A Schelling For Your Thoughts

Source: Five Dodgers hit waiver wire

MILWAUKEE — According to a Major League source, Manny Ramirez is not the only player being shopped by the Dodgers on the waiver wire. The source reports that they have also placed Casey Blake, Hiroki Kuroda, Scott Podsednik and Jay Gibbons on waivers.

As is the case with Ramirez, if the four additional players have been placed on waivers, teams have until Friday to claim any one of them. If only one team were to claim them, that club would have until Tuesday to work out a deal with Los Angeles. The Dodgers can also simply award any player on waivers to the claiming team, or they can pull them off waivers. By rule, clubs are not allowed to discuss or confirm ongoing waiver transactions.

The consensus among those placed on waivers was that they were unaware of the move before being told by reporters.

“It’s fine,” Gibbons said. “I’m just happy to be here. I’d like to stay, but I was playing [in] Albuquerque two weeks ago, so if something happens, it happens.”

Gibbons was recalled from Triple-A on Aug. 8, joining the Dodgers and playing in the Majors for the first time since 2007.

Podsednik was acquired by the Dodgers from the Royals in late July, as the club looked to boost its playoff chances. Now on the edge of falling out of even the National League Wild Card race, the Dodgers may be hoping someone else could use an extra outfielder in September.

How would Podsednik feel about a second trade in less than a month?

“I really don’t have a comment on it,” Podsednik said. “I haven’t really thought about it to be honest with you. But am I surprised? Not really, no.”

Like his teammates, Blake expressed an interest in remaining with the Dodgers, but understood that waiver claims and late season trades are part of the game.

“I don’t really think about it much,” Blake said. “If somebody claims me, I just think that I’m not in control here, so I’m not going to worry about it much.”

Torre, Blake discuss waiver rules

MILWAUKEE — With a handful of Dodgers, including Manny Ramirez and Casey Blake, reportedly being placed on waivers Wednesday, there was plenty of discussion regarding the August trade waivers process.

Among those expressing an opinion on the matter were Blake and his manager, Joe Torre.

“It’s weird that they have a Trade Deadline and then you can put players on waivers and if they clear, you’re able to trade them,” Blake said. “It’s really weird the means by which teams can acquire players down the stretch with a month left to go.”

As Torre talked with reporters about Ramirez being placed on waivers, he made it clear he could say nothing and noted the secrecy that is supposed to go along with trade waivers. By rule, clubs are not allowed to discuss or confirm ongoing waiver transactions.

So why have so many names of players on waivers leaked out this month?

“I have no clue other than even what you’re supposed to do doesn’t necessarily mean that you follow through and do it,” Torre said. “Different clubs may feel that they want to say something.”

Another concern raised during Torre’s pregame session was the lack of knowledge as to how the process works.

More importantly, Torre was asked how that might affect a player who does not realize how many players are placed on waivers compared to the number of waiver trades.

“As I said yesterday, it’s no different distraction-wise — it’s something we have to deal with — than July when names are flying all over the place,” Torre said. “Unfortunately, there are certain things that you have to deal with. That’s pretty well the game of baseball and the game of life here.”

Padilla working his way back from injury

MILWAUKEE — Vicente Padilla took a step forward in his road to recovering from a bulging disk in his neck, throwing at Miller Park before Wednesday’s game.

“He threw out to 120 feet today,” said Dodgers manager Joe Torre. “He had a good workout. I think he said he had about 40 throws. It was good.”

Padilla was placed on the 15-day disabled list Friday with the neck injury, something that had affected him over his last two starts.

Following the workout, Padilla did not report any discomfort, Torre said. As for Padilla’s next step, Torre said he thought it would be getting the veteran right-hander on the mound for a bullpen session.

“Stan said everything went well,” Torre said, referring to Stan Conte, the Dodgers director of medical services. “He may not be that far away.”

Jordan Schelling is an associate reporter for MLB.com. Ken Gurnick also contributed to this report. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.