Talking Baseball

There were three significant developments in the world of baseball Tuesday afternoon that will affect the run towards the 2008 postseason.

The defending champion Boston Red Sox traded for Cleveland starter Paul Byrd to bolster their rotation since they placed Tim Wakefield on the disabled list after claiming him on waivers.

The Tigers placed disgruntled outfielder Gary Sheffield on the waiver wire while also signing free agent starter Freddy Garcia to a minor league contract.

The Red Sox added a veteran for the stretch run in hopes that Byrd will help the team catch the division leading Tampa Bay Rays in the East.

Byrd is 7-10 with a 4.53 ERA in 2008 with the Indians. He is 4-0 with a 1.24 ERA since the All-Star break.

In other news from around the league the Tigers reportedly placed Sheffield on the waiver wire in hopes of a team claiming him and then working out a trade to move the disgruntled outfielder.

Sheffield made it clear earlier in the week that he was unhappy with his role with the Tigers and doesn’t want to be strictly a DH but feels that he can contribute better as an everyday outfielder.

Sheffield and manager Jim Leyland have had somewhat of a war of words through the media the past couple of days but nothing has been said by the manager about Sheffield being placed on waivers.

The other news of the day also comes out of Detroit as the Tigers signed rehabbing pitcher Freddy Garcia to a minor league contract in hopes that he will pitch in the majors again either late this season or next season.

Garcia last pitched in the majors for the Philadelphia Phillies in early 2007 after being traded there by the White Sox after the 2006 season. He needed shoulder surgery and spent the remainder of the season on the disabled list.

Expect to see more waiver wire deals happen within the next two weeks or so before the August 31st deadline rolls around.

There are still plenty of teams in contention for either their division or the wild card spot in their respective league that need a bat or an arm for the stretch run.

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