Nats deal Anderson, Ward for prospects  —  Club receives two right-handed Minor League pitchers  —  WASHINGTON — Since Stan Kasten took over as president of the Nationals, he said that he wanted to stockpile the farm system with pitchers.  The team took steps in doing just that as it made two trades late Thursday night.

Padres add Wells for stretch run  —  Veteran acquired in time to be put on postseason roster  —  SAN DIEGO — You can go home again — and again — if you're David "Boomer" Wells.  —  The Padres on Thursday believe they made the big stretch-run move their fans have been yearning …

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.

Twins add veteran bat Nevin  —  Cubs to receive player to be named in deal  —  MINNEAPOLIS — The Twins have been seeking a strong bat in their lineup to flourish in the designated hitter slot all season long.  —  Now they may have found that bat — on the waiver wire.

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?

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.

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 …

Ichiro, Johjima develop mutual trust  —  Although they sit at neighboring lockers in a corner of the Safeco Field clubhouse, grasping similarly glossy magazines from Japan, their minds couldn't have drifted to more divergent galaxies as they relax before a game.  —  Ichiro is absorbed in fashion, Kenji Johjima in fish.

Philadelphia Phillies  —  IT WILL BE interesting to see what Major League Baseball does next season with Barry Bonds.  —  As much as baseball would like him to just go away, it can't force Bonds to retire, and it doesn't have the goods to suspend him for doing what a lot of people …

Smoltz struggles in loss to Giants  —  Veteran loses at Turner Field for first time since June 13  —  ATLANTA — John Smoltz has obviously been allotted the right to lose a home start once every 11 weeks.  But even after those rare occurrences when he loses, he speaks with the disdain …

Juan Encarnacion warms up to CF  —  Granting that his fill-in center fielder has the range, the speed, the arm and often the glove to handle the most vast position in the field, manager Tony La Russa said there was only one thing that could keep Juan Encarnacion from being a regular center fielder.