MLB NOTES: Red Sox acquire Kotsay from Braves

Associated Press

Center fielder Mark Kotsay was acquired by the Red Sox from the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday, only one day after Boston put J.D. Drew on the 15-day disabled list because of a lower back strain.

The 32-year-old Kotsay hit .289 with six home runs and 37 runs batted in 88 games with the Braves.

He was scratched from Tuesday night’s starting lineup, raising speculation that a trade was pending. Kotsay then pinch hit and walked in the ninth inning.

“I’d have to say it’s my weirdest night as a professional in the big leagues,” Kotsay said after the game. “I’ve never been scratched for that type of reason.

“I knew there was a possibility, so it wasn’t a complete shock when I got called in and was told I would be scratched from the lineup due to precautionary reasons. The club was in discussions for possibly moving me.”

Kotsay thought ahead to possibly joining the Red Sox.

“If that’s the case, if I’m moved to a club that has postseason possibilities, you can’t be disappointed as a player,” he said. “I’ve had a lot of fun here and I’ve been happy with Bobby (Cox) and the organization.”

The Braves acquired minor league outfielder Luis Sumoza in the deal. The 20-year-old hit .301 in 51 games for Class A Lowell of the New York-Penn League this season.

Atlanta obtained Kotsay from Oakland on Jan. 14. Coming off back surgery, he hit only .214 with one homer in 56 games for Oakland last year.

ORIOLES: Orioles right-hander Daniel Cabrera is feeling discomfort in his forearm, and although an MRI showed no damage, Baltimore manager Dave Trembley is considering moving back the struggling pitcher in the starting rotation.

Cabrera’s fastball lacked its usual velocity in a lackluster performance Sunday against the New York Yankees. He was examined by the team orthopedist Monday and received an MRI on his right arm Tuesday.

Trembley said Wednesday that the MRI came back clean, but Cabrera still may miss his scheduled to start against Tampa Bay on Saturday.

RANGERS: Josh Hamilton, who leads the major leagues with 116 RBI, was a late scratch from the Texas Rangers lineup against the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday night because of an abscessed tooth.

Hamilton, who was hitting .298 with 29 home runs, was replaced by rookie Brandon Boggs in the lineup. Boggs led off the Texas fourth with a home run.

Also, Texas Rangers right-hander Vicente Padilla will miss his scheduled start Friday against the Los Angeles Angels with inflammation in the muscle joint between the neck and shoulder. Padilla, who leads the Rangers with 12 victories and has a 4.98 ERA in 25 starts, couldn’t throw bullpen sessions Tuesday or Wednesday.

Dustin Nippert, 1-3 with a 7.83 ERA, is scheduled to take Padilla’s turn. His only start among 15 appearances this season was in Padilla’s place Aug. 17. He took the loss, giving up seven runs on eight hits, including two home runs, in four innings in Tampa Bay’s 7-4 victory.

In another move, the Rangers announced outfielder Jason Ellison, who was designated for assignment Monday, has cleared waivers and accepted an assignment to Oklahoma.

ROYALS: Royals general manager Dayton Moore said Wednesday he met with Jose Guillen after the outfielder confronted a heckling fan Tuesday night. Guillen had to be restrained by catcher Miguel Olivo, third-base coach Luis Silverio and others when a fan down the right field line harassed him in the fourth inning of a 2-1 loss to the Texas Rangers.

This is Guillen’s fourth public outburst this season. He has called his teammates “babies” during a 12-game losing streak in May, made profanity-laced comments in June saying he could “care less about” fans who were booing him, and had to be separated from pitching coach Bob McClure on July 5 in a clubhouse confrontation in Tampa Bay.

TIGERS: The Detroit Tigers optioned right-handed pitcher Chris Lambert to Toledo and recalled infielder Jeff Larish from the Triple-A team Wednesday.

Lambert made his major league debut Tuesday night in a 10-4 loss to Cleveland. Larish was hitting .250 at Toledo with 21 home runs and 64 RBI.

CARDINALS: The St. Louis Cardinals added a power bat to their bench on Wednesday, purchasing Josh Phelps’ contract from Triple-A Memphis. Rookie left-hander Jaime Garcia, 1-1 with a 5.63 ERA in 10 appearances, was optioned to Memphis and left-hander Mark Mulder was transferred to the 60-day disabled list from the 15-day DL.

The 30-year-old Phelps was batting .291 with 31 home runs and 97 RBI, tied for third-best in the Pacific Coast League. He had 64 extra-base hits, tied for second in the league, but had been stuck in the minors because his best position is first base where the Cardinals have Albert Pujols.

METS: The New York Mets placed catcher Ramon Castro on the 15-day disabled list because of a quadriceps injury Wednesday.The Mets also optioned infielder Argenis Reyes to New Orleans and called up pitcher Nelson Figueroa and catcher Robinson Cancel from the Triple-A team.

Castro, who splits time with Brian Schneider, was injured while running to first base in the fifth inning Tuesday night in an 8-7 loss to the Phillies. He’s batting .242 with seven homers and 24 RBI in 43 games.

PADRES: The San Diego Padres optioned rookie right-handed pitcher Josh Banks and right-handed pitcher Bryan Corey to Triple-A Portland on Wednesday.

Corey was activated from the 15-day disabled list before being optioned to Portland. Corey went on the disabled list on August 12, retroactive to August 10, with a strained left hamstring. Corey is 1-3 with a 6.23 ERA in 39 relief appearances. Banks is 3-6 with a 4.75 ERA in 17 appearances, including 14 starts with the Padres.

PHILLIES: The Philadelphia Phillies called up pitcher Andrew Carpenter from Double-A Reading before their game Wednesday night against the New York Mets.

Infielder Andy Tracy was designated for assignment to make room for Carpenter on the roster. Carpenter was 6-8 with a 5.67 ERA in 16 starts at Reading. He’ll be used out of the bullpen in Philadelphia. Tracy was 0-for-1 with a walk in two plate appearances with the Phillies.

PIRATES: Right-hander Craig Hansen, struggling with his control since being traded to Pittsburgh last month, was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis on Wednesday. The Pirates picked up the contract of right-hander Jesse Chavez from their top farm club. Hansen, obtained from Boston in the three-team trade that sent outfielder Jason Bay to the Red Sox on July 31, was 0-2 with a 8.10 ERA in nine games with Pittsburgh.

On Tuesday night, he walked in the tying and go-ahead runs during the Cubs’ seven-run, eighth-inning rally. Chicago won 14-9.

To make room for Chavez on their 40-man roster, the Pirates transferred left-hander Phil Dumatrait (left shoulder surgery) from the 15-day to the 60-day disabled list.