2. A full-time, full-fledged GM will be named sometime this season. Kasten wouldn't say who, but I have to think Rizzo has an excellent chance to be the guy. My impression is the Nationals-owning Lerners like Rizzo and they'll do the right thing by giving him the job.

3. Manny Acta's still not secure for the season, but he may be safe for a little while. His Nationals bosses wanted to see more fight, and they certainly saw it from Acta's team over the past few days. I am not sure if the Yankees series saved him, but that's the way it seems today. Kasten wouldn't comment on anything related to the manager, including whether the New York series might be his last "Acta." (Sorry for the bad pun.)

Minaya seeking hitting help

Competing GMs say Mets GM Omar Minaya is out looking for offense now. But it's not an easy chore.

While the Mets' biggest issues may be their defense and baserunning, those issues can't be fixed through trades. We'll see if the offensive issue can be. Their production at the corners has been close to the worst in baseball. So that's what Minaya's looking into.

With Carlos Delgado expected back by the end of August, they'd optimally like to find an offensive player who can play both first base and the outfield so they could use him at either spot now, then switch him to the outfield once Delgado returns. These four come to mind: Brad Hawpe, Adam Dunn, Aubrey Huff and Mark DeRosa.

They could all fit the Mets, but there are problems for each. Hawpe's Rockies, far from out of it, are the hottest team in baseball. While Dunn and Huff have played the outfield and first base, they are less than stellar at both spots. And in the case of DeRosa, the Indians, who haven't given up yet, are said to be asking a premium.

Rangers are penniless, but they do have prospects

The Rangers are looking at starting and relief options. They have looked into Brad Penny, though one person familiar with their thinking calls a deal for Brad Penny "unlikely.'' Huston Street and other relievers are among the targets.

Although, Texas' quest for pitching help may be hindered by its inability to take any extra salary. For them to take a high-salaried veteran, they will have to get the trading team to pay the salary or take back a big salary.

The way to accomplish that would be to give up a top prospect or prospects. The Dodgers managed to do that last year, acquiring Casey Blake and Manny Ramirez without adding to their payroll. In the case of Blake, they surrendered top catching prospect Carlos Santana. Texas does have excellent prospects, so this isn't impossible.

The reason Texas can't increase its payroll is related to owner Tom Hicks' current financial travails. He took on a lot of debt, according to people familiar with the situation, and also took a bath on his purchase of the Liverpool soccer team. These are the reasons Hicks has the team up for sale.

Around the Majors

• Arizona ace Brandon Webb felt pain in his shoulder while trying to throw Thursday and his comeback has been derailed, dealing another blow to the Diamondbacks. Meanwhile, Diamondbacks GM Josh Byrnes was on his way to Kansas City to monitor the team as he decides whether to sell some pieces. The D-Backs seem to have a more realistic view than some teams on where things stand. Trade candidates include pitchers Doug Davis and Jon Garland, reliever Chad Qualls and second baseman Felipe Lopez. Qualls might take more than the others as he is under contract until 2010.

• The Yankees will consider Jose Valverde and Huston Street if either is available to fill the eighth inning. Joba Chamberlain isn't being talked about yet as the eighth-inning pitcher, but it can't be ruled out.

• Closer Heath Bell would bring a haul if the Padres would consider moving him.

• The Red Sox are a rare contending team willing to trade one of its relievers (though not closer Jonathan Papelbon, of course). Almost every other contender believes it needs to fortify its pen.

• Benching Magglio Ordonez seems like a drastic measure by the Tigers. He's up to .271. But he does have only two home runs. His contract calls for him to have an option year kick in at $15 million if he makes it to 400 plate appearances. At this rate, though, he might not make it.

• The Tigers, though, had no choice but to put Dontrelle Willis on the disabled list with anxiety disorder again after he declined their request of a demotion to the minors. They couldn't pitch him again after his eight-walk performance against Pittsburgh. But to release Willis, who is still only 27 and who they are into for $29 million, still seems drastic. Agent Matt Sosnick praised the way the Tigers have handled the touchy situation.

• Frustrated by the increasingly weak starting pitching market, the Phillies were said to be considering looking at relief help now.

• Cincinnati, Atlanta and perhaps St. Louis are interested in a right-handed hitting corner outfielder.

• Though Boston has talked to a few teams about shortstops while Jed Lowrie's been out, Nick Green (3, 23, .293) has done a nice job in his absence.

• With Roy Halladay, Erik Bedard and Chris Young all joining Jake Peavy on the disabled list within 24 hours, the starting market is getting worse by the day.

• That last series was Toronto's season in a nutshell. Three more players went on the D.L. (Halladay, Scott Downs and Casey Janssen) and three more victories. There have been a lot of injuries in baseball. But if there's one team to have sympathy for, it's got to be the Jays.