7/8 19:36: Jon Paul Morosi of FOXSports wonders if the Padres should trade for a right fielder now that Will Venable is on the disabled list. “No,” one scout told Morosi. “Aaron Cunningham is playing better than Venable was.

7/8 14:14: Jim Bowden of FOXSports tweets, “Jed Hoyer VP and GM of the Padres just told us that Jeff Moorad has given him the financial flexibility to improve the team at the Deadline.” Bowden adds, “Jed Hoyer just told us that they are looking for starting pitching as well as a bat in the middle of the lineup..PADRES are BUYERS.”

The top name starting pitching that is available include Cliff Lee, Roy Oswalt, Ben Sheets, Jeremy Guthrie, Dan Haren, Edwin Jackson, Fausto Carmona and Jake Westbrook. The Padres have not been linked any of the pitchers.

Earlier this month, the Padres sent out feelers to Jermaine Dye to see if he has interest in playing again. The 36-year-old outfielder has turned down several offers to play this season because of financial reasons and his lack of desire to uproot his family.

Dye hit .250/.340/.453 with 27 home runs and 81 RBIs in 2009 with the Chicago White Sox. He he started 133 of the 141 games he played in right field.