Contenders make deadline deals
Published 10:56 pm Saturday, July 31, 2010
Former All-Stars Jake Westbrook, Ted Lilly and Ryan Ludwick got traded Saturday as pennant contenders played a game of beat-the-clock, while the New York Yankees completed their big deal for slugger Lance Berkman.
The NL Central-leading St. Louis Cardinals were the prime players in a three-team trade, getting Westbrook from Cleveland and also sending Ludwick to NL Central-leading San Diego.
Cleveland sent cash to the Cardinals and Padres, and got minor league pitcher Corey Kluber from San Diego — the 24-year-old righty led the Texas League in strikeouts. St. Louis also acquired minor league lefty Nick Greenwood from San Diego.
The Los Angeles Dodgers got the left-handed Lilly, Chris Theriot and about $2.5 million from the Chicago Cubs for infielder Blake DeWitt and minor league right-handers Kyle Smit and Brett Wallach.