Cleveland went to the meetings hoping to land a closer and did not figure to be in the market for Francisco Rodriguez, who has reached a three-year, $37 million deal with the New York Mets, two people familiar with those talks told the AP. The club instead targeted Wood, who had 34 saves last season for Chicago.

If the deal gets completed, the Indians would be able to move on to other offseason priorities such as finding another starting pitcher or possibly a middle infielder.

Wood, though, would fill their most pressing need. Last season, closer Joe Borowski’s early season problems, he blew four saves in his first 10 tries, contributed to the Indians’ slide. After getting to the ALCS in 2007, Cleveland finished a disappointing 81-81 with much of the blame tagged to its shaky bullpen.

Borowski, who led the AL with 45 saves in 2007, was released in July and the Indians used several pitchers in the closing role, including right-hander Jensen Lewis, who saved 13 games down the stretch. Lewis would move back into a late-inning setup spot if Wood is signed.

Though Wood doesn’t throw as hard as he once did, the 30-year-old can still be an intimidating figure on the mound, something the Indians haven’t had in recent years. Both Borowski and Bob Wickman relied on off-speed pitches to fool hitters. The 6-foot-5, 220-pound Wood still goes to his fastball when he needs an out.

The only worry about Wood his durability. He has had a long history of injuries and surgeries, which forced the Cubs to move him from their starting rotation to the bullpen in 2007, a switch Wood had to accept to prolong his career.

The 37-year-old Byrd is 7-10 with a 4.53 ERA this season. But the right-hander has won all four of his starts since the All-Star break.

Boston leads the AL wild-card race. The Red Sox are minus starter Tim Wakefield, the knuckleballer is out with a stiff right shoulder.

The 26-year-old Reyes has split this season between the Cardinals’ bullpen and the starting rotation at Triple-A Memphis. The right-hander was on St. Louis’ opening day roster and went 2-1 with a save in 10 relief appearances. He was placed on the disabled list in June with a sprained right elbow.

Shapiro said Reyes will get a spot in the Triple-A rotation, and he’s expected to join the Indians at some point this season. Reyes likely will compete for a spot in Cleveland’s rotation next spring. At Memphis, Reyes was 2-3 with a 3.25 ERA in 11 starts.

The 24-year-old Perdomo has made nine appearances at Double-A Akron, after beginning the season at Class-A Kinston. La Russa wasn’t sure where the Cardinals would send him.

Blake is hitting .289, a career-best, with 11 HR and 58 RBIs for the Indians this season.

The deal makes it unlikely that the Dodgers will pursue a shortstop. They had been actively seeking a player for the position, most notably the Pirates’ Jack Wilson.

At 50-52, the Dodgers are just one game out of first in the NL West and are looking for an offensive boost after missing out on the CC Sabathia sweepstakes. Only four teams in the majors, including two division rivals, have scored fewer runs this season than the Dodgers’ total of 429.

Blake brings experience and versatility to the Dodgers. He played the infield and outfield for the disappointing Indians, who signed him as a minor league free agent in 2002. He struggled at the plate with runners in scoring position last year, batting just .190 and was often a target of Indians fans, who never seemed to appreciate his all-around value.

This season, Blake was one of Cleveland’s most reliable players. He signed a $6.1 million contract at the start of the season, and the Iowa native has said he would like to finish his career with the Indians.

Cleveland came within one win of the World Series last year and was favored to defend its AL Central title. But costly injuries and underachievement by some of their top players dropped the Indians back in the division and forced general manager Mark Shapiro to begin retooling for the future.

Meloan pitched in five games as a reliever for the Dodgers last season. The club converted him into a starter this year, and the 24-year-old was 5-10 with a 4.97 ERA at Triple-A Las Vegas. The Indians have transferred his option to Triple-A Buffalo, where he will pitch in relief.

Santana, a 22-year-old switch hitter, batted .323 with 14 homers and 96 RBIs at Class-A Inland Empire. He led the California League in RBIs, on-base percentage (.431) and runs (88). Since June 26, he’s batting .393 with six homers and 30 RBIs in 28 games. The Indians said the Dominican Republic native will report to Class-A Kinston.

Milwaukee sent Cleveland Class AA outfielder Matt LaPorta, Class AAA left-hander Zach Jackson, Class A right-hander Rob Bryson and a player to be named.

The Indians will choose the player to be named from a select list. They consider that player to be the second-best player in the deal — a good prospect, sources told FOXSports.com’s Ken Rosenthal. Class A third baseman Taylor Green and outfielder Lorenzo Cain are among the names under consideration.

Sabathia is the first reigning Cy Young winner to be traded since Roger Clemens was dealt to the New York Yankees after winning the award with the Toronto Blue Jays in 1998 — a sign of surrender by Cleveland that hardly anyone would have imagined going into the season.

Sabathia was scheduled to arrive in Milwaukee before Monday night’s game against Colorado and to pitch against the Rockies on Tuesday night. He also is expected to pitch against Cincinnati on Sunday, giving him a pair of starts for his new team at home leading into the All-Star break.

Also Monday, Sabathia said he no longer wants periods after the initials he uses for his first name. It was not immediately known why Sabathia wanted it that way. He was to talk to reporters later in the day.

Brewers principal owner Mark Attanasio said the acquisition of Sabathia will push the team’s payroll past $90 million this season. Attanasio said the move might prevent the club from turning a profit this year, but it was made possible by increased fan support and sound financial decisions in recent years.

Sabathia had a slow start but is 6-8 with a 3.83 ERA. Cleveland scored two runs or fewer in 11 of his 18 starts.

Milwaukee’s starting pitching has been thin ever since Yovani Gallardo went on the disabled list on May 2 with a torn knee ligament that required surgery. His rehab was supposed to take four months, which gives him an outside chance of returning before the end of the season.

Sheets (10-2, 2.77 ERA) is off to the best start of his career, but the All-Star righty is in the final year of a $38.5 million, four-year contract and hasn’t wanted to talk about his upcoming free agency.

Milwaukee, which hasn’t been in the postseason since Robin Yount and Paul Molitor, fell two games short of the division title last year. The Brewers began Monday a percentage point ahead of St. Louis for the second-best record in the NL, and both teams are chasing the Chicago Cubs, who are 3 1/2 games ahead.

In winning the Sabathia sweepstakes, the Brewers outbid at least six teams, including the Los Angeles Dodgers, who could have offered a stronger overall package than Milwaukee and expanded the deal to include Indians infielder/outfielder Casey Blake.

The Dodgers also are pursuing a trade for Pirates shortstop Jack Wilson, and some of the same players would have been in their proposal for Sabathia. Their bid for Wilson is on hold, a source said, with the Dodgers planning to restructure their offer.

The Yankees also were “very heavily involved” in the Sabathia discussions, one source said, but declined to commit the necessary prospects at a time when their 2008 chances are uncertain. The Cubs, Phillies and Rays also showed significant interest, while the Red Sox were on the periphery.

The Indians, who fell one win shy of the World Series last year, are in need of power-hitting corner outfielders and LaPorta is expected to fill that void. He hit .288 with 20 homers and 66 RBIs in 84 games for Double-A Huntsville. He could also end up at first base, where he is considered better defensively, depending upon the Indians’ needs.

Sabathia rejected a $72 million, four-year extension from the Indians during spring training and announced he wouldn’t negotiate until after the season.

Cleveland has seen Jim Thome, Manny Ramirez and Albert Belle leave in free agency.
Bryson, 20, was 3-2 with a 4.25 ERA at Class A West Virginia, working mostly in relief. Jackson, 25, is the least meaningful player in the deal; he will give the Indians additional pitching depth for this season.

Sabathia, 28, is a free agent after this season, and the level of trade interest in him suggests that he might command a six-year contract for between $20 million and $25 million. Rather than retain him at that price, the Brewers will accept two premium draft picks as compensation.

The 35-year-old Graffanino has played for six major league teams since breaking in with Atlanta in 1995. He batted .238 in 86 games for Milwaukee last year before sustaining a season-ending injury to his right knee in August. He had surgery for torn meniscus soon after, and then had a torn anterior cruciate ligament repaired in December. Graffanino, who has a .267 career batting average, will report to Triple-A Buffalo.

Rincon was released by Minnesota on June 12. He made 24 relief appearances and went 2-2 with a 6.11 ERA. He has a 30-26 career record in eight seasons, all with the Twins. He will throw a bullpen session in Cleveland and is expected to report to Buffalo later this week.

The Indians recently offered Sabathia, who is eligible for free agency after the season, a four-year extension believed to be worth $17 million to $18 million per year. But if they want to keep the left-hander, the Indians may have to approach the six-year, $137.5 million contract the New York Mets gave Johan Santana after his recent trade from Minnesota.

Sabathia went 19-7 with a 3.21 ERA and led the majors with 241 innings in 2007, becoming Cleveland’s first Cy Young winner since Gaylord Perry in 1972. He’s expected to again anchor the pitching staff and is in for a huge payday if he hits the free agent market.

The Indians will likely make another offer, but Shapiro said he knows the club will be competing with teams that have bigger payrolls.
In spring training last season, the Indians signed pitcher Jake Westbrook to an extension and laid the groundwork for a new deal for DH Travis Hafner, which was signed in July. Shapiro was hopeful something similar would happen in this camp with Sabathia.

Blake, who can become a free agent after this season, had been seeking $6.9 million. Cleveland offered $5.4 million to the versatile 34-year-old, who made $3.75 million last year.

Blake, who signed with the Indians as a free agent in 2002, hit .270 with 18 homers last season. He began last season at first base and as backup outfielder, but moved to third base when Andy Marte was injured and then demoted to the minor leagues. Blake started 134 games at third base.

The club hasn’t gone to arbitration with a player since 1991.

Carroll will fill the Indians’ need for a utility infielder. He is due to receive $2.15 million in 2008. Last season he batted .225 with two home runs and 22 RBIs in 108 games for Colorado.

Iguchi is the Rockies’ first choice to fill their second base vacancy. Iguchi was traded to the Phillies from the White Sox in the days leading up to last summer’s non-waiver trade deadline. Despite a slow first half of 2007, Iguchi rebounded with Philadelphia, batting .304 after switching leagues.