METS SIGN AL REYES  —  ANOTHER ATTEMPT TO UPGRADE BULLPEN  —  The Mets today tried another avenue to upgrade their bullpen by signing Al Reyes, who was recently waived by the Tampa Bay Rays, to a minor-league contract, The Post has learned.  —  Reyes was released by the Rays on Aug. 9 …

Dunn, Arizona knock around Peavy in win  —  Dunn hit his National League-leading 34th home run, his second in as many games, and the Arizona Diamondbacks beat the San Diego Padres 8-6 on Wednesday night.  —  With San Diego's Jake Peavy and Arizona's Dan Haren on the mound …

Buchholz demoted to Portland  —  BALTIMORE - Terry Francona announced after the game that Clay Buchholz, who allowed five runs over 2-1/3 innings in an 11-6 Sox loss to the Orioles was demoted to Double-A Portland to work out his pitching issues.  —  “I talked to Buck and we feel we need …

Ryan Church returns Friday  —  Ryan Church will make his long-awaited return to the Mets tomorrow, sources told the Daily News.  —  “I'm champing at the bit,” he said after going 0-for-4 in a rehab game with Double-A Binghamton Wednesday night following a flight from Triple-A New Orleans.

Griffey's 609 HRs tie Sosa, ChiSox roll  —  CHICAGO (AP)—Ken Griffey Jr. thought it was just a matter of time.  His first home run with the Chicago White Sox was still a pretty sweet sight for manager Ozzie Guillen.  —  Griffey hit one of Chicago's four homers to move into a tie with Sammy Sosa …

Rodriguez spells Kendrick  —  Backup infielder fills in for struggling second baseman  —  ST. PETERSBURG — Howie Kendrick, batting just .117 on the Angels' current road trip with two hits in five games, was given Wednesday night off as his team wrapped up a three-game series with the sizzling Rays at Tropicana Field.

Sox demote Buchholz after another pummeling  —  BALTIMORE - Even he knew, as he walked off the mound, as he walked out of the major leagues (for now), what his fate would be.  There was little else to do, little leeway, on a team for which every win is precious.

There continue to be surprises from Dodgers' Manny Ramirez  —  He's nothing like his reputation.  —  T.J. Simers  —  Can't shake the guy.  —  Wherever I go, there's Manny.  —  I talk to Andruw Jones before he goes to Las Vegas, and Manny pulls up a chair.

A few things....  BALTIMORE - Josh Beckett will start throwing on Friday in Toronto to prepare for his Tuesday start in New York.  —  Terry Francona reiterated that the tingling and numbness in two of Beckett's fingers on his right hand has subsided and that the Sox medical people …

A contentious history: Baseball's labor fights  —  The past 35 years of baseball labor relations have often been described as an unbroken streak of victories by the players over the owners at the bargainnig table.  This view is too simplistic.  More accurately, the players outnegotiated …

Nats acquire shortstop Hernandez  —  Move completes trade that sent reliever Ayala to Mets  —  PHILADELPHIA — The Nationals wasted no time in making use of their latest acquisition, shortstop Anderson Hernandez.  The 25-year-old was in the lineup Wednesday night against the Phillies, batting in the No. 8 slot.

Kotchman leaves Braves to be with ailing mom  —  Diaz won't need surgery on reinjured knee  —  New York — Braves first baseman Casey Kotchman was placed on the major-league bereavement list Wednesday so he could be with his mother, who is hospitalized for an undisclosed medical condition in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Picking the NL MVP  —  Award Week continues at Prospectus Today, as we take a look at the NL MVP race, while silently cursing the lovely and talented Rob Neyer for getting to it a day sooner.  —  As in the AL, no clear favorite has emerged in the public eye, as some of the players who began …