Bubble teams notably absent from chatter

There is something missing from the daily flood of trade rumors heading up to Saturday’s deadline for making deals without needing waivers — the Boston Red Sox.

The deadline is nearing and the Red Sox are lumped with Detroit, Oakland, the Mets, Colorado and Florida on the list of teams that would like to be buyers but find themselves in limbo as to whether they should buy or sell.

While Seattle, in dealing Cliff Lee, and Arizona, in moving Dan Haren, did a masterful job of using the New York Yankees to market their product and beef up the price, the ability to try to leverage interest from baseball’s rich teams has been focused on the Yankees, and the Yankees only.

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That’s because Boston has become more observer — at least publicly — than participant in this year’s deadline deal discussions. Oh, the Red Sox are working the phones — they always work the phones — and if they found a deal that could help, they are never hesitant to move.

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are buying, but they would be better off selling or watching. After losing three of four to AL West-leading Texas last weekend, the Angels, despite getting swindled by Arizona in a deal for Haren, went into Tuesday in third place in the AL West, percentage points behind Oakland and 7 1/2 games back of the Rangers. In addition to Haren, they picked up Alberto Callaspo from Kansas City in another too-late-to-really-matter acquisition, and they are still talking on other fronts.

The fact the Red Sox are watching is akin to most teams selling. Boston is not afraid to spend money and is determined to be in line for a shot at the world championship every year. This year, though, the Red Sox have been hit with a series of serious injuries that have put them in the rearview mirror of AL East rivals Tampa Bay and the Yankees.

So when the names of potential attractive additions such as Lee, Haren and Roy Oswalt are discussed, the Red Sox aren’t among the possible suitors. Oh, they are willing to deal, and they aren’t afraid to spend. They have been linked to Philadelphia outfielder Jayson Werth and adding possible bullpen help, but are more inclined to kick the tires on potential long-range answers, such as Rockies catcher Chris Iannetta.

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The Red Sox have started to heal. Catcher Victor Martinez was activated from the disabled list Monday and third baseman Mike Lowell is expected to return by the weekend. The Red Sox, however, still have a disabled list that includes second baseman Dustin Pedroia, catcher Jason Varitek and outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, who just began his rehab assignment.

More concerning, though, is that Boston stands eight games back of the AL East-leading Yankees, and five games behind second-place Tampa Bay, which leads the wild-card race. The Sox don’t have a favorable schedule with those teams moving forward. They have only six games left with Tampa Bay — three at home and three on the road. They have 10 games remaining with the Yankees, seven at Yankee Stadium.

Detroit was considered at one point to be involved in the bidding for Haren and Oswalt, but the Tigers have had to take a step backward in light of their suddenly injury-ravaged roster, even if they are only three games back of AL Central-leading Chicago and two behind second-place Minnesota.

Check the Tigers recent box scores and be honest. Only a diehard Tigers fan would even know the first names for all those last names mentioned. But then if already being without third baseman Brandon Inge and power bullpen arm Joel Zumaya wasn’t problem enough, in the past week the Tigers also lost second baseman Carlos Guillen and right fielder Magglio Ordonez to the disabled list. Infielders Jeff Larish and Will Rhymes, called up to take the places of Guillen and Ordonez, weren’t even on the Tigers’ 40-man roster.

"We aren’t buying, and we don’t have anything to sell,’’ a Tigers insider said.

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Oakland has rekindled hope by winning nine of its last 11 games to climb above .500 (50-48), but general manager Billy Beane has to be cautious. The A’s open a three-game series at Texas on Tuesday night. If they stun the Rangers, Beane could be prodded into action on Friday and Saturday.

Colorado went into the All-Star break fully intent on adding a right-handed run-producer who could play first and third, with Florida’s Jorge Cantu as the primary focus, and a veteran late-inning reliever. Then came a 2-9 road trip, third worst in franchise history for a trip of 10 or more games. Now the Rockies are looking at possibilities as both a buyer and a seller, figuring they will decide whether to move forward or retrench after a three-game series against Pittsburgh that opens at Coors Field on Tuesday.

Things do, after all, change in a hurry in the NL West. The Rockies were the NL wild-card leader and trailed NL West leader San Diego by only two games at the break. They woke up Tuesday not only eight games back of San Diego, but 4 1/2 games behind NL wild-card-leading San Francisco.

They were calling around to see what market might develop for the likes of outfielders Brad Hawpe and Ryan Spilborghs, versatile Melvin Mora, and solid setup relievers Rafael Betancourt, a right-hander, and Joe Beimel, a left-hander, in case they decide to start getting ready for next year before this year ends.

The Mets, like the Rockies, went from hopeful at the break to disappointed after a nightmarish West Coast trip to open the post-All-Star portion of their schedule. Now, having lost nine of 11 games, they went into Tuesday not only wondering if they can unload excessive contracts but with renewed questions about the security of manager Jerry Manuel, his coaching staff and general manager Omar Minaya.

The Mets find themselves suddenly in the mix with Florida, tied for third place in the NL East, both a game above .500 at 50-49, 7 1/2 games back of NL East-leading Atlanta. The Marlins, meanwhile, have been the anti-Mets in the past two weeks. While the Mets were fading from second place in the division, four games out, the Marlins won eight of 11 and have climbed out of fourth place.

The Marlins continue to talk about the likes of Cantu and center fielder Cody Ross, but they now are looking for immediate help instead of bodies to restock a farm system, and they have cooled on inquiries about right-hander Ricky Nolasco, who is a vital part of a rotation that has been a key to the second-half surge.

And remember, owner Jeffrey Loria fired popular manager Fredi Gonzalez a month ago because he felt his low-priced team should be battling for a division title.