Dodgers Trade Cabrera, Get Minor Leaguers

The Dodgers shuffled the margins of their roster again Saturday, trading infielder Jolbert Cabrera and outfielder Jason Romano for three minor leaguers.

Dodger General Manager Paul DePodesta has made five trades involving 10 players over the last six days, but none of the players coming or going resembles the impact hitter the team lacks. He spoke Saturday with Cleveland General Manager Mark Shapiro, who intends to trade outfielder and potential cleanup hitter Milton Bradley in the next few days, but DePodesta said no deal with the Indians was imminent.

“I’d certainly like to get another hitter,” DePodesta said. “I don’t know if he has to bat cleanup.”

With the Seattle Mariners searching for an infielder to replace the injured Scott Spiezio, the Dodgers traded Cabrera to Seattle for right-hander Aaron Looper and left-hander Ryan Ketchner. Cabrera, with a $1-million salary this season and $1.5-million option next season, was expendable because of the presence of Jose Hernandez, who can replace him as Alex Cora’s second-base platoon partner for $875,000 plus incentives.

DePodesta said the deal was not driven by money and said he had budget space to do just about any deal he might find.

“I probably have more flexibility than the other 29 teams,” he said. “I can’t think of another team that has more room than I have right now.”

Looper, 27, the son of Seattle vice president of player development Benny Looper, posted a 3.11 earned-run average last season in 46 appearances, all in relief, at triple-A Tacoma. Ketchner, 21, who is deaf and uses hearing aids that enable him to detect vibrations but not words, went 14-7 with a 3.45 ERA at Class A Inland Empire last season and led the California League in strikeouts. Neither was ranked among the Mariners’ top 15 prospects by Baseball America.

Romano, expendable after last week’s acquisitions of Jason Grabowski and Jayson Werth, was traded to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays, who are expected to include him on their major league roster. In exchange, the Dodgers got middle infielder Antonio Perez, 24, who hit .248 in 48 games for the Rays last season.

DePodesta said Looper and Perez would start at triple-A Las Vegas but could play in Los Angeles this season. Ketchner will pitch at double-A Jacksonville.

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The Dodgers sent pitchers Edwin Jackson, Doug Nickle and Rick White to Las Vegas and put pitcher Paul Shuey and catcher Todd Hundley on the disabled list, reducing their major league roster to 24. They are expected to add three non-roster players -- Hernandez, pitcher Jose Lima and infielder Olmedo Saenz -- before Monday’s season opener. They would thus likely keep reliever Duaner Sanchez and one of these three players: pitcher Brian Falkenborg, infielder Joe Thurston or outfielder Wilkin Ruan.

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Jose Guillen’s left wrist remained swollen and sore Saturday, a day after he was hit by a pitch that resulted in a deep bruise, but the left fielder seemed pleased that there was no major damage and has not been ruled out of the Angels’ opener Tuesday against Seattle.

“If I played with a broken hand last year, why can’t I play with a sore hand?” said Guillen, who hit .455 during the playoffs after breaking a bone in his left hand in September.

Angel Manager Mike Scioscia said he didn’t think Guillen’s wound would necessitate a trip to the disabled list, but hand injuries can be tricky. Tim Salmon was initially considered day to day after being hit by a pitch on the left hand in a game during the 2002 season but ended up missing 18 games. Guillen said he initially feared that his hand was broken because he didn’t have any feeling for about an hour. Doctors told him that if the ball had hit him an inch away from where it did that it probably would have caused more extensive damage.

Guillen, who is icing the area and receiving massage therapy, said the pain in his hand is less severe than it was last season when it was broken. He fielded balls Saturday while wearing a splint and hopes to resume swinging a bat Monday.

Salmon replaced Guillen in the second inning Friday and Jeff DaVanon started Saturday’s game in left. The Angels also could use Chone Figgins as a replacement.

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With two days remaining before the opener, the Angels have not agreed to a contract extension with left fielder Garret Anderson, which owner Arte Moreno had identified last season as the team’s top priority. The team made two four-year offers to Anderson during the winter, the first believed to be worth $32 million and the second $40 million. Anderson is believed to be seeking a four-year deal closer to $56 million.

“We don’t want to be in a situation where we’re trying to rush into something,” Moreno said. “He’s signed for this year [for $6.2 million]. With any of our players, if we’re looking at doing something long-term, we want to make sure it’s right. I don’t want to be here and say, ‘Geez, if we don’t sign someone by X date ...’

“He’s an Angel, he’s been an Angel his whole career. I probably painted myself in a corner Day 1 when I said he was a priority, but he’s a priority. He’s a homegrown Angel, and to me, that’s an important thing. I think it’s important for the fans, and I think it’s important for him.”

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As expected, the Angels included catcher Josh Paul on their final 25-man roster as insurance because of Bengie Molina’s sore hamstrings. Pitcher Kevin Gregg also made the team because reliever Brendan Donnelly will open the season on the disabled list with complications stemming from a broken nose. Pitchers Scott Dunn and Matt Hensley, infielders Alfredo Amezaga, Robb Quinlan and Adam Riggs, and outfielders Brian Gordon and Barry Wesson will be assigned to triple-A Salt Lake after today’s game.