Cards, White Sox discussing trade involving Colby Rasmus - MLB

Colby Rasmus might be on the move.

From Joe Strauss of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch comes word that the Cardinals’ front office has engaged in “accelerated” trade negotiations this week with White Sox GM Kenny Williams.

No deal is imminent, but Rasmus is the centerpiece and the Cards are believed to have their sights set on White Sox starter Edwin Jackson and lefty reliever Matt Thornton. Some minor league talent might also be exchanged, and a third team could enter the mix in order to complete the potential swap.

Rasmus is batting just .241 with a .730 OPS through 374 plate appearances this season and has at times played hesitant defense in the outfield, but he’s still regarded as one of the top all-around center fielders in the game and probably hasn’t hit his peak at the age of 24. In 2010, the former first-round pick registered a quality .859 OPS with 23 home runs, 66 RBI and 12 stolen bases.

Rasmus has twice requested a trade away from St. Louis and it appears the Cardinals might now grant that wish in order to bolster their pitching staff. The Redbirds enter play Sunday with a slight lead in the NL Central.

LOS ANGELES — Giancarlo Stanton, Josh Donaldson and Tommy Kahnle appear set to rejoin the New York Yankees ahead of their series opener against the Los Angeles Dodgers.

New York cleared three roster spots, saying that infielder-outfielders Oswaldo Cabrera and Franchy Cordero had been optioned to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre along with left-hander Matt Krook after a 1-0 loss at Seattle.

Stanton, Donaldson and Kahnle all played in a rehab game for Double-A Somerset. Stanton was hitless in three at-bats in his first appearance since injuring his left hamstring on April 15.

Donaldson went 1 for 4 in his fourth rehab game as he comes back from a strained right hamstring originally sustained on April 5.

Kahnle pitched one inning, giving up one run and one hit and walking two. He has been out since spring training with right biceps tendinitis.

Boone said he wasn’t concerned about Stanton potentially returning after playing in just one rehab game. He did say that Stanton likely will be a designated hitter for a couple of weeks after rejoining the Yankees.