Brace for the trade deadline

The trade deadline has always been an interesting date on the Major League Baseball calendar. It's a mythical benchmark that separates contenders from pretenders, buyers from sellers, Red Sox from White Sox. And it comes at a crucial time in the fantasy season.

We're just beginning to get a good idea of whether or not our fantasy teams have a shot at a title this season, and by the July 31 deadline, our fates could be all but decided. The moves the real ballclubs make in the next week-and-a-half could have great impact on our futures, so you'll want to pay close attention to ESPN's Bottom Line (and this blog, of course).

Let's examine some of the biggest names who've popped up in trade rumors and how their possible relocations might affect their fantasy fortunes:

• Dontrelle Willis: He's not a free agent until 2009, but the pennywise Florida Marlins would like to get a huge bounty in return for Willis now in a pitching-starved market. The problem is Willis is mired in one of the worst slumps of his young career and hasn't won in his past nine starts.

There have been whispers of a mysterious forearm injury, and he's even been booed recently by the home fans (Wait, the Marlins have home fans?). A change of scenery would certainly help, assuming he's healthy, but I'm not sure Florida will throw in the towel now and deal him. D-Train owners might just have to gut it out.

• Mark Teixeira: Big Tex might be the hottest commodity on the market, meaning the Texas Rangers no doubt have a high asking price. Teixeira, a free agent next year, wants no part of a rebuilding effort in Arlington. The friendly confines of The Ballpark have always helped prop up his numbers a bit, however (career .308 hitter at home; .274 on the road), so a move to a contender might actually hurt a little.

• Eric Gagne: Gagne's unexpected renaissance in Texas (14 saves, 1.23 ERA, only two DL stints) has exceeded fantasy owners' expectations. It's also made him perhaps the most sought-after reliever as the trade deadline nears.

The catch is Gagne reportedly only wants to close, not set up, and he has a no-trade clause in his contract. His fantasy value is in large part tied to getting save opportunities as a closer, and the number of serious contenders who actually need a closer right now (Philadelphia Phillies? Chicago Cubs? Perhaps the Atlanta Braves?) isn't very high. If Gagne does relent and agrees to be a set-up man, his fantasy stock plummets, so you might want to consider trading him now.

• Ken Griffey Jr./Adam Dunn: It seems likely the cellar-dwelling Cincinnati Reds would want to move one of their high-priced, slugging outfielders. Dunn seems like the more likely candidate, since Griffey, a hometown boy, is a 10-and-5 player (10 years in the league, five with the same team) and has veto power over any trade. And while both players have put together nice seasons and should be coveted for their power, they'd be leaving behind Great American Ballpark, a hitter's paradise. A trade to any other team would almost certainly cost you quite a few home runs.