July 30

The Indians lose, 14 – 12, to the Tigers in Detroit’s first game without Rodriguez, an 11-inning affair. The star catcher is Cleveland’s Kelly Shoppach, who ties the major league record with 5 extra-base hits in the game. Shoppach doubles three times, homers twice, walks once and is retired once; he scores four and drives in three.

The Yankees trade four minor leaguers, shortstop C.J. Henry, southpaw reliever Matt Smith, catcher Jesus Sanchez, and right-hander Carlos Monasterios, to the Phillies in exchange for All-Star outfielder Bobby Abreu and veteran pitcher Cory Lidle. New York will assume responsibility of Abreu’s contract, which includes the remaining portion of the $13.5 million for this season, $15.5 million for next year, and a $16 million option for 2008 with a $2 million buyout.

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.

Battling a 5-for-36 slump, Jose Valentin hits three home runs in a 15-4 victory over the Royals. The White Sox shortstop becomes the first switch-hitter in baseball history to have three-homer games in both the American and National Leagues, having accomplished the feat with the Brewers in 1998.

The Cubs obtain center fielder Doug Glanville from the Rangers in exchange for cash and outfielder/first baseman prospect Jason Fransz, who will not appear in a major league game. The Chicago flychaser will play in only 28 games, hitting just .235 for his new ball club.

2002 – Montreal OF Cliff Floyd is traded for the second time in three weeks, going to the Red Sox in exchange for minor league pitchers Seung Song and Sun Woo Kim.

The Twins get Met starter Rick Reed for outfielder and leadoff batter Matt Lawton. Reed, 36, who was a member of the National League All-Star team, was 8-6 with a 3.86 ERA this season.