Latest news and rumors from around MLB
Updated 4:28 p.m.: Manny traded to Dodgers
MLB trade deadline
Manny Ramirez has been traded to the Dodgers in a three-team blockbuster, pending the approval of the commissioner's office, according to a source with knowledge of the deal.
Pirates outfielder Jason Bay is headed to the Red Sox. The Pirates will receive Andy LaRoche and right-hander Bryan Morris from the Dodgers and outfielder Brandon Moss and reliever Craig Hansen from the Red Sox.
The Red Sox will pay all of the approximately $7 million remaining on Ramirez's contract.
Ramirez should provide a major boost to the Dodgers' offense, but his arrival will add to the crowd in the Dodgers' outfield, which already includes Andre Ethier, Matt Kemp, Juan Pierre and Andruw Jones.
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3:33 p.m.: Mets look to bolster bullpen
The Mets are discussing a trade with the Nationals for right-handed reliever Luis Ayala, but with 30 minutes remaining until the non-waiver deadline, an official with one of the clubs said it was "hard to say" whether the deal would be completed.
The trade, if it occurs, would bolster the Mets' bullpen while likely bringing the Nationals a low-level prospect.
The discussions were first reported by SI.com.
2:05 p.m.: Jays discussing deal for Ibanez
The Blue Jays, a team on the fringes of contention, are discussing a trade for Mariners outfielder Raul Ibanez.
The Jays are 9 ½ games back in the AL East, but only 6 ½ games back in the wild-card race.
If the Jays acquire Ibanez, a potential free agent, they likely would offer him salary arbitration at the end of the season.
If Ibanez accepted arbitration, the Jays would retain him for another year. If he signed with another club, they would receive two high draft picks.
Updated 1:21 p.m.: Yankees unlikely to land Byrd
Barring a last-minute change, the Indians are unlikely to trade right-hander Paul Byrd before the 4 p.m. ET non-waiver deadline.
The Yankees, frustrated by their attempts to land Mariners left-hander Jarrod Washburn, "kicked around" the idea of adding Byrd, but their interest appears minimal, according to major-league sources.
The Indians likely would not seek much in return from Byrd, who also has drawn mild interest from the Rockies.
Byrd, 5-10 with a 4.93 ERA, could be moved during the August trading period. He is unlikely to be claimed on waivers due to his $7.5 million salary.
1:13 p.m.: Phillies looking for lefty relievers
The Phillies continue to target three left-handed relievers — the Braves' Will Ohman, Pirates' John Grabow and Giants' Jack Taschner. The team also had been in the mix for the Royals' Ron Mahay, but could not meet the Royals' price.
An executive from one team in touch with the Royals says he does not believe that Mahay will be traded. The Royals have Mahay under contract next season for a salary of $4 million.
Updated 12:59 p.m.: Marlins still after Laird
The Marlins are still pushing to acquire Rangers catcher Gerald Laird, but the teams have been unable to agree on which of the Marlins' starting pitchers the Rangers would receive, according to major-league sources.
The Marlins completed one trade Thursday morning, acquiring left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes from the Mariners for minor-league pitcher Gaby Hernandez, sources confirmed.
That deal, first reported by ESPN.com, figures to end the Marlins' pursuit of Pirates left-hander John Grabow in their three-way talks with the Pirates and Red Sox regarding Sox left fielder Manny Ramirez.
The Ramirez trade remains on hold as the Red Sox try to assemble the prospects necessary to acquire left fielder Jason Bay from the Pirates.
The Marlins have informed the Red Sox they will part with outfielder Jeremy Hermida and a prospect, but no more.
Updated 12:00 p.m.: Griffey OKs trade to White Sox
Ken Griffey Jr. has never played in a World Series. Now he might get his chance.
Griffey has approved a trade to the White Sox, according to a source with knowledge of the deal. The trade is now pending the approval of the commissioner, an indication that it involves a cash transaction of more than $1 million.
Once the deal is approved, which is expected to be a formality, the Reds would get right-handed reliever Nick Masset, who was 1-0 with a 4.63 ERA in 32 games for Chicago, and second baseman Danny Richar, who hit .262 with nine homers for Triple-A Charlotte.
Griffey had the right to block a deal as a player with at least 10 years of major-league service, five with the same club. He did not receive any form of compensation for waiving his no-trade protection.
The White Sox, leading the American League Central by 1 ½ games, would use Griffey mostly in the outfield, the source said. However, they do not have an obvious spot for Griffey unless they make another trade.
The Sox are set at the corners with Carlos Quentin in left and Jermaine Dye in right. They could play Nick Swisher at first to open center for Griffey, a move that would reduce the playing time of first baseman Paul Konerko and designated hitter Jim Thome. But Griffey has not played center regularly since 2006.
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10:47 a.m.: Maddux talks break down
Barring a last-minute reversal, Greg Maddux will not be traded.
Talks between the Padres and Dodgers collapsed due to financial reasons; the Dodgers were unwilling to take on most of the approximately $3.4 million that Maddux is owed for this season, according to a major-league source.
The Dodgers were willing to send the Padres a small amount of money, the source said, but offered only low-quality prospects in return. The Padres do not plan to call the Dodgers back, the source said.
The Dodgers are working other deals, but almost all of their trade discussions have been for deals that would not add to their 2008 payroll.
The team acquired Indians third baseman Casey Blake for two minor leaguers on Saturday only when the Indians agreed to pay the remainder of Blake's 2008 salary.
1:19 a.m.: Braves dispute "one phone call" for Teixeira
The Braves dispute Mark Teixeira's version that the team made only "one phone call" while attempting to sign him to a contract extension during spring training.
Braves general manager Frank Wren actually spoke with Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras, multiple times during a four-day period, according to a source with knowledge of the discussions.
Teixeira, after his trade to the Angels, might have referred to "one phone call" because he received only one offer, but his talks with the Braves were destined to fail anyway.
Boras rarely recommends that his potential free agents sign contract extensions, preferring the values of those players be determined on the open market.
1:19 a.m.: Tabata a low-risk move for Bucs
While the trade has been widely panned, Pirates officials naturally had their reasons for accepting outfield prospect Jose Tabata plus minor-league right-handers Ross Ohlendorf, Dan McCutchen and Jeff Karstens from the Yankees for outfielder Xavier Nady and reliever Damaso Marte.
The Pirates view Tabata as a classic buy-low talent who could be liberated by his trade from the Yankees. At age 19, he faced intense pressure as one of the Yankees' top prospects and also had to deal with wrist problems last season.
Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips and Marlins shortstop Hanley Ramirez also were traded in part because of their questionable makeups, only to become All-Stars. The Pirates believe they need to occasionally gamble on such players.
As for the pitchers in the deal, the Pirates believe that Ohlendorf and McCutchen stand a chance of becoming mid-rotation starters. If even one of them fulfills that projection, the deal could go down as a success. Nady's performance this season far exceeded his previous career levels, and Marte was due to become a free agent.
Wednesday
9:25 p.m.: Good timing on Farnsworth deal
The Yankees might have traded Kyle Farnsworth at just the right time.
Farnsworth enjoyed a resurgence this season under new Yankees manager Joe Girardi, his former catcher with the Cubs. But Yankees officials experienced renewed doubts about Farnsworth last Friday night after he needed to be replaced by closer Mariano Rivera to escape an eighth-inning jam at Fenway Park.
Ivan "Pudge" Rodriguez will be an offensive upgrade for the Yankees at catcher, and he also will help shut down opponents' running games. Jose Molina figures to continue playing once every three or four games, likely catching right-hander Mike Mussina, who raves about Molina's work behind the plate.
Rodriguez did not receive compensation for waiving his no-trade clause.
8:32 p.m.: Yankees deal Hawkins to Houston
The Yankees have traded reliever LaTroy Hawkins to the Astros for Class A second baseman Matt Cusick, according to major-league sources.
Hawkins was designated for assignment last Saturday after the Yankees acquired reliever Damaso Marte from the Pirates. He was 1-1 with a 5.71 ERA in 41 innings this season.
Cusick, 22, was batting .285 with nine home runs and 38 RBIs in 94 games for Class A Lexington. He was the Astros' 10th-round pick in the 2007 draft, and the Astros' No. 29 prospect according to Baseball America.
Updated 7:43 p.m.: Rockies still shopping Fuentes?
Earlier this week, the Rockies sounded unwilling to trade closer Brian Fuentes.
Either they were bluffing, or their position is changing.
The Rockies spent part of Wednesday "poking around" with teams interested in Fuentes, according to an executive from an another club. Their asking price, however, remains high — a young starting pitcher who could immediately join their rotation, or two quality prospects.
Few teams want to part with a pitcher for a potential free agent, but the slow-developing market for relievers could work to the Rockies' advantage. Fuentes is by far the best reliever available, and the Rockies could stage an all-out auction for him Thursday.
6:26 p.m.: All quiet with A's, Mets
Two teams that were not terribly active as of 6 p.m. ET on Wednesday night: The A's and Mets.
The A's were getting practically no action on reliever Huston Street, and the Mets were refusing to include any of their top prospects in a deal for the Mariners' Raul Ibanez or any available reliever.
The Mets' strategy for the moment, sources say, is to upgrade in any area that could make the team better, but only if the price is right. Thus, they could move on a starter, reliever, hitter or utility player, but are not focused on one particular area of need.
4:37 p.m.: Yankees acquire Pudge Rodriguez
The Yankees aren't about to go quietly in the AL East.
New York has acquired catcher Ivan Rodriguez from the Tigers in exchange for reliever Kyle Farnsworth.
The deal, first reported by ESPN.com, will give the Yankees a complement to Jose Molina, and likely jeopardize the roster spot of Chad Moeller.
"You have to give up to get," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "You have to do the balancing act."
Tigers president Dave Dombrowski said the team didn't want to trade Rodriguez, but had bigger needs in the bullpen. The two teams began discussing the deal early Wednesday and had it wrapped up about six hours later, just as the Yankees were finishing off a 13-3 win over the Orioles.
"It's going to be very exciting. They are in the race and I'm ready to do my job," Rodriguez said.
To read the rest of this story, click here.
11:43 a.m.: Bullpen market crash?
As the deadline nears, the Cardinals, Rays and several other clubs are unwilling to trade off future parts for a marginal upgrade in the bullpen.
Unless prices start dropping quickly, the market for relievers could crash, leaving several clubs stuck with pitchers that they sought to trade.
With Orioles closer George Sherrill seemingly out of play and Rockies closer Brian Fuentes also unlikely to move, the top available relievers probably are Royals lefty Ron Mahay and Braves lefty Will Ohman.
Among the other relievers on the market: Mariners lefty Arthur Rhodes, Cubs lefty Scott Eyre, Rangers lefty Eddie Guardado, A's righty Huston Street and Padres righty Cla Meredith.
Updated 11:02 a.m.: Mariners boxed in?
The Mariners may be facing the same problem with left fielder Raul Ibanez that they are with left-hander Jarrod Washburn. The trade market for both players appears limited.
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Stalemated with the Yankees over Washburn, the Mariners are trying to stir interest in other clubs, including the Rockies. Lots of luck when the M's want to purge the remainder of Washburn's $9.85 million salary this season and $10.35 million salary next season and get legitimate players in return.
Ibanez, a free agent after this season, is owed only about $2.2 million. But the M's want two quality prospects from the Mets for a two-month rental. The Cubs also are interested, but perhaps not as motivated as the Mets.
The Diamondbacks had early interest in Ibanez, but their need for him has diminished — they're playing Conor Jackson in left field and Chad Tracy at first base while awaiting the return of right fielder Justin Upton from a left oblique strain in 7 to 10 days.
The Mariners do not want to move Ibanez for less than the value of the two premium draft picks they would receive if they offered him arbitration and he left as a free agent. But Lee Pelekoudas, the team's interim general manager, surely does not want to get shut out at the unrestricted trade deadline when he is trying to earn the job permanently.
1:04 a.m.: Inside the Teixeira deal
The Braves chose between two offers for first baseman Mark Teixeira, sources say.
The Angels proposed first baseman Casey Kotchman and Class AA right-hander Stephen Marek. The Diamondbacks offered Tracy and right-hander Micah Owings.
In the end, the Braves' decision was easy.
Kotchman, 25, is nearly three years younger than Tracy, under club control for three more seasons and still capable of offensive growth.
Tracy, 28, is under contract for $4.75 million next season with a $7 million club option for 2010 — higher salaries than Kotchman will earn during that time.
Teixeira heads to L.A.
Video: Mark Teixeira is the newest member of the Angels. Ken Rosenthal gives you on the big trade.
More on the big trade:
The difference in pitchers, while debatable, also tilted in favor of the Angels' offer.
Owings, 25, is viewed skeptically by some rival executives, and the D-Backs sent him to Class AAA on Tuesday with a 6-9 record and 5.93 ERA.
Marek, 24, also is not a sure thing — one rival exec questions his athleticism and arm action — but the Braves project him as a setup man and possibly a starter.
Braves right-hander Tim Hudson could require "Tommy John" ligament-transplant surgery, and their rotation already is an area of greater need than their bullpen.
The Braves also offered left-hander Will Ohman to the Angels with the goal of receiving another prospect or two. But the Angels balked at including additional young players.
Ohman is virtually certain to be traded before the deadline for non-waiver deals hits at 4 p.m. ET on Thursday. The Rays, Cardinals and Red Sox are believed to be among the teams interested.
1:04 a.m.: The Angels' uncertain future
The addition of Teixeira is a terrific short-term move for the Angels, but further complicates their long-term vision.
The Angels' slew of expiring contracts over the next two years will leave GM Tony Reagins with one difficult decision after another.
Teixeira, right-hander Jon Garland and closer Francisco Rodriguez are free agents after this season. The Angels also must make a call on Garret Anderson's $14 million club option and ponder long-term deals for right fielder Vladimir Guerrero, right-hander John Lackey and third baseman Chone Figgins, all of whom are eligible for free agency after next season.
Then again, one of the enduring inequities in baseball is the ability of high-revenue teams to acquire high-salaried potential free agents and then amass draft picks when they depart. Teixeira, Garland and Rodriguez all could sign with other teams this offseason, enabling the Angels to stockpile picks.
Around the horn
The Rockies, searching for a starting pitcher, remain interested in re-acquiring right-hander Josh Fogg, who left the team for the Reds last off-season as a free agent. Fogg shares a unique bond with the Rockies' players, drawing confidence from their confidence in him.
More Rockies: Two straight losses in Pittsburgh could leave the team more open to trading potential free-agent closer Brian Fuentes. But the Rockies, seeking a young starting pitcher with upside for Fuentes, have struggled to find a proper match . . .
Reliever Cla Meredith, the Padre most likely to be traded before the deadline, has regressed since his spectacular debut in 2006, but still should appeal to a contender. Few quality right-handed relievers are available, and any team that acquires Meredith would control him for four more seasons . . .
Incentive for the Nationals to trade right-hander Tim Redding, left-hander Odalis Perez and any other veteran parts: A better chance at "earning" the No. 1 pick in next year's draft and selecting San Diego State right-hander Stephen Strasburg. Strasburg, who recently turned 20, is the lone collegiate player on the U.S. Olympic team.
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