Mets add power bat by acquiring 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.
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 and 61 RBIs in 102 games with the Tigers this season. The Mets trail first-place Washington by three games in the NL East, but New York ranks last in the major leagues in runs and batting average, and is 29th in on-base percentage and slugging.
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.
The 22-year-old Fulmer spent most of this season with double-A Binghamton, going 6-2 with a 1.88 ERA. The 23-year-old Cessa split time between Binghamton and triple-A Las Vegas. In 18 starts between those two levels, he is 7-7 with a 3.98 ERA.
Cubs-Marlins
The Chicago Cubs acquired righthander Dan Haren from the Miami Marlins. Miami is also 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 Marlins got a pair of minor-leaguers, right-handed starter Ivan Pineyro and shortstop Elliot Soto. Both were sent to double-A Jacksonville.
Haren - who is on pace to make at least 30 starts for the 11th straight year - has made seven postseason appearances.
Cubs-Orioles
The Cubs also got some help for their bullpen, acquiring Tommy Hunter from the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Junior Lake.
Hunter was 2-2 with a 3.63 ERA in 39 appearances for Baltimore this season. The 29-year-old righthander is 44-33 with a 4.28 ERA in eight seasons with Texas and the Orioles. He won 13 games as a starter with the Rangers in 2010 and was traded to Baltimore the following season.
Lake batted .224 with one home run and five RBIs in 21 games with the Cubs this season.
Orioles-Brewers
The Orioles filled one of their most pressing needs by obtaining leftfielder Gerardo Parra from the Milwaukee Brewers for minor-league righthander Zach Davies.
The 28-year-old Parra batted .328 with nine homers and 31 RBIs in 100 games this year. He has hit .279 over six-plus seasons, most of them with Arizona.
Parra will probably take over as Baltimore's leadoff hitter. Manny Machado has been filling that role, but he's more of a power hitter and will likely be dropped to second or third in the lineup.
Davies was 5-6 with a 2.84 ERA in 19 games with triple-A Norfolk. He was assigned to triple-A Colorado Springs.
Giants-Reds
The Cincinnati Reds shipped starter Mike Leake to the San Francisco Giants for a pair of prospects late Thursday night, bolstering the defending World Series champions for another playoff run.
The 27-year-old Leake won his last four starts, allowing only two earned runs in 30 innings overall.
The Reds got infielder Adam Duvall and righthander Keury Mella.
The 26-year-old Duvall grew up in Louisville and was taken in the 11th round of the 2010 draft. He batted .279 with 25 doubles, 26 homers, and 79 RBIs in 99 games for triple-A Sacramento.
Pirates-Mariners
The Pittsburgh Pirates added depth to their rotation on Friday by acquiring J.A. Happ from Seattle for minor-league pitcher Adrian Sampson.
The 32-year-old Happ, a former Phillie, went 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA in 20 starts and one relief appearance for Seattle this season.
