Braves sign Julio Franco  —  Hoping that a blast from their past will help fill a glaring need, the Braves signed 48-year-old first baseman Julio Franco for the rest of the season.  —  The oldest player in the majors, who turns 49 on Aug. 23, was dropped by the New York Mets last week …

Sox dealing with reality: Costs can be steep when talking trades  —  At this time of year, especially, the obvious truth is that most trades never come to fruition.  And as the Red Sox [team stats] move toward the July 31 trading deadline, what they can add depends largely on what they would give up.

Notes: Olsen returns from suspension  —  Left-hander pitches a bullpen session on Wednesday  —  MIAMI — After serving his two-game suspension for insubordination and conduct detrimental to the team, Scott Olsen rejoined the Marlins and the left-hander is on schedule to start on Friday.

SMITH-EREENS!  —  JOE'S MELTDOWN DOOMS MET COMEBACK  —  Ultimately it all turned out to be for naught.  It was an astonishing comeback but still inadequate.  —  Last night the Mets delivered a dramatic and stunning rally against the Padres, fighting back from a three-run deficit in the eighth inning with two outs and nobody on.

Slide step  —  Sox drop another; division lead at 7  —  The fixation with the team that plays on 161st Street and River Drive in the Bronx makes it much harder for fans to abide the win-one, lose-one approach that has marked the Red Sox' play for the better part of two months.

Gung-ho Floyd makes Piniella flinch a little  —  Cliff Floyd returned to the lineup with a pair of hits and an RBI Wednesday, after missing the last three games with a shoulder strain he suffered while attempting a diving catch Saturday.  —  The Cubs are 20-11 when Floyd starts in right field.

MELKY'S HARD WORK PAYS OFF  —  When Melky Cabrera's batting average was lean, he wasn't.  But Cabrera, one of the team's hottest hitters entering yesterday, has added bulk to his batting average while subtracting from his weight.  —  Hitting coach Kevin Long said yesterday Cabrera …

Big inning dooms Millwood, Rangers  —  Right-hander surrenders four runs in second as Texas falls  —  OAKLAND — The play was out of the Rangers' past, a vision of one of the most pivotal plays in club history.  —  Those who remember the 1996 division playoff against the New York Yankees remember …

Collaborative effort drops Phillies  —  Veterans, youngsters combine to deliver series victory  —  LOS ANGELES — The Dodgers are trying to have it all ways, infusing youth and clinging to proven product while contending for a title.  It's no easy trick for manager Grady Little …

Mets recall utilityman Anderson  —  SAN DIEGO (TICKER) — The New York Mets recalled veteran utilityman Marlon Anderson shortly after their series-ending 5-4 loss to the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.  —  Anderson is expected to be with the Mets on Thursday after a weeklong stint with New Orleans - New York's Class AAA affiliate.

HUGHES '100 PERCENT'  —  TWO MORE STARTS, THEN TO YANKS  —  Phil Hughes moved a step closer yesterday to making the Yankees' rotation whole for the first time this season.  —  On a hot, muggy day at Waterfront Park, Hughes pitched four innings and allowed one run in the Thunder's 5-1 victory over the Binghamton Mets.

Angels send struggling Santana to minors  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Struggling right-hander Ervin Santana was sent to the minors by the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday, a day after he was shelled by Tampa Bay and lost his fifth consecutive decision.  —  Santana fell to 5-11 with a 6.22 ERA in 19 starts.