D-backs acquire David Eckstein from Blue Jays  —  Club sends right-handed pitcher Chad Beck toToronto  —  PHOENIX — The Arizona Diamondbacks announced today that they have acquired infielder David Eckstein in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Chad Beck (Visalia).

Big Z pushed back from Sunday start  —  Ace working through ‘dead arm’ phase; Marshall faces Phillies  —  CHICAGO — Cubs right-hander Carlos Zambrano will not make his scheduled Sunday start.  Sean Marshall will get a spot start against Philadelphia, and Zambrano will likely be pushed …

‘Jockey’ Pedroia whips S. Siders  —  BOSTON — Sifting through White Sox manager Ozzie Guillen's comments after another ugly loss to the Boston Red Sox — this one an 8-2 rout at Fenway Park that was much more of a blowout than the score revealed — it was tricky deciding which were the compliments and which were the complaints.

Rays' Wheeler earns respect as stand-in closer  —  ST. PETERSBURG — When RHP Troy Percival was placed on the disabled list in mid August, manager Joe Maddon said he planned to use a closer-by-committee approach, based on particular matchups.  —  But throughout a recent stretch of close games …

Pirates Notebook: Coonelly faults Boras for Royals' involvement  —  The Pirates have been charged in some corners with having dragged the Kansas City Royals into the Pedro Alvarez dispute, by virtue of last week citing the Royals' negotiations with their first-round draft pick, Eric Hosmer, as an example of a similar case.

Dodgers' Kent could face early end to career  —  PHOENIX - Dodgers second baseman Jeff Kent, a five-time All-Star, former National League Most Valuable Player and almost-certain future Hall of Famer, might have played his last game in the major leagues.  —  Kent was sent back to Los Angeles …

Chipper's 20th home run makes history  —  Jones becomes second to accomplish feat in first 14 seasons  —  WASHINGTON — Chipper Jones has consistently produced statistics that link him with Hall of Famers, and he now shares an accomplishment only previously enjoyed by the other great third baseman the Braves once employed.

Knee injury lands Torrealba on DL, facing surgery  —  SAN DIEGO — Rockies catcher Yorvit Torrealba walked gingerly out of the trainer's room knowing the inevitable.  His left knee was no better, and he landed on the disabled list prior to Saturday's game.  Triple-A catcher Adam Melhuse will replace him.

Silva will be activated Monday for start  —  Right-hander ready to go after alleviating elbow soreness  —  CLEVELAND — Carlos Silva will come off the disabled list and return to the Mariners' starting rotation Monday against the Rangers.  —  “He is 100 percent ready to go,” Seattle manager Jim Riggleman said.

Dodgers end eight-game slide  —  Ramirez homers twice in second straight four-hit performance  —  PHOENIX — Manny Ramirez had just pounded out four hits again, two of them homers.  He powered a 6-2 win that halted the Dodgers' losing streak at eight and trimmed the Diamondbacks' lead …