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.

Inside pitch: White Sox  —  St. Louis Cardinals free agent- to-be David Eckstein (above) is becoming target No. 1 on the Sox' offseason wish list.  He would give them a leadoff hitter with a career .349 on-base percentage and a sure-handed shortstop.  Plus, he and Sox catcher …

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.

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

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 …

Dodgers acquire A's Loaiza  —  This A's season is as memorable for the number of players dealt or simply let go as it is for the whopping injury total.  —  Right-hander Esteban Loaiza, claimed on waivers by the Dodgers before the A's 5-4, 11-inning win over Toronto on Wednesday …

Wells may need surgery  —  TORONTO — Toronto Blue Jays' star centre fielder Vernon Wells, who signed a $126-million contract extension last winter, might require off-season shoulder surgery.  —  So says general manager J.P. Ricciardi.  —  "I think we'll look at it a little deeper …

Longtime Dodgers hater now is one  —  David Wells bears no ill will toward the Padres.  —  Just the same, he hopes to, well, "beat" his former team tonight when he returns to Petco Park as a member of the Dodgers.  —  "How strange is this?"  Wells admitted Wednesday morning via telephone from Dodger Stadium.

Cubs have the look of winners … CHICAGO — If you're a student of history, billy goats and guys named Bartman, you know there are certain words you should always be wary of using in the same sentence as the term Cubs season.  —  Magical comes to mind.  —  Or enchanted, perhaps ... mystical, maybe ... special, possibly.