Astros acquire Wigginton for Wheeler  —  HOUSTON (AP) — Hoping for more offensive production from their infield, the Houston Astros acquired Ty Wigginton from the Tampa Bay Devil Rays on Saturday for relief pitcher Dan Wheeler.  —  Wigginton was hitting .275 with 16 homers and 49 RBIs in 98 games this season.

Rays trade McClung to Brewers  —  ST. PETERSBURG - The Seth McClung era is over.  —  The Devil Rays traded the talented but inconsistent reliever to Milwaukee late Friday for RHP Grant Balfour, who joins their beleaguered bullpen today.  —  McClung spent parts of three seasons with the Rays …

ON YOUR MARK  —  TEIXEIRA-TO-BRAVES WOULD MAKE THE METS SWEAT IN NL EAST RACE  —  TO some degree, the Mets' path to the NL East title became less arduous Thursday when the Phillies lost Chase Utley for around a month with a broken right hand.  —  But what if the Braves complete a trade for Mark Teixeira?

Source: Cubs interested in Payton  —  O's, Chicago engage in trade talks; Baltimore would receive two mid-level prospects in return  —  An industry source confirmed today that the Orioles and Chicago Cubs have engaged in significant trade talks regarding outfielder Jay Payton as the non-waiver deadline approaches next week.

BARRY: A-ROD NOT IN MY LEAGUE  —  For most of the last month, Barry Bonds has been tossing verbal bouquets toward Alex Rodriguez, but the praise stops at a point.  —  "Is he as good as me?  Hell, no," Bonds told The Post when asked if Rodriguez was the best player of this generation.

Saturday Update  — The Braves aren't willing to up their offer for Mark Teixeira unless they get more back.  While sources tell me that the initial discussion was based on which pitcher the Rangers got back, it's now moved to what else they might give up.

Padres release Branyan, call up Hairston  —  HOUSTON — The San Diego Padres released utilityman Russell Branyan on Saturday to open a roster spot for outfielder Scott Hairston, acquired Friday from Arizona.  —  The 31-year-old Branyan batted .197 with a home run and 19 RBIs in 67 games for the Padres this season.

Ripken Jr., Gwynn lobby for others … COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. — One fringe benefit to making the Baseball Hall of Fame is the opportunity to lobby for former teammates and peers to join the club.  Ted Williams believed strongly that Dom DiMaggio should be in Cooperstown, and Mike Schmidt spoke up for Pete Rose during his induction speech.

Anderson's disputed homer lifts Angels  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — An 11-year-old fan helped Garret Anderson hit a big home run.  —  Garret Anderson hit a disputed three-run homer in the eighth inning to break open a tie game, Orlando Cabrera added a two-run homer to cap the seven-run inning …

Tigers' patience pays off at plate  —  Seeing more pitches this season has brought Detroit's lineup more walks and, in turn, more runs.  —  In a hotel suite outside Orlando, Fla., last December, a group of Tigers executives, coaches and former players, including manager Jim Leyland …