Baek for Wells  —  This is precisely why this forum exists!  —  I've gotten a number of questions/comments about this trade already, so I'll provide a quick view into our thinking.  —  Cha Seung Baek is a 6'4", 225 lb, 28-year old (turns 29 tomorrow) RHP from Pusan, Korea.

Reds option Patterson to Minors  —  Infielder Phillips promoted from Triple-A Louisville  —  CINCINNATI — Struggling center fielder Corey Patterson was optioned to Triple-A Louisville by the Reds on Wednesday.  —  The contract of infielder Andy Phillips was selected from Louisville to replace Patterson.

Kennedy to DL; Joba to fill in?  —  Ian Kennedy was sent back to New York for an MRI and will be placed on the disabled list tomorrow.  —  It's a strained lat, the same injury he had last September.  It the muscle behind your shoulder.  Given how conservative the Yankees are with young pitchers …

Yanks squander leads in loss to O's  —  Extra-innings defeat adds insult to starter Kennedy's injury  —  BALTIMORE — Of all the balls that soared over outfield fences in Tuesday's slugfest at Camden Yards, it was Alex Cintron's late fly ball that carried the most momentum, safely landing in plenty of right-field real estate.

Wagner only concerned about winning  —  New York (24-26) vs. Florida (30-21), Wednesday, 7:10 p.m. ET  —  NEW YORK — As if he was rocking back for another high-90s fastball, just like he did to sit down Jorge Cantu and seal his 368th career save on Tuesday night, Billy Wagner is quick to answer the importance of records.

Ozzie's patience tested, Cabrera should take note  —  CLEVELAND — Ozzie Guillen's baby-sitting service is officially closed.  —  Are you listening, Orlando Cabrera?  —  The never-boring world of the White Sox manager was yet again filled with one drama after another on Tuesday …

Guillen battling painful case of hemorrhoids; Fearless Dolsi impressing Leyland  —  There's a reason Carlos Guillen had a rough game — including two errors — Monday night at third base.  “He can hardly move — he's got hemorrhoids so bad,” Tigers manager Jim Leyland said Tuesday.

Johan Santana stops Mets' skid, tops Marlins  —  NEW YORK — When it comes to beating the Marlins, the Mets are getting their money's worth out of Johan Santana.  —  Santana, New York's $137.5 million ace, became the first pitcher to beat the Marlins twice this season …

Bret Boone calls it a career — this time for good  —  Bret Boone, a three-time All-Star and four-time Gold Glove Award winner in 14 major league seasons, has decided to retire after a comeback attempt with the Washington Nationals failed to lead to a big league job.

Matsuzaka leaves game because of shoulder ‘fatigue’; next start uncertain  —  SEATTLE — Daisuke Matsuzaka left last night's start after four innings, the result of what the Red Sox termed “fatigue” in his right shoulder.  —  After giving up two runs in the first to the Seattle Mariners …

Reports: Sosa says he'll retire after 2009 WBC … ORLANDO, Fla. — Sammy Sosa, still without an offer to play in the major leagues, will retire from baseball after the next World Baseball Classic, according to published reports.  —  “It's part of the plan.

Some familiar faces still looking for work … Craig Biggio left Major League Baseball on his own terms.  He joined the 3,000-hit club last June, took a farewell tour with the Astros and retired at the end of the 2007 season.  Now he's ready to embrace a new role as coach of his son Conor's baseball team …

Fans to pick games for Yankees DVD  —  Voting for Yankee Stadium tribute is under way  —  The mission: Vote now to decide which games should be included in the “Essential Games of Yankee Stadium” DVD that will come out later this year.  —  The problem: You can choose only five.

Mets surpass Knicks at doctoring attendance figures  —  Congratulations to the Mets, who successfully have taken over the lead in New York for fabricating attendance figures.  —  This was no easy accomplishment, because the Knicks have been piping numbers for several years now …

Crystal ball: Projecting the first round  —  Slipping college arms could shake up Draft selections  —  Here it is, the entire first round.  —  It seems like I say this every year, but trying to project all 30 picks, especially picks 21-30, at this juncture, is no easy task.

The alleged difficulty of the in-season manager switch  —  As first reported by Jon Heyman, part of the reason the Mets have stayed put with Willie Randolph is because team officials discussed and examined the history of clubs who changed managers midseason.  They found that, more often than not, the switch didn't accomplish much.