lo duca to marlins?

[bigballa6]

The chance of the Marlins getting outfielder Larry Walker from Colorado before Saturday appears remote, according to sources close to Walker, while a high-ranking Marlins official dismissed persistent rumors the team would get Yankees pitcher Jose Contreras as part of a three-way trade involving the Diamondbacks.

But Florida reportedly has discussed a deal with the Dodgers that would send catcher Paul Lo Duca to the Marlins in exchange for a starting pitcher -- A.J. Burnett was named in one report, Brad Penny in another -- and outfielder Jeff Conine, whom the Dodgers would move to first base.

A Dodgers official, however, strongly denied any such deal is being considered, and an official with the Marlins, who have been after Lo Duca since spring training, said the proposed trade was ''probably up in the air.'' Both sources spoke on the condition of anonymity.

The Dodgers, who have been scouting the Marlins for a week, also are believed to be interested in Carl Pavano, who will be a free agent at the end of the season. But Beinfest has repeatedly said he has no intention of parting with any starting pitchers.

And in the unlikely event the Marlins do deal a starter, the trade probably wouldn't go down until the team is sure right-hander Josh Beckett is healthy. Beckett will be activated from his third stint on the disabled list tonight.

The Marlins still could make a deal after Saturday's deadline, but anyone traded after that must clear waivers first, meaning every other team has to pass on the player before he can change teams.

this is in todays miami herald

[Swope7488]

Here is what I read on this whole rumor...from ESPN.com

Quote:

Even if Johnson stays, it appears Finley is going to wind up with the Dodgers. His first choice is San Diego. But after failing to match up on prospects Thursday night, the Padres now have Arizona interested in a three-team swap after sweetening the package with prospects from a third (unknown) team. The Padres earlier rejected Arizona's efforts to get Akinori Otsuka. So the Diamondbacks turned again to the Dodgers, who had already been talking with Florida to see if they could deal for one of the Marlins' starting pitchers. According to numerous sources who have talked with those teams, they've sketched out a three-team deal that would go something like this: # L.A. gets Finley from Arizona, and Brad Penny and Hee Seop Choi from Florida. # Florida gets Guillermo Mota, Paul Lo Duca and Juan Encarnacion from L.A. # Arizona gets Jayson Werth from the Dodgers, and prospects from the Marlins. But this deal still has hangups. The Dodgers still need to find a catcher, and there are rumblings they've been trying to acquire Charles Johnson from the Rockies. The Marlins also need to acquire another starting pitcher, although it's believed they would make this trade regardless. Their first choice is thought to be Derek Lowe. And there are still questions about where Finley would play in the Dodgers' outfield, since Milton Bradley currently occupies center field and Finley still prefers to land in San Diego. But Arizona seemed determined to deal Finley before the deadline, and the Dodgers look like the only conceivable destination at this point.

If this deal goes through, the Dodgers definitely get the best of it....

I, as a Phillies fan, hope that Conine is gone ASAP!!![/quote]

[bigballa6]

Marlins may get Lo Duca, Ishii for Penny

By Mike Berardino
Staff writer
Posted July 30 2004

The Marlins could be close to filling the Pudge Rodriguez void.

According to West Coast baseball sources, the Marlins were closing in on a three-way deal with the Diamondbacks and Dodgers that would net them catcher Paul Lo Duca and Japanese left-hander Kaz Ishii.

The deal would cost the Marlins right-hander Brad Penny, the franchise leader with 48 career wins, and another hitter off their major league roster. Sources said that player wouldn't be a regular.

The Dodgers would also send outfielder Jayson Werth and other pieces to Arizona for outfielder Steve Finley before Saturday's 4 p.m. nonwaiver trade deadline.

Because Finley has the right to reject any trade, the deal could still collapse. As of Thursday night, he had not been presented with a formal trade request, but a source close to Finley said San Diego was still his first choice.

The Dodgers are his second choice, as he prefers to stay out west.

The Marlins and Diamondbacks continued to discuss a three-way deal for Finley with the Padres as well, however the Marlins were said to prefer their take from a Dodgers collaboration. Padres right-handers Brian Lawrence, a starter, and Jay Witasick, a reliever, could wind up with the Marlins in that fallback deal.

Penny, who won two games in the World Series last October, is making $3.72 million but could see his salary soar past $8 million next year through salary arbitration. Lo Duca is making $4.1 million and could double that in arbitration.

Lo Duca, 32, is a career .287 hitter with average defensive skills. A right-handed batter, he was hitting .301 with 10 homers and 49 RBI this year.

Lo Duca's career batting average after the All-Star break is 60 points lower than his first-half mark of .313, leading to theories that he wears down as the year progresses.

Following the free-agent departure of Rodriguez last winter, Marlins catchers rank near the bottom of National League rankings in most offensive categories.

Ishii, 30, is in his third big-league season after starring for 10 seasons with the Yakult Swallows in Japan. He is signed through next season at $2.6 million this year and $3.2 million next season.

His contract also includes a pair of team options for 2006 and 2007 at $3.3 million and $4 million, respectively. He also has a 10-team, no-trade clause, and the Marlins were on his list of undesired locations last year.

It was unknown if Ishii again submitted the Marlins this spring as a team to which he could not be traded without permission.

Dodgers special assistant Mark Weidemaier attended Penny's start Wednesday against Philadelphia, when the right-hander left after five-plus innings with a heat-related illness. Weidemaier also watched Carl Pavano's Tuesday start.

If Randy Johnson signs off on a trade to Anaheim -- which seems unlikely -- the Marlins could emerge with Angels reliever Scot Shields, the Fort Lauderdale High product, and Arizona outfielder Danny Bautista, a former Marlin.

That three-way deal would cost the Marlins Double-A first baseman Jason Stokes and pitching prospects. However, as of Thursday night, Johnson's representatives had not been presented with a deal.

Johnson, like Finley, can block any trade.

The Marlins were no longer involved in trade talks with the Yankees that would have brought Cuban defector Jose Contreras and Arizona catcher Brent Mayne. The Yankees have been Johnson's only desired destination all along.

"My guess is [Johnson] is not going to be traded," a person close to the situation told the East Valley (Ariz.) Tribune on Thursday.

Meanwhile, the Marlins continued to search for bullpen help with closer Armando Benitez fighting an inflamed elbow. The Reds, who have fallen from contention, could be ready to move right-hander John Riedling, the Pompano Beach product.

Tampa Bay's Travis Harper and Jorge Sosa are other possibilities. The Marlins asked Milwaukee about Luis Vizcaino but didn't get anywhere.

[bigballa6]

i doubt encarnacion would want to come back to the marlins. he didn't have to nice of things to say about FLA after they traded him. but if this trade goes though i'd think the marlins got the best out of it.