Blanton has struggled in 2008 but is tied for the American League lead in starts and is sixth in innings pitched. He set a club record with 12 losses prior to the All-Star break and is currently tied for the Major League lead in losses. At the break, Blanton was 5-12 with a 4.96 ERA, was third in the AL in hits allowed and tied for third in runs. In his career, the 27-year old right-hander is 47-46 with a 4.25 ERA in 122 games with all but four being starts.
With the addition of Blanton, the Phillies will add him to the rotation. How this affects the return of Brett Myers from Triple-A Lehigh Valley scheduled for next week's series with the Mets or the future of Eaton is unknown. Eaton is 1-5 with a 8.40 ERA in his last six starts.
The Athletics received the Phillies' number two and number four prospects in Cardenas and Outman. Cardenas, 20, hit .309 with four homers and 23 RBI in 67 games at Clearwater and was a perfect 16-for-16 in stolen bases. Outman, 23, is a lefty and was 5-4 with a 3.20 ERA at Reading.
To round out the trade, the Athletics picked up Spencer, a 22-year old outfielder from Clearwater who was the Phillies' third round pick in 2007. At Clearwater, Spencer hit .249 with six home runs and 41 RBI in 84 games.
On Saturday, he blew a five run lead in the ninth inning which cost Rich Harden his first win as a Cub. Today, Cubs reliever Carlos Marmol is an All-Star. National League manager Clint Hurdle named Marmol as the replacement for Kerry Wood who had to be removed from the All-Star roster due to a blister.
A-Rod blasted his 537th homer today to move past Mickey Mantle into sole possession of 13th place on the All-Time Home Run list. Rodriguez took a 3-2 pitch from Blue Jays pitcher Brian Tallet and smacked it off the left field foul pole in the fourth inning for his 19th of the season and 537th of his career.
Another Chicago Cub is out for Tuesday's All-Star Game -- closer Kerry Wood has a blister on his right index finger and will not be available. Manager Clint Hurdle, already forced to replace injured Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano, now must pick a suitable replacement for Wood.
The Boston Red Sox lost the services of shortstop Julio Lugo for at least two weeks and most likely longer. Lugo went on the 15-day disabled list on Saturday due to a severely strained left quadriceps muscle. Shortstop Jed Lowrie was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to take his place on the roster.
Things were sailing along for New York's Pedro Martinez but left Saturday's game after four scoreless one-hit innings with shoulder stiffness. The good news for the Mets -- the bullpen came on to pitch five innings of scoreless and hitless ball and the Mets closed to within 1/2 game of the division-leading Phillies extending their winning streak to eight games.
Colorado Rockies and National League All-Star manager Clint Hurdle announced that Mets third baseman David Wright will replaced injured Cubs outfielder Alfonso Soriano on the National League roster for this year's All-Star Game.
On Wednesday, the Blue Jays held their breath when their biggest offensive producer Vernon Wells left the game after injuring his hamstring while stealing third base. On Thursday, the team placed Wells on the 15-day disabled list and expect him to miss from four to six weeks. 
The news got about as bad as it could get for Mets outfielder Moises Alou on Thursday. After leaving Wednesday's rehab start with Double-A Binghamton with a hamstring injury, an MRI the next day revealed a tear in his left hamstring. The team is recommending season-ending surgery and Alou's season might be over without the surgery, anyway. The bigger question -- does this latest injury end the 42-year-old outfielder's 17-year career?
The Pittsburgh Pirates were the league's busiest team on Thursday. Before they took the field for their make-up game with the Yankees on Thursday, the team was involved in four moves although none will have a major impact on the team.
The Houston Astros were one-for-two in their attempt to send down two veterans on Thursday. Pitcher Oscar Villarreal rejected his Minor League assignment to Triple-A Round Rock thus making him a free agent while outfielder Reggie Abercrombie accepted his and will report to Round Rock on Friday.
As expected, Saint Louis Cardinals pitcher Mark Mulder landed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday after his first start since September 16, 2007 ended after just 16 pitches on Wednesday. Another injury to his left shoulder ended Mulder's latest comeback attempt with the Cardinals and from comments following Wednesday's game might have been his last shot with the team.
Call Hank Steinbrenner, the National League did it again! Apparently, they use pinch runners in that darn NL and Nationals infielder Aaron Boone became the victim of their wacky rules. Boone injured himself while jogging to first base to pinch run for first baseman Dmitri Young last Sunday and after nearly a week the status of his left calf strain failed to improve and Boone was placed on the 15-day disabled list on Thursday. Infielder Pete Orr was recalled from Triple-A Columbus to fill in for Boone while he recovers.
Seattle Mariners Vice President & General Manager of Baseball Operations Lee Pelekoudas announced today that the Mariners have released first baseman Richie Sexson according to a team Press Release.