After spending most of the season getting right-handed pitcher Claudio Vargas healthy, the Dodgers Friday traded him to the Milwaukee Brewers for Minor League catcher Vinny Rottino. The move opens a spot on the 25-man Dodgers roster for reliever George Sherrill, who was acquired from Baltimore Thursday. Vargas was on the disabled list the first three months of the season with an elbow injury.  -- Ken Gurnick

While negotiations on the George Sherrill were ongoing Thursday, the Dodgers recalled left-handed reliever Scott Elbert and optioned back to Triple-A Albuquerque left-handed reliever Brent Leach. Elbert had been scratched from a scheduled start Wednesday night. Elbert, who has been mentioned in trade rumors, had been optioned to Albuquerque 10 days earlier. -- Ken Gurnick

Left-hander Scott Elbert, scheduled to start for Albuquerque Wednesday night, was scratched. Indications are that he will be recalled on Thursda, after spending the required 10 days in the Minor Leagues following his optioning on July 20. -- Ken Gurnick

Jason Schmidt was named to start Friday night's game in Atlanta by Dodgers manager Joe Torre Wednesday. Schmidt is coming off a three-inning start against Florida, his second start in two years. -- Ken Gurnick

Dodgers Hall of Fame broadcaster Vin Scully will work through the 2010 season, then retire, he told the Los Angeles Times. Scully, 81, is in his 60th season at the mike for the club. -- Ken Gurnick

If the Dodgers acquire a left-handed reliever before Friday's trade deadline, it most likely will be Baltimore's George Sherrill. They've been scouting him the past two weeks and the Cleveland Plain-Dealer reports that the Dodgers have backed away from talks for Indians starter Cliff Lee and are focusing on Sherrill. -- Ken Gurnick

The price in players for Toronto ace Roy Halladay is "two or three players off our current club, including a young pitcher, or five or six prospects," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti told KABC Radio Friday morning. Colletti wouldn't mention names, but presumably the young pitcher is either Clayton Kershaw or Chad Billingsley or Jonathan Broxton. Trading any of them would hardly improve the Dodgers' chances this year, not to mention the other player off the Major League club, not to mention the long term impact. However, a larger deal (or separate deal) could be made with Toronto that would return reliever and former Dodgers farmhand Jason Frasor, according to the Toronto Globe. Frasor would address the Dodgers' other need, a veteran reliever. -- Ken Gurnick

Dodgers employees, still stunned over Manny Ramirez's jaw-dropping pinch grand-slam homer Wednesday night, arrived at Dodger Stadium Thursday morning to find Ramirez taking batting practice. Although the club has a rare day off in the middle of a homestand, Ramirez had arranged for first-base coach Mariano Duncan to pitch to him, apparently not wanting to go two days without taking live batting practice. Ramirez skipped batting practice Wednesday because of a sore hand that also kept him out of the starting lineup. Then pinch-hitting in the sixth inning, he rocketed Nick Masset's first pitch into the Mannywood section of seats for a grand slam. -- Ken Gurnick

Disputing media speculation that he's out for the year, disabled reliever Ronald Belisario played catch for the second conecutive day and said his elbow was painfree. Belisario will increase the intensity of his throwing and won't likely return until next month. -- Ken Gurnick

Jason Schmidt, out more than two years with shoulder problems, will start for the Dodgers Monday night against Cincinnati, manager Joe Torre announced Saturday. -- Ken Gurnick

The Dodgers were already searching for a new fifth starter, but the way pitcher Eric Milton was painfully moving through the Dodgers clubhouse after Thursday night's game, don't expect his return any time soon. Milton was placed on the disabled list last week, necessitating moving Jeff Weaver from the bullpen into Saturday's start. -- Ken Gurnick

The Dodgers are already in the mix of teams rumored to be interested in Toronto ace Roy Halliday, whose club announced it is willing to listen to offers. Other clubs also expected to be interested are the usual suspects -- Red Sox, Yankees, Mets, Phillies, Cardinals, Brewers and Angels. Halladay's contract status makes him an unlikely Dodgers pickup. He's due to receive the remainder of his $14.25 million salary this year and he's owed $15.75 million next year. And he has a no-trade clause. All of that means any acquiring club not only would pick up the remaining $22 million plus, but would need to tack on an extension to get him to waive the no-trade clause. Then there are the prospects it would take to pry him from Toronto. -- Ken Gurnick

Jeff Weaver was named to start Saturday's game against Milwaukee by Dodgers manager Joe Torre. Weaver replaces the disabled Eric Milton. -- Ken Gurnick

Workhorse rookie reliever Ronald Belisario was sent home after complaining of a stiff elbow and will be placed on the disabled list. Cory Wade is expected to be recalled from Triple-A to replace him. -- Ken Gurnick

A suspended Manny Ramirez had 50 games to keep himself in shape, but his absence from Sunday's lineup because of sore legs contributed to a roster move Sunday and manager Joe Torre said he's likely to ration the outfielder's playing time until the All-Star break.

 

The Dodgers recalled infielder Blake DeWitt from Triple-A Albuquerque because they need a left-handed hitter off the bench. Juan Pierre would be that left-handed hitter, but he's become Ramirez's designated replacement, taking over in the sixth inning the first two games and starting in left field Sunday.

 

To make room for DeWitt, the club returned pitcher Eric Milton to the disabled list with a thoracic back injury "that never went away," according to manager Joe Torre.  -- Ken Gurnick

Furcal -- 6
Hudson -- 4
Ramirez -- 7
Ethier -- 9
Blake -- 5
Loney -- 3
Martin -- 2
Kemp -- 8
Kuroda -- 1

The Dodgers Friday activated Manny Ramirez from the suspended list, activated pitcher Claudio Vargas from the 60-day disabled list (elbow) and transfered reliever Hong-Chih Kuo (elbow) from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list so he won't count against the 40-man roster. The Dodgers now have 13 pitchers again, even though they will have two days off in five days. -- Ken Gurnick

Jason Schmidt recorded a second win for Triple-A Albuquerque in his Minor League rehab assignment Wednesday night, allowing Memphis four runs on seven hits in six innings with five strikeouts and no walks. Schmidt made 85 pitches, 60 of them strikes.

In other Minor League news, Josh Lindblom is scheduled to make his first Triple-A start Thursday after last week's promotion. Infielder Tony Abreu has been promoted from Double-A Chattanooga to Albuquerque. Journeyman left-handed reliever Brian Mazone was dealt to Philadelphia for future considerations and lefty Carmen Cali was released. -- Ken Gurnick