Giants add more infield depth, add Cabrera to the mix:
Having already added two pieces to the lineup before the trading deadline, San Francisco made yet another move to aquire shortstop Orlando Cabrera from the Indians for a minor league outfielder.
Cabrera likely will signifigantly reduce the playing time of incumbant shortstop Brandon Crawford, who is hovering around the mendoza line and is has only four hits in his last 38 at-bats.
Heading to Cleveland will be Fresno (AAA) outfielder Thomas Neal who had 2 homeruns and 25 RBIs this season, but has put up impressive numbers at the plate in the past (22 HRs at single A San Jose).
Neal may get a shot at making the Indians 40-man roster and could even see a shot come September if Cleveland continues to struggle to find replacements for their injured starters in the outfield.
Unless the Giants are planning on aquiring a catcher after the deadline passes via waivers, it appears that Brian Sabean is confident in the Eli Whiteside/Chris Stewart combination for the remainder of the year.
Landing Cabrera gives the Giants a slew of veteran infielders with Miguel Tejada, Jeff Keppinger and Mike Fontenot up the middle, resembling many of Sabeans veteran-oriented teams of the past.
Crawford is the only youngster of the group and may be headed back to the minors if his bat doesn't heat up soon.
N.L. West Chatter: Rockies land two young arms, D-Backs get Marquis, Dodgers dealing Furcal?
Rockies land a pair of top pitching prospects for Ubaldo Jimenez:
The Indians made another move on Saturday, upping the ante in their offer for Rockies ace Ubaldo Jimenez by including two of their top pitching prospects in the deal.
Drew Pomeranz (0-1 2.57 ERA) and Alex White (1-0 1.90 ERA) will both be assigned to Colorado's minor league system and were highly regarded hurlers within the Cleveland organization.
White could contribute as early as this season having already tasted the majors in a short stint earlier this year for the Indians.
Pomeranz instantly becomes one of the Rockies prized arms of the future and could get a shot at breaking the rotation in 2012.
Their first round draft pick from last season (Tyler Matzek) has not pitched well in the minors and appears to have been overrated by high school scouts.
It may be a white flag of surrender for Colorado in 2011, but it certainly was a great package of talent they received for Jimenez, who hasn't come close to duplicating his 15-1 start of 2010 and was wearing out his welcome as a Rockie.
White is a former first rounder out of North Carolina and Pomeranz has done nothing but impress since being drafted out of Ole Miss.
Both arms could be centerpieces of a Rockies rotation in the future that underwent a drastic makeover with the Jimenez trade.
Jason Marquis heading to the D-Backs:
Looking to add another arm to the rotation, Arizon sent infield prospect Zach Walters to the Washington Nationals for starter Jason Marquis.
After a disaterous 2010 (2-9 6.60 ERA), Marquis has rebounded well by going 8-5 with a 3.95 ERA for Washington in 2011.
Having won 15 games twice at the major league level in 2004 (STL) and 2009 (COL), Marquis has the ability to be a key contributor for Arizona down the stretch if he can return to form.
The Nationals are building for the future and added another infielder while unloading a hefty contract.
Walters has hit better than .300 in both of his first two seasons of pro ball and could project as either a third baseman or shortstop.
In 2011, Walters was hitting .302 with nine homeruns and 56 RBIs before being traded.
Dodgers dealing Furcal?
While no official deal has gone through, the Dodgers and Cardinals are reportedly having discussions about shortstop Rafael Furcal.
If both teams can decide on the prospects involved and who pays Furcal's contract, a deal could get hours before the deadline or even after it passes if the teams can agree on waiver wire terms.
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