Tests on hip of Dodgers’ Jerry Hairston Jr. show nothing major

PITTSBURGH — Tests on Jerry Hairston Jr.’s sore left hip showed “no glaring tear, nothing big� and the utility man is feeling “a lot better,� Dodgers head trainer Sue Falsone said Thursday.

Hairston, 36, was put on the 15-day disabled list Monday after the hip problem, which had been bothering him for several weeks, grew considerably worse.

The test results were “definitely encouraging,� but the Dodgers were sending the results to two hip specialists “so they can take a second and third look at it, just to make sure we’re not missing anything,� Falsone said.

Assuming no additional problems are found, Hairston should be able to resume baseball activities in a few days, Manager Don Mattingly said.

Hairston, a 15-year veteran, mainly had played second base, third base and left field, and was batting .273 with 26 runs batted in when he was sidelined.

Potential trades

The Dodgers remain open to making another trade this month to bolster their playoff hopes, but the number of available candidates has narrowed after the July 31 nonwaiver trade deadline, General Manager Ned Colletti said.

“For the most part the difference makers have been claimed or aren’t going to be traded,� Colletti said without identifying any potential players. “In July, you can make some moves that can change you drastically. In August, for the most part, you fine-tune.

“If there’s a chance to improve the club we’re going to have to make that move,� Colletti said. “It’s possible, but it’s tougher to do. That doesn’t mean that something’s not going to pop up.�

Around the nonwaiver trade deadline, the Dodgers acquired infielder Hanley Ramirez and reliever Randy Choate from the Miami Marlins, outfielder Shane Victorino and pitcher Joe Blanton from the Philadelphia Phillies and reliever Brandon League from the Seattle Mariners.

“Our outfield is in a pretty good position, and the middle of our infield is in a pretty good position, as is our catcher,� Colletti said.

That leaves first and third base, along with pitching, “but you can also improve your bench too,� Colletti said.

In any case, “I’m happy with our club, I think we’re good enough the way we’re set up,� Mattingly said, adding that the Dodgers hope such injured position players as Hairston and Dee Gordon, along with pitchers Scott Elbert, Ted Lilly and Matt Guerrier, will be back for a September pennant run.

Short hops

Veteran infielder Adam Kennedy stole his first base of the season. ... Reliever Jamey Wright gave up two runs and four hits in two-thirds of an inning. ... The Dodgers sent minor league pitcher Ryan O’Sullivan to the Phillies as the player to be named later in the trade for Blanton. O’Sullivan, 21, was the Dodgers’ fourth-round draft pick in 2011.

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