Rays send message with trade  —  Golly, I sure didn't see this one coming:  —  The Los Angeles Angels, looking to bolster their rotation for the last five weeks of the season and in October, acquired leftt-hander Scott Kazmir of the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday.  —  “This is a surprise.

Yanks' Mitre, Gaudin combine for 1-hitter and shutout Chisox  —  NEW YORK (AP) — Sergio Mitre (FSY) shook off the rust and pitched sharply before getting struck by a line drive in the seventh inning, combining with Chad Gaudin (FSY) on a one-hitter as the New York Yankees routed the slumping Chicago White Sox 10-0 Saturday.

The reason isn't clear, but Manny Ramirez isn't right  —  (Doug Pensinger / Getty Images / August 27)  —  The Dodgers slugger is missing in action again in a loss at Cincinnati.  —  He used to own this kind of moment, circling it with his giant swing, swarming it with his giant smile.

Wilpon Addresses Doubts Over Madoff Losses and Mets  —  Fred Wilpon, the Mets' principal owner, tried Friday to temper concerns that he and his team had been scarred financially by the losses caused by a vast Ponzi scheme run by his former friend Bernard L. Madoff.  He said he had no intention of selling the team.

Sox rally round Jason Varitek play  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  Jason Varitek is considered the rock of the Red Sox [team stats] for his intangibles.  —  Last night that label applied literally.  —  With the Blue Jays about to score the go-ahead run …

A setback for Wakefield  —  Tim Wakefield has been scratched from his scheduled start Tuesday against the Rays because his back is acting up.  He will be evaluated on Monday.  —  Wakefield's absence, as well as the possibility of a rainout tonight, throw a serious wrench into the Red Sox rotation for the next few days.

Howard homers twice to lead Phils to rainy win against Braves  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Even the rain can't stop Ryan Howard (FSY), especially this time of year.  —  Howard homered twice during a perfect night at the plate, Jamie Moyer (FSY) pitched effectively in relief of Pedro Martinez …

Swisher learning the ropes in outfield  —  New York (80-48) vs. Chicago (64-65), 1:05 p.m. ET  —  NEW YORK — Long before Robinson Cano launched a game-winning pellet into the sky over Yankee Stadium on Friday night, Nick Swisher made it possible by unloading a slippery seed to home plate with deadly accuracy.

Twins Designate R.A. Dickey For Assignment  —  According LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune, the Twins have designated right-hander R.A. Dickey for assignment in order to clear roster space for newly acquired reliever Ron Mahay.  —  Dickey, a knuckleballer who turns 35 in October …

Russell benches Doumit in Pirates' 8-6 loss  —  Duke shelled for seven runs in 19th loss in a row at Miller Park  —  MILWAUKEE — What happened on the field in the Pirates' 8-6 loss to the Milwaukee Brewers was not really the news last night, and not just because it resurrected …

Call-in Line: 877.276.2160  —  The Baseball Show features Greg Dickerson, CSN exclusive baseball analyst Lou Merloni, and veteran Boston Herald baseball scribes Steve Buckley and Sean McAdam.  The Baseball Show will take on the issues other networks only gloss over, feature live calls …

Derek Jeter: Every-day player now; Yankees legend forever … For the Pocono Record  —  NEW YORK — They are all in awe of him.  —  Guys like Mariano Rivera.  The best closer in the history of baseball.  —  And Andy Pettitte.  Gutsy and tough with perhaps a few more years left in his left arm.

Pujols ends game with fireworks  —  The Cardinals celebrate with a win over the Nationals after Albert Pujols homers on a fly ball to left field in the bottom of the 9th.  The cardinals win 3-2 during Friday night's game at Busch Stadium.  (Dawn Majors/P-D)  —  ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH

No deal yet on contract extension for Royals GM Moore  —  The Royals privately confirm talks are under way regarding a contract extension for general manager Dayton Moore, but multiple club sources — including Moore — dismissed online reports that a deal is done.  —  Moore's current contract runs through the 2010 season.

Steinbrenner Faces Suit Over Idea for YES  —  A former president of Madison Square Garden says that it was his idea to create what became the Yankees-run YES Network, and on Friday he sued George Steinbrenner, the team's principal owner, in Manhattan federal court for fraud and breach of contract.