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.

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

Yankees, Reds Working On Arroyo Deal  —  The Yankees are in serious discussions with the Reds about acquiring Bronson Arroyo, although right now the deal may be hinging on how much of Arroyo's remaining contract the Reds are willing to eat, major league sources told FanHouse on Monday.

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 …

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.

Carpenter wraps up undefeated month as Cards tame Dodgers  —  ST. LOUIS (AP) — Chris Carpenter (FSY) wrapped up an undefeated month, Brendan Ryan (FSY) matched a career high with four hits and the St. Louis Cardinals beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-1 on Monday night.

Villanueva to start tomorrow  —  By Tom Haudricourt of the Journal Sentinel  —  Brewers manager Ken Macha seemed surprised today when reporters were surprised that he named Carlos Villanueva as his starter for the game Tuesday night against Washington.  —  Really?

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.

Twins 4, White Sox 3  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Michael Cuddyer's two-run homer in the sixth inning pushed Minnesota past Chicago 4-3 on Monday night, pulling the Twins' record back to even and sending the White Sox to yet another defeat at the Metrodome.  —  John Danks (8-7) …

Tatis hits pinch-hit grand slam to lift Mets over Rockies  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Fernando Tatis (FSY) hit a pinch-hit grand slam in the eighth inning, and the New York Mets salvaged an otherwise miserable day by rallying for a 7-3 victory over the Colorado Rockies on Monday night.

The A's are losing again, and Billy Beane's radical Moneyball legacy is suffering  —  To the glee of his adversaries, Billy Beane and the Oakland A's are having a rough go of it these days in the standings and in Hollywood.  But the cultural war rooted in Beane's “Moneyball” philosophies was fought and won a long time ago.

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.