The Marlins acquire Nick Johnson from the Nationals in exchange for left-handed pitching prospect Aaron Thompson. The 30 year-old injury-prone first baseman’s ability to get on base should provide more scoring opportunities for a Florida team vying for a wild-card berth.

Cliff Lee’s adaptation to the National League is a quick one. Traded to the Phillies on July 29th, Lee gives up no hits over the first five innings against the Giants, on his way to a complete-game four-hitter. He adds two base hits of his own in the 5 – 1 win.

On the frenzied last day before the trading deadline, a number of stars are on the move: P Jake Peavy goes from San Diego to the White Sox, C Victor Martinez moves from Cleveland to Boston, SS Orlando Cabrera from Oakland to Minnesota, 3B Scott Rolen from the Blue Jays to the Reds, and P Jarrod Washburn from Seattle to Detroit. Five other deals involving major leaguers are also completed, but the star most-rumored to be on the trading block over the past two weeks, Toronto’s Roy Halladay, stays put.

At Yankee Stadium, a trio of Angels hit three-run home runs as the team blasts the Bronx Bombers, 12-6. The homers, all hit by LA’s outfielders, Torii Hunter, Vladimir Guerrero, and Juan Rivera, account for nine of the dozen runs scored as the club improves its record to 68-40, the best in baseball.

In a surprise trading-deadline deal, the Reds send future Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. to the White Sox in exchange for right-hander Nick Masset and minor league infield prospect Danny Richar. The All-Star outfielder, who had to approve the move to Chicago, is completing his final season of a nine-year contract and didn’t expect Cincinnati to pick up the $16.5 million club option for 2009.

In a three-team swap, Boston finally accomplishes the much-anticipated departure of Manny Ramirez from Beantown, trading the unhappy outfielder to the Dodgers. Former Pirates player Jason Bay will now roam left field for the Red Sox, with Pittsburgh receiving outfielder Brandon Moss and pitcher Craig Hansen from Boston as well as getting third baseman Andy LaRoche and right-hander Bryan Morris from Los Angeles to complete the last-minute trading deadline deal.

Right before the trading deadline, several major deals go through. The White Sox acquire Ken Griffey Jr., 6th all-time on the home run leaderboard with 608, from the Reds in exchange for pitcher Nick Masset and infielder Danny Richar. Less than a minute before the deadline, a three-way trade involves another 500-homer man. Manny Ramirez gets sent by the Red Sox to the Dodgers along with $7 million. The Red Sox pick up All-Star LF Jason Bay from the Pirates. Pittsburgh, in turn, gets 3B Andy LaRoche and P Bryan Morris from Los Angeles and OF Brandon Moss and P Craig Hansen from Boston. Andy LaRoche joins brother Adam LaRoche in the Pirates infield.

In the lesser deals of the day, the Marlins get Arthur Rhodes from the Mariners for minor league pitcher Gaby Hernandez and the Yankees send SS Alberto Gonzalez to the Nationals for minor league pitcher Jhonny Nunez.

A five-minute fan outburst mars a 10 – 6 Twins win over the ChiSox. After a called strike on Denard Span, Minnesota manager Ron Gardenhire comes out to argue with umpire Marty Foster. Gardenhire then kicks his hatover his head and fans throw dozens of hats and a few baseballs onto the field. Ozzie Guillen pulls his club off the field while the Metrodome staff warn their fans of the risk of a forfeit loss. After the game settles down, Minnesota wraps up its win to move within a half-game of Chicago in the AL Central.

At the trading deadline, the Rangers make the big deals. In a seven-player move, they deal Mark Teixeira and Ron Mahay to the Braves for Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Elvis Andrus, Neftali Feliz, Matt Harrison and Beau Jones. They also send Eric Gagné to the Red Sox for Kason Gabbard, David Murphy and Engel Beltre. Atlanta also sends Kyle Davies to the Royals for Octavio Dotel and Wil Ledezma, and Will Startup to the Padres for Royce Ring as they are busy as well. In addition to the previously-mentioned deal, the Padres get Rob Mackowiak from the White Sox for Jon Link and Morgan Ensberg from the Astros for a player to be named later or cash. Other notable deals are Scott Proctor for Wilson Betemit and Rajai Davis and a player to be named for Matt Morris.