HEARD AROUND THE LEAGUE: ROOKIES

Various clubs have been making noises about promoting talented players from their system to plug injury-related holes on their major-league roster. We may soon see the BARB debuts of several such players:

Brooklyn is toying with promoting P Jose Mijares, Ryan Perry and Ross Detwiler as well as OF Andrew McCutchen and 2B Chris Coughlan.

Casselton is looking forward to the return of injured RHP Kelvim Escobar from the DL, and

Darwin's minor-league staff highly recommends Max Scherzer and Clayton Kershaw as young arms ready to make a contribution. But, with a full staff and high-priced veteran John Smoltz expected to come off the DL in June, that would probably require a trade.

Frostbite Falls has no room at this time for LHP John Lannan, but would not hesitate to use him if Paul Maholm or Cole Hamels went down and they needed a lefty. Another player ready to contribute is OF Colby Rasmus.

Los Angeles may be finding it hard to keep IF Mark Reynolds down on the farm, and may use a trade to open up spots for him or LHP Gio Gonzalez.

Pottsylvania is looking for relief help, but in the meantime his most likely guy to join the system is RHP Koji Uehara.

Worcester has a dilemma: give Jeremy Bonderman a chance to reclaim his old rotation spot when he comes off the DL, or move him and his $4,250,000 salary to keep a place open for Peter Moylan, Jason McDonald or Jair Jurrjens?

Yuma is planning on installing young Kevin Slowey into its rotation to fill the role of the traded Carlos Zambrano. Texas, in turn, has already begun shopping the disabled Zambrano to other clubs, among them Casselton and St. Francis. Rumor has this deal likely going to press sometime in the coming week.