AMERICAN LEAGUE

BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Placed RHP Jason Johnson on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 23; recalled RHP John Stephens from Triple-A Rochester. (07.29)

All I can say as an O's fan is it's about f'n time they brought John Stephens up this year, and now that they have, it's time to keep him there. Get rid of Travis Driskill for god's sake. He was cute for a couple weeks but now that hitters have gotten a read on him, he can't get anyone out. Stephens is one of those guys that doesn't have the Stuff that the scouts love to see, but he gets people out and his numbers speak for themself: 11-5, 3.03 ERA at Rochester this year after a great season last year. It's about f'n time.

BOSTON RED SOX
Acquired OF Cliff Floyd from the Montreal Expos for RHPs Sunny Kim and Seung Song. (07.30)

Floyd gives the Red Sox some very important ingredients. One thing he does is help them get Jose Offerman and Tony Clark off of the field, and that may be most important. Clark has done about everything he can this season at the plate to sabotage the Red Sox. I really don't understand what happened to him, but he looks finished. As an occasional sub at first or a DH, he could have some value. Maybe. Floyd bolsters the middle of Boston's order by giving them a five-hitter that's really a three-hitter, and gets Shea Hillenbrand out of that position in the order. For all his faults, Hillenbrand is a useful player, but not someone you want to bank RBIs with. If Floyd can stay healthy (knock on wood), Boston has really improved their chances at the wild card and maybe even getting back into the AL East race seriously, though the first would be perfectly fine to shoot for since either one means the Sox are in the postseason.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Acquired Ps Felix Diaz and Ryan Meaux from the San Francisco Giants for OF Kenny Lofton. (07.28)

Acquired P Enemencio Pacheco from the Colorado Rockies for C Sandy Alomar. (07.29)

Recalled 3B Joe Crede and C Josh Paul from Triple-A Charlotte. (07.30)

The calculated risk that was signing Kenny Lofton didn't really hurt Chicago at all. He had a fast start, so they were able to gloat about signing a quality veteran for a low salary with the hopes that he'd be rejuvenated. He predictably tailed off, but his numbers aren't so bad that they turned off contenders, and his salary was low enough to give a team like the Giants the flexibility to make this kind of deal. He's not quite the defensive star he used to be, but he's only slightly worse than Shinjo and sure beats Marvin Benard. His first swing as a Giant resulted in a home run to left center in Philadelphia, too. How about that?

Getting rid of Alomar is a blessing. I have absolutely no clue why the Rockies would want a 36-year old catcher that hasn't done anything worth noting since 1997, but if they think that Alomar will provide better offense than any of the 12,000 retreads, journeymen and goobers they've tried over their existence, more power to them.

If Crede actually plays, then it's a good thing he's up. But I wouldn't count on it.

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Acquired LHP Terry Mulholland and RHPs Ricardo Rodriguez and Francisco Cruceta from the Los Angeles Dodgers for RHP Paul Shuey. (07.28)

Placed RHP Big Lug No. 587 (Chad Paronto) on the 15-day DL. (07.29)

Acquired IF Marshall McDougal from the Oakland Athletics for LHP Ricardo Rincon; activated OF Todd Dunwoody from the 15-day DL and sent him to Triple-A Buffalo. (07.30)

Purchased the contract of IF Carl Sadler from Buffalo. (07.31)

Operation: SELL EVERYONE has probably come to a close with Jim Thome still an Indian, though Ellis Burks is probably still likely to be shipped out. You have to respect Thome's desire to stay with the team through what are going to be very, very dark years until at least 2004.

Ditching Rincon and Shuey is good for the teams that got them, but the Indians had to take on Terry Mulholland. Mulholland has been traded six times, signed as a free agent six times, and waived nine times, or something ridiculous like that. The fact that he hasn't pitched well in a dog's age shows that you can never be a bad enough or old enough lefty to not get major league work.

DETROIT TIGERS
Activated 3B Chris Truby from the 15-day DL; optioned RHP Erik Sabel to Triple-A Toledo. (07.29)

MINNESOTA TWINS
Activated RHP Joe Mays from the 60-day DL; optioned RHP Juan Rincon to Triple-A Edmonton. (07.27)

Mays may never again have a season like he had in 2001, but his return is good news for Minnesota. They've got the division all but sewn up already, so they have time to ease Mays and Radke back in for the postseason. Minnesota will need strong playoff performances from ALL of them to get out of the first round.

NEW YORK YANKEES
Recalled LHP Sterling Hitchcock from Triple-A Columbus; optioned LHP Randy Choate to Columbus. (07.28)

Hitchcock sucks and he's a waste of money. The only time I'll ever bitch about player salaries is when people are just a complete waste of resources that could have been spent better elsewhere.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Recalled P Micah Bowie from Triple-A Sacramento; optioned LHP Mike Venafro to Sacramento. (07.29)

Acquired LHP Ricardo Rincon from the Cleveland Indians for IF Marshall McDougal; designated LHP Mike Magnante for assignment. (07.30)

The Oakland lefties (Venafro, Holtz, Magnante) have fallen like dominoes so far this season, and here's Ricardo Rincon in to maybe stop the bleeding. No one's arguing that Rincon might pitch, but the stars seem to be aligned against Oakland having left-handed success out of the bullpen.

TEXAS RANGERS
Released RHP Dave Burba; recalled RHP Joaquin Phoenix Chris Benoit from Triple-A Oklahoma. (07.29)

This was a long time coming. Dave Burba hasn't been quite as bad as I've made him out to be, but what bothered me was that he was bad and they still kept using him when three facts were very clear: 1) they were well out of contention, 2) they have a glut of young starting pitching talent that needs to be evaluated at the major league level, and 3) their sorry excuse for evaluation of these pitchers (Benoit, Aaron Myette, Doug Davis, Rob Bell) was calling them up for a spot start and then sending them back to Oklahoma. Burba will get another shot somewhere, almost certainly. I'm not the guy to say what's wrong with him, but someone out there probably knows and could fix it. It sounds like a job for Don Gullett, but it might be more of a job for someone like Tony Cloninger.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

COLORADO ROCKIES
Acquired C Sandy Alomar from the Chicago White Sox for P Enemencio Pacheco. (07.29)

Activated LHP Kent Mercker from the 15-day DL. (07.30)

Okay, I've gotten this far, and I found out that the Rockies basically took Alomar while the White Sox pay him. I suppose that hurts no one (except the stupid White Sox).

HOUSTON ASTROS
Released RHP T.J. Mathews; recalled RHP Jim Mann from Triple-A New Orleans. (07.28)

RELIEVERS NEVER DIE. Just remember that when YOUR team signs T.J. Mathews to a minor-league deal or invites him to spring training next season.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Acquired RHP Paul Shuey from the Cleveland Indians for LHP Terry Mulholland and RHPs Francisco Cruceta and Ricardo Rodriguez. (07.28)

Well, they got rid of Mulholland and gave up two possibly good pitchers in order to get Shuey, who adds to a pretty good bullpen by...being in it. I dunno, they should have gotten an impact starter, which is something they're lacking. (Don't tell me Odalis Perez.)

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Announced the resignation of pitching coach Dave Stewart. (07.29)

In my expert opinion, Dave Stewart is starting to seem like a giant weiner.

MONTREAL EXPOS
Acquired RHPs Sunny Kim and Seung Song from the Boston Red Sox for OF Cliff Floyd. (07.30)

The Expos got one good prospect (Kim) and one great one (Song) for Floyd in his contract year. This should certainly help the Expos in the future, as they are building a fine young rotation as is. In 2005, the Expos could be serious contenders for the World Series thanks to their staff.

...

NEW YORK METS
Acquired RHPs Steve Reed and Jason Middlebrook from the San Diego Padres for LHP Bobby M. Jones, P Josh Reynolds and OF Jason Bay. (07.31)

Let's just humor the Mets and pretend along with them that they're still in the playoff race.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Acquired UT Placido Polanco, RHP Mike Timlin and LHP Bud Smith from the St. Louis Cardinals for 3B Scott Rolen and RHP Doug Nickle. (07.29)

Sent LHP Hector Mercado to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. (07.30)

The best thing I can say about the package Philly got for Rolen is that at least they got something. Bud Smith still has some upside, Timlin is a solid middle reliever that could be traded again and bring in someone younger, and Polanco...is sure named Placido. That's for sure. Polanco is supposedly going to be the everyday third baseman, which I assume will last about two weeks before Larry Bowa joins the rest of the world that isn't named Tony LaRussa in realizing he's not anything close to an everyday third baseman, at which point he'll likely blow a gasket and ruin poor Placido's confidence. I'm not saying there's no place on a team for Polanco, I'm just saying it isn't starting daily.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Optioned RHP Mike Lincoln to Triple-A Nashville; purchased the contract of RHP Brian Meadows from Nashville. (07.30)

Brian Meadows, huh? So much for the improving Pirates.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Optioned LHP Bud Smith to Triple-A Memphis. (07.27)

Acquired 3B Scott Rolen and RHP Doug Nickle from the Philadelphia Phillies for UT Placido Polanco, RHP Mike Timlin and LHP Bud Smith. (07.29)

I don't like to spoil the fun, but Scott Rolen is not a starting pitcher. He's an upgrade over Polanco (a huge, huge upgrade over Polanco) but he doesn't help a staff that's now relying on Chuck Finley, Jason Simontacchi and the return of Woody Williams to get them into the playoffs. Bud Smith is no longer an option, which leaves this laundry list of jokers as possible fillers-in whenever someone is hurt, or whenever Simontacchi implodes: Andy Benes, Darren Oliver, Travis Smith. This team, with or without Scott Rolen, is not good enough to win the World Series, which you're likely to hear they are from everyone now that they got Rolen, which adds to the fact that everyone has a boner for the Cardinals in the first place.

SAN DIEGO PADRES
Acquired LHP Bobby M. Jones, P Josh Reynolds and OF Jason Bay from the New York Mets for RHPs Steve Reed and Jason Middlebrook. (07.31)

Having both Bobby Joneses is always a plus, just ask the Mets.

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Acquired OF Kenny Lofton from the Chicago White Sox for Ps Felix Diaz and Ryan Meaux. (07.28)

Optioned OF Tony Torcato to Triple-A Fresno. (07.29)

Lofton gives the Giants a decent leadoff hitter (at least against righties), better defense than Benard, better offense than Shinjo, and more speed than either of them. All for the low low price of his tiny salary and two nothing pitchers.
posted by Scott Christ at 3:50 PM

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ANAHEIM ANGELS
Activated RHP Troy Percival from the 15-day DL; optioned RHP Lou Pote to Triple-A Salt Lake. (07.26)

The Angels got by just fine in Percival's absence, helping raise confidence in their injury-prone bullpen. Ben Weber did a good job as the de facto closer with both Percival and Al Levine out of action, but will return to his regular role as a short reliever now.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Cancelled the recall of 1B/OF Chris Richard from Triple-A Rochester; recalled 2B/SS Brian Roberts from Rochester. (07.25)

Richard is not going to be a factor this season and may not ever be a factor the way things are looking. He has several things working against him. He's old (28) for his position in the baseball world, which is that of an up-and-comer. He's in the wrong organization with too many people manning first base for the forseeable future (organizational old men Jeff Conine and David Segui, as well as one of Syd Thrift's two success trophies, Jay Gibbons). And, finally, he's just not that good to wait for. At his best, Richard should hit 20ish homers a year with around a .270 average. That's a replaceable part, and while the rest of those guys are in the same boat, Richard is probably fourth on the Orioles' minds.

BOSTON RED SOX
Placed RHP Dustin Hermanson on the 15-day DL; recalled LHP Casey Fossum from Triple-A Pawtucket. (07.24)

Designated RHP El Guapo for assignment; activated DH Carlos Baerga from the 15-day DL. (07.26)

Dustin Hermanson, giant flake that he is, proved entirely useless to the Red Sox this season, as the staph infection in his forearm could very well put him on the sidelines for the rest of the campaign. He got the infection washing the dishes, if you haven't heard. This is as good as Jeff Kent and his pretend car-washing. So for all their trouble, the Red Sox got one inning, three hits allowed and two earned runs from Dustin Hermanson. I said at the beginning of the season that I thought he'd fail, as he usually has, but this is too much for anyone to call.

Fossum will get his chance to start a few games and look like a real bonafide starting lefty, so that perhaps the Sox can include him as the Young Pitching Prospect in a deal for someone like Todd Ritchie (ew) or Paul Wilson (eh).

The possible end of Garces' run as a Boston fan favorite is kind of sad, because he'd go out not as a big-money free agent or as part of a blockbuster deal, but as a struggling fatso that can't get anyone out.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Reassigned pitching coach Nardi Contreras; named Don Cooper pitching coach. (07.22)

Acquired minor league RHP Jon Adkins from the Oakland Athletics for 2B Ray Durham. (07.25)

Recalled 2B/OF Willie Harris from Triple-A Charlotte. (07.26)

You can officially call it The Ray Durham Era for the White Sox at second base, and it should be looked back upon fondly. He was a tremendously consistent and durable second baseman for 7 1/2 years with Chicago, and would have been an All-Star starter a lot of the time had it not been for Robbie Alomar.

The Sox didn't get anything close to a good return for Durham, but acquiring Harris for Chris Singleton in the offseason has turned out to be a real good move (which it was from the very start). Harris will probably play most of the second base until he bombs, and has the ability to make things happen on the basepaths could be valuable for a team that has a powerful middle of the order. This assuming he can get on base, of course. He's not going to be Durham, but he should be serviceable.

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Placed RHP Bob Wickman on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 22; recalled RHP Chad Paronto from Triple-A Buffalo. (07.23)

Placed LHP Heath Murray on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 22; recalled RHP Dave Elder from Buffalo. (07.24)

Wickman's numbers this year have been rather crappy (4.59 ERA, 1.40 WHIP). He still doesn't walk many people, but he's been hit hard and would have been on the move list if not for this injury. Paronto is the average big lug that isn't really worth a damn but gets looks because he is, after all, a very big lug.

DETROIT TIGERS
Acquired IF David Espinosa and two players to be named from the Cincinnati Reds for RHP Brian Moehler, IF Matt Boone and cash. (07.23)

Placed SS Ramon Santiago on the 15-day DL; recalled OF Craig Monroe from Triple-A Toledo; claimed RHP Erik Sabel off waivers from the Arizona Diamondbacks. (07.24)

Acquired IF Hiram Bocachica from the Los Angeles Dodgers for P Tom Farmer and a player to be named; purchased the contract of P Brian Powell from Toledo; optioned RHP Fernando Rodney to Toledo. (07.25)

Optioned OF Craig Monroe to Toledo. (07.26)

I wish Craig Monroe would get a fair shake, and I think it's nice that they claimed Erik Sabel, but other than that this stuff can be covered elsewhere.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Placed 1B Mike Sweeney on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 14; purchased the contract of IF Chan Perry; transferred OF Mark Quinn from the 15- to 60-day DL. (07.24)

Losing Mike Sweeney sucks for the Royals. Duh.

MINNESOTA TWINS
Placed RHP Mike Jackson on the 15-day DL; recalled P Kevin Frederick from Triple-A Edmonton. (07.26)

Jackson, at 37, is having his best season since '98, when he was nearly untouchable in Cleveland. His injury had to be expected, and the Twins have overcome much worse blows than this this season to remain comfortably in first place. They're not going to go anywhere in the postseason, but they pretty much have the division wrapped up.

NEW YORK YANKEES
Placed RHP Mariano Rivera on the 15-day DL; recalled LHP Randy Choate from Triple-A Columbus. (07.26)

My god, if the Red Sox could get it together, they've been handed about four or five chances to retake the lead in the division thanks to key Yankee injuries, two of them Rivera himself.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Recalled RHP Jeff Tam from Triple-A Sacramento; optioned RHP Aaron Harang to Sacramento. (07.23)

Placed LHP Ted Lilly on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 21; recalled Harang from Sacramento. (07.24)

Acquired 2B Ray Durham from the Chicago White Sox for minor league RHP Jon Adkins. (07.25)

Optioned OF Adam Piatt to Triple-A Sacramento. (07.26)

A busy few days for Oakland. First and foremost, Durham gives the A's something they desperately need, which is speed and a real, live leadoff hitter. The idea of moving him to center field is a bit ridiculous, since he's not going to be any better at it than Terrence Long, and Mark Ellis hasn't been so good that he should move Durham from his natural position.

Piatt is 26 now and has yet to stick around with Oakland for any real amount of time. He could still make it as a late-bloomer, or it could be that he simply isn't going to be a successful big-league starting outfielder.

SEATTLE MARINERS
Acquired LHP Doug Creek from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for cash. (07.24)

Optioned LHP Brian Fitzgerald to Triple-A Tacoma. (07.25)

TEXAS RANGERS
Activated RHP Francisco Cordero from the 15-day DL; optioned RHP Reynaldo Garcia to Triple-A Oklahoma. (07.26)

If Cordero can impress one of the more retarded GMs out there, the Rangers might be able to con someone into taking him.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Activated RHP Luke Prokopec from the 15-day DL; optioned RHP Brian Bowles to Triple-A Syracuse. (07.22)

Outrighted 2B Joe Lawrence to Syracuse; recalled 2B Orlando Hudson from Syracuse. (07.24)

Announced the retirement of C Darrin Fletcher; recalled OF Pedro Swann from Syracuse. (07.26)

Darrin Fletcher's career numbers: .269-.318-.423, 124 HR, 583 RBI, 1048 hits over 14 seasons with the Dodgers, Phillies, Expos and Blue Jays. He spent the bulk of his career in Canada, with his peak years in '99 and '00 with the Jays, when he hit 38 homers and drove in 138 runs over 237 games played. He was what he was, a good platoon catcher that could hit a home run.

Orlando Hudson gets his first shot in Toronto since saying that JP Ricciardi looks like he was a "pimp back in his day." What day was Ricciardi's is up in the air, since one would assume that this is, in fact, his day, meaning that Orlando Hudson believes JP Ricciardi is currently a pimp.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Placed C Damian Miller on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 24; activated 1B Erubiel Durazo from the 15-day DL. (07.26)

Durazo hit a homer in his first game back. He should be expected to return to the DL in a two-three weeks.

ATLANTA BRAVES
Placed RHP Kevin Gryboski on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 24; activated RHP Darren Holmes from the 15-day DL. (07.26)

Interchangeable surprises, hooray.

CINCINNATI REDS
Placed 1B Sean Casey on the 15-day DL; acquired RHP Brian Moehler, IF Matt Boone and cash from the Detroit Tigers for IF David Espinosa and two players to be named; exercised contract option for manager Bob Boone for the 2003 season. (07.23)

Moehler means dick-diddly-ick to the Reds' chances of winning the division or the wild card. I don't know why anyone would go out and trade for a guy that just came off of a career-threatening injury and isn't 100%, but the Yankees did it last year with Sterling Hitchcock. I don't get it any better now than I did then, and Hitchcock's crappiness would seem to warn others of this idea. But maybe I'm just thinking too much.

HOUSTON ASTROS
Activated RHP Dave Mlicki from the 15-day DL; optioned RHP Tim Redding to Triple-A New Orleans. (07.25)

Is Mlicki really likely to be any more effective than Redding?

LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Acquired 3B Tyler Houston and a player to be named from the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league Ps Ben Diggins and Shane Nance. (07.23)

Acquired P Tom Farmer from the Detroit Tigers for IF Hiram Bocachica. (07.25)

Houston can "play" third base, first base and might still be able to catch if the situation desperately calls for it, but his upside, which is hitting a little bit, isn't really that valuable to a team that has those positions covered with guys that are doing as well as you'd expect Houston to. Well, except for Adrian Beltre, who sucks. SOMEONE HAD TO SAY IT, HE'S NOT A BLUE CHIP PROSPECT ANYMORE OKAY? HE SUCKS SUCKS SUCKS. Okay.

MILWAUKEE BREWERS
Acquired minor league Ps Ben Diggins and Shane Nance from the Los Angeles Dodgers for 3B Tyler Houston and a player to be named. (07.23)

Optioned RHP Nelson Figueroa to Triple-A Indianapolis; purchased the contract of P Jimmy Osting Indianapolis. (07.24)

NEW YORK METS
Activated RHP Steve Trachsel from the 15-day DL; optioned RHP Jae Seo to Triple-A Norfolk. (07.22)

Signed LHP Al Leiter to a two-year contract with a mutual option for 2005. (07.24)

Recalled Failed Novelty RHP Satoru Komiyama from Triple-A Norfolk; designated LHP Bobby M. Jones for assignment. (07.26)

The Mets locked up Leiter, as they wanted to, and this officially takes him off the trade market. He should be an ace for the duration of his contract.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Placed RHP Robert Person on the 15-day DL; purchased the contract of RHP Brett Myers from the Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. (07.23)

I watched Myers' debut against the Cubs on WGN, and he was ridiculously impressive. It was more similar to Roy Oswalt's streak of destruction last year than to Kerry Wood's sickeningly overpowering stuff in '98, which is probably good for his elbow and his future luck. Watching a 21-year old Myers lock horns with 21-year old Mark Prior in a hell of a battle, in Myers' MLB debut, is probably something that will be impressive to talk about ten years down the line.

SAN DIEGO PADRES
Purchased the contract of P Jason Kershner from Triple-A Portland; optioned RHP Kevin Pickford to Portland. (07.24)

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Placed OF Tsuyoshi Shinjo on the 15-day DL; recalled OF Tony Torcato from Triple-A Fresno. (07.25)

Placed RHP Jay Witasick on the 15-day DL; purchased the contract of RHP Manny Aybar from Fresno; transferred LHP Jason Christiansen from the 15- to 60-day DL. (07.26)

Shinjo stinks and Witasick's claim to fame on the day he dies will be that he pitched for the Yankees and sucked and went off back to obscurity elsewhere. Boy does Shinjo stink.
posted by Scott Christ at 10:57 PM

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ANAHEIM ANGELS
Optioned RHP Matt Wise to Triple-A Salt Lake; activated RHP Al Levine from the 15-day DL. (07.19)

Ben Weber has actually done an okay job in Troy Percival's absence, which is good because the Angels can ease Levine back into duty without throwing him to the ninth-inning lions.

BOSTON RED SOX
Activated RHP Dustin Hermanson from the 15-day DL; optioned IF Bryant Nelson to Triple-A Pawtucket. (07.20)

Hermanson is going to work relief, and made a statement by blowing a game against the Yankees right out of the gate. It's hard to blame him for getting rocked by a good team right away, so why was he in a high-leverage situation? Honestly, if I had to pick a starting pitcher to put in relief, Hermanson would be about my 371st choice due to his tendency to get shelled.

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Acquired minor league 1B/OF Luis Garcia from the St. Louis Cardinals for LHP Chuck Finley. (07.19)

Placed 3B Travis Fryman on the 15-day DL; optioned RHPs David Riske and Jason C. Phillips to Triple-A Buffalo; activated RHP Jaret Wright from the 60-day DL and RHP Charles Nagy from the 15-day DL; recalled P Sean DePaula from Buffalo. (07.20)

Acquired minor league P Lance Caraccioli from the Los Angeles Dodgers for UT Jolbert Cabrera. (07.22)

A good move by the Indians, because if you're going to strip it down, 39-year old lefties should be among the first to go. Finley can still strike people out, but he is not even close to the same pitcher he was even three years ago or so. Garcia is a former pitcher with a good swing and good enough patience. He's 23 now, and gives the Indians two 1B/OF guys that are both really first baseman (Ben Broussard the other). It's a pretty good deal for Finley, though.

The double-header on Saturday was obviously Turn Back The Clock Day in Kansas City with Wright and Nagy pulling the starting duties. I give both of them until mid-August before they head back to the DL.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Activated "OF" Suck Knoblauch from the 15-day DL; recalled RHP Jeff Austin from Triple-A Omaha; optioned OF Brandon Berger and RHP Runelvys Hernandez to Omaha. (07.20)

Getting Knoblauch back does nothing for anyone. Some people like to tout his speed, but what's that worth if he's hitting .180? I'm not saying he's THAT bad, but at his best these days, Knoblauch will probably top out at .260/.320, and that's just not worth the hassle of being punchless and a wreck in the field.

MINNESOTA TWINS
Activated RHP Joe Mays from the 60-day DL; optioned RHP Juan Rincon from the 15-day DL. (07.20)

The Twins have been without 2/5 of their opening day rotation for most of the year, yet the AL Central race has never been in question this year. Kenny Williams should be ashamed of the staff he build for the White Sox, and Terry Ryan should be giving himself a raise for building the Twins and watching them prosper.

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS
Optioned 2B Jason Smith to Triple-A Durham; designated LHP Doug Creek and 1B/OF Dave McCarty for assignment; recalled OF Carl Crawford, RHP Carlos Zambrano and IF Andy Sheets from Durham. (07.20)

Crawford's call-up is the best news the Devil Rays will have all year, as he'll be given every chance in the world (hopefully) to be the everyday left fielder. Greg Vaughn is finished and Jason Tyner sucks, so they have to pray that Crawford can live up to the billing. If he does, the Rays don't have a terrible outfield with Crawford, Randy Winn and Ben Grieve. Of course, it's still pretty average (thanks to Grieve's horrendous and sudden decline that does not seem to be reversing at all and Winn having a career year), but when you're the Devil Rays, you take mediocrity where you can get it.

TEXAS RANGERS
Recalled RHP Aaron Myette from Triple-A Oklahoma; purchased the contract of P Reynaldo Garcia from Oklahoma; optioned RHP Colby Lewis to Oklahoma; assigned RHP Anthony Telford to Oklahoma. (07.19)

To and from Oklahoma. Boomer Sooner!

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Placed RHP Rick Helling on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 16; placed PH Greg Colbrunn on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 18; activated 2B/3B Jay Bell from the 60-day DL; recalelled RHP John Patterson from Triple-A Tucson. (07.19)

If Bob Brenly actually starts Jay Bell over anyone useful, including Craig Counsell, I'll eat my hat. Matt Williams deserves a shot at third base, but if he just can't hit anymore (which would be my first guess), then Bell will likely get a shot while Tony Womack keeps the bench warm and Counsell mans short. Quite frankly, anything that keeps Womack out of the leadoff spot is fine with me, but playing Jay Bell as the alternative is sort of like curing a cold with a headache.

CINCINNATI REDS
Activated OF Ken Griffey Jr. from the 15-day DL; optioned OF Raul Gonzalez to Triple-A Louisville. (07.21)

Oh boy, here we go again. I will refrain from commenting on what Griffey could mean to the NL Central race until he's played for a month.

FLORIDA MARLINS
Transferred SS Alex Gonzalez from the 15- to 60-day DL.

Doesn't look like the other Alex Gonzalez is going to see much time, if any, for the rest of the season. Luckily for the hapless Marlins, Andy Fox has been a perfectly fine substitute for a bad team.

HOUSTON ASTROS
Recalled RHP Kirk Saarloos from Triple-A New Orleans; optioned RHP Jim Mann to Double-A Round Rock. (07.20)

Saarloos had his first good major league start on Saturday, going five innings with four hits allowed and seven strikeouts in a 3-2 win over the Cubs, notching his first big league victory and even getting a smile and some ball-return help from Sammy Sosa. If he's ready for the pressure this time, he's up to stay.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Placed PB Jeff Reboulet on the 15-day DL; purchased the contract of UT Mike Kinkade from Triple-A Las Vegas. (07.21)

Acquired UT Jolbert Cabrera from the Cleveland Indians for minor league P Lance Caraccioli. (07.22)

Pinch-bunter. Both guys are former awful Orioles.

NEW YORK METS
Placed UT SuperJoe McEwing on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 14; recalled 2B Marco Scutaro from Triple-A Norfolk. (07.19)

Optioned LHP Mike Bacsik to Triple-A Norfolk; recalled RHP Jae Seo from Norfolk. (07.21)

The nice thing about the possibility of the Mets trading Robbie Alomar is that they got Scutaro for nothing and have the luxury of having a potentially-good immediate solution for what would be a hole at second base. They also have Alfonzo, but moving him back would require finding a third baseman. Scutaro has his defensive limitations, but he can hit and has no problem taking a walk, which the Mets could use at the top of their lineup. If he gets any playing time right now, though, it'd be a surprise.

If the Mets had the balls to admit that this season is lost, they could have stuck with Mike Bacsik and done everything in their power to rid themselves of Shawn Estes or Jeff D'Amico, but just like last season, they're content to pretend that they still have a shot at the playoffs, and though they may pull another overstated stretch run out of their asses, it's not going to be good enough because they still have four offensive holes including an entire outfield, and not enough pitching to get the job done. The Mets are sort of obnoxious in their Yankee Juniorism.

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Purchased the contract of RHP Brett Myers from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre. (07.21)

Yeeeeehaw. As long as people can live with him not being a Kerry Wood or Roy Oswalt bat out of hell, he should be fine.

ST. LOUIS CARDINALS
Acquired LHP Chuck Finley from the Cleveland Indians for minor league 1B/OF Luis Garcia. (07.19)

Optioned LHP Bud Smith to Triple-A Memphis. (07.20)

Finley won his first start, and like I said earlier, he can still strike people out. He whiffed eight in six innings, but also allowed four runs (three earned) and gave up seven hits. Is he going to make the Cards instant playoff locks? Absolutely not, but with the way Bud Smith has pitched and the fact that they even gave serious thought to an Andy Benes comeback, you can't fault them for going out and getting a proven lefty to at least shore up the rotation. At the least, he shouldn't be a disaster. Just consistently medicore.

SAN DIEGO PADRES
Placed C Wiki Gonzalez on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 18; purchased the contract of C Wil Nieves from Triple-A Portland. (07.20)

Sent RHP Rodney Myers to Portland; purchased the contract of P Brandon Villafuerte from Portland. (07.21)
posted by Scott Christ at 3:58 PM

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ANAHEIM ANGELS
Placed C Bengie Molina on the 15-day DL; recalled C Jose Molina from Triple-A Salt Lake. (07.17)

It must be nice to have Jose around whenever Bengie gets an owie. You wouldn't even have to get a new uniform if you really didn't feel like it.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Placed SS Mike Bordick on the 15-day DL. (07.16)

Recalled OF Luis Matos from Double-A Bowie. (07.17)

Bordick is growing increasingly brittle as he grows increasingly old, and the Orioles have overvalued him ever since his fluke offensive output in 2000 that led to his stretch-drive trade to the Mets and then his offseason re-signing. He hit 20 homers between the teams that year, and has all of 11 since then, and played just 58 games last year. He's really not worth keeping around on a team like this, but whatever. They're too thrilled with Rodrigo Lopez, Travis Driskill and Jay Gibbons to notice that everyone else besides their few players with talent (Batista, Jason Johnson, Ponson) has sucked rocks all season long.

Another thing that makes me wonder about is why the Mets continue to employ Rey Ordonez as their starting shortstop. I get that he's a good (if overrated) defensive shortstop, but they were smart enough to acquire someone that could hit for the 2000 run, and they got to the World Series. Not because of it, really, but still. Wouldn't you think they'd REMEMBER that Ordonez stinks?

Matos will be up for a bit and then he'll go back down, until eventually he is waived and someone like the Rangers or Mariners gives him a go.

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Activated RHP David Riske from the 15-day DL; optioned RHP Dave Elder to Triple-A Buffalo. (07.17)

Riske is a pitcher I like. I'm not sure that he'll be a future closer, because it's hard to ever tell, but he's got good stuff and a tough mentality. He could be the successor to Bob Wickman that the Tribe will need in this bunk rebuilding phase.

DETROIT TIGERS
Outrighted RHP Jose Paniagua to Triple-A Toledo; recalled LHP Jamie Walker from Toledo. (07.19)

Paniagua was overrated last season, but he did allow just seven homers in 66 innings of relief for the Mariners. In a similar and possibly even better pitchers park in Detroit, he's allowed nine in 36 innings. You'd think you could stick a flyball reliever in Comerica and the results would be at least acceptable, but that's not been the case. Maybe he just misses winning all the time and coming in with 8-1 leads. Walker held his own in 27 appearances already this year, so he could be up for good now.

KANSAS CITY ROYALS
Outrighted RHP Cory Bailey to Triple-A Omaha. (07.18)

I don't know what the Royals are doing with their 17 pitchers that are all the same to me. Cory Bailey reminds me of Jeff Suppan, Blake Stein, Dan Reichert, Shawn Sedlacek, Kris Wilson, etc.

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS
Placed RHP Ryan Rupe on the 15-day DL; recalled RHP Brandon Backe from Triple-A Orlando. (07.16)

Placed LHP Wilson Alvarez on the 15-day DL. (07.17)

Purchased the contract of RHP Luis de los Santos from Triple-A Orlando. (07.18)

Wilson Alvarez! Fat guy, gets hurt a lot.

Ryan Rupe! Talented pitcher, could break out any year now.

Luis de los Santos! How come so many players have that last name? And they're always pitchers.

TEXAS RANGERS
Activated OF Gabe Kapler from the 15-day DL; activated RHP Danny Kolb from the 60-day DL; optioned RHP Joaquin Benoit to Triple-A Oklahoma; designated LHP Randy Flores for assignment. (07.16)

Krapler will probably get some time in center field because hey, he should be better than Ruben Rivera. I mean you'd have to hope. And Carl Everett is not a center fielder anymore. Benoit was all over the place in his one spot start, going five innings with two hits allowed but seven walks, throwing 105 pitches and allowing five earned runs against the Royals. That'll probably be it for him...for a month or so. Kolb is another just plain bad pitcher that the Rangers see something in that nobody else does.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Optioned SS? Felipe Lopez to Triple-A Syracuse; purchased the contract of OF Dewayne Wise from Syracuse. (07.18)

Lopez could be moving to second base, but JP Ricciardi is insistent that he'll be back in Toronto, one way or another. That's good, because Joe Lawrence and Chris Woodward as the All-Uberhonky middle infield isn't going to get it done.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ATLANTA BRAVES
Activated IF Mark DeRosa from the 15-day DL; activated 2B Marcus Giles from the 15-day DL and optioned him to Triple-A Richmond; designated 2B Jesse Garcia for assignment. (07.17)

DeRosa will get some time at second and maybe third and short to spot everyone, doing his thing. He can hit a bit and passably field. He's going to be a good utility man.

Garcia being designated for assignment is good, especially if they can get anyone to take him off of waivers. Garcia sucks, sucks, sucks. He went 11-for-52 with no walks and five RBI, with one extra-base hit and eleven strikeouts for the Braves. That adds to a total of four walks in 103 at-bats over pieces of four seasons with Atlanta and Baltimore. Garcia sucks.

Giles' demotion off the DL is butt ass stupid. He wasn't exactly tearing it up before getting hurt, but why bother to send him to Richmond just because Keith Lockhart has had a couple of good games lately? Keith Lockhart is still Keith Lockhart hitting .215/.273/.356. I know he's had some clutch pinch-hits, but fellas, if you don't let him be a pinch-hitter he can't get those. You've taken away all of his ability. Please, for the good of your possible ninth-inning comebacks, recall Marcus Giles and put the leathery Lockhart back on the bench.

CHICAGO CUBS
Placed C Joe Girardi on the 15-day DL; purchased the contract of C Mike Mahoney from Triple-A Iowa. (07.17)

See? Now isn't this a better solution than having Robert Machado right there and carrying three crappy catchers at once?

CINCINNATI REDS
Placed RHP Joey Hamilton on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 8. (07.17)

Recalled OF Brady Clark from Triple-A Louisville. (07.19)

Brady Clark can hit and would be a hell of a fourth outfielder, so his call-up should stick if the Reds have any brains. With Juan Encaranacion out of the picture, no one is blocking him this time around. If he hits again and gets demoted again, then that's a sign that the Reds just don't pay much mind to ol' Brady Clark.

COLORADO ROCKIES
Activated 3B Greg Norton from the 15-day DL; optioned OF Ross Gload to Triple-A Colorado Springs; claimed LHP Randy Flores off waivers from the Texas Rangers. (07.18)

Hahaha. "Operation: Build Team Around Lack of Ross Gload."

FLORIDA MARLINS
Activated RHP Josh Beckett from the 15-day DL. (07.16)

Outrighted RHP Nate Treut to Triple-A Calgary. (07.17)

A dominating phenom he has not been. But, to the naysayers about him, keep in mind that he's still been really effective and has shown that potential while not hurt. 58 whiffs in 58.2 innings, 1.18 WHIP, and a passable 4.45 ERA in 11 starts. Has this been the year they wanted? Certainly not, but he's still going to be an awesome pitcher.

HOUSTON ASTROS
Activated RHP T.J. Mathews from the 15-day DL; optioned RHP Scott Linebrink to Triple-A New Orleans. (07.17)

NEW YORK METS
Claimed P Ryan Jamison off waivers from the Houston Astros and optioned him to Double-A Binghamton. (07.18)

SAN FRANCISCO GIANTS
Optioned LHP Aaron Fultz to Triple-A Fresno; recalled LHP Troy Brohawn from Fresno. (07.17)

You may remember Troy Brohawn from such teams as Last Year's Arizona Diamondbacks. He was even on the World Series roster, despite total suckiness urging the team to do otherwise.
posted by Scott Christ at 5:54 PM

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ANAHEIM ANGELS
Placed LHP Dennis Cook on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 5; recalled RHP Brendan Donnelly from Triple-A Salt Lake. (07.13)

Placed RHP Troy Percival on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 11; recalled RHP Matt Wise from Salt Lake. (07.15)

It's strictly by-committee this time around for Percival's absence, since Al Levine is on the DL, too. Levine could get activated this weekend, but until then, ex-starter Scott Schoeneweis and righty Ben Weber could get the save chances. This sounds like a bad idea, especially Schoeneweis.

BALTIMORE ORIOLES
Purchased the contract of IF Luis Lopez from Triple-A Rochester; optioned IF Brian Roberts to Rochester. (07.12)

Purchased the contract of OF Howie Clark from Rochester; designated 1B Ryan McGuire for assignment. (07.15)

The Orioles make a couple of useless moves as they continue to move along in a useless season where all the buzz about them is they're "surprisingly good." That's BS, it's just that the Blue Jays are surprisingly bad. All they did was switch places. Lopez's advantage over Roberts is that he can play third base, where the team's only All-Star resides. Otherwise, Roberts is a better shortstop than Lopez and a more valuable pinch-runner. It's not like Lopez can hit either.

BOSTON RED SOX
Placed LHP Alan Embree on the 15-day DL; activated RHP Rolando Arrojo from the 15-day DL. (07.15)

Embree has not disappointed like Jay Witasick last year since he came over to the AL East, but this injury could sting a bit. The Sox are low on lefty relievers, but loaded with perfectly passable fifth starters. Arrojo can at times look like a #2 pitcher. If he gives a stretch of that, then they can deal with losing Embree for two weeks.

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Recalled RHP Dave Elder from Triple-A Buffalo; optioned RHP Chad Paronto to Buffalo. (07.15)

MINNESOTA TWINS
Recalled OF/1B/3B Michael Cuddyer from Triple-A Edmonton. (07.12)

Placed RHP Jose Rodriguez on the 15-day DL; recalled RHP Kevin Fredrick from Edmonton. (07.14)

Cuddyer is a badass. That's about all that needs to be said about him. He can outplay the so far-fantastic Bobby Kielty with his shoes tied together, and Dustan Mohr may have just lost more PT.

NEW YORK YANKEES
Placed RHP Roger Clemens on the 15-day DL; recalled RHP Mike Thurman from Triple-A Columbus. (07.13)

Rocket should be perfectly fine, and to be honest it's better now than in September. For the Yankees, anyway. Frankly, if he ripped his groin out on the last day of the regular season while horsing around with Chris Widger, I'd be perfectly fine with that. El Puque takes his spot.

SEATTLE MARINERS
Activated RHP Ryan Franklin from the 15-day DL; optioned RHP Julio Mateo to Triple-A Tacoma. (07.15)

TEXAS RANGERS
Placed RHP Hideki Irabu on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 13; placed OF Rusty Greer on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 12; recalled RHP Joaquin Benoit from Single-A Charlotte; recalled RHP Rob Bell from Double-A Tulsa; announced that UT Donnie Sadler has cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Oklahoma. (07.15)

Irabu and Jesse Ventura have the same ailment, blood clots in the lungs. That's too bad.

Rusty Greer's season, and possibly his career, may be over, if he has to have the back surgery that the team fears. Let's face it, he's 33 years old and brittle as hell from his years of playing like a madman hepped up on Mountain Dew and speed. If he were to have to retire, I'd always remember him as a near clone of Bobby Higginson, one of my favorite players.

The fact that the Rangers don't just release Donnie Sadler is troubling. The fact that anyone ever employs Donnie Sadler is troubling. But I guess it could always be worse, like last year when the Royals were excited that he could play left field. I read somewhere that it's insulting for Sadler to play left field. I agreed with that.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Purchased the contract of C Chad Moeller from Triple-A Tucson; designated OF Jose Guillen for assignment. (07.15)

I never really had any clue why the defending World Champions felt they needed to screw around with a washed out ex-Devil Rays Future Star, but I guess it's over with.

CINCINNATI REDS
Activated RHP Jose Rijo from the 15-day DL; placed LHP Gabe White on the 15-day DL. (07.13)

If Rijo can last over a month, I'll be pleasantly surprised.

COLORADO ROCKIES
Placed C Bobby Estallela on the 15-day DL; purchased the contract of C Walt McKeel from Triple-A Colorado Springs. (07.14)

Estallela went into the pot pretty quickly. There's got to be something to the widespread idea that he's a jackass, because it's not that he can't hit. But something is wrong with his game.

HOUSTON ASTROS
Placed OF Brian Hunter on the 15-day DL; purchased the contract of OF Barry Wesson from Triple-A New Orleans; designated LHP Wilfredo Rodriguez for assignment. (07.14)

Wilfredo Rodriguez's claim to fame will always be as the guy the Astros sent out to pitch to Bonds when the Houston fans were booing the continuous walks, then balled up and threw Bonds fastballs. And then Bonds, of course, crushed one.

LOS ANGELES DODGERS
Activated C Chad Kreuter from the 15-day DL; optioned C David Ross to Triple-A Las Vegas. (07.12)

You know, Chan Ho Park isn't in LA anymore. Why is Kreuter? Never, ever, ever underestimate the power of nice when it comes to big-league catching jobs.

NEW YORK METS
Placed RHP Grant Roberts on the 15-day DL; recalled RHP Mark Corey from Triple-A Norfolk. (07.13)

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Activated RHP Josias Manzanillo from the 15-day DL; optioned RHP Bronson Arroyo to Triple-A Nashville. (07.13)

SAN DIEGO PADRES
Signed OF Mark Kotsay to a three-year contract extension; released OF Mark Sweeney. (07.13)

Kotsay is one of my favorite players. He's a dirt-dogger that understands the value of getting on base, and he can hit and field and run a little. Every year I think he's going to break out, but the Padres are apparently quite content with what he is, which is an excellent #2 hitter or a solid leadoff guy.
posted by Scott Christ at 6:10 AM

AMERICAN LEAGUE

ANAHEIM ANGELS
Activated DH/1B/C Shawn Wooten from the 60-day DL; optioned RHP Matt Wise to Triple-A Salt Lake. (07.11)

Wooten can hit, that's for sure. What you do with him as far as getting him into the lineup is a mystery. He's not much of a catcher, but can play there, sort of like Rob Fick. He won't embarrass you or anything, but if there's a better option around, use that one. So Bengie Molina shouldn't lose any sleep. Brad Fullmer is left-handed and has hit a little this season, so he should be okay. That leaves Scott Spiezio, who has been moderately useful, but the Angels could use a third power bat in their lineup with Garret Anderson and Tim Salmon, so if Wooten hits, he should probably take Spiezio's job simply based on the fact that he has the ability to cause a lot more damage to the scoreboard.

BOSTON RED SOX
Activated IF Rey Sanchez from the 15-day DL; optioned RHP Sunny Kim to Triple-A Pawtucket. (07.11)

Sanchez will move right back in at second base as many frustrated Red Sox fans continue to curse the day Jose Offerman was born, even if he has been useful for them before.

CHICAGO WHITE SOX
Acquired IF D'Angelo Jimenez from the San Diego Padres for OF Alex Fernandez and C Humberto Quintero. (07.12)

Jimenez's star sure faded out. He's a hell of a streaky player, but he can play three positions well enough and could provide the White Sox with a great reason to tell Royce Clayton to hit the road.

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Fired manager Charlie Manuel; named third base coach Joel Skinner interim manager; activated RHP Jake Westbrook from the 15-day DL; optioned UT Jolbert Cabrera to Triple-A Buffalo. (07.11)

Signed OF Karim Garcia to a minor-league contract; placed OF Matt Lawton on the 15-day DL; recalled UT Bill Selby from Buffalo. (07.12)

Manuel was in a no-win situation with Mark Shapiro, who is a total dingleberry. I'm not saying Manuel's a great manager, because he's not, but he's a good one that doesn't out-and-out screw up all the time, and even with the knocks on his age and/or health, he should find a job somewhere else. Joel Skinner will get a serious look at being the full-time manager, but I wouldn't place bets on either outcome yet.

DETROIT TIGERS
Activated OF Bobby Higginson from the 15-day DL; recalled RHP Fernando Rodney from Triple-A Toledo; placed 1B Dmitri Young on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 6; placed 3B Chris Truby on the 15-day DL, retroactive to July 4. (07.11)

Higgy will soon be out of Detroit if he has his way, and anywhere he goes can only serve to improve his production, including Seattle and Safeco Field. Young should go ahead and get his surgery and sit out this season if he has to, because he's not going to help himself or the team from this point out. Carlos Pena is around to handle first and Randall Simon or Craig Monroe or someone can do the DHing. Truby's injury leaves the Tigers without a third baseman, aka it leaves them with Shane Halter.

NEW YORK YANKEES
Announced that C Alberto Castillo has cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Triple-A Columbus. (07.10)

Claimed RHP Seth Etherton off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds; transferred RHP Christian Parker from the 15- to 60-day DL. (07.11)

The Reds had to realize someone would claim Etherton, but I guess that's both a reality check of how much future he has (that they didn't care to let him go), or makes them look dumb. I don't know.

SEATTLE MARINERS
Placed RHP Rafael Soriano on the 15-day DL; recalled P Mark Watson from Triple-A Tacoma. (07.10)

TAMPA BAY DEVIL RAYS
Activated RHP Ryan Rupe from the 15-day DL; placed IF Russ Johnson on the restricted list. (07.11)

TEXAS RANGERS
Purchased the contract of OF Ruben Rivera from Triple-A Oklahoma; activated OF Rusty Greer from the 15-day DL; activated RHP Rich Rodriguez from the 60-day DL; designated IF Donnie Sadler for assignment; announced that C Todd Greene cleared waivers and has accepted an assignment to Oklahoma. (07.11)

Rivera made a great catch in his first game, prompting Tim Kurkjian to remark that he stole a hit, to which I replied, "hahaha." Greer's return is semi-good news, especially if they trade him. I didn't even know Sadler was with the Rangers.

TORONTO BLUE JAYS
Activated IF Chris Woodward from the 15-day DL; optioned OF Pedro Swann to Triple-A Syracuse. (07.11)

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Activated 3B Matt Williams from the 60-day DL; optioned IF Alex Cintron to Triple-A Tucson. (07.11)

The word is that this will cut into Counsell's playing time, but if the Diamondbacks have the sense of a billy goat they'll just put Rudy at shortstop and give Tony Womack's PT the heave-ho. Counsell has outplayed Womack in every way imaginable this season, putting together a useful campaign of Clutch Hits and Getting On Base. Williams will be looked at to provide some power, but in all honesty I can't imagine him hitting more than .270 with 12 homers, or something close to that. And I fear it'll be much worse.

CINCINNATI REDS
Acquired RHP Ryan Dempster from the Florida Marlins for OF Juan Encarnacion, IF Wilton Guerrero and LHP Ryan Snare; purchased the contracts of 3B Brandon Larson and OF Raul Gonzalez from Triple-A Louisville; optioned RHP Luke Hudson to Louisville. (07.11)

Dempster just became the ace of a contending team, and whether or not that's good is hard to decide. He's a talented pitcher with occasional fits of nocontrolitis that's had his arm beat on for the past three years. The fact that he hasn't been hurt so far is kind of surprising, but he's pitched like someone who has something wrong with his arm, so who knows? The Reds either just acquired an affordable and talented young pitcher, or they got damaged goods.

FLORIDA MARLINS
Acquired OF Juan Encarnacion, IF Wilton Guerrero and LHP Ryan Snare from the Cincinnati Reds for RHP Ryan Dempster; acquired RHP Carl Pavano, LHP Graeme Lloyd, RHP Justin Wayne and IF Mike Mordecai from the Montreal Expos for OF Cliff Floyd, Wilton Guerrero, RHP Claudio Vargas and an undisclosed amount of cash. (07.11)

Poor Wilton Guerrero. The Marlins acquire Juan Encarnacion, Carl Pavano and a heap of junk (Snare and Wayne being young is a plus, but you can't tell if they'll be good or not), and the likelihood of both of them being junk is too high for me to think they got enough in return for giving up one of the better hitters in the league and a solid pitcher. Dempster is more of a dump than Floyd, because they're going to need their cash to lock up Penny, Burnett and Beckett for the long-haul.

MONTREAL EXPOS
Acquired OF Cliff Floyd, IF Wilton Guerrero, RHP Claudio Vargas and an undisclosed amount of cash from the Florida Marlins for RHP Carl Pavano, LHP Graeme Lloyd, RHP Justin Wayne and IF Mike Mordecai. (07.11)

I'm all for Floyd's reasoning of not wanting to play in Montreal, but if they just stick him at first base everything should be hunky-dory. They have a hell of a lineup at the top now with Wilkerson, Vidro, Vlad and Uncle Cliff, who, if he plays through not wanting to be in Montreal, should put up his numbers and contribute. Past that there's still a mess, but Fernando Tatis has hit this year and Orlando Cabrera should really start anytime now. The fact that their rotation is rock-solid with Vazquez, Colon, Armas and Ohka only helps their attempt at a wild card run. I'm not saying it'll happen, and I'll be surprised if it does, but it's far more realistic now than it was a couple days ago.

NEW YORK METS
Activated RHP Mark Corey from the 15-day DL and optioned him to Triple-A Norfolk. (07.12)

PHILADELPHIA PHILLIES
Claimed RHP Brian Reith off waivers from the Cincinnati Reds. (07.11)

SAN DIEGO PADRES
Acquired OF Alex Fernandez and C Humberto Quintero from the Chicago White Sox for IF D'Angelo Jimenez; acquired OF Brian Buchanan from the Minnesota Twins for SS Jason Bartlett; activated 3B/1B Phil Nevin and RHP Bobby J. Jones from the 15-day DL; placed RHP Kevin Jarvis on the 60-day DL; placed RHP Eric Cyr on the 15-day DL; purchased the contract of RHP Tom Davey from Triple-A Portland. (07.12)

Buchanan is more or less the same hitter as Bubba Trammell but not quite as good. The Twins did a good job in trading him away and wishing him all the best, because Bobby Kielty has been super and Dustan Mohr has been darn good, not to mention that Mike Cuddyer is bangin' on the door.
posted by Scott Christ at 6:30 PM

There's not a lot here, but I was pressured to update so here you go.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

CLEVELAND INDIANS
Recalled RHP Jason Phillips from Triple-A Buffalo; optioned RHP Jerrod Riggan to Buffalo. (07.06)

DETROIT TIGERS
Transferred OF Jacob Cruz from the 15- to 60-day DL. (07.06)

I renew my complaints toward the Tigers for even bothering to have Jacob Cruz in the first place. It's not a Rondell White situation where he's good while healthy. He's a mediocre fourth outfielder with a little bit of pop while healthy. Big difference, especially on a bad team.

OAKLAND ATHLETICS
Optioned RHP Mike Fyhrie to Triple-A Sacramento. (07.07)

Extended the lease at Network Associates Coliseum through 2007 with club options through 2010. (07.09)

Well A's fans, there's good news and bad news. The good news is your team isn't going anywhere. The bad news is your team isn't going anywhere cooler than Network Associates Coliseum.

Fyhrie is busted down due to the acquisition of Ted Lilly and Aaron Harang's subsequent and sure-to-be brief demotion to the bullpen. Once Cory Lidle continues to suck, Harang will move back where he belongs.

SEATTLE MARINERS
Placed RHP Ryan Franklin on the 15-day DL, retroactive to June 28; recalled RHP Julio Mateo from Triple-A Tacoma. (07.05)

Franklin has been pretty darn good this season, but the Mariners have a fistful of guys in Triple-A that are probably his equal, including Mateo.

NATIONAL LEAGUE

ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS
Acquired RHP Mike Fetters from the Pittsburgh Pirates for RHP Duaner Sanchez. (07.06)

This trade makes sense for both teams. At 37, Fetters meets the minimum age requirement for Diamondbacks relievers. Also, he's a big fat guy that could add some color to the clubhouse, pulling pranks on the youngsters with the likes of Mark Grace and Greg Swindell. Haha, I can almost smell young whippersnapper Craig Counsell's cleats burning.

COLORADO ROCKIES
Optioned OF Benny Agbayani and RHP Chris Nichting to Triple-A Colorado Springs; recalled C Ben Petrick and LHP Brian Fuentes from Colorado Springs. (07.06)

Agbayani has rapidly gone from lovable tub in New York to platoon player in Colorado to useless platoon player in Colorado to a member of the SkySox. That's something else right there. This will be Ben Petrick's 200th chance at keeping Colorado's starting catching job, assuming he can wrestle it from Bobby Estallela's clutches at all.

PITTSBURGH PIRATES
Recalled RHP Bronson Arroyo from Triple-A Nashville; optioned RHP Duaner Sanchez to Nashville. (07.07)

Arroyo stinks. Sanchez has a great name. It reminds me of that old Rob Schneider SNL character, where he's all, "Hey, it's JIM. The JIM-MAN. JIMARAMA. THE JIMMER." It's like this dude's name is Duane but he hangs out with that guy. "Hey it's DUANE. THE DUANE-MAN. DUANEARAMA. THE DUANER."
posted by Scott Christ at 6:20 PM