NEW YORK — The Mets have acquired slugging outfielder Yoenis Cespedes from Detroit Friday in their strongest attempt yet to boost a punchless lineup that threatened to derail their postseason hopes.
Cespedes hit .293 with 18 home runs with 61 RBIs in 102 games with the Tigers this season.
The Mets trail first-place Washington by three games in the NL East, but New York rank last in the major leagues in runs and batting average, and is 29th in on-base percentage and slugging.
The Mets sent minor league pitchers Michael Fulmer and Luis Cessa to Detroit.
The Tigers decided to build for the future this week after winning the last four AL Central titles. They traded star left-hander David Price and closer Joakim Soria on Thursday.
Indians send reliever Rzepczynski to Padres
CLEVELAND — The Indians have made their third trade this week, sending left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski to the San Diego Padres for outfielder Abraham Almonte.
Rzepczynski went 2-3 with a 4.43 ERA in 45 games this season.
Earlier this week, the Indians, who recently lost six straight games and fell back in the AL wild-card race, dealt outfielder David Murphy to the Angels and sent slugger Brandon Moss to St. Louis.
The 26-year-old Almonte has split the season between San Diego and Triple-A El Paso, batting .275 with four homers, 35 RBIs and 11 steals in 61 games in the minors.
He has spent two stints in the majors, batting .204 in 31 games. The 5-foot-9, switch-hitting center fielder began his career after signing with the Yankees in 2005.
Rzepczynski joined the Indians in 2013, coming over in a trade with St. Louis. He appeared in 73 games last season.
Haren dealt by Marlins to Cubs for 2 minor leaguers
MIAMI — Right-hander Dan Haren has been acquired by the Chicago Cubs from the Miami Marlins.
As part of Friday’s deal, Miami is sending cash to the Cubs to cover part of Haren’s $11 million salary.
Haren was 7-7 with a 3.42 ERA in a team-best 21 starts for the Marlins this season. The Cubs will become his eighth team after previous stints with St. Louis, Oakland, Arizona, the Los Angeles Angels, Washington, the Los Angeles Dodgers and then Miami.
The Marlins got a pair of minor leaguers, right-handed starter Ivan Pineyro and shortstop Elliot Soto. Both were sent to Double-A Jacksonville by the Marlins, who also have traded first baseman Michael Morse, starter Mat Latos and closer Steve Cishek in recent days.
Pirates acquire starter J.A. Happ from Mariners
PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates added depth to their starting rotation on Friday, acquiring J.A. Happ from Seattle in exchange for minor-league pitcher Adrian Sampson.
The 32-year-old Happ went 4-6 with a 4.64 ERA in 21 appearances for the Mariners this season, with 20 starts. The move is the latest in a series of pitching additions made by the Pirates at the trade deadline as they try to chase down St. Louis in the NL Central.
Pittsburgh acquired relievers Joakim Soria from Detroit and Joe Blanton from Kansas City on Thursday.
The Pirates have the second-best ERA in the majors behind St. Louis but have seen starters Charlie Morton and A.J. Burnett struggle since the All-Star break.
Reliever Sam Dyson sent to Rangers by Marlins
MIAMI — The Miami Marlins traded right-handed reliever Sam Dyson to the Texas Rangers on Friday for catcher Tomas Telis and a minor league pitcher.
Dyson was 3-3 with a 3.68 ERA in 44 appearances for Miami this season. He appeared in 80 games with the Marlins over the last three seasons, after breaking into the majors for two games with Toronto in 2011.
Telis has gotten limited action with the Rangers over the last two seasons, playing in 24 games with no home runs and 10 RBIs. He was signed as 16-year-old free agent from Venezuela in 2007, made 18 appearances last season and batted .182 in six games with Texas this year.
Telis will report to Miami. The Marlins also got left-hander Cody Ege, who was sent to Double-A Jacksonville.
Blue Jays add Revere from Phillies
The Blue Jays have acquired Ben Revere from the Phillies for minor league pitchers Alberto Tirado and Jimmy Cordero. The Blue Jays already added Mark Lowe on Friday and will soon be introducing ace David Price, obtained from Detroit on Sunday.
Toronto also has brought in All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki and reliever LaTroy Hawkins as they try to make the playoffs for the first time since 1993, the longest drought in the majors.
Revere is batting .296 with 24 stolen bases. He gives the Blue Jays table-setter in a lineup filled with power bats. Tulowitzki, acquired from Colorado for Jose Reyes, had two doubles and a homer batting out of the leadoff spot against the Phillies on Wednesday night.
Revere is a career .292 hitter with three homers and 135 RBIs in 2,271 at-bats. He has 169 stolen bases.
Cubs acquire reliever Hunter from Orioles for Lake
MILWAUKEE — The Chicago Cubs have acquired reliever Tommy Hunter from the Baltimore Orioles for outfielder Junior Lake.
Hunter was 2 -2 with a 3.63 ERA in 39 appearances for Baltimore this season. The 29-year-old right-hander is 44-33 with a 4.28 ERA in eight seasons with Texas and the Orioles. He won 13 games as a starter with the Rangers in 2010 and was traded to Baltimore the following season.
Since moving into a full-time bullpen role with Baltimore in 2013, Hunter is 11-9 with 15 saves and a 3.05 ERA.
Lake batted .224 with one home run and five RBIs in 21 games with the Cubs this season.
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