MLB trade deadline: Rangers make big splash adding Beltran, Lucroy
Dodgers add all-star pitcher Rich Hill and outfielder Josh Reddick
The Yankees stepped up their rebuilding, trading outfielder Carlos Beltran to the AL West-leading Texas Rangers for right-hander Dillon Tate, the fourth overall pick in the 2015 amateur draft, and two other pitching prospects.
A 39-year-old switch-hitter, Beltran has been the Yankees' top offensive player, leading New York with a .304 batting average, 22 homers and 64 RBIs. The trade Monday follows deals that sent relievers Aroldis Chapman to the Chicago Cubs and Andrew Miller to Cleveland.
Beltran joins a Texas team that recently lost slugger Prince Fielder, who had been their primary designated hitter, to season-ending neck surgery.
Beltran signed a $45 million US, three-year contract before the 2014 season. He will be eligible for free agency after this year's World Series.
Lucroy, Jeffress dealt to Rangers
The AL West-leading Texas Rangers have acquired two-time All-Star catcher Jonathan Lucroy and closer Jeremy Jeffress from the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade for two former first-round picks.
This is the second year in a row at the deadline that the Rangers acquired a top player who had first rejected a deal to another team. They got All-Star left-hander Cole Hamels last season after the pitcher voided a proposed trade that would have sent him from Philadelphia to Houston.
The 30-year-old Lucroy is hitting .299 with 13 homers and 50 RBIs in 95 games this season. He has been with the Brewers for all six of his major league seasons, hitting .284 in 805 games, and his contract includes a $5.25 million team option for 2017.
The Rangers have used four different starting catchers this season, with Bobby Wilson making a team-high 38 starts. Robinson Chirinos has started 33 games.
Jeffress, 29, is 2-2 with 27 saves and a 2.22 ERA in 47 games this season, the first year as a closer for the 2006 first-round pick. He likely will be in a setup role for the Rangers behind Sam Dyson.
Texas has an AL-high 62 wins, and is coming off a four-game series sweep of the defending World Series champion Kansas City Royals. With the Astros losing three straight, the Rangers have pushed their division lead to six games, the biggest gap since the All-Star break after leading by as many as 10 games in late June.
Mets bring in Bruce, bring back Niese
The New York Mets have acquired all-star outfielder Jay Bruce from the Cincinnati Reds for infielder Dilson Herrera and minor league left-hander Max Wotell.
The 29-year-old Bruce is hitting .265 with 25 homers and a National League-leading 80 RBIs. He made the NL All-Star team for the third time.
New York's move follows last year's trade deadline acquisition of Yoenis Cespedes, whose offensive spark helped the Mets reach the World Series for the first time since 2000. The Mets began Monday with a 54-50 record, 6½ games behind NL East-leading Washington and 2½ games back for the NL's second wild card. Their .237 batting average is the lowest in the major leagues.
Bruce homered in five straight games in late July, a career best. A downside has been his career-long penchant for following a torrid streak with an incredibly cold one.
Bruce has a .249 career average with 233 homers in nine major league seasons. He is earning $12.5 million this year, and his contract includes a $13 million team option for 2017 with a $1 million buyout.
The Mets also re-acquired Jon Niese from Pittsburgh on Monday, bringing the left-handed pitcher back to where he played his first eight seasons in a trade that sent reliever Antonio Bastardo to the Pirates.
Traded from the Mets to Pittsburgh last December for second baseman Neil Walker, Niese struggled during his time with the Pirates. He went 8-6 with a 4.91 ERA and was moved to the bullpen earlier this month.
Dodgers add Reddick, Hill
The Oakland Athletics traded right fielder Josh Reddick and left-hander Rich Hill to the contending Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday for a trio of pitching prospects.
The A's received minor leaguers Jharel Cotton and Grant Holmes, along with Frankie Montas, who made seven appearances with the White Sox last year.
Hill, who signed a $6 million, one-year contract with Oakland during the off-season, is on the disabled list with a pesky blister on the middle finger of his throwing hand that hasn't healed. He had been scheduled to pitch Sunday in Cleveland before the DL stint.
Twins trade for Santiago
The Minnesota Twins have acquired starting pitcher Hector Santiago a minor leaguer from the Los Angeles Angels for right-handers Ricky Nolasco and Alex Meyer and cash.
Santiago, an All-Star last season, is 10-4 with a 4.25 ERA in 22 starts while making $5 million this year and eligible for free agency after the 2017 season. The Angels also sent Double-A reliever Alan Busenitz to the Twins.
The 33-year-old Nolasco went 15-22 with a 5.44 ERA for the Twins since signing before the 2014 season a $49 million, four-year contract. Meyer was acquired prior to the 2013 season from Washington for centre fielder Denard Span.
Fresh Prince, Matt Moore moving to San Francisco
A person with knowledge of the trade says the San Francisco Giants have acquired left-handed reliever Will Smith from the Brewers to bolster their bullpen for the stretch run, sending backup catcher Andrew Susac and pitching prospect Phil Bickford to Milwaukee.
The 27-year-old Smith is 1-3 with a 3.68 ERA this season in 27 games and 22 innings.
In another move, the San Francisco Giants have acquired left-handed starter Matt Moore from the Tampa Bay Rays for third baseman Matt Duffy.
The 27-year-old Moore is 7-7 with a 4.08 ERA in 21 starts and 130 innings.
Duffy had a standout rookie season a year ago but has been hampered by an Achilles strain suffered against his new Rays team on June 19.
The NL West-leading Giants have struggled mightily since the all-star break and had been looking to upgrade a relief corps that has been so reliable in recent years, helping them win World Series championships in 2010, '12 and '14. San Francisco has won two straight games since losing 11 of 13 following the All-Star Game.
O's score Pearce
The Orioles have reacquired infielder-outfielder Steve Pearce from Tampa Bay, sending the Rays minor league catcher Jonah Heim.
The 33-year-old Peace played for the Orioles from 2012-15 and hit .258 with 43 homers and 116 RBIs. He signed with Tampa Bay last winter and is batting .309 this season with 10 homers and 50 RBIs.
Heim, 21, was a fourth-round draft pick in 2013 and hit .216 with seven homers and 30 RBIs for Class A Frederick this season.
The trade was announced Monday.
Guyer gone to Cleveland
The AL Central-leading Cleveland Indians acquired outfielder Brandon Guyer from Tampa Bay for two minor leaguers.
Cleveland sent outfielder Nathan Lukes and right-hander Jhonleider Salinas to Tampa Bay.
Guyer, a right-handed hitter, is batting .241 with seven home runs and 18 RBIs in 63 games. He has been hit by a pitch 23 times, a major league high, and is batting .344 (22 for 64) with four homers against left-handers.
The 30-year-old Guyer played all three outfield positions with the Rays this season. He spent most of June on the disabled list with a strained left hamstring.
Guyer is making $1,185,000 this year and is eligible for free agency after the 2018 season.
The Indians designated veteran third baseman Juan Uribe for assignment.
Red Sox get relief help in Abad
The Boston Red Sox have acquired left-handed reliever Fernando Abad from the Minnesota Twins for minor league pitcher Pat Light.
Abad has a 2.65 ERA in 39 appearances for the Twins. He is making $1.25 million this year and will be eligible for free agency after the 2017 season.
The 30-year-old Abad has held opponents to a .220 batting average this year. He came up with Houston and also has pitched for Washington and Oakland.
Rea back to San Diego
Colin Rea is heading back to the San Diego Padres after leaving with an injury in his first start since being traded to Miami.
The Marlins acquired Rea on Friday in a seven-player deal with the Padres, but he had to leave Saturday's game against St. Louis in the fourth inning and was put on the 15-day disabled list with a right elbow sprain.
San Diego announced Monday it reacquired Rea from Miami and sent minor league pitcher Luis Castillo back to the Marlins. Castillo had gone from Miami to San Diego in Friday's deal. Miami acquired Rea and right-hander Andrew Cashner on Friday as part of a push for a postseason spot, but Rea is of little use to the Marlins if he's hurt.
Pirates acquire Nova
The retooling New York Yankees have dealt right-hander Ivan Nova to the Pittsburgh Pirates for two players to be named.
A 29-year-old right-hander, Nova follows relievers Aroldis Chapman and Andrew Miller, and outfielder Carlos Beltran out of New York.
Nova is 7-6 with a 4.90 ERA in 15 starts and six relief appearances, his inconsistency among the reasons the Yankees have struggled for much of this season. He was 6-11 with a 5.07 ERA over 17 starts last year in his return from Tommy John surgery.