The Dodgers, Mets and Phillies have all been linked in rumor to Penny so far this season.

Meanwhile, according to Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald, OF Jeremy Hermida is drawing a lot of interest from other teams, “but the offers haven’t been enticing.”

The 26–year-old Hermida is batting .276 with eight HR and 29 RBI in 63 games for the Marlins this season.

Hermida is arbitration eligible through 2011.

Jackson also reports that the Braves offered Jeff Francoeur to the Marlins for OF Cody Ross, but the Marlins turned it down.

This morning, on WFAN, Evan Roberts wondered if this would interest the Mets in swapping Ryan Church and a minor leaguer for  Francoeur, who is eligible to be a free agent after 2011.

Francoeur is batting .250 with four HR and 29 RBI for the Braves.

…i don’t understand why frenchy would be a better or worse option that church… i mean, all these guys are around the same caliber player…

Meanwhile, the Indians are asking more and more for infielder Mark DeRosa with every day that passes, it seems, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The Indians have won seven of their last 11 games and are now six games out of first place.

The O’s will welcome the Mets this weekend in Baltimore.

According to Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com, the O’s are getting lots of interest in 1B-OF Aubrey Huff and Luke Scott.

…honestly, the sense i get is that the league is in lock down right now, with most teams waiting, watching and assessing their budgets and position in the league, and no trade is imminent… it sounds like no team is willing to take on serious money, yet few teams want to part with top prospects, except the Phillies… plus, there are only two, maybe three, teams who truly believe there is little chance they’ll make the playoffs… every one else still believes there is a chance, or, at least the chance of a run, which would keep fans interested enough to buy a few more tickets and stay tuned on TV…

…in other words, i really don’t think there will be a substantive up tick in trade rumors until after the All-Star break, which is a few weeks before the deadline…

According to Bowman, the Braves will send RHP Charlie Morton, LHP Jeff Locke and OF Gorkys Hernandez to the Pirates for McLouth.

In 45 games for the Pirates this season, McLouth hit .256 with 9 HR and 34 RBI.

The 36-year-old, left-handed outfielder hit .294 with 15 HR and 84 RBI last season with the Angels.

In 142 games last season, for the Reds and White Sox, the 39–year-old Griffey hit .249 with 18 HR and 71 RBI.

Earlier today, at FoxSports.com, Ken Rosenthal said the Braves were also close to re-signing free-agent LHP Tom Glavine.

Tom Glavine

According to Rosenthal, the one-year, $1 million deal, with millions more in incentives, could be finalized today.

Rosenthal believes the deal could include deferred payments, which would help Atlanta acquire a left-handed hitting outfielder, such as Ken Griffey Jr. or Garret Anderson.

In 13 starts for the Braves last season, the 42–year-old Glavine was 2–4 with a 5.54 ERA in 63 innings.

However, today, at the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, David O’Brien explains why he believes the Braves may be getting close to a deal with Ohman, who would not divulge details of negotiations to O’Brien in a text message.

“I’m a huge David Wright fan… How could you not want to sit back and see how David Wright goes about his business, how he mentally prepares for games?  David Wright is the best third baseman in the National League, if not all of baseball.”

…seriously, though, i have no problem with chipper… i mean, from April to October, i hope he fails miserably, but it’s not personal… he is cocky, brash, and he belittles Mets fans, but, i respect it, because i believe he gets it… i feel he understands the relationship between his team and us, and he helps create drama and stoke the fire and he keeps it entertaining, and i like that… just so long as his team continues to finish in third place, of course…

Jones also said he is impressed with Omar Minaya’s off-season additions, which improved the team’s bullpen, adding, “We, as the Braves and Phillies, will have to concentrate on winning the game in the first seven innings so we don’t have to worry about the eighth and ninth.”

The Braves have between $5 and $9 million to spend, according to the report.

Meanwhile, Mark Bowman of MLB.com believes it is now doubtful the Braves bring back Andruw Jones, because he is still looking for a major league deal.

Speaking of outfielders…

Last night, the Mets signed OF Bobby Kielty to a minor-league deal.

In 2005, Kielty, and his bright red hair, dressed up as Ronald McDonald before an A’s game, which you can check out in more detail by clicking here.

Update, 11:55 am

The D’Backs and free-agent RHP Jon Garland have agreed on a one-year deal, according to the Arizona Republic.

Ken Rosenthal of FoxSports.com believes the deal is worth $8.5 million guarenteed money, while while Jon Heyman of SI.com says it is worth $6.25 million.

Original Post, 8:09 am:

Steve Gilbert of MLB.com believes the D’Backs may be closing in on a deal with free-agent RHP Jon Garland.

The Arizona Republic reported Garland recently rejected a two-year deal worth roughly $14 million.

…well, Andy Pettitte also rejected a one-year, $10 million offer, only to eventually accept a one-year, $5.5. million deal… so, i would not be surprised to see garland get downgraded as well…

…this is significant, actually, because garland’s price, plus pettitte’s, will likely indicate what Pedro Martinez and Randy Wolf will get, and could impact Ben Sheets, and could also put downward pressure on the annual price for Oliver Perez…

Speaking of pitchers…

Jerry Crasnick of ESPN.com says free-agent LHP Tom Glavine will soon meet with Braves GM Frank Wren.

…interesting… because, the winter meetings buzz had been, that if the Braves could sign hudson or Orlando Cabrera, to play second, they’d more more inclined to part with Yunel Escobar in a deal to get Jake Peavy from the Padres… which is not to say that is why they’re still interested in hudson, but it’s worth noting…

Speaking of Hudson, the Nationals remain interested in him, as well as free-agent OF Adam Dunn, reports MLB.com.

… seriously, what is Jim Bowden’s fascination with stock piling outfielders, creating a log jam, all at the expense of his starting rotation… he did the exact same thing with the Reds, and what’s weird is he’s doing it again with dunn and Austin Kearns… he should just sign Ken Griffey Jr. and get it over with…