Could the Phillies be in the midst of a trade?

It is being reported that pitcher Carlos Carrasco has been scratched from his start today at Triple-A Lehigh Valley.

Infielder Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson are also not in the lineup for today’s games, although they were not previously scheduled to start. Outfielder Michael Taylor is still in the starting lineup for the Iron Pigs’ 11 AM start.

All four players have been mentioned as possible pieces of a trade package over the past couple weeks, although it is not believed that they are realistically part of a deal for Roy Halladay, who want pitchers Kyle Drabek, J.A. Happ, and outfielder Dominic Brown.

Carrasco, Donald and Marson could be part of a deal, possibly along with Drabek, for pitcher Cliff Lee from the Cleveland Indians, or perhaps the Mariners’ Jarrod Washburn. A deal for Washburn, or the Pirates’ Zach Duke would likely not involve Drabek or Brown.

A report Wednesday by ESPN.com‘s Jayson Stark indicated that the trade talks between the Indians and Phillies were starting to heat up. Three scouts from the Indians’ organization, including the cub’s director of player personnel, Steve Lubratich, were in Lehigh Valley to watch this morning’s Iron Pigs game.

An official of a team that had been speaking to Cleveland about Lee told ESPN.com Wednesday morning it was his impression that Lee was about to be traded elsewhere, and the Phillies’ discussions with Toronto about Roy Halladay have slowed to a trickle in the last 24 hours.

As these things go, a source “familiar with the Indians’ thinking” denied that the club was close to any deal.

ESPN’s Buster Olney is also reporting that if the Phillies fail to land Halladay or Lee, they may turn their focus to bolstering the bullpen by going after Diamonback’s closer Chad Qualls, or George Sherrill from Baltimore. Other names being discussed are Matt Capps and John Grabow of Pittsburgh