I come across daily tidbits on possible personnel moves straight from the front offices of all 30 clubs. Here's what I'm hearing on Thursday.
Possible trades and signings
• Astros manager Brad Mills says Carlos Lee will be the Astros’ starting first baseman in 2012, and that could open up a deal involving Brett Wallace to the Cleveland Indians. The Indians have been discouraged by Carlos Pena's (No. 17 on my free-agent board) high asking price and are not convinced that Matt LaPorta is going to hit well. Wallace has been in four different organizations since being drafted by the St. Louis Cardinals in 2008.
• Multiple teams have inquired about left-hander Mark Buehrle, including the Washington Nationals, who have made Buehrle a top priority. They feel that he could be the perfect leader for their talented young rotation.
• The Chicago White Sox are not confident they will agree with Buehrle on years and salary, so look for lefty Chris Sale to replace Buehrle in the rotation. Further, a source close to the White Sox said not to be surprised to see them deal left-hander John Danks and right-hander Gavin Floyd. Danks will be a free agent next winter, so the Sox could look to move him while he still has a lot of trade value. Floyd's ERA has risen in each of the past three seasons, and the White Sox might try get a decent return before his value bottoms out. A rotation of Jake Peavy, Phil Humber, Sale and Zach Stewart is entirely possible.