Dodgers Pushing Hard For Nolasco

WEDNEDSAY, 10:20pm: The Dodgers are deep into trade talks with the Marlins about Nolasco, a source confirmed to Mark Saxon of ESPNLosAngeles.com.  However, it's hard to know if anything is close right now, the source added.

A move for Nolasco would not mean the Dodgers are only targeting players to only help them this season, however.   They are looking to add a starting pitcher and reliever before the deadline, but they have also talked about moving a veteran to add prospects that could help them beyond 2013.  A third baseman is not a major priority for them, however, as they seem content with Juan Uribe.

TUESDAY, 4:36pm: The Dodgers aren't close to acquiring Nolasco at this time, tweets Jim Bowden of ESPN and MLB Network Radio. Four to six teams have shown serious interest in the right-hander.

3:52pm: The Dodgers are "on blitzkrieg" to acquire Ricky Nolasco from the Marlins, tweets Hank Schulman of the San Francisco Chronicle. As noted by Schulman, the matchup makes sense. The Dodgers can easily absorb the remaining $6MM or so on Nolasco's contract, and such a deal would prevent division rivals like the Padres and Giants from landing Nolasco.

The Padres, Giants and Rockies have all been connected to Nolasco at various points thus far, so it would be logical for the Dodgers, who also have the most ground to make up in the division, to pursue the 30-year-old.

Nolasco has a 3.68 ERA with 6.9 K/9, 2.2 BB/9, and a 41.6 percent ground-ball rate in 100 1/3 innings this year. He's slated to be a free agent following the season, which makes him a strict rental for the Dodgers, as teams can no longer receive compensatory draft picks for players who were acquired midseason.

Schulman adds that a deal could happen "soon," which meshes with reports from earlier today that the Fish are trying to move Nolasco ASAP.