The Houston Astros added some much-needed offense, trading reliever Dan Wheeler to the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for infielder and former Pirate Ty Wigginton.
Wigginton was hitting .275 with 16 homers and 49 RBIs. Last year, he had a career-high 24 homers and 79 RBIs.
Wheeler took over as the Astros' closer when Brad Lidge struggled earlier in the season. He had 11 saves in 15 chances and a 5.07 ERA for Houston. Lidge recently won back the job and has converted six consecutive saves.
The Devil Rays have been making wholesale changes to what has been the worst bullpen in baseball. Over its past 30 innings, the bullpen has given up 44 runs.
Earlier yesterday, they traded for minor league reliever Brian Shackelford from Cincinnati, and sent down struggling reliever Shawn Camp.
Nationals
Dmitri Young got another chance with Washington, and the Nationals aren't about to let him go now. Young and the Nationals announced they've reached agreement on a two-year contract extension, capping an amazing turnaround for the All-Star first baseman.
Young, who turns 34 in October, is hitting .331 with nine homers and 53 RBIs this season after signing a non-guaranteed, minor league deal with Washington in February. He was out of baseball at the end of 2006 after being released by the Detroit Tigers with less than a month left in the regular season.
Diamondbacks
Infielder Donnie Sadler was suspended for 50 games yesterday after testing positive for a drug of abuse under baseball's minor-league program. Sadler, 32, played for Boston, Cincinnati, Kansas City, Texas and Arizona in eight major-league seasons. He was 0 for 1 this season with the Diamondbacks, who brought him up from Class AAA Tucson of the Pacific Coast May 11, then designated him for assignment six days later and sent him back to the minors.
Cardinals
Manager Tony La Russa was ejected for the first time this season yesterday against the Milwaukee Brewers in St. Louis for arguing balls and strikes. La Russa was tossed with two outs in the sixth inning by third base umpire Greg Gibson, who ruled that pinch-hitter Skip Schumaker went around on a checked swing. La Russa yelled comments from the dugout and Gibson quickly ejected the veteran manager. La Russa then slowly walked to the plate and confronted Gibson before being separated by crew chief Charlie Reliford. Replays appeared to indicate that Schumaker made little movement on the pitch from Manny Parra. He ended up striking out to end the sixth.
Padres
Outfielder Brian Giles has reached base in 23 of 25 games since coming off the disabled list on June 29. ... San Diego placed major-league ERA leader Chris Young (strained oblique muscle) on the disabled list and called up Tim Stauffer from Class AAA Portland to start today in Houston.
First Published: July 29, 2007, 2:30 a.m.
