Giants close to dealing Durham to Brewers

The San Francisco Giants were close Sunday to trading Ray Durham to the Milwaukee Brewers for two minor leaguers.

Durham was in a Giants uniform for Sunday's series finale against Milwaukee, but appeared prepared to leave town with the Brewers for St. Louis afterward. The 36-year-old second baseman, in his sixth season with San Francisco and the final year of a two-year contract, had to approve the deal.

Durham was a late arrival to the ballpark, getting to the clubhouse in a rush about 2 hours before the game with a bag on his shoulder.

"I've got to do a few things right now," he said, but never emerged at his locker before the game while the clubhouse was open to the media.

A baseball official close to the deal expected an announcement to be made after the game. A Brewers trainer also was seen leaving the Giants clubhouse Sunday.

Durham was held out of San Francisco's lineup, but manager Bruce Bochy said he was available for the game. Emmanuel Burriss started at second.

"I don't have anything to tell you on that," Bochy said of a possible deal. "Ray's here."

Brewers manager Ned Yost wouldn't go into specifics but said: "We're focused on which direction were going. We do know what we're trying to do. We just play baseball. We're excited. We're excited about the prospects."

Milwaukee, vying for its first postseason berth since 1982, already made one of the biggest trades of the season, acquiring CC Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians before the All-Star break.

The Brewers entered play Sunday just three games back of NL Central-leading Chicago.

Durham was batting .293 with three homers and 32 RBIs. Trading him could be just the start of several moves by the Giants in the coming weeks. Left-hander Jack Taschner's name also has been part of trade talks.

Also Sunday, San Francisco placed right-handed reliever Keiichi Yabu on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right middle finger and purchased the contract of lefty Geno Espineli from Triple-A Fresno. The callup came five days after Espineli was named to the U.S. Olympic baseball team for next month's Beijing Games.

Espineli is now off the roster. Team USA must provide its final roster to the International Olympic Committee by July 26 and spokesman John Blundell of Major League Baseball said Sunday that Espineli would be replaced.

The Giants transferred outfielder Dave Roberts to the 60-day disabled list to clear room on the 40-man roster for Espineli. Roberts is expected back from left knee surgery this coming week.

Espineli's mother flew in from New York, his sister from Los Angeles and his girlfriend followed him in a separate vehicle from Fresno to be at Sunday's game.

"If I'm back down and go to the Olympics, that's great. If I'm here, that's great," Espineli said. "I just got done telling everyone, all my friends and family, about the Olympic news. Either one would be cool. It's amazing."

Yabu said he hurt the finger Friday when he made a couple of pitches and his grip wasn't quite right. It kept getting worse, he said. He will take several days to rest before resuming a throwing program.

"No fun," Yabu said. "I regret not being able to pitch. It's an injury, so there's nothing I can do."