D-Backs notebook: Team talks trade with M's for Ibanez

PHILADELPHIA - With an eye toward adding a left-handed bat, the Diamondbacks have had discussions with Seattle about Raul Ibanez, who fits the necessary profile, a left-handed hitter who can play left field.

D-Backs pound Phillies, Big Unit gets 290th win

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With 2 1/2 weeks remaining until the nonwaiver trade deadline, however, the Mariners' asking price is too steep for the D-Backs, according to a major league source, although the inevitable dance between worth and need is likely to continue.

Ibanez earns $5.5 million this year, the second year of a two-year deal, so he would cost the D-Backs roughly $2.5 million as a fill-in for Eric Byrnes.

Seattle is believed to want top minor league prospects, and the D-Backs' list starts with second baseman Emilio Bonifacio, outfielder Gerardo Parra and pitchers Max Scherzer and Jarrod Parker.

The D-Backs are unwilling to part with top pitching.

On top of that, the D-Backs would have a hard time trading Bonifacio because of the uncertain status of Orlando Hudson, who will be a free agent.

The D-Backs would like to bring Hudson, a three-time Gold Glove selection, back - he is hitting .300 with 34 extra-base hits as the No. 3 man in the order - but it would have to be at their price.

The market for second baseman is topped by Chase Utley's average salary of $12.1 million. Earlier this year, Robinson Cano signed a four-year extension, worth $7.5 million a season.

The D-Backs will lose Randy Johnson's $16 million contract after this season, but much of that money could go into extensions for Brandon Webb and Dan Haren.

The team remains interested in Tony Clark, and he probably would come at a more moderate cost.

ROMERO STEPS IN

Alex Romero is 4-for-14 while filling in for Justin Upton in right field the last three games, and he has made an impression.

"He deserves a chance. He's as hard (of a) worker as we have," manager Bob Melvin said. "He does a lot of work in the (batting) cage. He's always prepared. That's an acquired talent."

Romero has two doubles, and he had a home run taken away Friday when Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino reached over the fence with his glove and flipped the ball back into the park.

"It's great to play two, three games in a row. You see more pitches," Romero said. "Bob Melvin knows I'm ready for whatever he needs pinch-hit, pinch-run, defense or play."

Upton, out with a rib-cage muscle strain, continues to improve, Melvin said, and "should be a full go" by Friday.

SHORT HOP

Outfielder Jeff Salazar made his first start for Triple-A Tucson on Friday.

D-Backs - Phillies

When: 10:35 a.m.

Where: Citizens Bank Park

TV/Radio: FSN Arizona/KTAR (620 AM)

Line: Philadelphia 130-140

Records: Diamondbacks 47-47,Phillies 51-44

Pitchers: Arizona's Brandon Webb (13-4, 3.27 ERA) will attempt to tie the franchise record for victories before the All-Star break today. Randy Johnson was 14-2 at the break in 2000 and Curt Schilling was 14-3 in 2002. Webb beat the Phillies earlier this year.

Philadelphia's Cole Hamels (9-6, 3.19) seems All-Star worthy, although he was not selected to the game. Hamels is second in the NL in innings, third in strikeouts and first in opponents' batting average.