The Red Sox are on the verge of winning the Eric Gagne sweepstakes, pending his approval and a review of his medical records, according to major-league sources.

One executive with knowledge of the talks indicated this morning that the Tigers and Pirates were still discussing a deal that would send shortstop Jack Wilson to Detroit.

The Yankees are still trying to upgrade the bullpen and still talking to the Rangers about Eric Gagne.

Seth McClung never quite found his niche with the Devil Rays.

The Devil Rays obtained Grant Balfour from the Brewers for minor leaguer Seth McClung in a trade of relief pitchers Friday night.

They had to part with three valuable pitching prospects to do it, but the Brewers accomplished their primary trade deadline goal by acquiring reliever Scott Linebrink from the San Diego Padres on Wednesday.

The Reds were rumored recently to be ready to ship Adam Dunn to Milwaukee for outfielder Tony Gwynn Jr.

Milwaukee Brewers owner Mark Attanasio said Friday night there is room in his team's budget to acquire help before the July 31 trade deadline if the right deal comes along.

Brewers pitcher Ben Sheets will miss four to six weeks after an ultrasound Monday revealed a partial tear of the tissue surrounding the tendon in his right middle finger.

The Brewers added two new faces to the bullpen on Monday after placing starter Ben Sheets on the disabled list with a sprained finger and placing reliever Chris Spurling on the bereavement list to tend to a family matter.

The injured middle finger on Ben Sheets' pitching hand will have to improve dramatically over the next couple of days for the Milwaukee Brewers' ace to take his next scheduled turn Thursday against Arizona.

As the summer and pennant races heat up, the Brewers, for the first time in many years, will be in a buyer's mode.

Reds officials on Wednesday refused to comment specifically on an ESPN report published Tuesday that quoted Ken Griffey Jr.