[Suntan Superman]

The Mets acquire 2B Luis Castillo from the Twins for Minor Leaguers C Drew Butera and OF Dustin Martin

The Phillies acquire SP Kyle Lohse from the Reds for Minor League P Matt Maloney

The Phillies acquire 2B Tadahito Iguchi from the White Sox for Minor League P Michael Dubee

The Braves acquire 1B Mark Teixera, and LHP Ron Mahay from the Rangers for C Jarrod Saltalamacchia, SS Elvis Andrus, 2 Minor League Pitchers

The Yankees acquire INF Wilson Betemit from the Dodgers for P Scott Proctor

The Red Sox acquire PTBNL from the Cardinals for P Joel Pinierio

[Suntan Superman]

Padres acquire UTIL Rob Mackowiak from the White Sox for RHP Jon Link

Braves acquire RHP Octavio Dotel from the Royals for RHP Kyle Davies

[Dr. Giganto]

Getting traded for a player to be named later must be the worst feeling in the world

"Hey, we traded you"
"Oh yeah? Who'd you get for me?"
"Ummmm....nobody. A player to be named later"
"Oh. So basically, you wanted me off the team so bad you don't even really want anyone in return. The player to be named later is just a formality"
"Basically, yes"

I dont remember the guy's name, but there was a guy back in like the '60's who was once traded for a player to be named later, and he ended being that player who was later named. So, he was traded for himself

[Blitzkrieg]

I like the Dotel pickup.. He's hit or miss but the bullpen has sucked ass so it's worth the chance

[Randy Orton]

Red Sox upgrade bullpen with Gagne deal
ESPN.com news services

Updated: July 31, 2007, 6:26 PM ET
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Eric Gagne Traded To Red SoxCLEVELAND -- Eric Gagne's comeback has landed him a new role on a new team: helping the Red Sox close out the Yankees.

Gagne, pitching like his old self following two elbow operations and back surgery, was acquired by Boston for the stretch run on Tuesday from the Texas Rangers, who also unloaded first baseman Mark Teixeira to Atlanta in a seven-player swap.

Gagne waived his no-trade clause to join the American League East leaders and agreed to be Boston's set-up man after the Red Sox restructured the reliever's contract, ESPN.com's Buster Olney reports. Boston will pick up $2.1 million in Gagne's performance bonuses, while the Rangers will pay $400,000.

Once one of baseball's premier closers, Gagne joins a Boston bullpen that already had two All-Star relievers: closer Jonathan Papelbon and set-up man Hideki Okajima.

But the Red Sox, who entered Tuesday leading the AL East by eight games over New York, didn't want to take any chances of blowing their big lead and acquired Gagne to bolster the back end of their bullpen after consecutive implosions last weekend by Papelbon and Manny Delcarmen.

Gagne will serve as Papelbon's primary set-up man and will close on days Papelbon needs rest.

"We actually love our bullpen," Boston manager Terry Francona said of his relievers, who have the lowest ERA (2.74) in the majors. "I think it just got a lot better. Papelbon, Okajima and Gagne -- these are guys that you don't match up. You just let them pitch really good baseball."


Heat On The Horizon

Eric Gagne hasn't appeared in a September game since 2004. When he has been available in that all-important month on MLB's calendar, it's been bad news for anyone swinging a bat:

Gagne, September 2001-04 As a reliever
W-L 5-0
IP 50 1/3
ERA 1.43
Opp. BA .189
K/9 11.5
Saves 25

Shortly after acquiring Gagne, Boston announced that reliever Brendan Donnelly will have season-ending surgery on his right elbow.

The Red Sox sent left-hander Kason Gabbard and minor league outfielders David Murphy and Engel Beltre to the Rangers, who were the busiest team in the majors before Tuesday's 4 p.m. EDT non-waiver trade deadline.

Agent Scott Boras said the chance to pitch on a playoff contender was irresistible for Gagne, who played in just two postseason games with the Los Angeles Dodgers.

"Eric wanted to be in a playoff environment," Boras said. "He has respect for Papelbon, and I'm sure Papelbon has respect for him. While he won't be a full-time closer there, it was an opportunity to win."

Earlier, the Rangers completed the deal that sent Teixeira and pitcher Ron Mahay to the Braves for rookie catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and four minor leaguers. Last week, the Rangers traded outfielder Kenny Lofton to the Cleveland Indians for minor league catcher Max Ramirez.

Gagne stayed at the team hotel and did not accompany the Rangers to Jacobs Field before the deal was announced.

"There's a little mixed emotions in there," Rangers pitcher Kevin Millwood said. "The trade for Tex [Teixeira] kind of had to happen, I think. He just wasn't going to re-sign here. At least we got some good players. Gagne, I kind of felt we had a chance to sign him. I'm a little more surprised, but we move on."

Milwaukee, clinging to its NL Central lead, also had been interested in obtaining Gagne.

Gagne was on Boston's radar screen last winter before he signed a one-year contract with the Rangers in December after eight successful seasons with the Dodgers.

He went 2-0 with a 2.16 ERA and 16 saves for last-place Texas, which began a three-game series in Cleveland 15{ games behind the first-place Los Angeles Angels in the AL West.

The 31-year-old Gagne was a three-time All-Star and won the NL Cy Young Award in 2003 when he saved 55 games for the Dodgers.

He had 45 saves in 2004 but was limited to just 14 the following season because of elbow problems that eventually needed surgery. The hard-throwing native of Montreal pitched in only two games last season as he tried to come back from another elbow operation as well as surgery to repair a herniated disk.

From 2002-04, Gagne set a major league record by converting 84 consecutive saves. There were still doubts about his durability, but he has been able to pitch on consecutive days this season, further proof that he's healthy.

The 25-year-old Gabbard went 4-0 with a 3.73 ERA, taking Curt Schilling's spot in the rotation while the right-hander was on the disabled list. Schilling, who was scheduled to make a rehab start on Tuesday in Columbus, Ohio, could be activated later this week.

Murphy, 26, was batting .280 with nine homers and 47 RBIs in 100 games for Triple-A Pawtucket.

Beltre, 18, batted .215 with five homers and 13 RBIs for the Gulf Coast Red Sox.

[TCSpeed6]

Fuck the Twins.

[Simon]

I love Gagne to the Sox. Holy crap, thats just great pitching all around. People here are saying we may have given up a little too much. I think its people just scared Paps may go to the rotation next year.

I would like to see Gagne resign here, but I think he just wants to win a title and get paid in the offseason as a closer. Being in the major spotlight and showing that he wants to help a team win will certainly earn him some brownie points in the offseason.

[Suntan Superman]

Originally Posted by TCSpeed6

Fuck the Twins.

Ah... what?

[Dr. Giganto]

Too much for Gagne? That's ridiculous

They gave up a pitcher that many people within baseball thought was pitching WAY over his head in Gabbard, a 26-year old (that's kinda old for a preospect) who doesn't seem to have particularly impressive numbers, and an 18-year old, which makes him as much of a question mark as you can get.

This trade was a steal for the Red Sox

[Jayman]

Having Gagne as the setup man and Papelbon as your closer is a lethal combination IMO. Good deal for the BoSox.