NL West Notes: Pudge, Padres, Dodgers

Ubaldo Jimenez's potential availability is the big story these days in the NL West, but let's not overlook the rest of the updates coming out of the division:

• Ivan Rodriguez makes a lot of sense for the Giants, writes Andrew Baggarly of the San Jose Mercury News. Reports last month indicated that San Francisco didn't view Pudge as "the answer" at catcher, though the club did inquire following Buster Posey's injury.
• The Padres are optimistic about working out deals with each of their top four draft picks, scouting director Jaron Madison tells Dan Hayes of the North County Times.
• John Van Benschoten has signed a minor league deal with the Padres, according to the team's Triple-A affiliate in Tucson. The eighth overall pick in the 2001 draft has struggled in 90 big league innings in his career, posting a 9.20 ERA.
• T.J. Simers of the Los Angeles Times thinks that when Dodgers GM Ned Colletti talks about the team and its approach at the trade deadline, he's just telling fans what he thinks they want to hear.