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Minor Moves: Miller, Cintron

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The latest minor moves come from Matt Eddy of Baseball America…

  • The Dodgers released Justin Miller, who had been pitching at Triple-A. The 33-year-old posted a 5.73 ERA with 7.8 K/9 and 9.0 BB/9 in 22 Triple-A innings for the Dodgers, Rangers and Marlins this year. He was useful for the Dodgers in 2010, throwing 24 1/3 innings in the big leagues.
  • The Padres released Alex Cintron in what appears to be a procedural move. The infielder retired in May, then decided to un-retire earlier this month. He last appeared in the Major Leagues in 2009.

Hiroki Kuroda Rumors: Thursday

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Righty Hiroki Kuroda tossed six innings of one-run ball against the Rockies yesterday, lowering his ERA to 3.11 in what might have been his last start for the Dodgers this year.  Yesterday we heard from Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi that the Yankees' interest intensified, with the Red Sox, Rangers, Indians, and Tigers also in the mix.  Kuroda has yet to be presented with a formal trade to approve.  The latest:

  • The Dodgers are not currently taking offers for Kuroda, according to Newsday's Ken Davidoff.
  • The Dodgers are telling teams they want a "significant piece" for Kuroda, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).
  • The Dodgers sent a scout to see third base prospect Nick Castellanos, writes Danny Knobler of CBS Sports, but they doubt the Tigers would move him for Kuroda.
  • Kuroda's contract stipulates that he will be eligible for conventional Article XX(B) after the season, writes Jon Paul Morosi, so he is a candidate for draft pick compensation if he maintains Type B status.
  • A friend of Kuroda told ESPN's Jayson Stark the pitcher can finally focus on the trade possibility with last night's start out of the way.  The Yankees have strong interest, Kuroda tops the Tigers' wish list, and the Red Sox were the only contender scouting last night's game.  Stark says the Indians and Rangers remain involved.  The Dodgers want a true baseball deal, and would prefer a starting pitcher close to the big leagues.
  • The Dodgers are "acting like they can trade Kuroda, and not just to the Yankees or Red Sox," tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.  The Dodgers have a scout watching the Tigers' A-ball team.
  • Uncomfortable with the price tag of Ubaldo Jimenez, as well as concerned about their current rotation, the Yankees are in regular contact with the Dodgers about Kuroda, reports Joel Sherman of the New York Post.
  • "My honest feeling is that I can't fathom wearing another uniform than the Dodgers uniform right now," Kuroda told MLB.com's AJ Cassavell last night through a translator.  He'll go over options with his agent, Steve Hilliard of Octagon.
  • Three factors limiting Kuroda's trade value: since his signing bonus is yet to be paid, he's still owed almost $6.8MM of his $12MM contract.  Second, he possesses leverage with a full no-trade clause, which I think may require additional compensation to waive.  Third, he's never pitched in the American League.

Blue Jays Notes: Rauch, Francisco, Rasmus

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Colby Rasmus is making his Blue Jays debut in Toronto, where he’s batting second and starting in center field tonight. Here’s the latest on a Blue Jays team that could make another move or two before Sunday afternoon…

  • Though the Blue Jays have said they're likely done making deals, other teams believe they may still trade Jon Rauch and/or Frank Francisco, according to Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com (on Twitter). 
  • The Diamondbacks, who had interest in some of the relievers the Blue Jays traded, aren't willing to mortgage the future for middle relief, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today (on Twitter). Octavio Dotel, Jason Frasor and Marc Rzepczynski were dealt yesterday.
  • Rasmus' father, Tony, says Cardinals manager Tony La Russa pushed his son out of town. “Tony needed pitching and wanted to force the GM into making a trade, so he belittled Colby to the fans,” the elder Rasmus told Bob Eilliott of the Toronto Sun. 
  • One MLB executive told Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports that the only thing he's sure of is that Toronto GM "Alex Anthopoulos is the smartest dude in the game." Rosenthal warns his readers that forming snap judgments about trades is dangerous, but most of his sources like the deal for the Blue Jays.

Phillies Targeting Pence, Quentin, Adams

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Phillies GM Ruben Amaro Jr. is working aggressively to improve his club before Sunday afternoon’s non-waiver trade deadline. And according to Jim Salisbury of CSNPhilly.com, Amaro’s shopping list has been established. 

Hunter Pence is his top priority (latest rumors here), Carlos Quentin is his second choice (latest rumors here) and Mike Adams is his third choice (latest rumors here). Matt Gelb of the Philadelphia Inquirer confirms that Pence is Philadelphia's top target. The Phillies are interested in several other players, but their hope is to acquire Pence, Quentin or Adams, according to Salisbury.

Multiple Teams Interested In Jamey Carroll

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4:40pm: The D'Backs and Pirates are also looking at Carroll, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com (on Twitter).

11:48am: The Brewers would like to acquire Dodgers infielder Jamey Carroll more than ever with Rickie Weeks hitting the DL for an ankle sprain, tweets Bob Nightengale of USA Today.  However, Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports tweets that the Indians are continuing to show interest in Carroll.

Though they acquired outfielder Kosuke Fukudome earlier today, Indians president Mark Shapiro tweeted that the front office is "still working to improve the team with other additions."  Potential targets vary from Ryan Ludwick to Ubaldo Jimenez, based on tweets from Jon Heyman and Troy Renck.

Stark On Quentin, Pirates, Braves, Indians, Reds

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Another must-read column from ESPN's Jayson Stark…

  • Stark has updated his take on Carlos Quentin's availability.  He says there is "increasing evidence the White Sox are talking to several teams about Quentin, one of which is believed to be Atlanta."  An executive of a team that has talked to the Sox says that while they are not "bound and determined" to trade Quentin, they would do it.
  • The Pirates are focused on finding a professional hitter, but aren't hot on Carlos Pena or Josh Willingham.  They're eyeing the Twins' Jason Kubel, but GM Bill Smith considers his team a contender at six games out.
  • Stark hasn't heard much that suggests the Braves are still bullpen shopping.
  • The Indians are turning their attention to starting pitching, but players Drew Pomeranz, Alex White, Lonnie Chisenhall, and Jason Kipnis appear to be untouchable.
  • The Astros continue to shop Wandy Rodriguez, and Stark wonders if he'll fit for the Yankees as a salary dump type.
  • The White Sox dangled Adam Dunn.  Dunn has over $48MM remaining on the four-year, $56MM deal he signed in December.
  • The Reds have "stepped up their calls this week on controllable middle-of-the-order bats," although it's hard to name any available hitters of that nature.

Brewers Acquire Felipe Lopez

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The Brewers acquired infielder Felipe Lopez from the Rays for cash considerations, tweets Marc Topkin of the St. Petersburg Times.  He'll head to Triple-A Nashville for the time being.  Brewers GM Doug Melvin moved quickly to add infield depth after Rickie Weeks injured his ankle yesterday.  Melvin told Tom Haudricourt that no second basemen are on the market at a price he'll meet so he'll probably mix and match a variety of players.

Lopez, 31, was a July addition for Milwaukee back in 2009 as well.  He struggled with the Rays this year but hit .305/.357/.474 in 207 plate appearances for their Triple-A club.  Lopez was designated for assignment and cleared waivers twice already this year, so the cash the Brewers are considering sending shouldn't amount to much.

Rafael Furcal Drawing Interest

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1:52pm: The Brewers are doing background work on Furcal and are also interested in Jamey Carroll, tweets Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, but the Dodgers will only trade one.

1:30pm: The Giants have talked to the Dodgers about Furcal, reports ESPN's Jayson Stark.  Before the two rivals matched up on a 2007 deal involving Mark Sweeney, they hadn't made a trade since 1985.

9:57am: Multiple teams are showing interest in Dodgers infielder Rafael Furcal, tweets ESPN's Buster Olney, though L.A. would have to eat a major portion of the $4.8MM owed to him.  Though he's having a terrible season, Furcal is a good hitter when he's right and looks better in a weak market for middle infielders.  The Cardinals are known to be focused on middle infield help.

Furcal, 33, is hitting .195/.267/.241 in 147 plate appearances.  He was hampered by a broken thumb and oblique strain, each injury knocking him out for about a month.

Erik Bedard Rumors: Thursday

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Mariners southpaw Erik Bedard will be a popular man tomorrow night, as he faces off against the Rays in his first start in over a month and last before the trade deadline.  The latest:

  • The Mariners like Bedard and he loves Seattle, tweets SI's Jon Heyman, so they haven't ruled out re-signing him.
  • The Tigers are very unlikely to acquire Bedard, tweets Danny Knobler of CBS Sports.
  • The Red Sox and Yankees will have scouts in attendance, report Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports, who say the Sox are "all over" the lefty.  The Mariners have been scouting Boston's Double and Triple-A affiliates, according to the FOX writers.  
  • As I mentioned yesterday, it wouldn't be surprising if the Indians, Rangers, Pirates, Reds, and Diamondbacks scout this game as well.  Despite Bedard's fragility, the Mariners' asking price is said to be high.

Tigers Rumors: Starting Pitchers

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The Tigers acquired Jhonny Peralta a year ago today, but this year they're trying to hold off the Indians rather than make trades with them.  Who will they add before Sunday's deadline?  The latest:

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