One of my least favorite Twins is gone, thank God. Castillo is headed to the Mets.

The Indians get 59 year old Kenny Lofton and his walker again.

The White Sox got rid of that annoying Iguchi to the Phillies.


Post them as they come.

(And by deadline deals, I mean deals within the past week or so (as you can see))

Yankees trade Scott Proctor to the Dodgers for Wilson Betemit.

Red Sox trade Joel Pineiro to the Cardinals for a player to be named later.

Rome is saying the Red Sox came to an agreement to acquire Eric Gagne. Don't know the full details though.

White Sox trade Rob Mackowiak to the Padres for a minor leaguer.

Looking for a link, but it looks like the Braves got Dotel for Kyle Davies.

Looking for a link, but it looks like the Braves got Dotel for Kyle Davies.

http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/news/story?id=2949549

I hate Keith Law, btw.

Padres get Morgan Ensberg from the Astros.

Gagne waived his no-trade, he's off to Boston.

Damnit.

Gagne waived his no-trade, he's off to Boston.

Damnit.

Double Damnit!

God damnit.

Should I change my sig to "I despise all things Boston?" Garnett and Gagne hand delivered within hours of each other.

You gotta let your hate of Ohio be known, so I say just put "and Boston" underneath, in like red or something.

So what are they going to do with the Japanese set up guy they have there? (oki something or other). He had a .81 era or something like that.

Did they just make this move to keep him from the Indians or us?

They just made the game 6 innings long.

Yeah, we basically had that last year. Too bad we didn't have the offense to go with it. If Rodney and Zumaya can produce, we'll be in great shape.

Anyone notice that Johan Santana is pissed that the Twins only move was getting rid of someone?
He still has one year left on his contract, but hopefully this sticks with him and he either joins us someday or leaves the division.

Anyone notice that Johan Santana is pissed that the Twins only move was getting rid of someone?
He still has one year left on his contract, but hopefully this sticks with him and he either joins us someday or leaves the division.

I would be too. Their GM is saying they are not giving up on the year, but that's BS. They traded one of their better players away for no help. While they still may have a chance, that hurts their chances for sure.

There would be no way we'd get him here. Not unless Illitch was willing to spend a truckload to get him and keep Bondo/Verlander/Miller for years.

Johan/Verlander/Miller/Bonderman/Porcello

= possible (probable) best rotation ever.

Whatever though, it would never happen.

I haven't heard or read about this anywhere, so forgive me if this is common knowledge or something.

Before the season started, Papelbon was insisting that he be a starter, not a closer.

So now that they have Gagne, if they need help in the rotation, do you guys think they might shift Papelbon back to the rotation?

I hope they do and I hope he blows his arm out. I despise everything Boston. I'm not wishing death on the kid, because that would be wrong. But he has money so he's not losing everything if he kills his arm. If he needs some extra cash, maybe he can take a loan from Kerry Wood, Mark Prior, Carl Povano, or anyone else collecting money while their arm is on a table.

I'm with you on the Boston hate, Jeth.

I would be too. Their GM is saying they are not giving up on the year, but that's BS. They traded one of their better players away for no help. While they still may have a chance, that hurts their chances for sure.

There would be no way we'd get him here. Not unless Illitch was willing to spend a truckload to get him and keep Bondo/Verlander/Miller for years.

Further hurting their chances is the fact that Torii "Minnesota can do no wrong" Hunter is pissed about it as well. He's a FA at the end of the year and at one point looked like a lock to resign with a home town discount. Now he's being speculated as a possible waiver wire deal. You lose Castillo and Hunter, the chances of Santana even pitching in Minny NEXT season are in jeopardy. Can someone say trade demand? It wouldn't happen in the division, hell no. He'll end up in NY (either team), Boston (have I mentioned how I despise Boston) or LA (either team).

I haven't heard or read about this anywhere, so forgive me if this is common knowledge or something.

Before the season started, Papelbon was insisting that he be a starter, not a closer.

So now that they have Gagne, if they need help in the rotation, do you guys think they might shift Papelbon back to the rotation?

I'm not sure you can do that at this point. I know when they talk about going from a short inning guy to a starter that they have to "stretch out your arm" or something like that. I don't know how long that would take at this point. Maybe they'd do that next year?

I meant if he reached free agency in another year. No way they'd trade him to us. A guy with that kind of stuff throwing against you 4-5 times a year pissed off?

It would be nice if another team traded for him as a rental next year and we could sign him (to replace Kenny in the rotation). I can dream anyway.

Betemit just hit a 3 run jack in his first Yankee AB.

Still a horrible move for the Yankees. Dumping one of the most reliable long guys in baseball for a half-decent bat at SS is pretty dumb, especially since the pen is one of their weaker spots.

I think they thought Proctor's arm was pretty much used up for the year already.

He's either pitched more innings or had more appearances than any other reliever in MLB already (I can't remember which).

Also, I think Betemit is cheap insurance if ARod bolts after the season.

This kinda flew under the radar, but the Padres aquired Wil Ledezma from the Braves at the deadline.

They released Jose Cruz Jr., too.


Padres make 3 deadline trades, getting Ensberg, Mackowiak and Ledezma

By BERNIE WILSON, AP Sports Writer
August 1, 2007

SAN DIEGO (AP) -- Padres fans really are going to need scorecards. The players may very well need name tags in an ever-changing clubhouse.

Stagnant since the All-Star break, the two-time defending NL West champions made three deals before Tuesday's deadline, acquiring slumping infielder Morgan Ensberg from the Houston Astros, outfielder-infielder Rob Mackowiak from the Chicago White Sox and reliever Wilfredo Ledezma from Atlanta.

While right fielder Brian Giles doesn't think clubhouse chemistry will be affected because the team's core players remain intact, closer Trevor Hoffman isn't so sure.

Six days after seeing setup man Scott Linebrink shipped to Milwaukee, Hoffman tried his best not to second-guess the front office.

"It doesn't really serve a purpose, other than there's chaos in the clubhouse, and that's not a good thing, either," Hoffman said.

Additionally, San Diego -- 7-10 since the break -- fired hitting coach Merv Rettenmund and replaced him with former Padres first baseman Wally Joyner.

"Today's kind of caught a lot of people off guard," Hoffman said. "There's a bit of scrambling around, not really knowing what happened or why. I think it forces you to just kind of keep your head down and focus on what you can do to improve the club personally."

Ensberg, Mackowiak and Ledezma are expected to report Wednesday, which means the Padres will have to make three corresponding moves to clear spots on the 25-man roster.

"There's only so many spots," Hoffman said. "It's musical chairs, and you better get a chair."

The Padres cleared one spot after a 4-0 loss to Arizona, releasing reserve outfielder Jose Cruz Jr., who was hitting just .234. Cruz played well earlier in the season, when he platooned with left fielder Terrmel Sledge and filled in when right fielder Brian Giles was hurt. But his playing time dwindled from late June on, after Giles returned and the Padres acquired Milton Bradley. The Padres are carrying 13 pitchers, so the other two moves likely will come from that group.

Towers said the acquisition of Ensberg and Mackowiak will strengthen the bench, while Ledezma can serve as a swingman, either in middle relief or as a starter.

The accessions cost the Padres little in terms of prospects, and the team picked up a little more than $2 million in salary.

San Diego, in the thick of the NL West and wild-card races, completed the trades shortly before the 4 p.m. EDT deadline for making deals without waivers.

The Astros sent Ensberg and cash considerations to the Padres for a player to be named or cash. The White Sox traded Mackowiak to San Diego for pitcher Jon Link. The Braves traded Ledezma and minor league pitcher Will Startup for reliever Royce Ring, who recently was optioned to Triple-A Portland. The Braves assigned him to Triple-A Richmond.

The Padres have made numerous changes in a matter of days, starting with the Linebrink trade and including the acquisition of outfielder Scott Hairston on Friday.

"I felt we needed it," said Towers, who also signed well-traveled Shea Hillenbrand to a minor league deal. Earlier this season, the Padres traded for Michael Barrett and Bradley.

"I'm extremely disappointed," Mackowiak said before the White Sox played the Yankees in New York. "It hurts to go from the team you grew up watching and idolized as a kid."

Mackowiak, who has played left field, right field, first base and third base this season, said he expects to be a utilityman with San Diego. He knows a few players on the Padres and "they told me to take all (of my) gloves," he said.

The Mackowiak deal was the only move made by Chicago, which some thought also might deal outfielder Jermaine Dye.

Ensberg, an All-Star in 2005 when he helped the Astros reach the World Series, has not been the same caliber player since tearing a tendon in his right shoulder diving for a foul ball on June 9, 2006.

The 31-year-old Ensberg was hitting .232 with eight homers and 31 RBIs in 85 games. Houston is responsible for the remainder of Ensberg's $4.35 million salary this season.

The Astros designated Ensberg for assignment on Sunday, giving them 10 days to either trade him, waive him or send him to the minors. A Southern California native, Ensberg recently bought a house near San Diego.

"I do think the change of scenery is going to help him," Astros general manager Tim Purpura said. "This is a player with a lot of talent."

"Being at the trade deadline, players are certainly in demand and this is the kind of time where you can take a gamble on a player who is maybe not performing so well."

The Astros couldn't pull off a blockbuster deal as the trade deadline passed, keeping their bullpen intact and holding on to productive infielders Mike Lamb and Mark Loretta.

Ensberg hit a career-low .235 with 58 RBIs last year. In 2005, he batted .283 with 36 home runs and 101 RBIs. His 105 career home runs rank second in Astros history for third basemen.

The 31-year-old Mackowiak hit .278 with six home runs and 36 RBIs in 85 games with the White Sox this season. He is a career .264 hitter with 63 homers and 280 RBIs in seven major league seasons with Pittsburgh and the White Sox.

Ledezma started the season with Detroit, then was traded to Atlanta. The 26-year-old lefty was 0-2 with a 7.71 ERA in 12 games for the Braves and designated for assignment Sunday. Startup, a 23-year-old lefty, was in his third season in the minors.

No deal for Tejada, but Piazza trade still possible



Baltimore (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=bal)'s Miguel Tejada (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=5888) and Oakland's Mike Piazza (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=4928), two major stars mentioned in trade rumors during the summer, hit the waiver wire in the last week -- and one is now in a position to be dealt in August, while the other is not.


Tejada was claimed on waivers by the Chicago White Sox (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/clubhouse?team=cha), who may be looking for a shortstop as they consider whether or not to pick up the 2008 option on current shortstop Juan Uribe (http://sports.espn.go.com/mlb/players/profile?statsId=6698), who is hitting .215 with 11 homers and 43 RBIs. But the Orioles and White Sox did not work out a deal to allow Tejada to go to Chicago. The Orioles will keep Tejada for the rest of the year, sources say.
When players are placed on waivers in August and are claimed, their current team has three options: work out a trade with the team that claimed the player; give the player to the team that made the claim without compensation; or withdraw the player from waivers. If a player is withdrawn from waivers in August, he cannot be placed on so-called trade waivers again, and that is apparently what is taking place with Tejada.
Piazza, hitting .292 with three homers for the Athletics, passed through waivers without being claimed, which means that Oakland can now trade the designated hitter/catcher to any team interested. Minnesota and the Angels briefly considered making deals for Piazza in the weeks and days leading up to the July 31 trade deadline.


I wonder what they want for Tejada?

Doesn't really matter (unless you are talking about next year) since they can't trade him now.

I wouldn't be surprised to see Minnesota make a deal or two to shut up Johan Santana.