The Brewers, after trading six prospects of varying qualities for lefty CC Sabathia and second baseman Ray Durham, are unlikely to give up the players necessary to acquire Orioles closer George Sherrill or any other prominent reliever, sources say.
The Orioles want closer value for Sherrill, who is not a free agent until after the 2011 season. The Brewers bolstered their offense with Durham in part because the prices for relievers were so high. They could use Sherrill to close, but Salomon Torres has been mostly reliable since replacing Eric Gagne in that role.
The Cardinals, who lead the majors with 23 blown saves, have a greater need for Sherrill, but the Angels remain perhaps the best fit because of their depth at shortstop — a position of dire need for the Orioles.
While Erick Aybar and Maicer Izturis likely are off-limits, the Angels could offer, say, minor leaguer Sean Rodriguez and a pitching prospect. Some scouts doubt whether Rodriguez can handle short — he is playing second at Class AAA — but the position is so thin right now, the Orioles might be willing to take that chance