However, the Diamondbacks are not engaged in sign-and-trade discussions with Hudson's agents, and it is not known whether the White Sox are trying to work out such a deal with Cabrera, sources say.

Middle infielders are more coveted than middle-inning relievers; Hudson, in particular, might generate enough late interest to sign with another club despite being attached to a draft pick.

Teams backed off Cruz after the Diamondbacks offered him salary arbitration, ensuring their right to a top pick plus a supplemental pick between the first and second rounds if he signed with another club.

Cruz rejected arbitration, but draft-pick compensation would disappear if he remained on the market after the June draft. Thus, the Diamondbacks are motivated to execute a sign-and-trade, though reaching a trade agreement might not be easy.

While the D-Backs likely recognize that they could not get the value of two high picks for Cruz, they surely would want a meaningful return. They could not ask an interested team to sign off on Cruz's contract; that would be collusion. They also could not include more than $50,000 in the trade under the rules of the collective-bargaining agreement.

The Dodgers and Brewers were among the teams that showed early interest in Cruz, but backed off in part because they did not want to lose a high draft pick. The Diamondbacks likely would not want to trade with the Dodgers, who play in the same division. But other teams are believed to be interested.

The Twins are one of those clubs; La Velle E. Neal of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune was the first to suggest Monday that MLB might be willing to ease the rules of compensation for Type A free agents such as Cruz. Other clubs also could enter the mix once the draft pick became less of an obstacle.

Chicago White sox News News » MLB may amend Type A free agent rules
MLB may amend Type A free agent rules
Relief could be on the way for right-hander Juan Cruz, a Type A free agent whose market failed to develop because teams were reluctant to part with a high draft pick for signing a middle-inning reliever. Fantasy Baseball