D-BACKS COULD BE ADDING PENA WHILE CORDERO CALLS IT QUITS AND GULIN IS RELEASED

Speculation has been running high that Arizona would add the potent bat of Wily Mo Pena today (Tuesday) as the Diamondbacks begin a stretch in which nine of 12 interleague games will be played in American League stadiums where the designated will be used. Nothing seemed to have been announced, however, by mid-afternoon.

Pena, who played a good chunk of last season (155 at-bats) with Bridgeport, CT in the Atlantic League, has been tearing up the Pacific Coast League all year. He has 21 home runs, 40 extra-base hits and 63 runs batted in for 63 games. The big right-handed hitter is at .363 with a .439 on-base percentage.

RETIREMENT AND A RELEASE TAKES TWO GOOD PITCHING NAMES

Former major league closing standout Chad Cordero has called it quits at the age of 29 after getting roughed up in the American Association. Pitching for the St. Paul (MN)Saints, Cordero struggled to a 13.50 ERA for seven outings.

Cordero's career was highlighted by the 2005 season when he saved a National League-leading 47 games for Washington, made the All-Star team and finished fifth in Cy Young Award voting. He was not the same after shoulder surgery in 2008.

Southpaw Lindsay Gulin also could be nearing the end of the road after being released Monday by the Lincoln (NE) Saltdogs. Gulin, 34, did it all except reach the major leagues, compiling a 119-74 record and winning the American Association's Star of Stars award in 2006 when he won 13 games for Lincoln. He earned Pacific Coast League All-Star honors two years later, and reach Triple-A with two organizations.

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