There have been no trade talks, either.  Instead, the Brewers will mix and match with internal options at second base and go back to Weeks next year.

A note from Crasnick regarding the Cardinals:

The Cardinals, who expressed interest in Durham earlier this winter, released second baseman Adam Kennedy on Monday. But early indications are that St. Louis plans to fill the void from within. If general manager John Mozeliak does pursue a free agent, Orlando Hudson would probably rank ahead of Durham on the priority list.

Durham, 37, authored a strong .380 OBP in 426 plate appearances last year.

The Cardinals phoned to see if Durham would consider backing up Adam Kennedy, but other teams haven’t expressed interest.

Durham, 37, had a .380 OBP last year with the Giants. Check out the article for comments by Durham about his experience in this year’s unusual market.

• Manny Ramirez – Dodgers
• Orlando Cabrera – Athletics
• Derek Lowe – Braves/Mets/Cubs
• Adam Dunn – Nationals
• Bobby Abreu – Reds
• Ben Sheets – Rangers
• Orlando Hudson – Nationals
• Andy Pettitte – Astros (at less than $10MM)
• Jason Varitek – Red Sox (at less than $10MM)
• Ty Wigginton – Astros
• Ivan Rodriguez – Not much of a market, may have to take a minor-league deal with an invite to Spring Training if he’s not signed soon. Could he end up involuntarily retired, a la Barry Bonds, Sammy Sosa, and Mike Piazza?
• Kevin Millar – Orioles
• Mark Grudzielanek – Padres
• Braden Looper – Brewers
• Garret Anderson, Eric Hinske, Ray Durham, Jim Edmonds, Paul Byrd, Odalis Perez – All of them (with the exception of Byrd, who may retire) are drawing little to no interest and may be without a club on Opening Day.

• The Yankees acquired Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte from the Pirates for OF Jose Tabata, RHP Ross Ohlendorf, RHP Dan McCutchen and RHP Jeff Karstens . I agree with Tim that Ian Kennedy would’ve been a better centerpiece, but Tabata is pretty highly-touted himself. Kennedy would have made a more immediate impact, while Tabata is only 19 years old.
• The Dodgers acquired Casey Blake for minor league RHP Jon Meloan and C Carlos Santana. The Dodgers get a nice boost to their lineup without giving up too much, although Santana’s putting together a very impressive season in Class-A ball.
• The Nationals sent Jon Rauch to the Diamondbacks in exchange for minor league 2B Emilio Bonifacio. Rauch adds to a strong bullpen for Arizona, while Bonaficio could become a very solid leadoff hitter in the future for Washington. They may have been able to get more for Rauch, but I personally like the move, regardless.
• The Brewers acquired Ray Durham from the Giants for minor leaguers Darren Ford and Steve Hammond. Rickie Weeks has been a disappointment to an otherwise red-hot club. Can Durham provide a bit more stability? The power’s gone, but he can still get on base.
• The Astros acquired Randy Wolf from the Padres for minor league pitcher Chad Reineke. This one confuses me a little bit; with all due respect, did the Astros forget they were 12.5 games out? I don’t see the logic in buying on a pitcher.
• The Cardinals traded Anthony Reyes to the Indians for minor league pitcher Luis Perdoma. I don’t get this one either. I feel like the Cardinals could have gotten more, despite Reyes’ struggles in the past. The Indians could make this one look like a steal, in my opinion.
• The Yankees are in deep discussion with the Mariners about acquiring Jarrod Washburn. Tim cites Buster Olney and Ken Rosenthal in saying that the Mariners want a top prospect in addition to the salary dump, but the Yankees are only offering a marginal prospect. Can’t say I blame them. A top prospect for an mediocre pitchers who’s due an additional $14MM? Sounds like Seattle’s getting greedy…
• A new, and surprising name surfaced in trade talks: Manny Ramirez. Manny has said he would waive his no-trade clause, and based on interviews, has basically said that 2008 will be his last season in Boston. I can’t see Boston trading their (arguably) best hitter in the middle of a pennant race, however. I’d bet on him finishing out the season.
• Speaking of corner outfielders, the Mets need one, and they know it. Having missed out on Nady and Blake, they will likely zero in on Raul Ibanez. Ibanez makes great sense for them, and the Mariners would obviously like to rebuild. I expect this one to get done.
• There was a report that Roy Halladay came out and told the Blue Jays that he is unhappy in Toronto, which has provoked the Jays to explore their potential options. Halladay’s price would have to be astronomical, I’d think. He’s signed through 2010 and pitching like it’s 2003 all over again. Personal speculation: I think Halladay to the Cardinals with a Colby Rasums centerpiece would make sense.
• Crisitan Guzman signed a two-year, $16MM contract extension. Guzman has revived his career after surgery following an awful 2005. I like the signing for the Nats.
• Jorge Posada could be out for the season. The Yankees are looking for catchers. In addition to the names mentioned there, they could take a shot at signing Johnny Estrada, who was DFA’ed by Washington this week. Estrada was terrible in Washington, but has put up solid offensive numbers for a catcher throughout his career.
• Brian Fuentes, Huston Street, and George Sherrill are all still potential trade pieces. Fuentes is the most likely to go, I’d say, although the Rockies are asking for quite a bit.
• Tim updated the left-handed reliever and left field markets.

• ESPN’s Keith Law considers Durham a useful addition for Milwaukee, albeit only offensively.  He considers the prospects received by San Francisco to be "close to a zero return."
• The Giants picked up roughly half the money owed to Durham.
• The trade was jarring for Ford.
• Henry Schulman wonders if Rich Aurilia will be the next Giants veteran to go.
• Sam Mellinger notes that Durham is a reasonable comparable for Mark Grudzielanek.

Buster Olney’s reporting the Brewers have acquired Ray Durham.  It’s not yet known what they received in return, although according to the Milwaukee Sentinel, OF prospect Darren Ford was removed from his class-A Brevard County starting lineup yesterday "with indications he is being traded."  MLBTR covered movement on this yesterday.

Durham, a switch hitter, brings his bat to the Brewers bench and could take over Rickie Weeks’ spot on the depth chart if Weeks continues to struggle in the second half.

• The Brewers and White Sox inquired on A’s closer Huston Street.  However, A’s GM Billy Beane said "there is nothing going on" in regards to Street.  The Sox were linked to both Street and Jon Rauch today, so Kenny Williams is clearly monitoring the relief market.
• Heyman says the Rays have not discussed Street with the A’s, and the Dodgers "aren’t believed to be heavily involved."
• Heyman is on board with the recent rumors about Ray Durham and Jack Taschner possibly heading to Milwaukee.
• Heyman also confirms Ken Rosenthal’s report of the Phillies’ interest in Matt Holliday.  He agrees that these talks have cooled, but notes a good relationship between GMs Dan O’Dowd and Pat Gillick.  Gillick and O’Dowd have matched up for three deals, two occuring while Gillick worked for the Mariners.
• The Dodgers continue to consider shortstop a priority.  Heyman wonders if Cristian Guzman would be a fit, especially if extension talks sour.  Jack Wilson and David Eckstein are other possibilities.

As was Haudricourt, Schulman is skeptical about a separate Rickie Weeks-to-San Francisco rumor floating about.  But both beat writers acknowledged the rumor, so someone’s putting it out there.

9:31pm: An update from Haudricourt.  He believes the Brewers are working on a smaller deal for Jack Taschner or Ray Durham, rather than Street.

Haudricourt says the Brewers scouted Street but the scouts were not impressed.  He’s not coming to Milwaukee.

7:21pm: Brewers beat writer Tom Haudricourt thinks Oakland closer Huston Street is Milwaukee-bound. He says the word on the street is outfielder Darren Ford, 22, is the price. Ford was pulled from Brevard County’s lineup before its game against Clearwater. Says Haudricourt:

The fact that Ford was pulled from the lineup makes me believe something could be up. He has no injury that I know of.

Baseball America did not list Ford among the Brewers’ top 10 prospects before this season, but he was named the organization’s fastest baserunner and best defensive outfielder. So far this year in the Florida State League, Ford is hitting .232 with a .321 OBP and a .307 SLG. He’s got 44 steals in 87 games.

Coley Ward writes for Umpbump.com. You can reach him here.

4:38pm: As usual, Tom Haudricourt of the Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel has the latest Brewers hot stove chatter.

• GM Doug Melvin is calling around about relief help, but as you might imagine prices are high.
• Melvin would not confirm Ken Rosenthal’s rumor that the Brewers are interested in the Giants’ Jack Taschner and Ray Durham.  Melvin is always honest with Haudricourt, so it’s worth noting that he didn’t deny it either.
• Melvin seemingly has a little room in the payroll to make a reasonable addition.

• Sabean may make an acquisition to aid the ’08 club, which is only five games out.  However, he won’t acquire players who will become free agents after the season.  He compared his situation to ’05, when the Giants added Randy Winn for Jesse Foppert and Yorvit Torrealba.
• Unlike that deal, the Giants are not going to move any of their young pitchers.
• Ray Durham, Rich Aurilia, and Omar Vizquel are prime candidates to be traded.  Durham told Baggarly he wouldn’t use his 10-and-5 rights to block a deal.  The second baseman was recently linked to the Brewers by Ken Rosenthal.
• Henry Schulman noted a few days ago that Sabean is "not thinking of trading Randy Winn or Bengie Molina."

• Live chat here today at 2pm CST.
• Geoff Baker has a link and commentary on Erik Bedard’s Philadelphia radio appearance.  I’m with Baker – this was an odd choice by Bedard, who typically avoids the media.
• According to Ken Rosenthal, the Brewers are interested in the Giants’ Ray Durham and Jack Taschner. 
• MLB.com’s Mark Bowman believes the Braves will shop Mark Teixeira if they decide they can’t contend.  They’re currently six games out.
• Dave Cameron concluded his MLB Trade Value series at FanGraphs.  He considers Evan Longoria the most valuable asset in the game, partially because of his team-friendly contract.
• Ken Davidoff runs through starting pitching trade candidates now that CC Sabathia is off the market.
• Sam Mellinger wonders what it would’ve been like if the Royals had successfully signed Hiroki Kuroda.  Of course, they were eyeing Andruw Jones and Carlos Silva too.
• With Matt Treanor DL-bound, the Marlins’ search for a catcher may intensify.

• As you might expect, starters Tim Lincecum, Matt Cain, and Jonathan Sanchez are off-limits.  The trio has 331 Ks already.
• The Giants aren’t interested in a rental, even though they are in the race at five games out.
• Sabean is likely to keep Bengie Molina and Randy Winn, but Ray Durham, Omar Vizquel, and Rich Aurilia are available.

• In the wake of the recent C.C. Sabathia-to-the-Yankees rumors, River Ave. Blues lays down a few ground rules for commenting on trade rumors.
• Bottom 9 insists that the Indians have the pitching to stay in the race and Sabathia is not going anywhere.
• Indians Confidential is also emphatic that Sabathia is not going to be traded and is still holding out hope that the Indians and Sabathia can agree to a long-term extension.
• Yankees Chick is not anxious to trade away Robinson Cano and/or Melky Cabrera but notes that if the Yankees are going to make a playoff push the pitching staff needs an upgrade.
• Rivera’s Cutter speculates that the Yankees could just trade for Sabathia as a rental and let him leave after the season and take the free agency compensation draft picks.
• Viva El Birdos would like to see the Cardinals upgrade at second base and believe Ray Durham would be a nice alternative if Brian Roberts is unattainable.
• Phillies Nation is not convinced that Erik Bedard would be a nice addition to the Phillies rotation, noting that Bedard has been awful away from the pitcher-friendly Safeco Field.

Cork Gaines writes for Rays Index and can be reached here.