Baseball Capsules: Phillies get Cy Young winner Lee from Indians
PHILADELPHIA — Cliff Lee’s new teammates were so excited to get him, they gave the man responsible for the trade a clubhouse curtain call.
Looking for an ace to bolster their so-so rotation, the Philadelphia Phillies acquired Lee on Wednesday from Cleveland, marking the second straight year the Indians traded the reigning AL Cy Young Award winner.
When general manager Ruben Amaro Jr. walked through the locker room hours before the defending World Series champions played in Arizona, many Phillies greeted him with applause.
"One of our goals has been to add someone to our rotation that can be a difference-maker," Amaro said in a conference call. "It’s important to show our guys on the field that we’re making the best effort to put the best team out there."
The NL East-leading Phillies gave Cleveland four minor league prospects for Lee and outfielder Ben Francisco. The left-handed Lee is 7-9 with a 3.14 ERA in 22 starts this season after going 22-3 with a 2.54 ERA last year.
"I’m going to miss all these guys here, but it’s an opportunity for me to help a team that’s in first place," Lee said after the Indians lost to the Los Angeles Angels 9-3 in Anaheim, Calif.
"They’re the defending world champions. So as far as that goes, I’m excited. But right now I’ve got to figure out how to get there and meet up with them and get acclimated to their team," Lee said.
The Phillies sent Triple-A pitcher Carlos Carrasco, infielder Jason Donald and catcher Lou Marson along with Single-A pitcher Jason Knapp to Cleveland.
Last year, the Indians dealt CC Sabathia, then the reigning Cy Young winner and in the final year of his contract, to the Milwaukee Brewers. Sabathia helped the Brewers into the postseason before signing a $161 million, seven-year contract with the New York Yankees.
Lee turns 31 next month and his contract includes a $9 million club option for next season.
"At the root of this deal was balancing the conviction of our ability to compete in 2010 with the opportunity to impact the team’s construction for years to come," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said in a statement.
The Phillies pursued Blue Jays ace Roy Halladay, but shifted their attention to Lee because Toronto’s asking price for the six-time All-Star is high. Philadelphia balked at trading top pitching prospect Kyle Drabek, who was the 18th overall pick in the 2006 amateur draft.
Amaro acquired Lee without giving up Drabek, rookie left-hander J.A. Happ, who was 7-1 going into his start at Arizona, or highly touted minor league outfielders Michael Taylor and Dominic Brown.
"Watching him go through last year and this year, it’s not like it’s far off of Halladay at all," Phillies closer Brad Lidge said of Lee. "He’s that kind of pitcher. And not having to give up Happ to get him, that’s pretty impressive."
Lee gives the Phillies another top starter to join Cole Hamels. The MVP of the World Series and NLCS last fall has been inconsistent this season — Hamels was 7-5 with a 4.42 ERA, though he pitched well in a victory at Arizona on Tuesday.
The Phillies have a comfortable lead in the division — seven games ahead of second-place Florida going into Wednesday’s games. They’ve sought pitching help since No. 2 starter Brett Myers had hip surgery in June. Jamie Moyer leads the staff with 10 wins, but he is 46 and has a 5.32 ERA.
The addition of Lee means Philadelphia has to drop someone — possibly Rodrigo Lopez — from its starting rotation. Lopez, though, is 3-0 with a 3.09 ERA in four starts. The Phillies also have Pedro Martinez rehabbing in the minors. The three-time Cy Young Award winner signed a $1 million, one-year contract during the All-Star break.
"I’d rather have a surplus than have needs," Amaro said. "It’ll work itself out."
Manager Charlie Manuel said he’ll probably make a decision about the rotation on the team’s plane ride to San Francisco after the game.
Francisco, who is batting .250 with 10 homers and 33 RBIs, upgrades Philadelphia’s bench, which has lacked a solid, right-handed hitter.
The Indians have been a disappointment this season and their decision to deal Lee for prospects is another blow for Cleveland fans, who have seen stars like Manny Ramirez, Jim Thome and Sabathia leave via free agency or trade.
"We’ve been through this before with much less talent in our cabinet," Shapiro said. "If we hadn’t made tough decisions and trades before like this in the past, we wouldn’t have had guys like Cliff."
The club had hoped to sign Lee to an extension but talks broke off during spring training. A succession of injuries and dismal relief pitching dropped the Indians out of contention and forced Shapiro to begin rebuilding.
The Indians traded infielder/outfielder Mark DeRosa to St. Louis last month, sent reliever Rafael Betancourt to Colorado last week and dealt first baseman Ryan Garko to San Francisco on Monday.
Carrasco may be the closest to joining Cleveland’s roster. The 22-year-old right-hander struggled early this season at Triple-A Lehigh Valley, but has pitched well recently. He was 6-9 with a 5.18 ERA in 20 starts, and had 112 strikeouts in 114 2-3 innings.
The 18-year-old Knapp was Philadelphia’s second-round pick in last year’s draft. He’s 6-foot-5, 215 pounds and possesses an overpowering fastball, with 111 strikeouts in 85 1-3 innings. But he hasn’t pitched since July 11 because of right shoulder soreness.
Marson, 23, was hitting .294 with one homer and 24 RBIs in 63 games at Lehigh Valley. He was 4 for 17 in seven games with the Phillies. Donald, 24, recently returned from knee surgery and was batting .236 with one homer and 16 RBIs in 51 games at Lehigh Valley.
"We gave them four very good baseball prospects, and that hurts," Amaro said. "When you want to acquire talent, you have to give talent, and that was part of the deal here."
Giants get 3-time All-Star Sanchez from Pirates
SAN FRANCISCO — Freddy Sanchez offered handshakes and hugs and bid farewell to the Pittsburgh Pirates before walking some 100 yards down the hallway to his new team.
San Francisco swept the Pirates on Wednesday, then plucked one of their top players.
The Giants acquired Sanchez and made it a convenient switch for the three-time All-Star hours after double-play partner and shortstop Jack Wilson was traded to Seattle.
The teams announced the swap following the Giants’ 1-0, 10-innings victory — so Sanchez merely had to change clubhouses to join his new organization, which is in the thick of the NL wild-card race.
"It’s crazy," said Sanchez, who’s unsure when he’ll make his Giants debut because of a knee injury. "I’d be lying if I didn’t say it’s a little crazy, a little hectic. I’m here for a reason."
Once it was official, Sanchez left the visitor’s side and headed to San Francisco’s locker room to pull on his new No. 28 jersey and a black Giants cap before being formally introduced.
Indeed. The Giants haven’t reached the playoffs since 2003 and have endured four straight losing seasons.
San Francisco sent minor league pitcher Tim Alderson to the Pirates for the 31-year-old Sanchez, the 2006 NL batting champion.
"Simply put, our long-awaited next move has finally been consummated," Giants general manager Brian Sabean said. "A kid that has distinguished himself as an All-Star three out of the last four years and a batting champ within that time frame. The timing’s great."
The Giants’ medical staff twice examined Sanchez this week to make sure his inflamed left knee was fine. Sanchez was a late scratch Monday night and didn’t play at all during the Pirates’ three-game series in the Bay Area, giving San Francisco’s medical staff ample time to evaluate him. He also sat out Friday night’s game at Arizona.
"It’s tough coming to a new team not knowing if you can play or not," Sanchez said. "That’s the last thing you want to do is come to a new team and be in the trainer’s room. I want to get there as soon as I can but I also want to be smart about it."
Sanchez is hitting .296 with six home runs and 34 RBIs, and did not play in this week’s series against the Giants because of the knee. He was an All-Star in 2006, 2007 and this year.
He will move into the No. 2 hole in the batting order and be the regular second baseman. Sanchez is 3 for 34 over his last eight games, but hopes to be back on track soon.
It was the second trade of the day for the last-place Pirates, and second swap of the week for the Giants after acquiring infielder-outfielder Ryan Garko from Cleveland on Monday.
Friday is the deadline for teams to make deals without waivers.
"We’re relieved this has come to fruition," Sabean said.
So is Sanchez, who had been dealing with the trade rumors since the All-Star break.
"I’m human," he said. "You try to put things in the back of your head and be professional about it but we’re all human. It just feels good that it’s over with. There was a little uncertainty. Now I can just concentrate and go play and help these guys win."
Pittsburgh sent Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell to the Mariners for shortstop Ronny Cedeno, Triple-A catcher-first baseman Jeff Clement and three minor league pitchers earlier in the day.
Since starting the season with a $48.7 million payroll, ahead of only San Diego and Florida, Pittsburgh has traded what had been its four highest-paid players: Wilson ($7.45 million), Adam LaRoche ($7.05 million), Sanchez ($6.25 million) and Snell ($3.2 million).
"It’s just part of the game. It happens," third baseman Andy LaRoche said. "I don’t know if this is normal but it’s just the way that our brass sees it and our front office feels we need to get us going in the right direction. It’s obviously a tough loss losing guys you’ve become close with and you’ve played with and the guys you have fun being around and you’ve gone into battle with. You can’t let it really affect you."
With Garko and Sanchez, it gives the club a completely new look on the right side of the infield.
"It’s just exciting to be a part of this," Garko said upon learning about Sanchez. "The pitching’s so good and we’ve got real good players. I think we can make a run at it. Coming from Cleveland, where kind of the opposite is going on, as a player, when ownership and the general manager are going out there and getting you help, it’s a great thing."
-- Janie McCauley
Mariners, Pirates trade shortstops
SEATTLE — While they wait on a possible trade of top starter Jarrod Washburn, the busy Seattle Mariners acquired shortstop Jack Wilson and pitcher Ian Snell from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Wednesday.
The Pirates got shortstop Ronny Cedeno, Triple-A catcher-first baseman Jeff Clement and three minor league pitchers in return.
The 31-year-old Wilson, the most senior Pirates player and an All-Star in 2004, becomes Seattle’s third everyday shortstop this season. He’s so embedded in Pittsburgh, his wife flew home on the Pirates’ charter from San Francisco on Wednesday as he flew north to his new team.
"I would call it a relatively major trade. We got a 27-year-old pitcher with three years’ experience in the major leagues and arguably one of the better defensive shortstops in the league for guys who are yet to be proven," Mariners general manager Jack Zduriencik said.
Seattle also traded failed left fielder Wladimir Balentien to Cincinnati for right-hander Robert Manuel, who has 40 games of experience above Double-A.
A more major deal, of the coveted Washburn, could happen before Friday’s non-waiver trading deadline. The Yankees, Brewers and Tigers are among the teams rumored to be interested.
"I’m all ears at this point," Zduriencik said. "I can’t say anything’s imminent. I don’t think I have a framework yet. ... There are discussions."
Wilson arrived in the Mariners’ dugout from Pittsburgh’s road trip in San Francisco just as Ken Griffey Jr. was hitting the decisive double in the seventh inning of Seattle’s 3-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays, then joined in the hugs with Griffey and his new teammates.
"Pretty good first impression," Wilson said. "I was like, ‘All right, I’m a Mariner."
Wilson and second baseman Freddy Sanchez, a fellow Southern Californian who was traded to the Giants hours later, are the latest to flee a Pittsburgh franchise that is shedding veterans to restock its farm system. Both were recently offered contract extensions. Neither player negotiated because each felt the offer was too low.
"I think seeing him go made this move a lot less emotional for me to come over here because he was gone," Sanchez said of Wilson.
The Bucs are careening toward what would be a major league-record 17th consecutive losing season. They’ve now traded seven starting players since last July: outfielders Jason Bay, Nate McLouth, Xavier Nady and Nyjer Morgan, first baseman Adam LaRoche, plus Wilson and Sanchez.
"People now might wonder what we’re doing, but if you keep looking at all the names we’re getting and all the premier talent we’re getting, it’s going to equate to a very solid, very good ballclub in Pittsburgh," manager John Russell said.
Seattle had acquired Cedeno in the offseason from the Chicago Cubs. He struggled after the Mariners gave him their shortstop job this month by trading Yuniesky Betancourt to Kansas City.
Cedeno is hitless in his last 26 at-bats and is hitting .167 in 59 games. The 26-year-old’s contract ends after the season, though Pittsburgh could retain him through arbitration.
"I’m really surprised, because I feel comfortable here," Cedeno said. "Great teammates, great coaches, everything. ... I’m really sad."
In Clement, the Pirates are getting the third overall draft pick in 2005 who has shown impressive power but has been unable to play catcher consistently. He has primarily been a DH at Triple-A, though general manager Neal Huntington said Clement will mainly be a first baseman.
Clement, who turns 26 next month, batted .237 with seven homers in 75 games for Seattle in 2007-08. He was batting .288 with 14 home runs and 68 RBIs in 92 games for Tacoma this season.
"Our scouts have consistently projected Clement to be an everyday major league contributor with the power to hit 20-plus home runs," Huntington said.
The Pirates also get minor league right-handers Nathan Adcock, Brett Lorin and Aaron Pribanic.
The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette reported the Pirates are paying Seattle just over $3.3 million in Wednesday’s deal. The newspaper said the trade leaves Seattle responsible for all 2010 payments, including Snell’s $4.25 million salary, and the option buyouts for Wilson and Snell.
The Mariners inherit a club option on Wilson worth $8.4 million in 2010, with a $600,000 buyout. Zduriencik said his team will "entertain" picking up the option or signing Wilson to a long-term extension.
"I’ve known his agent, Page Odle, since he was a player in college," Seattle’s GM said. "We have a guy that’s a good player, and he’ll be here for a while."
The Mariners think they can restart Snell’s stalled career. The 27-year-old had a 0.96 ERA in six starts with Triple-A Indianapolis, after starting the season 2-8 with a 5.36 ERA in 15 starts for Pittsburgh.
He is likely to begin his Seattle tenure with Triple-A Tacoma.
Snell was sent to Triple-A at his own request on June 25. He struck out 13 in a row in his first start there, but Pirates have been reluctant to recall him.
-- Gregg Bell
Busy Mariners add a pitcher, trade Balentien
SEATTLE — The busy Seattle Mariners acquired right-handed reliever Robert Manuel from the Cincinnati Reds in exchange for outfielder Wladimir Balentien on Wednesday.
Mariners general manager Jack Zdurienick’s second trade of the day was for a 26-year-old pitcher with three games of major league experience as a reliever — all in the last three weeks. Manuel has just 40 games of experience above Double-A.
Seattle earlier added shortstop Jack Wilson and right-hander Ian Snell from Pittsburgh for shortstop Ronny Cedeno, catcher Jeff Clement and three minor leaguers.
Seattle designated Balentien for assignment on Sunday. The 25-year-old had struggled as Seattle’s left fielder following a season-ending injury to Endy Chavez, hitting .213 with 13 RBIs in 56 games.
The Reds needed an outfielder because of injuries. Right fielder Jay Bruce has a broken wrist, and left fielder Chris Dickerson went on the disabled list Monday with a shoulder injury.
Balentien was at his home in Arizona after being designated for assignment. The Reds expect him to join the team before the start of a series against Colorado on Friday.
Manager Dusty Baker said he’ll work him into the lineup slowly.
"He’s strong," Baker said. "He’s a little bit rough. He hadn’t played that much lately. He has some tools. He hasn’t played in a while, so I might take a few days to get him in the lineup."
Balentien got his first substantial time in the majors last year with Seattle and batted .201 with seven homers and 24 RBIs. He doesn’t draw many walks or steal many bases.
American League
Orioles place sore-armed Hill on disabled list
BALTIMORE — Left-hander Rich Hill was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday by the Baltimore Orioles, who labeled his injury as "shoulder inflammation" even though the pitcher contends he’s had a torn labrum since the beginning of the season.
Hill is 3-3 with a 7.80 ERA in 14 games (including 13 starts) this season. He didn’t blame his poor ERA entirely on the shoulder injury, but acknowledged he was throwing in pain.
"I’ve been pitching with a torn labrum pretty much all season, so it’s kind of something that I think it’s either gotten worse or it’s still the same," Hill said. "I’m not looking for an out or an excuse, but ... pitching with a torn labrum is something that isn’t very easy to do, I guess you could say."
Orioles manager Dave Trembley acted surprised when told the extent of Hill’s shoulder injury.
"To be honest with you, that’s the first time I ever heard about a torn labrum," Trembley said. "I was not aware of that. And after he talked to me, I spoke to (trainer) Richie Bancells."
Hill said he would have an arthrogram later in the week to determine the extent of the damage. At that point, he will determine whether to rehabilitate the injury or have surgery.
Hill came to Baltimore from the Chicago Cubs in February for a player to be named. Before the trade was completed, he said an examination revealed the injury.
"I had the (arthrogram) with Chicago and it did show a partial tear," Hill said. "It just depends on how you can handle it. At the time, it was something that ... I could deal with and go out there and pitch with."
Orioles president of baseball operations Andy MacPhail was aware of the injury when he made the deal.
"Part of what you have to understand is that is not necessarily uncommon. There are people who pitch with different injuries," MacPhail said. "So I don’t think there’s any issue of damaged goods."
After starting the season on the disabled list with a strained left elbow, Hill was activated in mid-May and improved to 2-0 after limiting Seattle to two hits over seven shutout innings on June 1. But that would be the last time he would throw as many as seven innings, and his last three starts totaled 5 2-3 innings.
Hill was placed on the DL to make room for right-hander Chris Tillman, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk to make his major league debut Wednesday night against Kansas City. Tillman joins Brad Bergesen, Jason Berken, David Hernandez and Koji Uehara as starters making their debut for the Orioles this season.
MacPhail initially wanted to give the 21-year-old Tillman more time to develop in the minors, but figured the time was right to bring him up.
"When I think about it, most of his mates at (Double-A) Bowie last year are already here pitching very well," MacPhail said. "Berken last night, Bergesen and Hernandez have done a very good job for us, and Chris was the All-Star among the group there at Bowie last year. He’s pitched well during his time at Norfolk, and I think he’s earned the opportunity here."
To put Tillman on the 40-man roster, the Orioles transferred right-hander Alfredo Simon (elbow) to the 60-day disabled list.
-- David Ginsburg
Yankees’ Wang has shoulder surgery
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Yankees starting pitcher Chien-Ming Wang has had season-ending arthroscopic surgery on his injured right shoulder.
Noted orthopedist Dr. James Andrews performed the procedure Wednesday to repair what Yankees manager Joe Girardi said was a tear in the capsule. The team is awaiting reports from the surgery before setting a potential timetable for Wang’s return next year.
After winning 19 games in 2006 and 2007, Wang missed the final 3½ months last season after injuring his right foot while running the bases in Houston. He was 1-6 with a 9.64 ERA in 12 games this season, after missing time from April 19 to May 21 with a hip injury.
Also, the Yankees obtained right-hander Jason Hirsh from Colorado for a player to named, and pitcher Brett Tomko, designated for assignment on July 22, was released.
Twins’ Liriano scratched from Wednesday start
MINNEAPOLIS — Twins left-hander Francisco Liriano was scratched from Wednesday’s start with soreness and swelling in his left forearm.
Brian Duensing will make his first major league start for Minnesota, which will try to complete a three-game sweep of the White Sox.
Manager Ron Gardenhire said Liriano informed the team of his condition Tuesday, and no structural damage was found during an examination Wednesday.
Gardenhire said the plan is to have Liriano rest for a couple of days and throw a bullpen session this weekend. If all goes well, he would likely start next Wednesday in Cleveland.
Liriano has been a disappointment this season. The left-hander is 4-10 with a 5.56 ERA, second worst among American League starters.
Chicago’s Ramirez leaves with right ankle injury
MINNEAPOLIS — White Sox shortstop Alexei Ramirez left Wednesday’s game against Minnesota because of a likely sprained right ankle.
Ramirez will have X-rays Thursday after the team returns to Chicago, although team trainers do not think it is more serious.
Ramirez slid into second base trying to break up a double play in the seventh inning, and ended up rolling in pain on the turf. He was helped off the field by two trainers and was on crutches after the game purely as a precaution.
Ramirez, who entered the game in a 2-for-24 slump, was 2 for 3.
National League
Dodgers sticking with Schmidt for now
ST. LOUIS — The Los Angeles Dodgers are keeping Jason Schmidt in the rotation for now.
Manager Joe Torre said Wednesday that Schmidt would pitch Friday night at Atlanta. Schmidt allowed five runs in three-plus innings in his last outing and has given up eight runs on 10 hits in 10 1-3 innings.
The 36-year-old Schmidt is coming back from two shoulder operations that sidelined him all of last season and most of 2007. He’s in the final season of a three-year, $47 million contract.
Schmidt got the go-ahead from Torre after a bullpen session Tuesday, although the manager said the session was just "OK."
The three-time All-Star won 17 games in 2003 and 18 in 2004 with the Giants. Schmidt finished second in Cy Young Award balloting in ‘03 and fourth in ‘04.
Cubs call up Atkins
CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs called up right-hander Mitch Atkins from Triple-A Iowa on Wednesday and optioned right-hander Jeff Stevens to the same minor league team.
Stevens pitched well, with a 2.84 ERA in five relief appearances, but the Cubs needed fresh arms after Stevens and other relievers had pitched significant innings in recent days.
Atkins, the Cubs’ seventh-round draft pick in 2004, went 6-10 with a 6.92 ERA in 20 starts for Iowa this season. He was the organization’s minor league pitcher of the year in 2008, when he went a combined 17-7 with Iowa and Double-A Tennessee.
Braves’ Cox extends ejection record to 147
MIAMI — Atlanta Braves manager Bobby Cox has gotten another early exit.
Cox extended his major league ejection record to 147 on Wednesday night, getting tossed in the eighth inning for arguing ball and strikes in a game against Florida.
Plate umpire Bill Hohn motioned to Atlanta’s dugout trying to quiet Cox, who then came on the field to argue with Garret Anderson at the plate. Hohn and Cox traded verbal barbs for about a minute before the Braves manager was ejected, throwing his hands in the air and marching to the clubhouse.
Cox has long held the lead for most ejections. Hall of Fame manager John McGraw is second with 131. It was Cox’s fourth ejection of the season.
Replay review overturns homer by Brewers’ Braun
MILWAUKEE — Brewers slugger Ryan Braun has had an apparent home run taken away by instant replay.
Braun’s drive to center field Wednesday night against Washington was originally ruled a homer. But umpires called for a review and then said the ball glanced off center fielder Nyjer Morgan’s glove and hit the wall.
Braun was awarded an RBI triple and later scored on a wild pitch by Nationals starter Garrett Mock.
Minor Leagues
2 Detroit minor leaguers suspended 50 games
NEW YORK — Two Detroit minor league pitchers have been suspended 50 games each after testing positive for performance-enhancing drugs.
Carlos Alvarado and Frank Penalver were banned Wednesday for violating baseball’s minor league drug policy for the first time. They both were playing in the Venezuelan Summer League.
