyler Kepner writes.

Elsewhere …

To continue reading Buster's blog, with expected moves, a prospect update and much more, please join ESPN Insider.