BASEBALL DAILY REPORT : DODGERS : Ojeda Prepared for Trade Rumors

Pitcher Bob Ojeda knows the trade rumors are coming. Beginning with the All-Star break, his name will come up in talk involving teams from San Diego to Montreal.

He has given up four runs in his last 27 2/3 innings for a 1.30 ERA. He has lost one game in two months. He has a career record in September and October of 26-13 with a 2.62 ERA. And he is a free agent after this season.

“I think my tradeability is as big now as it has ever been,” said Ojeda, 34. “If we are still struggling and other teams are looking for a left-hander to help them win a pennant, I’m sure I’ll hear my name.”

The Dodgers must trade him by Aug. 1. After that, a player must clear waivers before being traded. The Dodgers may have missed a chance to get an established third baseman for Ojeda when the Pirates traded Steve Buechele to the Cubs Friday night.

“I don’t label it as a missed opportunity. We have a good young third baseman here in Dave Hansen,” said Fred Claire, Dodger vice president. “We have players who are going to be free agents; we will deal with those issues down the line. We’re not giving up on this season with the players we have here.”

For the second time this season, a former No. 1 pick was demoted in the Dodgers farm system when pitcher Bill Bene was sent from double-A San Antonio to class-A Vero Beach.

It appears Bene, the Dodgers’ top pick in 1988 from Cal State Los Angeles, is running out of chances. He was 0-2 with a 3.09 ERA at San Antonio, with 34 walks and 10 wild pitches.

His wildness has plagued since his infamous second professional season in 1989, when he walked 56 batters in 17 innings and even pitched to a mannequin in hopes of finding his control.

Dodgers fans will get a chance to question club executives Monday on KABC radio from 5 to 6 p.m. Peter O’Malley, Claire and Charlie Blaney and Terry Reynolds will be taking calls. . . . Lance McCullers is gaining believers at triple-A Albuquerque, where the hard-throwing right handed reliever has not given up a run in 11 1/3 innings with nine strikeouts and three walks.