Reds general manager Dan O'Brien says he's trying. But two things are holding him back:

a) Not a lot of players are available;

b) The Reds don't have a lot of prospects to trade.

"The situation as of July 2, depending on how you calculate it, only eight or nine teams are not in the pennant race," O'Brien said. "With so many teams in it, there aren't a lot of players available."

PHOTO GALLERY

Photos of Saturday's game

The second part of the matter may be more problematic for the Reds. The lack of prospects to move makes it difficult to compete when a lot of teams are pursuing the few players available.

"To make moves, you need quite a bit of depth," O'Brien said. "The reality is we're not there. There's a lot of work to do."

O'Brien says his main concern is getting more pitching, while a third baseman is on fans' wish list.

Whether the Reds are buyers or sellers at the deadline isn't certain.

The club faces a critical stretch before the All-Star break. The homestand, which ends today, is followed by three games in St. Louis and four in Milwaukee - two places the Reds have not played well.

Another bad road trip could thrust the Reds into the build-for-the-future mode again.

VANDY IS DANDY: O'Brien won't put a timetable on it, but John Vander Wal could be playing for the Reds soon.

"His baseball skills are a little off," O'Brien said. "He needs to get his timing back. But physically, he's done well - exceptionally well."

Vander Wal is on his second rehab assignment with Triple-A Louisville after January knee surgery.

Vander Wal is being used like the Reds will use him: Spot starting, pinch-hitting.

NO AA HIGHWAY: Under Reds general manager Jim Bowden, being at Double-A was as good as being at Triple-A because Bowden had no qualms about promoting players from Double-A to the big leagues.

Austin Kearns played one game at Triple-A. Wily Mo Pena, Brian Reith, Chris Reitsma, Jose Acevedo and Josh Hall never played at Triple-A before debuting in the majors.

The reason this is pertinent now is two of the Reds' best minor-league performers are at Double-A.

Right-hander Chris Booker, 27, went into the weekend with an 0.45 ERA and had struck out 31 in 20 innings. Booker throws harder than anyone on the current Reds' staff and has a nasty split-finger fastball as his out pitch.

"The reality is he's still on the (injury) comeback trail," said O'Brien.

Booker battled shoulder problems all last season.

The Reds' best position player in the minors is Edwin Encarnacion. He went into the weekend hitting .299 with six home runs and 41 RBI. Ha plays third, a position no one on the Reds has seized.

Too young, O'Brien said.

"He's 20 (actually 21)," O'Brien said. "It's unlikely we'll see him in the major leagues this season."

STAT CORNER: The Reds went into the weekend 32-4 in games they led after eight innings. That seems odd for a team with 19 blown saves.

ONE TO GO: With the signing of B.J. Szymanski, their No. 2 pick in the amateur draft, the Reds have gotten much done - with one notable exception.

Homer Bailey, the No. 1 pick, remains unsigned and the Reds haven't had more than preliminary talks with him.

Bailey wants to wait and see what some of players drafted around him get. So far only two of the top picks have signed.

O'Brien is satisfied how it has gone.

"We've got everyone we projected to sign signed," he said.

Except Bailey, of course.

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