No teams, it seems, are divulging their winter plans — least of all to their competitors.

"It feels like clubs are doing a better job of masking the things they want to do," Tampa Bay Rays general manager Andrew Friedman says. "I think there will be a number of trades, but teams are playing it close to the vest."

Several significant players are acknowledged to be on the block, led by Toronto Blue Jays ace right-hander Roy Halladay. The Chicago Cubs are attempting to deal embattled outfielder Milton Bradley, and Friedman, for one, has expressed interest, along with the Texas Rangers.

But the winter could be spiced by the availability of relatively inexpensive, talented players, led by pitchers Chad Billingsley of the Los Angeles Dodgers and Edwin Jackson of the Detroit Tigers.

"I don't know what will happen, but there's been more talking than there has been in a while," Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty says

Perhaps a major reason for the dialogue, several teams say, is that there is less money to spend on free agents. If teams want to improve, they are looking toward the trade market first.

"It's hard to know what will happen, but I do know that a handful of teams lost money last year for the first time," Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio says. "The industry showed it is recession-resistant but not recession-proof. The industry was down about 6%, and the economy still has not rebounded nearly as well as the market has shown.

"The dynamic is such that if it is a thin talent tool, will GMs say, 'Hey, I'll spend $8 million for a $5 million player because there's nobody else to sign'? I don't think that will happen. I know it won't for us."

The Oakland Athletics, who acquired high-priced outfielder Matt Holliday and signed free agent first baseman Jason Giambi last offseason, say they will go back to their roots of being patient and developing their own players.

"To sign a couple free agents and have three or four press conferences during the winter doesn't get it done," A's general manager Billy Beane says. "We're going to be disciplined."

Only eight teams have more than $60 million in financial commitments for the 2011 season, opening the way perhaps for a free agent spending spree next winter.

The 2010 market could feature starters Halladay, Cliff Lee, Josh Beckett, Ted Lilly and Brandon Webb; catchers Joe Mauer and Victor Martinez; shortstop Derek Jeter; third baseman Aramis Ramirez, and closers Mariano Rivera and Huston Street.

"The (New York) Yankees won a world championship because they went out and pursued franchise players," agent Scott Boras says. "The truth of that matter is you can really do a lot of good things in the draft, and really build your franchises, but in the end, when you come to the final moment of winning a world championship, you better have those franchise players."

Enlarge By Fred Thornhill, AP via The Canadian Press Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay is among several significant players acknowledged to be on the trading block.