Sox get Byrd  —  Both the Red Sox and Indians have issued press releases announcing the deal ... here's an Associated Press story on the trade ...  BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox have acquired pitcher Paul Byrd in a trade with Cleveland.  —  The Red Sox will send either a player to be named or cash to the Indians.

Damon Sits, and Rest of Yanks Might as Well Have  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Yankees have been hopeless lately with runners in scoring position.  Yet when Manager Joe Girardi filled out his lineup Monday, he decided to rest the American League's leading hitter, Johnny Damon.

Garcia to sign with Tigers … Freddy Garcia has agreed to a contract with the Tigers, SI.com has learned.  Garcia had been a free agent, and has not pitched since June of 2007 with the Philadelphia Phillies, when shoulder problems limited him to just 11 starts.

Source: Tigers put disgruntled Sheffield on waivers … One day after Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland said he was “flabbergasted” by Gary Sheffield's complaints about playing time, Sheffield was among several Tigers placed on waivers by the club Tuesday, according to a major league source.

These could be the unkindest cuts of all for Dodgers  —  Brad Penny gets a Mohawk, Manny Ramirez is about to lose his dreadlocks, and the Dodgers can't seem to stay above .500.  Coincidence?  —  T.J. Simers  —  Twenty-two home games remaining, the Phillies are in town, and these are hairy times for the Dodgers.

Mets' loss prompts changes in bullpen  —  Kunz to get chance to close; Maine could later fill role  —  NEW YORK — The disabled list and the turn of the pitching rotation stand in the way of what Jerry Manuel now swears he would do if those obstacles didn't exist — use John Maine as the Mets' closer until Billy Wagner returns.

3 UP: Melky, Kunz and Dunn  —  1. The Yankees were held scorleess against the Twins to open a three-game series.  It marked the 38th time that the Yanks scored two or fewer runs.  That is the second most in the AL.  This was the team that...  Cabrera began the game with a .221 average against southpaws.

14 Years Ago Today, My Heart Was Ripped Out...  ...by the start of the 1994 baseball strike.  That labor stoppage would ultimately wipe out the rest of the regular season, as well as the entire playoffs.  —  For a Montreal Expos fan like me, it was especially painful.

Matsui to play in Yankees minor-league game Thursday  —  Hideki Matsui's last-ditch effort to come back without surgery on his left knee will take a major step forward Thursday.  —  General manager Brian Cashman said Matsui will begin a minor-league rehabilitation assignment Thursday either …

Rays' Kazmir says mechanical tweak should improve performance  —  OAKLAND, Calif. — LHP Scott Kazmir said a small adjustment in his stride should result in a big improvement in his pitching tonight.  —  Kazmir has been a mess lately, struggling to throw strikes due to problems with mechanics.

Five Minutes with Ike Davis  —  The 18th- overall pick in this year's draft, Ike Davis is waiting for his power to emerge in Brooklyn.  The left-handed-hitting first sacker has yet to go deep in 151 professional at-bats, but there's little doubt that the son of former Twins and Yankees reliever Ron Davis …

Skip never missed a beat  —  ATLANTA - He was laid to rest on an off day, about right for a man who broadcast in the neighborhood of 5,000 ballgames.  And while he couldn't call his own funeral, Skip Caray almost certainly would have approved, except for all the people wearing neckties, which he loathed.

Jays' Stewart disappointed to be cut adrift  —  TORONTO - Shannon Stewart stopped mid-speech, searching for the right word to convey his emotions.  —  “Another way to end my Blue Jay . . . experience,” he said over the phone from Florida.  —  The 34-year-old Stewart was released …