July 20 roundup: Motown Moves

Brandon Inge has been a rock for the Tigers for a long time, but this season, the team needs more from the hot corner. On Wednesday, general manager Dave Dombrowski landed Wilson Betemit from the Royals, sending a pair of prospects back to Kansas City: Antonio Cruz and Julio Rodriguez. Inge was subsequently designated for assignment.

As for Detroit’s potential pursuit of Ubaldo Jimenez — who’s made clear he doesn’t want to be traded — the Tigers are now skipping top prospect Jacob Turner’s next start in the rotation.

“We are monitoring his workload,” Tigers vice president and assistant general manager Al Avila wrote in an e-mail Tuesday.

Whether Turner or Jimenez is available or not, starting pitching is definitely the Tigers’ desire: “Our attention is on pitching,” Dombrowski said before Wednesday’s game.

Elsewhere around the league:

The Pirates are nearing a deal with 34-year-old right-hander Jason Grilli. Grilli did not pitch in 2010 because of right knee surgery and signed a Minor League deal with the Phillies this winter.

Cubs general manager Jim Hendry points out it’s rather obvious which players he would consider moving and which he wouldn’t: “Why would I trade Sean Marshall?” he said. “Why would I trade Darwin Barney? Those calls kind of stop quickly. It makes no sense.”

The Angels are looking for some relief help.

In St. Louis, Tony La Russa‘s not saying the Cards need a big acquisition to win the tight National League Central.

Padres owner Jeff Moorad has offered reliever Mike Adams assurance that he will not be traded, according to Yahoo’s Jeff Passan. Adams is under Padres control through 2012 (he’s arbitration eligible this year).