Roundup: Guillen goes from KC to pennant race

More than two months after acquiring Pat Burrell, the Giants added another power-hitting right-handed bat to help bolster their corner outfield on Friday, when they picked up veteran Jose Guillen from the Royals in exchange for a player to be named later and cash considerations. 

Guillen has played right field when he didn't DH in Kansas City. If he mans right field in the Bay Area, Aubrey Huff could move over to first base, where Travis Ishikawa has been. Guillen is in the final season of a three-year, $36 million contract. 

Here's more from around the league ... 

* So, how much will the intense heat of Texas factor into Cliff Lee's desires to resign with the Rangers as a free agent this offseason? Here's what he had to say ... 

That's an assumption. Somebody is assuming that. I haven't thought anything about that. I want to play on a good team. I could care less if it's 100 degrees or 50 degrees. Weather is something you can't control.

* The Braves have options on their roster, even though Chipper Jones will miss the rest of the season with an ACL tear. Still, Braves general manager Frank Wren said the Braves will continue to look for alternatives at the hot corner, saying ... 

I think we'll get together with our scouts and with Bobby [Cox] over the next few days and just look at players who have come through the waiver wire and just players who may be available to see if they're difference-makers for us.

* According to those close to Bobby Valentine, the Mariners job would appeal to the former Rangers and Mets skipper, The Seattle Times wrote. Valentine previously interviewed for the Marlins job, but nothing materialized. 

* Dave Stewart, the agent for Dodgers outfielder Matt Kemp, told The Los Angeles Times perhaps the club would be better off dealing his client. Stewart said he would not formally ask for a trade, but he did say this: "I'm almost to the point -- and maybe so are the Dodgers -- where I'm that this just isn't going to work. The Dodgers have gaps on this team, and maybe they could fill them by trading Matt. It could be good for the team, and good for the players.

Kemp is owed $6.95 million for 2011 and will then have one more year of arbitration before becoming a free agent. He was impressive in his return to the lineup on Thursday. 

-- Alden Gonzalez

Roundup: Lefty power-hitting 1B, anyone?

He isn't Adam Dunn or Prince Fielder -- don't give up hope on those guys, either, though -- but Carlos Delgado is still out there, without a team, and wants to play. Contending teams are reportedly interested. 

According to FOXSports.com, Delgado -- he of 473 career home runs and two hip surgeries since May of 2009 -- is drawing interest from the White Sox, while the Mariners, Rockies and Red Sox are possible fits. Of those, Seattle would appear to be a longshot, since the 38-year-old would like to sign with a contending team. 

Delgado's agent, David Sloane, told FOXSports.com his client has received two Minor League offers and would need a couple of weeks in the Minors to get ready. Delgado wants to play for a team in contention and one that will give him regular playing time, the Web site added. 

Here's more from around the league ... 

* Pedro Martinez, who recently relayed his intention to sit out the 2010 season through his agent, was asked on ESPN's First Take what it would take for him to come back and pitch this season. This is what he said ... 

Right now, it's going to be hard to do, because I'm really enjoying what I'm doing with my family, and I'm really enjoying helping out the community with my foundation. ... The time with my family, I think, is priceless. I'm really enjoying it, and so it's going to take a lot to bring me out of my house, out of my comfort zone, right now. 

In order for the idle Martinez to be on a postseason roster, he must be picked up before Aug. 31. 

* The Royals designated outfielder Jose Guillen for assignment on Thursday. Guillen was in the last year of a three-year, $36 million contract. Now, Kansas City will have 10 days to trade, release or outright Guillen. Teams like the Giants, Rays, White Sox or Red Sox could be interested. 

* An unknown team has claimed Adam Dunn off waivers from the Nationals, which makes it less likely that the first baseman will be traded, according to FOXSports.com. Washington could now either engage in one-on-one negotiations with that club, or can pull him back. 

* The Mets are open to negotiating a contract extension with shortstop Jose Reyes, according to The New York Daily News. Reyes has a club option for 2011 worth $11 million, but New York is reportedly willing to scrap that for a long-term contract. Negotiations likely won't be finalized until the end of the season, however. 

* Buck Showalter, the Orioles' new manager, will earn $1.5 million a year each season through 2013, according to the Twitter account of ESPN's Buster Olney. 

* Now that the non-waiver Trade Deadline has passed, teams have to first put a player on waivers before trading them. Under that, the Phillies acquired a veteran first baseman in Mike Sweeney from the Mariners -- for a player to be named later or cash considerations -- the Marlins signed infielder Chad Tracy, and the Pirates claimed a couple of righties in Chris Resop and Chan Ho Park. 

-- Alden Gonzalez

Giants get RHP Ramirez from Boston

SAN FRANCISCO -- The Giants continued to focus on relief pitching as Saturday's Trade Deadline passed, acquiring right-hander Ramon Ramirez from the Boston Red Sox to go with  Pittsburgh lefty Javier Lopez.


Ramirez, 28, was 0-3 with a 4.46 ERA in 44 games for Boston this year. He preceded that with a pair of solid seasons. In 2008, Ramirez went 3-2 with a 2.64 ERA and 70 strikeouts in 71 2/3 innings in 71 games for Kansas City. Opponents hit .222 off him. Last year, Ramirez joined the Red Sox in a trade and finished 7-4 with a 2.84 ERA in 70 appearances.

Ramirez recently endured tightness in his right triceps but reportedly has recovered. He owns a 16-14 record with a 3.55 ERA in 268 career relief apppearances since 2006 with Colorado, Kansas City and Boston.

The Giants parted with right-hander Daniel Turpen, 23, to get Ramirez. Turpen, a non-roster invitee to Spring Training this year, was 5-5 with a 4.09 ERA in 37 relief appearances for Double-A Richmond. He had 42 strikeouts in 50 2/3 innings while yielding 55 hits.

-- Chris Haft

Marlins acquire Ohman from Orioles

Minutes before the Trade Deadline, the Marlins acquired veteran lefty reliever Will Ohman from the Orioles for right-hander Rick VandenHurk.

Ohman appeared in 51 games with the Orioles, and he posted a 3.30 ERA.

A free agent after the season, Ohman provides a second left-hander to the Marlins bullpen, as he joins Taylor Tankersley.

Ohman turns 33 on Aug. 13, and the team is hopeful he can join the team in San Diego for Sunday's game.

With a 52-51 record, the Marlins are hopeful of making a late push. President of baseball operations Larry Beinfest said in recent days the team hadn't been seeking to move established players. They were hoping to add, rather than subtract.

But a number of teams made calls on outfielder Cody Ross, who is remaining with Florida.

-- Joe Frisaro

Braves land Ankiel and Farnsworth

The Braves have landed outfielder Rick Ankiel and right-handed reliever Kyle Farnsworth from the Royals in exchange for outfielder Gregor Blanco,  right-handed reliever Jesse Chavez and left-handed reliever Tim Collins.  <p>

Ankiel provides the Braves the upgrade they were seeking in center field and Farnsworth will return to Atlanta to provide the bullpen depth that general manager Frank Wren has been attempting to land over the past couple of weeks. 

In another last minute deal, the Braves acquired Minor League outfielder Wilkin Ramirez from the Tigers in exchange for cash considerations or a player to be named later. 

Dodgers Acquire Dotel

The Dodgers bolstered their bullpen Saturday by acquiring veteran reliever Octavio Dotel and $500,000 from the Pittsburgh Pirates for pitcher James McDonald and Minor League outfielder Andrew Lambo. The 36-year-old Dotel is 2-2 with a 4.28 ERA. The move is similar to one the Dodgers made a year ago when they traded for Baltimore closer George Sherrill to set up for closer Jonathan Broxton.-- Ken Gurnick 

 

Giants apparently seize LHP Lopez

SAN FRANCISCO -- Beating Saturday's Trade Deadline, the Giants fortified their bullpen by obtaining left-hander Javier Lopez from Pittsburgh for right-hander Joe Martinez, according to a Comcast Sports Net report.

With left-handers Jeremy Affeldt and Dan Runzler sidelined by injuries until possibly late August, the Giants sought a lefty who could neutralize opposing left-handed batters.

Lopez, 33, would seem to fit that description. The 33-year-old Puerto Rican compiled a 2-2 record with a 2.79 ERA in 50 games with Pittsburgh this year. Moreover, he limited left-handed hitters to a .204 average, though right-handers batted .315 against him.

Lopez isn't particularly overpowering, having struck out 22 batters in 38 2/3 innings this season. Lifetime, he's 13-9 with a 4.37 ERA in 393 appearances, all in relief.

The Giants will be Lopez's fifth Major League team. He reached the Majors with Colorado in 2003 and also has pitched for Arizona and Boston before joining Pittsburgh this year.

Martinez, 27, has been primarily a starter in his six-year professional career, though he has bounced between the rotation and bullpen in his stints with the Giants this season and last. Martinez was 0-1 with a 4.91 ERA in four appearances this year for San Francisco after finishing 3-2, 7.50 in nine games (five starts) with the Giants last season.

-- Chris Haft

Yankees closing in on Kerry Wood

The Yankees are closing in on a trade to acquire reliever Kerry Wood from the Indians, ESPN's Buster Olney reported via Twitter. 

Wood was activated from the disabled list by Cleveland on Saturday and could help in the Bombers' setup mix to get to closer Mariano Rivera, with Joba Chamberlain having lost his stranglehold on the eighth inning duties.

New York completed a deal with Cleveland on Friday, acquiring outfielder Austin Kearns for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

-- Bryan Hoch

Dodgers Get Lilly

The Dodgers acquired left-handed starting pitcher Ted Lilly, Ryan Theriot and $2.5 million cash from the Cubs for second baseman Blake DeWitt and Minor League pitchers Kyle Smit and Brett Wallach. -- Ken Gurnick

Report: Mets unsuccessfully tried to deal Ollie

An interesting note this morning out of SI.com, which reported that the Mets attempted to swap much-maligned lefty Oliver Perez to the Cubs for equally-maligned right-hander Carlos Zambrano. The sticking point, according to the report, was the Mets' insistence that the Cubs also take on the contract of second baseman Luis Castillo.

Though the deal did not happen, the web site also reported that Mets manager Jerry Manuel is refusing to pitch Perez at home in New York. According to SI.com, the Mets again plan on asking Perez to accept a Minor League assignment -- something he refused to do earlier this season.

--Anthony DiComo
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