The Minnesota Twins acquired shortstop J.J. Hardy yesterday, sending speedy outfielder Carlos Gomez to the Milwaukee Brewers in a trade.

The move relieves a crowded outfield for the Twins, who also have Delmon Young, Denard Span and Michael Cuddyer.

Hardy, 27, batted .229 with 11 home runs and 47 RBI in 115 games for the Brewers in 2009. A 2007 All-Star, he is just the third shortstop in Brewers' history to hit more than 20 home runs in a season twice, a list that also includes Robin Yount and Jose Hernandez.

He has a career batting average of .262 with 75 home runs and 265 RBI in 571 games.

Left fielder Manny Ramirez exercised his $20 million contract option and will return to the Los Angeles Dodgers next season. He could have exercised an out clause in the two-year, $45 million deal he signed in March. Ramirez hit .290 with 19 home runs and 63 RBIs in 104 regular season games. He missed 50 games while suspended for violating baseball's drug policy.

The Chicago White Sox acquired Mark Teahen from Kansas City and will install him as their starting third baseman. The Royals received infielders Chris Getz and Josh Fields in return. Teahen was the Royals' starting third baseman before they called up highly touted Alex Gordon to fill that spot three years ago. The White Sox also declined the option on outfielder Jermaine Dye, making him a free agent at a cost of a $950,000 buyout.

As expected, Philadelphia picked up pitcher Cliff Lee's $9 million option for 2010. Lee, 31, was acquired from the Cleveland July 29 and quickly became the Phillies' ace. He posted a 3.39 ERA in 12 starts for the Phillies, then went 4-0 with a 1.56 mark in five postseason outings, including 2-0 in the World Series.

Arizona exercised an $8.5 million option to keep pitcher Brandon Webb, 30, and is counting on the former Cy Young winner coming back successfully from shoulder surgery.

The Pirates assigned pitchers Virgil Vasquez and Eric Hacker to Class AAA Indianapolis, and catcher Steve Lerud to Class AA Altoona. The Pirates have 36 players on their 40-man roster, plus pitchers Jose Ascanio and Evan Meek, who are on the 60-day disabled list.

Vasquez split 2009 between the Pirates and Indianapolis. He had a 2-5 record and a 5.84 earned run average in 14 appearances with the Pirates, seven as a starter. He was 7-4 with a 3.93 ERA in 19 appearances, all starts, for Indianapolis.

Hacker had three relief appearances for the Pirates in 2009 with no decisions and a 6.00 ERA.

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