Carlos Marmol trade: Dodgers would only pay pro-rated minimum salary, per reports

Ken Gurnick of MLB.com recently tweeted the following about the reported Carlos Marmol trade:

If LA gets Carlos Marmol, the Cubs would pay most, if not all, of $5M salary owed and might get back player recently removed from LA roster.

— Ken Gurnick (@kengurnick) July 1, 2013

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The two players Gurnick could be referring to are Luis Cruz and Matt Guerrier. Both were designated for assignment earlier this week.

Cruz would give Chicago more depth on the left side of their infield, even though he would be a downgrade statistically. Cody Ransom (SS/3B), Luis Valbuena (3B), and Starlin Castro (SS) currently occupy that part of the Cubs' depth chart and all three have played better than Cruz this year. Cruz was hitting.127 with one homer and six RBIsn in 45 games until he was DFA'd.

Guerrier would in a way take Marmol's place in Chicago bullpen. The righty has a 4.80 ERA in 34 appearances this year compared to Marmol who has a 5.86 ERA in 31 games.

Marmol was also very bad at the beginning of last season when he had a 5.16 ERA in 28 appearances before July 1st . But from July through the end of the season, Marmol had a 2.20 ERA in 33 appearances.

In relation to how the deal would work out financially, Gordon Wittenmyer of the Chicago Sun-Times reported more specifics. Wittenmyer originally reported the deal would provide the cubs with approximately $245,000 dollars in salary relief, meaning the Dodgers would only be on the hook for the pro-rated share of the MLB minimum $490,000 salary, but later changed the story to note "the deal will provide the Cubs modest salary relief."