Here’s the latest from ESPN’s Buster Olney:

– The Arizona Diamondbacks are going to be aggressive on the trade front before the deadline if they continue to  conten, as they have money to spend.

– The Washington Nationals reached out to the Giants regarding Ivan Rodriguez, but it appears not much progress has been made. The Giants are looking for a catcher to replace Buster Posey who they lost to a season-ending injury, and Rodriguez was one of their first replacement choices.

Back in March, we learned that the Nationals were willing to trade Rodriguez if Wilson Ramos was going to be the everyday catcher. The 39-year-old Rodriguez is signed through the 2011 season for $3 million.

– The San Diego Padres will probably trade some of their bigger names in their bullpen in order to get some offensive help. Heath Bell will likely be traded, and as Olney points out, the Padres have not been using him a lot thus protecting his trade value.

Olney also mentions the Cardinals as one of the possibles destinations for Bell. The Cardinals have been having problems with their bullpen and they lack an established  closer with experience that can lead them to another NL Central pennant.

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