The Dodgers have signed 30 year old starting pitcher Edinson Volquez to a major league contract, according to reports. Volquez was recently released by the San Diego Padres after going 9-10 with a 6.01 ERA in 27 starts.

Volquez will most likely compete for the fifth starting spot with Chris Capuano who is 4-7 with a 4.74 ERA. Volquez does have a better track record, as in 2008, when he went 17-6 with a 3.21 ERA. He was an all star in 2008. His second lowest ERA for his career was last year, when he had a 4.14 ERA.

Perhaps a change of senery can fix up Volquez, who has had plenty of trouble this season. Now getting to pitch for a Dodgers team that can provide offense, defense, and is contending in the NL race.

The Dodgers made a low-risk, high-reward move here by signing Volquez. It may be the move that puts them over the top, or be the move that is forgotten in baseball history. Taking a chance on Volquez is a great idea.

Mets Catcher John Buck and Right Fielder Marlon Byrd have been traded to the Pirates in exchange for Infielder Dilson Herrera, a futures game participant. The Pirates have the lowest OPS by right fielders on any team, while Byrd boasts the 4th highest OPS by any single player. And obvious upgrade. Buck is also a great clubhouse guy, and will provide pop in any position the Bucs thrust him into.

John Buck has a three slash line this season of .215/.285/.367 with 15 HRs and 60 RBI. He has a WAR of 0.4 this season, which is decent, but has had a higher WAR in the past. Marlon Byrd, on the other hand, has a three slash line of .285/.330/.518 and has 21 HR and 71 RBI. His WAR is 3.9 this season, an impressive number, to say the least.

The Mets will be receiving 19 year old Dilson Herrera, a talented infielder, currently playing in Class-A West Virginia. He has done well there, posting a three slash line of .265/.330/.421 with 11 HR and 56 RBI.

The Pirates made a very nice move to acquire a good player to fill in at a position in need. Playing in a tough NL Central that includes the Reds and Cardinals, the Pirates truly attacked a position in need to put them over the top. I feel that they may have given up a little too much in Herrera, as he has top prospect material. But, their farm system is locked and loaded, and they want to win now. A very smart move here.

Roy Halladay, the Phillies ace, will be back in Philadelphia on Sunday, as he is starting for the Fightin' Phils. Halladay was scheduled to be pitching for Double-A Reading today, but the Phillies used Tyler Cloyd (original Sunday starter) in the 18 inning affair last night.

It'll be interesting to see how long Halladay will remain in the game, as the Phillies have a depleted bullpen, again from the 18 inning affair last night. He faces the Diamondbacks today.

Halladay is coming off a shoulder sugery that had him sidelined for quite a while. His velocity in his last start was in the high-80s, a good sign for Doc. In 7 starts, the Doctor is 2-4 with an 8.65 ERA prior to his injury. He faces Patrick Corbin today.

UPDATE (August 23, 2013 at 4:32 PM ET): The Rays have acquired David DeJesus from the Washington Nationals in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later.

The Rays have signed OF Delmon Young, according to reports. Young was released by the Phillies earlier in the season when they claimed OF Casper Wells off waivers. Also, the Rays have claimed OF David DeJesus off of waivers from the Washington Nationals today, as the Nationals can now either try to trade DeJesus to the Rays, pull him off of waivers and keep him, or let him go to the Rays for no return. Obviously, it seems as if the Rays are targeting outfielders.

The Rays outfield depth hasn't been terrible this season, but they still have to put a third of their team in the outfield every game. In a tight pennant race like their AL East, teams need depth to be able to pull off the biggest wins.

How will both DeJesus and Young fit on the Rays roster? I believe that if the Rays can pull off a trade with the Nationals, DeJesus gets the nod over Young, as he holds a 1.6 WAR, compared to a -1.2 WAR Young produces.

We will have to see how David DeJesus to the Rays plays out, but for now, they have made a depth move in signing Delmon Young. To put it nicely, the Phillies failed an experiment with Young, but maybe a change in senery will help him turn it around. He has a lot to prove.

The Washington Nationals have traded 29 year old catcher Kurt Suzuki to the Oakland Athletics, the same team that the Nationals acquired him from in 2012. A's Class-A right hander Dakota Bacus will be sent to Washington in the deal, he was the A's 9th round pick in 2012. He boasts a 3.56 ERA in 26 games (16 starts).

Kurt Suzuki will be an upgrade at the catcher position, as he's hitting .222/.283/.310 this season. He also has a .992 fielding position. His WAR is a -0.2 this season, as well.

The A's will likely love that Suzuki is back, because not only is he an upgrade at a position in need, but he's a likeable player, and left a mark on plenty of his former teammates. So, the A's not only acquired someone who will help their baseball playing, it'll keep their chemistry strong, and perhaps make it stronger. This was a great move by the Athletics, as they try and win the AL West for a second consectutive year.