Slumping Red Sox send Wells to San Diego  —  The Boston Red Sox traded pitcher David Wells to San Diego on Thursday, ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney reported.  —  Details on what the Red Sox will get from San Diego were not immediately available.  —  Wellls was scratched …

After acquiring Nevin in May, Cubs trade him to Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Minnesota Twins acquired first baseman Phil Nevin and cash from the Chicago Cubs on Thursday for a player to be named, a deal made on the final day players must be in an organization to be eligible for postseason play.

Cabrera protecting elbow  —  ST. LOUIS — All-Star third baseman Miguel Cabrera said he expects to return to the lineup today after sitting out Thursday with a bruised left elbow.  —  Manager Joe Girardi left Cabrera's return open until his left elbow is healed.

Mets can't sweep Rockies  —  DENVER — This is shaping up to be a pivotal weekend for the Mets in determining the status of their playoff rotation.  —  Tom Glavine, coming off a blood clot scare, starts tonight in Houston.  Pedro Martinez, slowly healing from a calf strain, is expected to take the mound in Port St. Lucie.

Yankees' Pavano has new complaint  —  NEW YORK — Carl Pavano is now complaining of shoulder pain, the latest in a series of ailments for the New York Yankees' $40 million pitcher.  —  Pavano is telling Yankees officials that his shoulder is now bothering him, in addition to his ribs, a source told SI.com.

Sox's power trip hits road  —  Sox hit 200th HR but exit Cell launching pad for bulk of stretch run  —  The game ended Thursday with Jermaine Dye on deck.  —  "I actually was tired," said Dye, the White Sox's hottest hitter who didn't get a chance to hit a game-tying homer in Thursday's puzzling 10-inning, 5-3 loss to Tampa Bay.

Thursday, Aug. 31: Honorable Mention  —  In a land of big names, some players can easily get overshadowed.  Jerry Crasnick puts a stop to that, however, by pointing out eight underappreciated players who deserve recognition.  Story  —  • Baseball Tonight: Who are the top under-the-radar players?

Cubs' roster needs radical surgery  —  GM Jim Hendry should make no small plans when reshaping the Cubs roster for '07  —  The Cubs look to be playing out the string in September, but general manager Jim Hendry's to-do list figures to keep him busy.  —  Besides going over his list …

Johnson faces off against Bonderman  —  Detroit (83-50) at New York (78-53), 1:05 p.m. ET  —  Yankee fans didn't stop booing Randy Johnson until mid-June.  But it was a start before that that the tall lefty has pointed to as the turning point in his season.

Burnitz can smile at his fate  —  Jose Bautista had circled the bases, his two-out, two-run home run Aug. 15 having put the Pirates ahead of Milwaukee by a run in the seventh inning at PNC Park.  —  As Bautista, 25, joyfully stepped into the Pirates' dugout, jubilant high-fives surrounded him.

Ortiz said he plans to be back in Red Sox lineup on Saturday  —  BOSTON —David Ortiz said he is in good health after experiencing heart palpitations and expects to return to the lineup Saturday, welcome news for a Boston Red Sox team reeling from injuries.  —  "My health is fine.

Backe to undergo elbow surgery  —  Astros starter hopes to return by end of next season  —  HOUSTON — If the Astros make another miracle run through October this year, they'll have to do it without Brandon Backe.  Opting to no longer put off the inevitable, the right-hander decided …