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 …

Breaking news: Hughes, Sanchez to Arizona Fall League … Aside from Sanchez, Contreras mentioned Hughes, Chris Garcia, Jeff Marquez and Ian Kennedy as candidates for the Fall League.  When I talked to Kennedy, he said he didn't think he was going.  Kennedy could finish the year around 130 innings …

Coke and Moeller to New York... and that's all … “I'm excited,” Coke said.  “I've been waiting for this since I was three years old so I've got to be excited.  All my years of hard work coming back to me, I feel like I'm being reward for what I've done not just this season but in the past, working to get better every day.

Phillies call up four players  —  Two pitchers, one catcher and one outfielder were called up from the minor leagues by the Phillies following today's game, the club announced.  —  Right-hander Adam Eaton and left-hander J.A. Happ were recalled from triple-A Lehigh Valley and outfielder Greg Golson …

Burres roughed up by Rays  —  Orioles starter allows six runs and nine hits in five innings  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. - James Shields allowed one run over seven innings and Jason Bartlett hit his first homer in over an year to help the AL East-leading Tampa Bay Rays complete a three-game sweep …

‘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.

THE RECONSTRUCTION  —  SABATHIA CORNERSTONE OF NEW-STADIUM YANKS  —  YAMMERIN' Hank Steinbrenner vows change.  And this is not particularly good for the Yankees.  Hank has the same instincts as his father, which is to go famous, expensive and long-term.  —  The ideas attributed …

Padres to release Iguchi, Tomko  —  The Padres are releasing second baseman Tadahito Iguchi and pitcher Brett Tomko to open roster spots for second baseman Matt Antonelli and pitcher Wade LeBlanc.  Both Iguchi and Tomko were told of the move after the team's 2-1 win over the Rockies today at Petco Park.

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.

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.