Latest trade talk on Washburn, Halladay, Lee, Martinez and others … Knowing their chances remain slim for superstar pitcher Roy Halladay and even slimmer for star pitcher Cliff Lee, the Yankees called the pitching-strong Mariners on Saturday to inquire about their status as buyer or seller.

Selig mulling pardon for Rose  —  Rickey Henderson (second from left) accepts his Cooperstown plaque with (from l.)  Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson, HOF chairperson Jane Forbes Clark and Bud Selig.  —  COOPERSTOWN - Thanks to the behind-the-scenes lobbying from some of the most influential Hall …

BERNAZARD FIRED  —  The Mets haved fired Tony Bernazard, the Post has learned.  GM Omar Minaya will make that official this afternoon at a press conference.  —  Reached by phone, Bernazard did not want to comment on the situation.  But a second source has now also confirmed his removal to me

LATEST ON HALLADAY, LEE AND V.MARTINEZ  —  Stuff I have heard today so far:  —The Rays and Red Sox are both talking to the Indians about deals that would bring them both Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez.  Tampa is willing to part with touted pitching prospect Wade Davis.

A Thought About Jim Rice  —  Well, Jim Rice is in the Baseball Hall of Fame ... and the world has not ended.  The Hall of Fame has not crumbled to the ground or become a baseball version of Baltic Avenue.  The parade of Jim Rice comps has not started its march toward Cooperstown's door.

Tazawa gets a promotion  —  The Sea Dogs leave on a road trip after learning their top starting pitcher is headed to Triple-A.  —  PORTLAND — The Sea Dogs knew they were not going to hold on to pitcher Junichi Tazawa much longer.  —  Word finally arrived Sunday.  Tazawa, 23, has been promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket.

Not appearing in Rumor Central  —  We present the majors leaguers with the least trade value  —  As we all wait and maybe hope for a Roy Halladay trade, let's take a pause and generate a list of the anti-Halladays: the players no team would want to trade for.

Redding's spot saved by injuries  —  HOUSTON - Tim Redding, who was on the verge of being released as the Mets started a 10-game trip to open the second half, is off the chopping block, a team insider told the Daily News.  —  The Mets privately had resolved to eat the remainder …

Firmly Sellers, Reds ‘Close’ to a Deal  —  The Reds are “sellers” and top club officials spoke on a special conference call Monday morning, an indication to a major league source that the team is “close to doing something,” most likely involving one of its big-money pitchers: Bronson Arroyo, Aaron Harang or Francisco Cordero.

Pirates still scouting Tigers  —  Larry Corrigan, one of GM Neal Huntington's special assistants, stayed to scout the Tigers through Detroit's weekend series with the White Sox.  Corrigan has been watching the Tigers every day since last Tuesday.  —  Detroit is mulling a couple different directions …

Astros tie ticket prices to runs scored  —  Now that the team's bats are finally swinging, the Houston Astros are linking their new-found run production to a ticket promotion to try to sell more premium seats.  —  For every run that the team scores during its July 27 to 30 series on the road …

A Computer Cracks the Cooperstown Code  —  Now that Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, fans the country over can return to the only thing they like as much as watching games: Arguing over who should join them in Cooperstown.

Will NY Mets' slide in standings lead to drop in attendance at Citi Field? … Two years ago, as Citi Field was steadily rising behind Shea Stadium, the notion that the Mets might have trouble selling tickets at their new ballpark was almost unfathomable.  By design, there would be 15,000 fewer seats …