No Need to Acquire Polanco

After the Dodgers lost third baseman Jose Valentin to injury five weeks ago, they considered trading for infielder Placido Polanco of the Philadelphia Phillies. But, with Antonio Perez and Mike Edwards filling in adequately and Valentin on course to return next month, the Dodgers did not scramble to bid on Polanco before the Phillies traded him to the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday.

The Phillies got set-up man Ugueth Urbina from Detroit. They are believed to have asked the Dodgers for Yhency Brazoban.

General Manager Paul DePodesta said he originally told the Phillies he would wait four to six weeks while evaluating organizational players at third base.

“If we felt they couldn’t get it done, we would have gotten back in touch,” he said. “We felt like these guys have really stepped up and done a nice job. Over the horizon, we see the chance of getting Jose back for the last couple months.”

Valentin, on the disabled list because of torn ligaments in his right knee, said he hopes to begin a minor league rehabilitation assignment in three weeks and rejoin the Dodgers at the All-Star break.

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The Dodgers could announce Brad Penny’s contract extension on Friday, DePodesta said. Penny took his physical examination on Wednesday. “That’s not the final box that needs to be checked,” DePodesta said.

He said the extension -- for three years, plus an option for a fourth year that could increase the total value to $32 million -- does not allow the Dodgers to void any guaranteed payments in case of arm injury.

When the Tigers signed catcher Ivan Rodriguez last year to a four-year contract, with a fifth-year option that could increase the total value to $50 million, they included a provision that enables them to terminate the contract after the second or third year if he spends five weeks on the disabled list because of a lower-back injury.

Although injuries to his pitching arm or shoulder have forced Penny onto the disabled list four times over six seasons, including this one, DePodesta said the risk of another such injury amounts to an occupational hazard. In addition, had the Dodgers demanded the ability to void the contract, Penny assuredly would have tested free agency this fall.

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Manager Jim Tracy said outfielder Milton Bradley has had little improvement in his injured right ring finger, making it unlikely that Bradley would return from the disabled list on Tuesday.... Elmer Dessens will make one more rehabilitation start at triple-A Las Vegas on Sunday.... The Cesar Izturis All-Star campaign hit his native Venezuela, when 120,000 ballots were included in Wednesday’s editions of the national sports daily El Meridiano.