Heyman Maneuver: Pudge, Orlando(s)

SI.com's Jon Heyman passes along a few tidbits in today's Daily Scoop:

• Catcher Ivan Rodriguez is drawing looks from the cash-strapped Astros and Marlins. Pudge's power is pretty much gone (it went with the steroids?), although is batting average remained respectable - at least until he got to the Yankees (.219 in 33 games) last year.
  
  
• The possibilities for 2B Orlando Hudson look to be the Dodgers or Nationals. But Bill Shaikin of the Los Angeles Times earlier claimed in a column that Hudson was more interested in the Dodgers than the other way around.
  
  
• The Athletics want to sign shortstop Orlando Cabrera, but for no more than $5 million and preferably closer to $3 million.
  

Gary Sheffield Ponders Playing for Rays or Marlins

Tigers slugger Gary Sheffield -- hitting just .224 with 13 homers in the worst year of his career -- says he would consider playing for the Marlins or Rays instead of the Tigers because it would bring him closer to home.

"My thing is that you get tired of being away from home as much," the lifelong Tampa resident told The Detroit News in a recent question-answer session. "Being away for eight months is tough. At the end of the day, nobody knows if Tampa's going to win this year or win next year. But every player wants to play at home."

Sheffield -- who has clashed with close personal friend and manager Jim Leyland over being relegated to a designated hitter role instead of right field -- has been put on waivers but has found no takers with two more years left on his $14 million annual contract. Even if another team wants him, he is unsure he wants to play two more years, though he will come back for 2009, he said.

"...If I do play, if it ain't here, it could possibly be there (in Florida) -- or somewhere else," Sheffield said. "Who knows? I'm not ruling anything out. And I might not even want to play (two years from now). I might just want to stay home, because I have a lot of things going on outside of baseball that I have to pay attention to."

Sheffield has battled shoulder trouble all season, and has been held to just 340 at-bats. He predicted he would hit the seven home runs he needs to reach the 500-plateau this month. He will observe his 40th birthday in November.

Kevin Gregg Blamed in Marlins Playoff Elimination

Marlins relievers Joe Nelson and Matt Lindstrom look to pick up most of the save opportunities with closer Kevin Gregg benched with leg trouble -- but their efforts at this point are all but academic.

Gregg, 30, had kept quiet about a painful knee injury that prevented him from pitching effectively over the past two weeks, and now must take the blame for costing his team a playoff berth by blowing four critical saves in a row.

The Marlins have fallen seven games back, with little or no chance to catch the Mets or Phillies.

Gregg's most conspicuous failure came last week when he surrendered a game-winning grand slam to Carlos Beltran of the Mets. Altogether, the 6-foot-6, 230-pound righty had given up 12 runs in his last seven innings for a total of four losses in four outings, bringing his total to nine blown saves on the year.

Fans were furious with manager Fredi Gonzalez for continuing to hand Gregg the ball when he obviously was no longer effective. But how could Gonzalez have been expected not to pitch Gregg if Gregg refused to level with him?

"....Don't you think it would have been nice for Gregg to tell Gonzalez the knee was a trouble spot before taking the mound?" asked Miami Herald columnist Armando Salguero. "Gonzalez sent Gregg out to the mound seven times since Aug. 15, usually with the game hanging in the balance, without having complete information about his pitcher's health.

"It's one thing if Gregg had said something...Then Gonzalez could have made a decision...knowing all the facts. But Gregg put Gonzalez in a difficult spot by saying -- well, nothing."

Marlins Recall Paul Lo Duca from Albuquerque

The arrival of veteran catcher Paul Lo Duca from the Triple A Isotopes gives the Marlins a veteran presence behind the plate as the team approaches the home stretch in the playoff race.

Though the 37-year-old one-time Dodgers star had been released by the Nationals July 31 after hitting only .230 in 46 games, he had knocked out 11 hits 26 at- bats against Pacific Coast League pitching since agreeing to a minor league contract with Albuquerque. Lo Duca will complement Marlins starter Matt Treanor, who recently returned from the disabled list.

Lo Duca is best remembered for his career year with the 2001 Dodgers, when he hit .320 with 25 homers, benchmarks he has never approached since. With his defensive skills also in decline, his reputation in the twilight of his career has been somewhat mixed.

Paul Lo Duca, Dallas McPherson Wandering Desert

There's nothing better to awaken a hitter like wandering in the desert for 40 days and 40 nights, if former major leaguers Paul Lo Duca and Dallas McPherson are any indication.

No sooner than being cut by the Nationals for lack of productivity, the one-time Dodgers star catcher arrived at Triple A Albuquerque with a flourish, knocking out 11 hits in his first 26 at-bats for a .423 average. If Lo Duca keeps it up, he should gain some attention from Marlins front office executives, who are carrying him as a deep reserve during the ongoing pennant race.

But not necessarily.

The Marlins have been content to let McPherson -- the former Angels third baseman of the future -- waste away in the minors all season; this despite his 40 homers, three triples, 17 doubles, 70 walks and 91 RBI in just 399 at-bats.

Run production in the Pacific Coast League must be somewhat discounted, as the desert air tends to inflate offensive numbers. Moreover, McPherson also has been held back because he is playing behind Jorge Cantu, who is in the midst of a career year playing third base with the parent club.

Playing in Albuquerque, McPherson labors under the terms of a minor league contract, a distinct discount from what he would be paid if called to the majors. The team, however, reportedly has denied that money is a consideration, despite the fact that McPherson might have come in handy from time to time throughout the year, most notably when a designated hitter was needed during interleague play.

Marlins 2B Dan Uggla Struggling with Ankle

Marlins All-Star second baseman Dan Uggla is a shadow of his former self since his torrid pace in May when he knocked in 12 home runs and hit .347.

Attempting to play with the pain of a sprained left ankle sustained in a base running mishap, Uggla's average for the season has fallen to .261 largely due to a production drought that saw him go 4-36 from June 28 to July 24. Though his discomfort has been severe enough that at one point he even sat out for 11 games, he has refused to go on the disabled list.

While presenting himself as game-ready his abilities remain severely impaired as evidenced over the past 30 days, a period in which he has hit just .107 with 3 homers.

At this rate he may as well sit out anyway. It's puzzling why the Mariners--in the midst in a playoff fight--don't move Jorge Cantu to second base and bring up Dallas McPherson from Triple A Albuquerque to place third base at least until Uggla once again can return to being a potent force.

Manny to Florida Dead

The Red Sox have tentatively agreed to send Manny Ramirez to the Marlins in a three team deal also involving the Pirates. The Pirates would acquire Jeremy Hermida, while the Red Sox would receive Jason Bay. The Pirates would also receive at least two additional prospects.

UPDATE:  this deal is dead

Red Sox, Marlins on Verge of Manny Ramirez Trade

According to Baseball Prospectus and multiple other sources, the Red Sox are "on the verge" of trading Manny Ramirez to the Marlins for three players.  One of those players is believed to be highly regarded low-class A outfielder Mike Stanton, 18, who has hit 26 home runs this year.  Josh Willingham and Jeremy Hermida have also been mentioned today, so it is possible that one or both will be included in any deal.

This sounds like a terrific deal for the Red Sox.  Trade the Hall of Fame anchor to your lineup when you are a World Series favorite.

Manny is in the lineup tonight against the Angels.  Mark Teixeira is also in the lineup, batting third in front of Vladimir Guerrero, and wearing #25.

Marlins Talking to Red Sox About Manny Ramirez

Although a trade is unlikely (UPDATE:  ESPN now calls these discussions "serious") at this point, the Marlins have been talking to the Red Sox about acquiring Manny Ramirez.  Players being mentioned are Jeremy Hermida, Josh Willingham, and Jeff Allison.

Dallas McPherson Passed Over Despite 23 Homers

If ever there was a golden opportunity to give slugger Dallas McPherson even a momentary return to the majors, it would have been when the Marlins were in need of a designated hitter while visiting Oakland for interleague play.

Yet McPherson -- switched from the outfield back to third base for Triple A Albuquerque -- was rejected again, despite his hitting another pair of home runs during the past week to lead the Pacific Coast League with 23, with an outstanding .300 batting average.

The Marlins continue to look at McPherson and other callup candidates, if for no other reason than to find players who can help reduce the team's .976 fielding percentage, worst in the majors, and number of errors, now at 65, second only to Texas.

Ironically, McPherson's primary rival is corner infielder Jorge Cantu, who has a hot bat but leads the team with 14 errors. Cantu's fielding alone would seem to be enough of a reason to give McPherson a shot, but McPherson has 11 errors for Albuquerque, though the total may be misleading as those miscues came when McPherson was learning a new position in left field.

It will be interesting to see whether McPherson's number of errors are more tolerable now that he has moved back to third base, and whether the move will raise his value. If not, indications are McPherson will continue to labor in obscurity until an injury or the September roster expansion changes his outlook.

Eulogio de la Garza Rides Near 100-mph Fastball

Expect prospect Eulogio de la Cruz -- a hard-throwing righty who has struck out nearly a batter an inning to go 7-2 with a 2.34 ERA in his last 10 starts at Triple A Albuquerque -- to push starter Ryan Tucker for the No. 5 spot in the Marlins rotation.

At 8-3 with a 3.72 ERA against offensive-minded Pacific Coast League hitters, de la Cruz, 24, appears to have mastered his near 100-mph fastball as he allowed only one run in his last six innings, striking out nine for a microscopic 1.06 ERA in 18 frames. Had the Marlins known his most recent hot streak was coming, de la Cruz might already have been called up ahead of Tucker.

Tucker meanwhile is a promising but weaker link in the Marlins rotation, starting out of the gate slowly with a more than 5.00 ERA in his first two appearances, though he has confused a small sample of lefty hitters with his anomalous delivery that may one day convince the team he could be converted to a closer.

As soon as the Tucker experiment is completed in its present manifestation, look for de la Cruz to make a splash.

Latest Dallas McPherson Moonshot Gives Him 21

Marlins Triple A farmhand Dallas McPherson's most recent homer -- a more than 450-foot moonshot off former major leaguer Brandon Duckworth -- helped raise his OPS to more than 1.000 and his Pacific Coast League leading home run total to 21.

Yet McPherson's chances for promotion appear blocked, with no spot for him on the major league roster, even after he was moved from third base to the outfield.

Though the 6-foot-4, 240-pound left-handed hitter's more than .300 batting average and prodigious power are at least mildly inflated in the western desert air, McPherson clearly could have been starting for any number of major league teams by now if only he had not been seriously sidelined by various injuries in recent years, most notably spinal trouble.

McPherson has two homers in his last five home games, the last one flying well over the flagpoles past the 410-foot marker in center field, and the previous one landing on top of a grass embankment well beyond the right field fence.

Florida Marlins Downfall Is Foreshadowed

With XM Radio and Orioles broadcast commentator Buck Martinez and others already raising a red flag of caution over the Marlins dubious defensive play, baseball analyst Troy E. Renck has joined the chorus with yet a further warning that the team may be headed for a fall from its lofty perch atop the National League East.

"...There are chilling warnings that a serious regression awaits," says Renck in Sunday's editions of The Denver Post. "The Marlins rely too much on the home run, which could spell doom.

"Why? The Marlins rank second in strikeouts in the National League and have the third fewest walks. When those big swings turn into a big breeze, they figure to collide with a long losing streak. That's particularly true for a team whose pitching ranks in the middle of the pack (4.41 ERA) and owns baseball's worst fielding percentage (.977).

"This is a fun team to watch. It's just doubtful that it will hold true come mid-September."

Dallas McPherson Awaits Return to Show

As long as the team is playing well, the Marlins likely can be expected to avoid burning an option on slugging minor league third baseman-turned-outfielder Dallas McPherson, despite McPherson's prodigious play in Albuquerque.

Though the Marlins will face Kansas City at home this week in interleague action, a designated hitter will not be required until June 13 when the Marlins will cross Alligator Alley to face cross-state rival Tampa Bay on American League turf at St. Petersburg.

It may not be until then that manager Fredi Gonzalez takes a serious look at promoting McPherson, who has hit his prime at 27 and is pounding Triple A pitchers with a home run approximately every 10 at-bats, a batting average that has flirted with .300 and an on-base average approaching .400.

Though corner reserve Wes Helms figures to face lefties when a designated hitter is needed, McPherson would be an ideal, speculative option against righties if he can continue his torrid pace.

McPherson still needs to show why the Angels took him as the 57th overall pick in the 2001 draft and regarded him so highly that he was able to push aside veteran Troy Glaus at Los Angeles. Regrettably, however, the 6-foot-4, 230-pound McPherson's meteoric rise was curtailed after various injuries, the most serious of which required spinal surgery.

McPherson's services were considered by at least four teams after he came back from rehabilitation, but it was only Florida with a vacancy at third base that was willing to take a chance on signing him. So far, he has not disappointed.

Hanley Ramirez Likely to Disregard Shoulder Risk

Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez -- having undergone shoulder surgery last fall -- is reported to be on course for doctors to release him for full baseball activities well before the conclusion of spring training, though he may be held back for awhile as a precaution as he faces a relapse potential of perhaps 10 percent, medical authorities told www.MLBnewsonline.com.

The problem is that Ramirez -- not only because of his character and makeup but because of his love of the game -- cannot be expected to play with anything less than full enthusiasm, thus will soon place his surgically repaired torn labrum at greater exposure than doctors might ideally desire.

Still, the likelyhood of Ramirez sustaining a serious relapse is probably small based on recoveries and surgical failures experienced by other patients, about 90 percent of whom have returned to normal activity in about six months or less following the procedure, according to medical authorities.

Ramirez's surgery can be likened to that undergone by New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees, who dislocated his shoulder in 2005 but recently threw for more than 4,000 yards with 28 touchdowns with no lingering difficulties over the course of a 16-game season.

The Marlins have every reason to expect that Ramirez will have a normal and highly productive 2008, and continue to be regarded as one of the top three shortstops in baseball.

Hanley Ramirez Optimistic About Return to Marlins

Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez's prediction that he would return to action within three days of separating his shoulder would seem almost laughable, if it were not for the seriousness of the injury.

Normal players would measure time lost due to a shoulder subluxation in weeks and months, not days; just ask Richie Sexson of the Mariners or Derek Jeter of the Yankees.

Ramirez is a special case, however, falling within a very small category of individuals with trick shoulders that have a history of popping in and out of place. Whereas a normal person might be laid up for three or four months or more because of such an injury, those like Ramirez can put the pieces back together and are good to go -- with relatively little discomfort.

The problem is, these individuals might be burger flippers, bus drivers, candlestick makers or what-have-you, not professional athletes. Rough-and-tumble lifestyles require extra caution.

If Ramirez makes good on his prediction to return to action immediately, he is putting his career at risk by exposing himself to a potential recurrence. The more often his shoulder is thrown out, the greater jeopardy of his being debilitated by a degenerative shoulder capsule.

The best course of action for Ramirez is either to opt for surgery to tighten the shoulder now, or immobilize it for three weeks, then enter into a rehabilitative process that would keep him out for most or all of the remainder of the season.

In either case, the shoulder will remain problemsome for years to come.

Doctors have warned Ramirez of the advisability of going on the disabled list, though Ramirez's bravado suggests he will refuse; after all, it's his body, his call.

Though Ramirez plans to return to action now, the weekend would be plenty soon enough. But it's well within the realm of possibility that Ramirez yet will do the sensible thing if he values his future. In such a case Ramirez would be out at least until September.

Marlins Hanley Ramirez Likely Out for Season

Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez dislocated his shoulder while swinging at a pitch in Sunday's game against the Reds in Miami, and likely will miss virtually all or most of the remainder of the season, according to knowledgeable sources familiar with his injury. Ramirez immediately came out of the game and will require a minimum three weeks shoulder immobilization, plus a month's rehabilitation before being able to resume baseball activities. That will put him well into September at the earliest before he can return to play, when he likely will be held out of action as a precaution, unless the Marlins win a playoff berth, sources said.

Court Likely to Throw Book at Marlins Scott Olsen

Judges and prosecutors can hardly be expected to look favorably on Marlins pitcher Scott Olsen after his recent arrest on charges of drunken driving, failure to stop for police and violently resisting an officer. Olsen is in big trouble.

Not long after Olsen is be arraigned, a probationary investigation will that show that Olsen's scrape is just the latest in a series of anti-social behaviors. A judge likely will look at Olsen's 6-foot-five, 230-pound widebody and recognize it or what it is: a walking, talking, dangerous deadly weapon.

Out of consideration for the health, safety and welfare of the citizenry at large, Olsen will be taught a harsh lesson he will not soon forget. Don't expect him to get off with just a community service session for a couple of weeks at the local Community Chest.

As to whether Olsen will be suspended by the Marlins before his next start on Wednesday, he has three things in his favor: No. 1, the team needs his arm; No. 2, Olsen has yet to be convicted of anything; and No. 3, Olsen is one very, very sorrowful young man, and has humbly confessed this to his keepers.

Is Olsen a candidate for trade? Sure, but who would take him?

Marlins Jeremy Hermida Sits Because of Glove

Look for left-handed Marlins outfielder Jeremy Hermida to lose more and more time to right-handed hitting Cody Ross, now that Ross has finally returned from a leg injury.

It's not only that Hermida has been slow to figure out left-handed pitching, but his fielding has been suspect as well. Hermida's seven errors in fewer than 60 games has cost the team wins in a tightly contested pennant drive, as has his misreading of balls coming off the plate, inability to run efficient routes and worse yet, his tendency to pull up short for shallow pops and liners.

Some of these shortcomings show up in the box score, but plenty don't.

Whether this trend will devolve into a strict platoon is an open question, though coaches clearly would prefer to see Hermida improve his field work so that the former No. 1 pick can play every day.

At 24, Hermida has time to iron out these difficulties. The problem seems to be that Hermida is either unable to improve, or unwilling to work at it as hard as he should.

Dontrelle Willis Inked Yet Still Could Be Traded

Marlins ace Dontrelle Willis' new $6.45 million contract allows Florida to keep him for at least another year, but still the team has issued no guarantees that Willis' hefty price can continue to be absorbed by the cash-strapped team.

Willis' new rate of compensation represents a 45 percent increase, with raises for third baseman Miguel Cabrera and other players promising to bust the team's $15 million 2006 team budget. Even though Willis would be an ideal draw once the team builds a new ballpark, the temptation will be great to deal him for prospects if the team falls from contention by late July.