Sources: Cubs get veteran Trachsel from O's  —  FOXSports.com, Updated 4 minutes ago  —  LIKE THIS STORY?  —  The Cubs, fortifying their rotation before Friday's midnight deadline for setting postseason rosters, have obtained Orioles right-hander Steve Trachsel for Class AAA right-handed …

Francona is uniformly upset  —  MLB exercises pull over him  —  NEW YORK - When Terry Francona exploded out of the dugout in the seventh inning for an argument over whether Kevin Youkilis had gone out of the basepath on a J.D. Drew grounder to third, he did more than get ejected for the fifth time this season.

White Sox Targeting Eckstein  —  According to Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times, shortstop David Eckstein is the #1 target of the White Sox this offseason.  An Eckstein signing would then result in the team paying $300K to buy out Juan Uribe's $5MM option for '08.

JOBA CHAMBERLAIN REQUESTS PERMISSION TO BUZZ THE TOWER  —  So you're the Yankees.  I know, I know- God help you... but just imagine.  You're in the 9th inning against your hated rivals, you're ahead in the third game 5-0 and you're about to sweep the series at home.

New York's Chamberlain disciplined  —  New York Yankees pitcher Joba Chamberlain has been suspended for two games and fined an undisclosed amount for his inappropriate actions during the top of the ninth inning of yesterday's game against the Boston Red Sox at Yankee Stadium.

Martinez could rejoin Mets' rotation next week  —  ATLANTA — Pedro Martinez threw so well in a bullpen session on Friday that he may return to the New York Mets next week without making another minor-league rehab start.  —  With New York's NL East lead down to two games following a four …

Neyer: The wild week that was … When this week began, just four days ago, we had an inkling that things might get interesting.  All you needed to do was look at the standings on Monday morning, along with the upcoming schedule.  The combined difference between the first-place …

Wakefield scratched; Tavarez to start  —  Tim Wakefield has been scratched from tonight's start because of a sore back.  Julian Tavarez will move from his scheduled tomorrow to tonight.  Kevin Cash will remain in the lineup at catcher.  —  Wakefield, according to Red Sox PR honcho John Blake …

Red-hot Phillies pressuring Mets in NL East  —  So what clinched it for you?  Was it Aaron Rowand's remarkable swinging bunt Tuesday night?  CB Bucknor's game-ending interference call on Marlon Anderson Wednesday night?  —  Pat Burrell's third-inning homer yesterday, which landed just one fan over from the Phillie Phanatic?

Cards Add Branyan As Insurance  —  The Deal  —  With Scott Rolen's left shoulder ailing again, the Cardinals moved to pick up some third-base insurance on Friday.  They added Russell Branyan from the Phillies in exchange for a player to be named.  —  The Big Leaguers

Mulder could return vs. Bucs  —  ST. LOUIS — Mark Mulder could rejoin the St. Louis Cardinals' rotation next week, a little more than one year after shoulder surgery.  —  The left-hander, coming back from an operation on Sept. 13 last year to repair a torn rotator cuff …