Sporting News staff reports
Veteran lefty Ted Lilly joins the Dodgers.
The Cardinals, Indians and Padres agreed to a three-team deal Saturday that sent P Jake Westbrook from Cleveland to St. Louis and OF Ryan Ludwick from St. Louis to San Diego. The Cardinals also received cash and minor league P Nick Greenwood, while the Indians netted minor league P Corey Kluber. Westbrook, a two-time 15-game winner missed the 2009 season after Tommy John surgery, was 6-7 with a 4.65 ERA in 21 starts for the Indians this season. He will help solidify the back end of the Cardinals’ rotation, which is missing Ps Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse because of injuries. Ludwick is hitting .281 with 11 homers and 43 RBIs and will provide the kind of power bat the Padres desperately need.
The Dodgers added the veteran starting pitcher they had been seeking, picking up P Ted Lilly from the Cubs. Los Angeles also received IF Ryan Theriot and cash in the deal. In exchange, Chicago got 2B Blake DeWitt and minor league Ps Kyle Smit and Brett Wallach. Lilly is 3-8 with a 3.69 ERA in 18 starts this season. He will join a Dodgers rotation that features SPs Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla. Theriot, who can play second base and shortstop, is hitting .284 with a homer, 21 RBIs and 16 stolen bases this season. DeWitt is batting .270 with a homer and 30 RBIs.
L.A. also picked up reliever Octavio Dotel from the Pirates for right-hander James McDonald and minor league outfielder Andrew Lambo.Dotel went 2-2 with 21 saves and a 4.28 ERA with Pittsburgh and will work in a setup role in Los Angeles. McDonald was 0-1 with an 8.22 ERA in four games (one start) for L.A.
The Pirates and Diamondbacks, a pair of last-place National League teams, pulled off a five-player deal. Pittsburgh acquired C Chris Snyder and minor league SS Pedro Ciriaco in exchange for IF Bobby Crosby, OF Ryan Church, RP D.J. Carrasco. Snyder hit .231 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs for Arizona, while Crosby (.224-1-11) and Church (.182-3-18) served largely in reserve roles with Pittsburgh. Carrasco, who posted a 3.88 ERA in 435 relief appearances, will be called upon to help fortify Arizona’s MLB-worst relief corps.
In a separate move, the Diamondbacks dealt P Chad Qualls to the Rays for a player to be named. Qualls was the on-again, off-again closer in Arizona this season, saving 12 games but posting an 8.29 ERA in 43 appearances. He will serve in a middle relief role for Tampa Bay.
In a deal that was agreed upon Friday night but didn’t become official until Saturday afternoon, the Yankees acquired 1B Lance Berkman and $4 million from the Astros in exchange for P Mark Melancon and minor league IF Jimmy Pared. Berkman, who was in the midst of a career-worst season (.245-13-49) with Houston, will serve primarily as New York’s DH. The Astros’ first-round draft pick in 1997 had spent his entire professional career in Houston’s organization.
The Yanks could try using Kerry Wood as a setup man.
A day after acquiring OF Austin Kearns from the Indians, the Yankees hammered out another deal with Cleveland, picking up P Kerry Wood and cash for a player to be named. The righthander was activated from the disabled list Saturday after being sidelined since July 12 because of a blister. Wood was 1-4 with eight saves and a 6.30 ERA in 23 appearances with the Indians this season. He could assume the eighth-inning setup role recently vacated by P Joba Chamberlain in New York.
Adding to their outfield and bullpen depth, the Braves picked up OF Rick Ankiel and P Kyle Farnsworth from the Royals in exchange for P Jesse Chavez, minor league P Tim Collins and OF Gregor Blanco. Ankiel, who has been limited to 27 games because of injuries, hit .261 with four homer and 15 RBIs for Kansas City, while Farnsworth was 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA in 37 relief appearances. Chavez was 3-2 with a 5.89 ERA in 28 appearances, and Blanco hit .310 with three RBIs in 58 at-bats for Atlanta. The Braves also acquired minor league OF Wilkin Ramirez from the Tigers for a player to be named later or cash. Ramirez was designated for assignment earlier last week.
Boston addressed its catching need by dealing for C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who was with the Rangers’ Class AAA affiliate. Texas acquired minor league 1B Chris McGuiness, minor league P Roman Mendez, a player to be named and cash considerations, according to The Boston Globe.
The Giants acquired P Javier Lopez from the Pirates in exchange for P Joe Martinez and OF John Bowker. Lopez posted a 2.79 ERA in 50 appearances with Pittsburgh. Martinez was 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in four games (one start) with San Francisco, and Bowker hit .207 with three homers and eight RBIs in 82 at-bats. In another bullpen move, the Giants acquired P Ramon Ramirez from the Red Sox. Ramirez was 0-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 44 games with Boston.
The Marlins added P Will Ohman from the Orioles for P Rick VandenHurk. Ohman had a 3.30 ERA in 51 appearances with Baltimore; VandenHurk posted a 6.75 ERA in two games with Florida.
Among the rumored deals that fell through Saturday: The White Sox were unable to reach an agreement with the Nationals for 1B Adam Dunn; according to FOXSports.com, the White Sox and Angels contacted the Dodgers to ask about OF Manny Ramirez; the San Francisco Chronicle reported the Giants made a late effort to acquire Brewers OF Corey Hart; Seattle and Atlanta discussed 2B/3B Chone Figgins, according to ESPN; FOXSports.com reported the Mets offered P Oliver Perez and 2B Luis Castillo to the Cubs for P Carlos Zambrano.
Among the veterans who were the subject of trade speculation the past few days/weeks but who weren’t traded before Saturday’s deadline: Brewers 1B Prince Fielder; Orioles IF/OF Luke Scott and IF Ty Wigginton; Astros P Brett Myers; Blue Jays 3B Jose Bautista; Red Sox 3B Mike Lowell; Marlins OF Cody Ross; Rockies P Aaron Cook and OF Brad Hawpe; Diamondbacks SS Stephen Drew, 2B Kelly Johnson and 1B Adam LaRoche; Pirates P Paul Maholm; Royals OF Jose Guillen.
Although the nonwaiver trading deadline has passed, player movement should continue through August. In order for a player to be dealt now, however, he first must clear waivers. With so few teams willing to add salary, the prevailing sentiment is that most players will clear waivers, making them eligible to be dealt. The next deadline to track: Aug. 31. Trades must be completed before then in order for a player to be eligible for the postseason with his new team.
Sporting News staff reports
Veteran lefty Ted Lilly joins the Dodgers.
The Cardinals, Indians and Padres agreed to a three-team deal Saturday that sent P Jake Westbrook from Cleveland to St. Louis and OF Ryan Ludwick from St. Louis to San Diego. The Cardinals also received cash and minor league P Nick Greenwood, while the Indians netted minor league P Corey Kluber. Westbrook, a two-time 15-game winner missed the 2009 season after Tommy John surgery, was 6-7 with a 4.65 ERA in 21 starts for the Indians this season. He will help solidify the back end of the Cardinals’ rotation, which is missing Ps Brad Penny and Kyle Lohse because of injuries. Ludwick is hitting .281 with 11 homers and 43 RBIs and will provide the kind of power bat the Padres desperately need.
The Dodgers added the veteran starting pitcher they had been seeking, picking up P Ted Lilly from the Cubs. Los Angeles also received IF Ryan Theriot and cash in the deal. In exchange, Chicago got 2B Blake DeWitt and minor league Ps Kyle Smit and Brett Wallach. Lilly is 3-8 with a 3.69 ERA in 18 starts this season. He will join a Dodgers rotation that features SPs Clayton Kershaw, Chad Billingsley, Hiroki Kuroda and Vicente Padilla. Theriot, who can play second base and shortstop, is hitting .284 with a homer, 21 RBIs and 16 stolen bases this season. DeWitt is batting .270 with a homer and 30 RBIs.
L.A. also picked up reliever Octavio Dotel from the Pirates for right-hander James McDonald and minor league outfielder Andrew Lambo.Dotel went 2-2 with 21 saves and a 4.28 ERA with Pittsburgh and will work in a setup role in Los Angeles. McDonald was 0-1 with an 8.22 ERA in four games (one start) for L.A.
The Pirates and Diamondbacks, a pair of last-place National League teams, pulled off a five-player deal. Pittsburgh acquired C Chris Snyder and minor league SS Pedro Ciriaco in exchange for IF Bobby Crosby, OF Ryan Church, RP D.J. Carrasco. Snyder hit .231 with 10 homers and 32 RBIs for Arizona, while Crosby (.224-1-11) and Church (.182-3-18) served largely in reserve roles with Pittsburgh. Carrasco, who posted a 3.88 ERA in 435 relief appearances, will be called upon to help fortify Arizona’s MLB-worst relief corps.
In a separate move, the Diamondbacks dealt P Chad Qualls to the Rays for a player to be named. Qualls was the on-again, off-again closer in Arizona this season, saving 12 games but posting an 8.29 ERA in 43 appearances. He will serve in a middle relief role for Tampa Bay.
In a deal that was agreed upon Friday night but didn’t become official until Saturday afternoon, the Yankees acquired 1B Lance Berkman and $4 million from the Astros in exchange for P Mark Melancon and minor league IF Jimmy Pared. Berkman, who was in the midst of a career-worst season (.245-13-49) with Houston, will serve primarily as New York’s DH. The Astros’ first-round draft pick in 1997 had spent his entire professional career in Houston’s organization.
The Yanks could try using Kerry Wood as a setup man.
A day after acquiring OF Austin Kearns from the Indians, the Yankees hammered out another deal with Cleveland, picking up P Kerry Wood and cash for a player to be named. The righthander was activated from the disabled list Saturday after being sidelined since July 12 because of a blister. Wood was 1-4 with eight saves and a 6.30 ERA in 23 appearances with the Indians this season. He could assume the eighth-inning setup role recently vacated by P Joba Chamberlain in New York.
Adding to their outfield and bullpen depth, the Braves picked up OF Rick Ankiel and P Kyle Farnsworth from the Royals in exchange for P Jesse Chavez, minor league P Tim Collins and OF Gregor Blanco. Ankiel, who has been limited to 27 games because of injuries, hit .261 with four homer and 15 RBIs for Kansas City, while Farnsworth was 3-0 with a 2.42 ERA in 37 relief appearances. Chavez was 3-2 with a 5.89 ERA in 28 appearances, and Blanco hit .310 with three RBIs in 58 at-bats for Atlanta. The Braves also acquired minor league OF Wilkin Ramirez from the Tigers for a player to be named later or cash. Ramirez was designated for assignment earlier last week.
Boston addressed its catching need by dealing for C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, who was with the Rangers’ Class AAA affiliate. Texas acquired minor league 1B Chris McGuiness, minor league P Roman Mendez, a player to be named and cash considerations, according to The Boston Globe.
The Giants acquired P Javier Lopez from the Pirates in exchange for P Joe Martinez and OF John Bowker. Lopez posted a 2.79 ERA in 50 appearances with Pittsburgh. Martinez was 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in four games (one start) with San Francisco, and Bowker hit .207 with three homers and eight RBIs in 82 at-bats. In another bullpen move, the Giants acquired P Ramon Ramirez from the Red Sox. Ramirez was 0-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 44 games with Boston.
The Marlins added P Will Ohman from the Orioles for P Rick VandenHurk. Ohman had a 3.30 ERA in 51 appearances with Baltimore; VandenHurk posted a 6.75 ERA in two games with Florida.
Among the rumored deals that fell through Saturday: The White Sox were unable to reach an agreement with the Nationals for 1B Adam Dunn; according to FOXSports.com, the White Sox and Angels contacted the Dodgers to ask about OF Manny Ramirez; the San Francisco Chronicle reported the Giants made a late effort to acquire Brewers OF Corey Hart; Seattle and Atlanta discussed 2B/3B Chone Figgins, according to ESPN; FOXSports.com reported the Mets offered P Oliver Perez and 2B Luis Castillo to the Cubs for P Carlos Zambrano.
Among the veterans who were the subject of trade speculation the past few days/weeks but who weren’t traded before Saturday’s deadline: Brewers 1B Prince Fielder; Orioles IF/OF Luke Scott and IF Ty Wigginton; Astros P Brett Myers; Blue Jays 3B Jose Bautista; Red Sox 3B Mike Lowell; Marlins OF Cody Ross; Rockies P Aaron Cook and OF Brad Hawpe; Diamondbacks SS Stephen Drew, 2B Kelly Johnson and 1B Adam LaRoche; Pirates P Paul Maholm; Royals OF Jose Guillen.
Although the nonwaiver trading deadline has passed, player movement should continue through August. In order for a player to be dealt now, however, he first must clear waivers. With so few teams willing to add salary, the prevailing sentiment is that most players will clear waivers, making them eligible to be dealt. The next deadline to track: Aug. 31. Trades must be completed before then in order for a player to be eligible for the postseason with his new team.
