The Minnesota Twins acquired first baseman Phil Nevin and cash from the Chicago Cubs on Thursday for a player to be named, a deal made on the final day players must be in an organization to be eligible for postseason play.
The 35-year-old Nevin was already dealt once this season, moving from the Texas Rangers to the Cubs on May 31 for utility player Jerry Hairston Jr. Nevin was batting .274 with 12 homers and 33 RBI in 179 at-bats for Chicago.
The Padres won the last-minute sweepstakes for Wells, acquiring the veteran left-hander from the Red Sox on Thursday in exchange for a player to be named or cash. The player is Class AAA catcher George Kottaras.
Wells, a native of San Diego, pitched for the Padres in 2004, then signed with the Red Sox as a free agent after that season. He spent two months on the disabled list with right knee soreness earlier this season but was 2-2 with a 2.65 ERA in five August starts.
If Wells stays healthy, he will bring vast postseason experience to a rotation that already includes right-handers Jake Peavy and Woody Williams and left-hander Chris Young. In 26 career postseason appearances — 16 starts — Wells is 10-4 with a 3.15 ERA.
The Mets, seeking to upgrade their backup catcher and add infield depth, are talking to the Rockies about acquiring catcher Danny Ardoin and infielder Luis Gonzalez for a minor-league pitcher.
Ardoin, 32, was designated for assignment by the Rockies last Friday. A poor hitter but strong defender, he likely would replace Mike DiFelice.
Gonzalez, 27, primarily is a second baseman, but he has played all four infield positions in the past two seasons as well as left field and right. He would give the Mets protection if Jose Valentin again is slowed by his right hamstring injury.
In return for Ardoin and Gonzalez, the Rockies likely would receive Class AA right-hander Matt Lindstrom, 26, or Class AA right-hander Henry Owens, 27.
Owens currently is pitching for Team USA in the Olympic qualifying tournament. Neither he nor Lindstrom has pitched above Class AA.
Jeff Conine was traded to Philadelphia from the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday, a deal that provides the Phillies with a solid right-handed bat and veteran leadership in their drive to earn a wild-card berth.
The Orioles sent Conine and cash to Philadelphia for a player to be named. The deal was completed during the seventh inning of Baltimore’s 5-4 win over Tampa Bay on Sunday.
Conine is hitting .265 with nine homers and 49 RBIs. He’s played left field this season and spent some time at first base.
Outfielder Shawn Green was traded from the Arizona Diamondbacks to the New York Mets for Triple-A pitcher Evan McLane.
In addition to pursuing Green, the Mets spoke with the Giants about a trade for outfielder Moises Alou.
Green was hitting .283 with 11 home runs and 51 RBIs this season. The two-time All-Star once hit four homers in a game, and has four seasons of at least 100 RBIs.
The Toronto Blue Jays traded outfielder Eric Hinske and $2.8 million to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday for a player to be determined.
Hinske, who also can play first and third, is hitting .264 with 12 home runs and 29 RBIs. Boston is assuming the $1.1 million left on his contract this season.
The 29-year-old Hinske won the 2002 AL rookie of the year award when he hit .279 with 24 homers and 84 RBIs. He was rewarded with a $14.75-million, five-year deal before the 2003 season, but has struggled since and was used off the bench this year.
The Cincinnati Reds acquired left-hander Scott Schoeneweis from the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday for a player to be named or cash.
The move came two days after the Reds learned that left-handed reliever Kent Mercker will need reconstructive surgery on his left elbow. Mercker has a torn ligament and tendon in the elbow.
Schoeneweis is the seventh pitcher acquired in the last six weeks by the Reds, who have stayed in playoff contention partly by remaking their bullpen. A 5-0 loss in St. Louis on Tuesday night left Cincinnati in second place in the NL Central, 2 1/2 games behind the Cardinals.
The 32-year-old Schoeneweis went 2-2 with a 6.51 ERA in 55 games for the Blue Jays this season. He is 41-47 in his career with a 5.09 ERA in nine seasons with Toronto, the Angels and the White Sox.
The Red Sox, seeking to boost their offense, are talking to the Blue Jays about a trade for infielder/outfielder Eric Hinske.
Hinske, who has cleared waivers, was pulled from the Jays’ lineup Wednesday night, though a club official said it was only because the team wanted to play third baseman Troy Glaus.
If a deal with the Red Sox is completed, Hinske, presumably would platoon with Wily Mo Pena in right field while Sox right fielder Trot Nixon remains on the disabled list with a strained right biceps.
Hinske, 29, has appeared in 30 games in right this season, more than at any other position. He also has played third base, first and left field.
The Blue Jays have been looking to move Hinske’s contract since last off-season. Hinske is owed the balance of his $4.325 million salary this season and $5.6 million next season.
While the Jays also are talking to other teams about Hinske, the Red Sox are perhaps the most logical suitor because of their ability to absorb his contract.
In exchange for Todd Hollandsworth the Indians get a player to be named or cash from Cincinnati.
Hollandsworth will be utilized mostly as a left-handed pinch-hitter off the Reds bench.
Hollandsworth batted .237 with six home runs and 27 RBIs in 56 games with Cleveland this season, including two long balls against the Reds during Interleague Play. The 33-year-old is a career .273 hitter over 12 big league seasons, and also had stops with the Dodgers, Rockies, Rangers, Marlins, Cubs and Braves. Hollandsworth’s seven career pinch-hit homers is tied for eighth among active players.
The Mets have calimed Dodgers OF Ricky Ledee off waivers.
In the final season of a two-year contract that pays him $1.5 million this season, Ledee is batting .245, with 33 of his 53 at-bats coming as a pinch-hitter.