Brewers acquire Linebrink from Padres  —  Milwaukee sends three pitching prospects to San Diego  —  CINCINNATI — They had to part with three valuable pitching prospects to do it, but the Brewers accomplished their primary trade deadline goal by acquiring reliever Scott Linebrink from the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

Sheffield dismisses latest steroid claims  —  Chemist alleges slugger's usage on "Costas Now"  —  CHICAGO — Another day, another steroid accusation.  That's how it feels according to Gary Sheffield, who was greeted at U.S. Cellular Field on Wednesday with the newest claim made against him.

Rangers, Braves talk deal for Tex  —  egrant@dallasnews.com  —  With less than a week to go before the trading deadline, the Rangers are heavily involved in talks with Atlanta on a deal that could send Mark Teixeira to the Braves, major league sources confirmed Wednesday.

Grudzielanek Leaves Game  —  UPDATE: Turns out Grudz is just day-to-day with knee soreness.  The Mets deny any rumor that they've traded for him.  Two Royal false alarms today, sorry about that.  —  A friendly emailer tells me that Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek was in the original lineup …

Notes: Podsednik prefers top of order  —  Outfielder expresses desire to bat first or second  —  CHICAGO — Excelling from the leadoff position made Scott Podsednik an All-Star in 2005 and played a strong contributing role in the White Sox first World Series title in almost 90 years, achieved that very same season.

A-Rod gets No. 499 off Meche in KC  —  Another blast will make slugger 22nd member of 500 HR club  —  KANSAS CITY — For some time, it hasn't been a matter of if, but when.  Now, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez sits just one home run shy of joining baseball's prestigious 500 home run club.

Six-Run Lead Helps Glavine Earn 299th Win  —  It is time.  The phone calls can be made, the airplane tickets purchased, the seats at Miller Park in Milwaukee confirmed.  Tom Glavine's family is no longer on alert.  The next time he pitches, scheduled to be Tuesday against the Brewers, Glavine will go for career victory No. 300.

Kendall to split time with Hill  —  Piniella aims to get veteran's 'bat going'  —  ST. LOUIS — Cubs manager Lou Piniella said Wednesday he will split the playing time behind the plate between Jason Kendall and Koyie Hill for the time being.  —  When Kendall arrived in a trade from Oakland on July 16 …

Trade Winds: Atlanta eyeing Teixeira  —  Braves move up as front-runners for coveted first baseman  —  Mark Teixeira to Atlanta?  —  A move to the National League East team would make sense in many ways, but it remains to be seen whether the Rangers and Braves will be able to reach …

At 88, Bob Feller is still living the baseball dream  —  GATES MILLS, Ohio — Seventy-one years after leaving Iowa to begin his pro baseball career, Bob Feller relives his boyhood farm days on a wooded driveway in a quaint Cleveland suburb.  —  Wearing jeans, sneakers and polo shirt …

Izturis' single lifts Angels by A's 7-6  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — John Lackey has lost count of how many victories Francisco Rodriguez has saved for him.  So when the All-Star closer blew a three-run lead in the ninth inning on Wednesday, Lackey took it easy on him.  —  "That's not going to happen too often.