Tampa Bay Rays pitcher Matt Garza plunked Mark Teixeira on purpose  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. — Tampa Bay's Matt Garza hit New York Yankees slugger Mark Teixeira with a fifth-inning pitch Wednesday night, then said he did it because he's tired of opposing pitchers throwing at Rays All-Star Evan Longoria.

Pirates All-Star Freddy Sanchez traded to the Giants for prospect Tim Alderson  —  The San Francisco Giants, taking another step to upgrade the National League's 15th ranked offense, acquired three-time All-Star Freddy Sanchez from Pittsburgh on Wednesday for pitching prospect Tim Alderson.

Olney's Latest: Bell, Washburn, Martinez  —  Buster Olney at ESPN with a few updates on trade chatter today:  — The Padres are fielding all sorts of calls on Heath Bell.  Of the dozen or so interested, the Marlins have probably been the most aggressive.

MLB trade deadline buzz: Thursday's edition  —  With the July 31 MLB non-waiver trade deadline fast approaching, FOXSports.com baseball reporters Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi have all the latest buzz.  All times below are ET.  —  Rockies prepping for another move?

Beltran eyes return within 2 1/2 weeks  —  Center fielder says injured right knee responding well  —  NEW YORK — Imagine the Mets about to confront the Braves at Citi Field next month and beginning an extended sequence of games against opponents with legitimate postseason aspirations …

3 UP: WANG, JOBA AND PATTERSON  —  Yes, I am on Twitter.  —  1. There were a lot of things that Chien-Ming Wang was not such as effective in the postseason or the kind of strikeout artist who engenders awe or healthy for the past year.  Because of that his loss for the rest of the year has not caused much of a stir.

Cubs in search of lefty bat who can play right  —  The Cubs don't want switch hitter Milton Bradley to give up batting left-handed as an answer to his seasonlong problems from that side of the plate.  But sources said one possibility being discussed is limiting him to a platoon role …

Jack Wilson, Ian Snell of Pittsburgh Pirates traded to Seattle Mariners for five players  —  The Pittsburgh Pirates have dealt shortstop Jack Wilson and right-handed pitcher Ian Snell to the Seattle Mariners for shortstop Ronny Cedeno, first baseman Jeff Clement, and right-handed pitching …

DETROIT TIGERS BASEBALL  —  Yankees interested in Josh Anderson trade with Tigers  —  ARLINGTON, Texas — Detroit Tigers manager Jim Leyland confirmed today that the New York Yankees have interest in outfielder Josh Anderson, whom Detroit has 10 days since Friday to assign to another team via trade …

Twins 3, White Sox 2  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Light-hitting Alexi Casilla had two RBIs, Minnesota's bullpen pitched four scoreless innings and the Twins beat the Chicago White Sox 3-2 on Wednesday night to sweep the three-game series.  —  Casilla, who entered the game hitting .161 …

Rangers prospect diagnosed with infection  —  Pitcher Main taken in 2007 First-Year Player Draft  —  ARLINGTON — The mysterious illness that knocked Rangers prospect Michael Main off the mound has been officially diagnosed.  —  Kind of.  —  “The last time I went to a doctor was about two or three weeks ago,” Main said by phone.