This is almost entirely wrong. GM's are on the phone almost all day. They are often working the lines trying to find out who other teams are interested in, no one want to bel left off the bus, whether a seller or a buyer. Also it isn't just the GM's but front office staff are contacting other teams as well. There is also a deadline rush to evaluate their own prospects with emphasis on who will not pan out; that way the trade doesn't come back to bite them in ass down the line. Most deals have their genesis earlier in the season (even spring training) where they test the waters and are consumated at the deadline. In terms of what the max they will give up, they don't have a top offer in mind until they see what's on the table. If the temperature is right and the players available will put them over the top, any gm could and will sell the farm to acquire a piece.