Mets obtain Cespedes
The New York Mets acquired slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from Detroit on Friday in their strongest attempt yet to boost a punchless lineup that threatened to derail their postseason hopes.
Cespedes hit .293 with 18 home runs with 61 RBIs in 102 games with the Tigers this season.
The Mets sent minor league pitchers Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa to Detroit. The Tigers decided to build for the future this week after winning the last four AL Central titles. They traded star lefthander David Price and closer Joakim Soria on Thursday.
Pirates add Happ, Morse • The Pittsburgh Pirates made two moves at the deadline, adding lefty starter J.A. Happ and first baseman Michael Morse.
In doing so, the Pirates traded for players at two positions in need of some help: starting pitcher and first base.
To get Happ from the Seattle Mariners, they traded Class AAA Indianapolis righthander Adrian Sampson. According a source, they sent Jose Tabata to the Los Angeles Dodgers, who had just acquired Morse and then designated him for assignment.
Cubs get Haren from Marlins • Righthander Dan Haren has been acquired by the Chicago Cubs from the Miami Marlins.
As part of Friday’s deal, Miami is sending cash to the Cubs to cover part of Haren’s $11 million salary.
Haren was 7-7 with a 3.42 ERA in a team-best 21 starts for the Marlins this season. The Cubs will become his eighth team after previous stints with the Cardinals, Oakland, Arizona, the Los Angeles Angels, Washington, the Los Angeles Dodgers and then Miami.
The Cubs also got some help for their bullpen, acquiring Tommy Hunter from the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Junior Lake.
Giants obtain Leake from Reds • The San Francisco Giants bolstered their rotation for the stretch run late Thursday, acquiring righthander Mike Leake from the Cincinnati Reds for two minor league players.
Rangers complete Hamels trade • With Cole Hamels, the Texas Rangers have gotten another ace in hope of getting back to the playoffs — in 2015 and beyond.
Texas obtained the Phillies lefthander in an eight-player deal completed before Friday’s nonwaiver trade deadline after being agreed on earlier in the week.
Lefty Matt Harrison and five prospects are going to Philadelphia. Texas also got lefthanded reliever Jake Diekman and will receive $9.5 million – $7 million in 2016 and $2.5 million in 2018 — to offset part of the contract for Hamels, who is due $22.5 million per season through 2018 with a club option for 2019.
“I’m excited to start the next chapter of my baseball life,” Hamels said. “They have a lot of great players and there’s always a chance in that league. I don’t think they are too far away, even this year.”
Hamels, the 2008 World Series MVP, is the first pitcher in major league history traded during a season immediately after throwing a no-hitter — he no-hit the Chicago Cubs last Saturday at Wrigley Field.
Hamels, who had a limited no-trade clause, vetoed a deal to the AL West-leading Houston Astros. “You don’t want to say no to anybody and you don’t want to let a city down or an organization down,” Hamels said. “But you want to do what’s best not just for my baseball career, but for my family.”
Other moves • The Cleveland Indians sent lefthanded reliever Marc Rzepczynski, a former Cardinal, to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Abraham Almonte. … The Baltimore Orioles traded minor league righthander Zach Davies to the Milwaukee Brewers for outfielder Gerardo Parra. … The Oakland Athletics traded righthander Ryan Cook to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named or cash and the A’s acquired lefthander Felix Doubront from Toronto for cash. … The Minnesota Twins acquired righthanded reliever Kevin Jepsen from the Tampa Bay Rays for a pair of minor league pitching prospects. … The Toronto Blue Jays have kept up their postseason push by acquiring veteran reliever Mark Lowe from the Seattle Mariners and outfielder Ben Revere from the Philadelphia Phillies.
Ex-White Sox pitcher Pierce dies • Billy Pierce, a seven-time All-Star pitcher who played in two World Series and spent most of his 18 years in the majors with the Chicago White Sox, died Friday. He was 88. Pierce died after a battle with gall bladder cancer, his family said.
From news services
