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"As they set their targets for trade offers, the Pirates are willing to consider acquiring a Cubs Starlin Castro Jersey high-priced "rental" player to provide a boost in the playoff chase."We are open to various types of players, based on acquisition cost and fit on Twins Michael Cuddyer Jersey the club," general manager Neal Huntington said Sunday.In previous years, when the Pirates were sellers at the deadline, their strategy was to pick up players who had multiple years of contractual control -- prospects and major leaguers who hadn't yet reached arbitration eligibility.That paradigm began to change Johan Santana Jersey last year, when the Pirates traded for Chris Snyder. The veteran catcher came with a $5.75 million price tag for 2011 and will become a free agent this offseason."We took on Cubs Alfonso Soriano Jersey Chris Snyder's contract because we believed he could make us better," Huntington said.This season, the Pirates are seeking a late-inning reliever and an impact bat, either a corner infielder Authentic Alfonso Soriano Jersey or right fielder. Michael Cuddyer Jersey Those commodities don't come cheaply.ESPN analyst Buster Olney yesterday tweeted the Pirates have contacted the Oakland Athletics about outfielder Josh Willingham. An eight-year veteran, Willingham, 32, is making $6 million and can become a free agent this winter.Another intriguing possibility is former Pirates third baseman Aramis Ramirez, who's on pace for 27 homers this season. The Chicago Cubs are not expected to pick up Alfonso Soriano Jersey Ramirez's $16 million mutual Mets Johan Santana Jersey option for 2012 -- Authentic Michael Cuddyer Jersey an option that would not automatically vest if he is traded, though he would get a $1 million relocation bonus.Ramirez, 33, has insisted he will not waive his Authentic Starlin Castro Jersey no-trade clause. But that might only be a ploy to force an interested team to either honor his option or offer a contract extension."No-trade clauses often are used as leverage," Huntington said. "If a player flat-out doesn't want to come to Pittsburgh, Starlin Castro Jersey you're not going to get him to come. But we think more players realize what we're doing ... and are much more open to coming here."That notion was endorsed yesterday by Houston Astros right fielder Hunter Pence, whom the Authentic Johan Santana Jersey Pirates have scouted with the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline in mind."

DENVER -- Even with the strength of a new-look bullpen, protecting late leads on the road won't come easy for the Authentic Josh Hamilton Jersey Brewers. But Milwaukee's relievers stood up to the challenge on Sunday, as the Crew earned a split of the four-game series and took over first place in the National League Central. John Axford Authentic Matt Garza Jersey earned his 25th save and second in as Authentic Justin Morneau Jersey many days -- though it wasn't without tense moments -- and Francisco Rodriguez tossed a scoreless eighth to cap off a Brewers win, 4-3, over the Rockies on Sunday in front of 35,030 at Coors Field. Axford gave up a run for the second straight game (this one was unearned), as Ty Wigginton's double scored Jonathan Herrera, who reached on a Josh Wilson error. But the right-hander buckled down to force a Carlos Gonzalez groundout and a strikeout of pinch-hitter Mark Ellis. After Twins Justin Morneau Jersey walking Jason Giambi, Axford struck out Troy Tulowitzki with a high heater to seal the win. Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said this week that K-Rod -- who struck out a pair in the eighth -- will pitch in save situations, but after working his way around a leadoff Giambi double in the eighth, the newest Brewer has shown that he will be able to contribute just fine in a setup role. The work of the dynamic late-inning Matt Garza Jersey duo, along with a pair of scoreless innings from LaTroy Hawkins (sixth) and Takashi Saito (seventh) preserved a win for starter Shaun Marcum, who threw five strong innings before being removed from the game with a strained neck. "I think that's why I was excited in the first place once I found out that 'Frankie' was coming over here," Axford said. "Some of the success we've been having in the 'pen, it just showed today with the Mets Ike Davis Jersey four guys that we ran out there." Though Axford and Rodriguez both ran into some trouble, they answered with the type of dominant closer-type repertoires that could make trips through the back end of the bullpen daunting for opponents. "They're guys that can get a strikeout when they Josh Hamilton Jersey need to get a strikeout," Brewers manager Ron Roenicke said. Marcum (8-3) turned in his second strong performance against the Rockies this season, giving up two runs on five hits, while striking out four against three walks. The second run came on Giambi's towering upper-deck blast to lead off the sixth. After throwing one pitch to the following batter, Tulowitzki, Marcum was removed. Marcum said that he injured his neck while making a diving play in the fifth, when he slid to field a Dexter Fowler bunt Justin Morneau Jersey and made a perfect throw to first baseman Prince Fielder while falling toward the third-base line. "I think I landed a little awkward," Marcum said. "It's a little stiff right now, but I don't think it's anything to be too alarmed about. Keep doing our treatment, and be ready to go next time out." It Rangers Josh Hamilton Jersey wasn't the only unusual moment involving a Brewers pitcher. In the seventh, an animated Saito stepped off the mound twice to tell umpires that he was being harassed by a fan in the stands. "From the beginning of the inning, as I was raising my leg to make my pitch, there was a fan in the stands that kept repeating my first name really fast," Saito said through interpreter Kosuke Inaji. "For the first batter I was able to concentrate fine. From the second batter on, it just started bothering me. I asked the umpire if there's anything they could do about that."After being told by the umpiring crew to pitch through the distractions, Saito responded with a strikeout of Fowler to end the frame, and he directed a fist pump at the heckling fan. The Brewers backed the strong pitching performances with timely offense that started with a run in the second off Rockies starter Aaron Cook, who lasted just 4 2/3 innings. Cook surrendered three runs on eight hits, while walking  three and striking out one. Casey McGehee's sacrifice fly in the second inning plated Rickie Weeks, who led off the frame with a double and appears comfortable with his shift to the five-hole in the lineup. In two games since moving into the fifth spot, Weeks has collected four hits -- three of them for extra bases -- and a pair of RBIs. George Kottaras' double off the left-field wall in the Ike Davis Jersey fifth scored Prince Fielder, who walked and moved to second on Weeks' single. McGehee then drove in his second run of the game with a single to shallow left field. Mark Kotsay, starting for Ryan Braun (day to day with a strained left calf), drove in what proved to be the winning run in the sixth with a base knock that scored Corey Hart, who earlier singled. The Brewers received production from the bottom of their order for the second straight game, as 6-7-8 hitters Kottaras, McGehee and Wilson were a combined 5-for-11 with three RBIs. "We need that to happen," Roenicke said. "You can't count always on the same guys." The Rockies committed three errors and lamented missed opportunities to win the series. "We're a couple of at-bats, a couple of pitches away from winning four games in this series," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. Marcum was borderline dominant against the Rockies on May 21, when he earned the win by surrendering just four hits in eight innings of one-run ball. Braun pinch-hit in the ninth and grounded out, but his status for Monday's series opener against the D-backs was still unclear as of Sunday. With or without Braun, the Brewers will try to expand on their first road winning streak Authentic Ike Davis Jersey since they won four in a row at Florida from June 3-6. "Things Cubs Matt Garza Jersey weren't looking so great starting off in those first two games," Axford said. "So it's awesome to come out of here with a split series."

CHICAGO -- A sign of a good team is making teams pay for mistakes. The Marlins are certainly doing that in their frantic attempt to get back to .500 and ultimately into contention.Greg Dobbs belted a two-run home run and drove in three, while Hanley Ramirez homered and Logan Morrison delivered a two-run single in the eighth inning that lifted the Marlins to a 7-5 win over the Cubs in front of 37,634 on Sunday at Wrigley Field.In a wild high-scoring affair, the Marlins prevailed and took three of four in the series. Florida has won eight of nine and is now 46-49.The game changed in Florida's favor in a three-run eighth inning off Kerry Wood. Some good fortune also went the Marlins' way when pinch-runner Brett Hayes appeared to be out diving back to second on a pickoff attempt by Wood. Shortstop Starlin Castro applied the tag on Hayes, whose hand had not yet reached the bag. But second-base umpire Lance Barrett ruled Hayes safe, and the Marlins were able to score three times with two outs."So what," Marlins manager Jack McKeon said of the disputed call. "If it was, breaks even out. We certainly deserve a lot of them. We haven't gotten any. If there was a break, we deserve a lot of them. Overall, the umpires generally do a good job."Considering all that went wrong in June, when the Marlins were 5-23 in the month, the team is capitalizing on any opening."It's a tribute to the players," McKeon said. "They're understanding how to win. They are devoting full attention to the game when they put the uniform on, and they're having fun. As long as that happens, we can continue to win."In the eighth, the Marlins got going after Wood plunked John Buck with a pitch with two outs. Hayes pinch-ran and moved to second when pinch-hitter Wes Helms walked.With Emilio Bonifacio at the plate, Wood threw to second, and Hayes was ruled safe as the crowd and Wood vented. Replays showed Hayes Authentic David Wright Jersey should have been out.Even Helms knew the Marlins got away with one, and he volunteered in the clubhouse afterward. As reporters talked to Hayes, Helms chimed from his locker: "I had a lead off first base and could see you were out." Bonifacio reached on an infield single when third baseman Aramis Ramirez double-clutched before throwing. With the bases full, Dobbs drew a walk that gave the Marlins the lead for good. Morrison's two-run single made it a three-run game."In June, we didn't catch any breaks," Hayes said. "It's definitely nice to get one. "We did a good job of getting on base, and that leads to good things. You could see it this whole series. We had walks, key hits, worked the count. That's baseball. We played the right way and good things can happen."Cubs David Wright Jersey manager Mike Quade expressed his displeasure with the umpiring in his session with reporters."You guys know I'm the first one if I take Authentic Joe Mauer Jersey the card up to say I'm wrong when I'm wrong," Quade said. "I've become a big fan of replay, even in this game, and I don't give a [darn] even if it slows the game down another hour."Give me a challenge flag or two. Joe Mauer Jersey That was huge. You execute a pickoff play like that and it can get you out of trouble and that's what it's there for, and it did, but it didn't. I'm very disappointed in that."Leo Nunez closed out the ninth for his 26th save, striking out Darwin Barney with a runner on first to Authentic Kosuke Fukudome Jersey end it. Barney fouled off six straight pitches with two strikes before swinging and missing.Since McKeon replaced Edwin Rodriguez on June 20, the Marlins are 14-9, as well as 10-4 in July."I think if we keep focus on the game ahead, the pitch Cubs Kosuke Fukudome Jersey ahead, the at-bat ahead ... if we do that, we'll be fine," Morrison said. Bonifacio, who had two singles, extended his hitting streak to 16 games. The Marlins were able to step up and prevail on an afternoon starting pitcher Chris Volstad was lifted after a season-low three innings. After watching a three-run lead disappear, Volstad allowed four runs on six hits. In his last three starts, he has given up 14 earned runs in 13 innings. "It's time for him to get tough, get mentally tough," McKeon said. "He's got good stuff, but he's got to get tough. When you get three runs, you've got to think, 'Get me three runs, and I'm going to win.' "He's not the only one. Some of these other guys, they've got to get tough. It's easy to get to the big leagues. It's tougher to stay there."Cubs starter Randy Wells recovered from a rough start and worked six innings, allowing four runs.Both teams enjoyed big first innings, each scoring three times.Bonifacio walked to open the game, and Dobbs lifted an opposite-field two-run homer. With one out, Ramirez connected on a home run, his ninth of the season.Volstad, however, was unable to hold the early lead.The Cubs Twins Joe Mauer Jersey strung together three straight doubles off Volstad to make it 3-2. Reed Johnson doubled to left, while Castro lifted an RBI double Mets David Wright Jersey to right. Aramis Ramirez's two-base hit to the wall in left field scored Castro. With two outs, Blake DeWitt's RBI single tied the score. In the second Lan Kinsler Jersey inning, Volstad encountered more trouble when Geovany Soto and Barney each singled. It marked a stretch in which six of the first Rangers Lan Kinsler Jersey eight Chicago batters collected a hit.Wells squared to bunt and Volstad threw two straight balls. Fed up, McKeon made a slow walk to the mound, where he gave Volstad an earful. The Cubs managed one run in the inning on Johnson's sacrifice fly to center. "I told them there were a couple of good eating places in Kosuke Fukudome Jersey New York," McKeon said of his encounter at the mound. "If you get those guys out, we might get to some of those eating places."The Marlins traveled to New York after Sunday's game to make up a May 17 rainout with the Mets at Citi Field."I dug myself in a hole early," Volstad said. "He was pretty much telling me, 'Let's go!' I think it was pretty obvious I wasn't doing the job. He was letting me know."When you're trying to win games, sometimes you've got to make moves like that. I wasn't doing a good job. If not, then Authentic Lan Kinsler Jersey you put someone else in that can. Would I have liked to stay in? Yeah. As a starter, you want to stay in. But at the same time, I realized it wasn't really going my way."

DENVER -- Rockies pitcher Ubaldo Jimenez understands that information on possible trades travels much faster in the social media era."I just heard it from [reporters], from fans on my Facebook page and friends texting me, saying, 'Is it true that you're going to get traded?'" Jimenez said with a smile.Fox Sports and the Denver Mets Carlos Beltran Jersey Post have been writing this week that the Yankees, Tigers, Rangers and Reds are interested in acquiring Jimenez. With a club-friendly contract that pays him $17.95 million over the next three years, and the fact that it isn't clear whether the Rockies believe they're out of the National League West race, a trade of the right-hander doesn't seem likely.Two sources with knowledge of the situation say that the Rockies are at least listening, although one says to handicap it at anywhere less than 50 percent. That means that it could be three percent, or it could be 49 percent. Rockies general manager Dan O'Dowd established a high price tag in an interview with the Denver Post."We would have to be absolutely Twins Denard Span Jersey overwhelmed; it Authentic Carlos Zambrano Jersey would have to be a Herschel Walker deal," O'Dowd said, referring to the NFL trade that made the Dallas Cowboys a dynasty a couple decades ago.There is benefit and risk to pulling off such a deal. It could turn out like the Rangers' trade of Mark Teixeira to the Yankees, which brought them pitcher Neftali Feliz and shortstop Elvis Andrus. Or it could end up like the Athletics' deal of Dan Haren to the D-backs.The Athletics have little to show for Haren, who like Jimenez was at an affordable contract Authentic Carlos Beltran Jersey stage. The Athletics dealt two of their acquisitions from the D-backs, outfielder Carlos Gonzalez and pitcher Greg Smith, plus closer Huston Street to the Rockies for outfielder Matt Holliday, who was gone by the middle of the next season.The Athletics also received pitcher Brett Anderson from the D-backs, who has gone 21-23 with Rangers Michael Young Jersey a 3.66 ERA in 63 starts, but now is out for the season because of left elbow surgery.To deal Jimenez would mean that the Rockies are counting on young Authentic Michael Young Jersey pitchers Jhoulys Chacin and Juan Nicasio to develop into Major League stalwarts, and for Jorge De La Rosa to pick up where he left off when he returns from Tommy John left elbow surgery sometime next season. So a Major League-ready starting pitcher would have to be part of the bounty.     The Rockies also would have to receive a ready player for their lineup who is under club control beyond this year. Second base, where newly acquired Mark Ellis is eligible for free agency, is a logical spot, although they'll do whatever they can to acquire a championship-level bat. And there's no doubt that a top prospect would have to be included.Jimenez, 27, is 5-8 with a 4.08 ERA in a season that included a horrible start due to nagging leg and thumb injuries. In his last nine starts, Michael Young Jersey however, he has been ace-like -- 5-3 with a 2.56 ERA, with 54 strikeouts against 13 walks. Greater run support would have put himself and the Rockies in better position.Jimenez said that no Authentic Denard Span Jersey one from the club has addressed the possibility of a trade with him. The Rockies told Jimenez during the winter that they would be looking at a long-term deal for him, much like the ones shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and Gonzalez have signed. Jimenez said that he has not talked contract with the club during this season, although he wouldn't think such talks would be a distraction."Every five days I'm going to be pitching, not thinking about a contract," Jimenez said.Jimenez, for one, is not handicapping whether he would be traded."I don't think, like, 'There's no way they're going to trade me,'" Jimenez said. "As a player, when you're in the Minor Leagues, you hear about a lot of things that you think Carlos Beltran Jersey don't make sense, but they happen. The team is going to do what they think will make the team better."Driving the whole situation is that teams at the top of the standings look at a team like the Rockies -- four games below .500 and 8 1/2 games behind the National League West-leading Giants going into Sunday -- to see if they'll sell off their juiciest parts. Such a trade would be the Rockies way of waving the surrender flag.Jimenez, having seen the team make dramatic comebacks in 2007 and 2009 to make the playoffs, said he hasn't given up Carlos Zambrano Jersey hope."I think we have to play like we started playing the first three games of the second half, but at the same time have a little Denard Span Jersey bit of luck," Jimenez said. "We need to win and the Giants need to lose. Every time we win, they win. Every time we lose, they lose."Jimenez has held opponents to a .158 batting average in eight road starts. Going into Sunday, that number led the Majors. Second was the Tigers' Justin Verlander at .184. Although his numbers now are better than earlier in the season, he has labored more at home. But he said he isn't looking to escape Coors Field."I've had success before here, and that's the way I think," Jimenez said. "It's just a matter of being healthy. At the beginning of the season, I didn't have my stuff. That's why I couldn't get anybody out here. Right now I'm starting to get it, so I don't have any doubt in my mind that I can pitch here or pitch anywhere, even though Cubs Carlos Zambrano Jersey this is one of the toughest parks to pitch in."

 DENVER -- Right-hander Shaun Marcum was removed from the Brewers' 4-3 win over the Rockies on Sunday in the sixth inning with a strained neck. The injury occurred when the pitcher made a deft play on Dexter Fowler's bunt in the fifth. Marcum slid to gather the ball as Authentic Jose Reyes Jersey it rolled toward the left side of the mound, and with his momentum carrying him toward the third-base line, he delivered a perfect throw to Carlos Pena Jersey first baseman Prince Fielder. Marcum doesn't expect the injury Cubs Ryne Sandberg Jersey to cost him a start. "I think I landed a little awkward," Marcum said. "It's a little stiff right now, but I don't think it's anything to be too alarmed Rangers Nelson Cruz Jersey about. We'll keep doing our treatment, and I'll be ready to go next time out." Mets Jose Reyes Jersey Marcum gave up Authentic Ryne Sandberg Jersey two runs on five hits in five innings before being removed after throwing one pitch to Troy Tulowitzki, following Jason Giambi's leadoff homer in the Authentic Nelson Cruz Jersey sixth. The right-hander struck out four and walked three, throwing 48 of his 82 pitches for strikes. Though he earned the win after his second strong start against the Rockies this season Cubs Carlos Pena Jersey -- he threw eight innings of one-run ball against them in Milwaukee on May 21 -- Marcum didn't feel like he had his best stuff. "Funny thing, I didn't feel that great," he said. "I felt like it was a long All-Star break. I hadn't Jose Reyes Jersey pitched in awhile. Mechanically Ryne Sandberg Jersey everything felt good. I just didn't feel like the ball was coming out of my hand the way it has in the past, but I think that has something to do with the long layoff. "We were able Nelson Cruz Jersey to make some pitches when we had to. I threw a lot of Authentic Carlos Pena Jersey curveballs today, and I think that was a good pitch to keep them off balance."