Brewers to acquire Durham from Giants

Jul 20, 2008 - 6:42 PM SAN FRANCISCO (Ticker) -- When the Milwaukee Brewers leave San Francisco, veteran second baseman Ray Durham could be going with them.

According to multiple reports, the Brewers are on the verge of acquiring Durham and lefthander Jack Taschner from the Giants.

The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reported the Giants would receive a package of players including outfielder Darren Ford from Class A Brevard County and lefthander Steve Hammond, who is at Class AAA Nashville.

The Brewers and Giants are completing a three-game series Sunday.

If the trade goes through, it would be the second deal for the Brewers this month after they acquired ace lefthander CC Sabathia from the Cleveland Indians. Milwaukee (54-43), which has not made the playoffs since 1982, is in third place in the National League Central Division but just three games behind the first-place Chicago Cubs entering Sunday.

In the final season of a two-year, $14.5 million contract, Durham would have to OK any trade.

A switch-hitter, the 36-year-old Durham could platoon with struggling Rickie Weeks in Milwaukee. Weeks is batting just .218 with a .322 on-base percentage.

Durham has enjoyed a solid season, batting .293 with three homers and 32 RBI in 87 games. He is a .277 career hitter with 189 homers, 862 RBI and 271 stolen bases.

A Milwaukee native, the 30-year-old Taschner is 2-1 with a 3.21 ERA in 46 relief appearances.