Prospects May Be Part of Trades

No longer will the Dodgers hoard their prospects. Paul DePodesta, who replaced Dan Evans as general manager this year, traded two top prospects for outfielder Milton Bradley in April and said he would again tap the Dodgers’ rejuvenated minor league system in order to acquire a hitter, starting pitcher, or both.

“We have the depth to do both,” DePodesta said Friday. “I don’t know if we’ll be able to, but I wouldn’t rule it out.”

The Dodgers -- and their weekend opponent, the New York Yankees -- are two of several teams interested in Freddy Garcia of the Seattle Mariners, the top starter expected to be traded in the next few weeks. The Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox also are interested.

The Dodgers have spoken with the Kansas City Royals about several of their veterans, including center fielder Carlos Beltran and first baseman Mike Sweeney. The Royals appear intent on moving Beltran first and Sweeney later, if at all. The Royals, seeking a young catcher and third baseman in return for Beltran, are thought to be interested in the Dodgers’ triple-A catcher, Koyie Hill.

DePodesta said he could not comment on specific players, but he appeared to quash any notion the Dodgers would get Beltran by sending Hill and reliever Guillermo Mota to the Oakland Athletics. In that scenario, the A’s would send Hill and third-base prospect Mark Teahen to the Royals for Beltran, then ship Beltran to Los Angeles.

However, DePodesta said he had no intention of disrupting the bullpen with the best earned-run average in the major leagues. Mota has emerged as a key setup man for closer Eric Gagne.

“We have a certain kill factor when we’re leading after the sixth inning,” DePodesta said. “I’m not looking to move pieces on the major league club right now. I’m looking to improve it.”

Evans refused to trade top prospects last winter or at the trading deadline last July, but DePodesta and new owner Frank McCourt want to get the Dodgers into the playoffs for the first time since 1996. To get Bradley, DePodesta traded outfielder Franklin Gutierrez, the team’s top outfield prospect, and highly regarded right-hander Andrew Brown to the Cleveland Indians.

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Reliever Paul Shuey is expected to begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment next week. Shuey, who has yet to pitch this season, suffered a torn tendon in his right thumb during spring training.... Cleanup hitter Shawn Green entered Friday’s game with 14 hits in 28 at-bats, but he has had only one home run since May 8. “I’m very hopeful we’re in the process leading to where he gets completely untracked,” Manager Jim Tracy said. “For me, the next step would be the ball being driven from gap to gap and occasionally out of the ballpark.”