Ten minutes prior to the trading deadline, Steve Finley gives the Diamondbacks permission to deal him to the Dodgers. The trade sends the four-time Gold Glove center fielder and backstop Brent Mayne to Los Angeles for minor league catching prospect Koyie Hill, flycatcher Reggie Abercrombie and southpaw Bill Murphy, who was acquired in yesterday’s trade with the Marlins. Then, a minute before the trading deadline, the Yankees deal the talented but underachieving Jose Contreras (8-5 with a 5.64 ERA) and $3 million to the White Sox for All-Star pitcher Esteban Loaiza (9-5, 4.86). Both hurlers are 32 years old.

With homers in his first two at-bats off Jorge Sosa, Carlos Delgado hits his fifth home run in five consecutive at-bats off the Devil Rays’ right-hander. The Blue Jays slugger’s streak started with a homer last September 10th, was extended to three on September 25th as the Tampa Bay hurler gave up the first two dingers in Delgado’s four-homer day.

A minute before the trading deadline, the Yankees deal the talented but underachieving Jose Contreras (8-5, 5.64) and $3 million to the White Sox for All-Star pitcher Esteban Loaiza (9-5, 4.86). The former Yankees hurler will post a 55-56 record during his six seasons in the Windy City, while the newest Bronx Bomber moundsman will win one of only three decisions during his two-month stint in the Big Apple.

In a blockbuster trade, the Marlins deal Brad Penny, the winner of two World Series games last season, 1B Hee Seop Choi and southpaw prospect Bill Murphy (who will be traded to the Diamondbacks tomorrow) to the Dodgers for backstop Paul Lo Duca, relief pitcher Guillermo Mota and much-traveled outfielder Juan Encarnacion.

In separate deals with the Pirates and Devil Rays, the Mets gamble with their future, giving up top prospects to acquire major league pitchers who can immediately step into the rotation. Free agent-eligible Kris Benson and infielder Jeff Keppinger are obtained from the Pirates for infielder Ty Wigginton, pitcher Matt Peterson and infielder José Bautista, who came in a trade today with the Royals for minor league catcher Justin Huber, and Victor Zambrano and Bartolome Fortunato become Mets when Tampa Bay agrees to take New York’s top pitching prospect, Scott Kazmir, and minor league pitcher Jose Diaz. It is Bautista’s 4th organization of the season, returning to the system he belonged to last year.

In a 10 – 1 victory over the Expos, Eric Valent becomes the eighth player in franchise history to hit for the cycle. After singling in the 2nd, doubling in the 3rd and homering in the 5th, the Met reserve triples in the 7th to join Phillie David Bell, Pirate Daryle Ward and Brewer Chad Moeller in accomplishing the feat this season.

Troy Percival strikes out Alfonso Soriano and gets Mark Teixeira to ground out to nail down a 2-0 Angels victory over Texas in Anaheim. The 34 year-old right-hander becomes the 18th major league closer to record 300 career saves and the fifth-fastest to reach the milestone.

Carlos Delgado’s three-run blast in the Blue Jays’ 5-3 victory over Tampa Bay makes the slugger the first player in the 27-year history of the franchise to drive in 1,000 runs. The Toronto first baseman, who will also play for the Mets and Marlins, will collect 1512 RBIs during his 17-year major league career.

During the third inning at Warner Park, the approximately 5000 fans attending the minor league contest between the Wisconsin Woodchucks and the hometown Madison Mallards set an American record for most people brushing their teeth at the same time. Next season, in another Northern League promotion, Winnipeg sets the Canadian record for the most fans simultaneous tooth brushing in a game against Calgary.