Lanschaften » surgery and changes

OAKLAND, Calif. -- The beginning of Julys first blockbuster trade occurred about a month ago, when Oakland Athletics general manager Billy Beane called Chicago Cubs executive Theo Epstein to ask about Jeff Samardzija and Jason Hammel. Beane told Epstein he liked the starting pitchers, and he was going to be aggressive in an attempt to improve the AL West leaders. Fast forward to this weekend, when Beane proved just how serious he was during that initial call. Oakland and Chicago announced the big trade on Saturday, with Samardzija and Hammel heading to the West Coast for a package of prospects that included the As first-round selections in each of the past two drafts. "The deal speaks for itself. To pick up two guys like that in early June is pretty fantastic," As manager Bob Melvin said. "We wanted more options and saw the urgency to get it done. This makes us better." The Athletics began the day with the best record in baseball, but Beane felt he needed to add depth to a rotation that responded well to season-ending injuries for Jarrod Parker and A.J. Griffin. Drew Pomeranz also is on the disabled list with a broken right hand. Samardzija and Hammel join Scott Kazmir and Sonny Gray in one of the majors best group of starting pitchers. "We had to dig into our depth really early, and we felt like we needed two (starting pitchers)," Beane said. Samardzija will start for the As on Sunday. He was scheduled to pitch for the Cubs Saturday. In somewhat of a surprise, the As sent left-hander Tommy Milone to Triple-A Sacramento later Saturday to make room for Samardzija. Milone was 6-0 with a 2.62 ERA over his last 11 starts and 6-3 with a 3.55 ERA in 16 starts overall. "What do you say to a guy like that?" Melvin said. "Hes been terrific his last 10 starts and has meant a lot to us the last three years. I tried to figure out what to say to him. We havent seen the last of him." Oakland will make a move Sunday to clear space for Hammel, who will start Wednesday. Minor leaguers Addison Russell, Billy McKinney and Dan Straily went to Chicago in another painful deal for the lowly Cubs, who have played better of late, but are still last in the NL Central. Chicago also gets a player to be named in its latest July sell-off. The Cubs lost at least 91 games in each of the previous three years. They traded away starting pitchers Ryan Dempster and Paul Maholm in July 2012, and Matt Garza and Scott Feldman last July. "We certainly hope that this is the last year that were obvious sellers at the trade deadline," Epstein said. The key piece for Chicago in the deal with Oakland was Russell, a 20-year-old shortstop headed for Double-A Tennessee. A torn right hamstring sidelined the No. 11 overall selection in the 2012 draft earlier this season, but he was batting .333 in 13 games for Double-A Midland at the time of the trade. Chicago and Oakland talked about a Samardzija for Russell deal, but Epstein said the one-for-one framework didnt work. He spoke with Beane on Thursday night, and thats when the trade grew into the larger package. "We felt like Russell was a key for us in any deal with Oakland," Epstein said. The hard-throwing Samardzija had a 2-7 record for the Cubs, but he also had a 2.83 ERA and 103 strikeouts in 108 innings, making him one of the most coveted pitchers on the market. The former Notre Dame receiver was selected by Chicago in the fifth round in 2006. Chicago recalled left-hander Chris Rusin from Triple-A Iowa. Epstein said the Cubs were still discussing their options when it came to the rotation. "I can say that (after that) its going to stay the same until Tuesday for the doubleheader (at Cincinnati)," Cubs manager Rick Renteria said of the rotation after Saturday. Jake Arrieta is set to start Sunday in Washington and Edwin Jackson on Monday at Cincinnati. The Cubs will add a 26th man, Tsuyoshi Wada, for Tuesdays doubleheader. The Cubs talked to the 29-year-old Samardzija about a contract extension, but were unable to come to an agreement. He is set to become a free agent for the first time after the 2015 season. "Jeff has been a bit of workhorse," Beane said. "Hes got a perfect health record. Hes a guy that continues to develop. Hes gotten better and better each year he goes out." Hammel signed a $6 million, one-year contract with Chicago in February and went 8-5 with a 2.98 ERA and 104 strikeouts in 108 2-3 innings with the Cubs. He pitched six-plus innings in a 7-2 victory over Washington on Friday. Hammel, who turns 32 in September, also has three career post-season starts. "Hes gotten better and better and we think now is a great time to have him," Beane said. The 19-year-old McKinney, who was selected in the first round a year ago, hit .241 with 10 homers for Class A Stockton this season. He is headed for Chicagos Class A affiliate in Daytona, Florida, where he will share the outfield with another top prospect in Albert Almora. Straily finished 10-8 with a 3.96 ERA in 27 starts for the As last year. He was sent down to Triple-A Sacramento after struggling earlier this season, and Epstein said he likely would be up with the Cubs after a short stay at Triple-A Iowa. Even before the deal, Chicago had one of the richest minor league systems in baseball. The addition of Russell and McKinney just enhances the Cubs impressive group of prospects. "We think we have a real outstanding stable of good young position players that is a stable base to build off," Epstein said. "We like how this positions us." Adam Haseley Jersey . a€“ All signs point to the Maple Leafs having their top offseason acquisition in the lineup on opening night. Jim Thome Jersey . - The infectious smile was missing from Nam Nguyen last week. https://www.cheapphilliesjerseys.us/. A lawmaker is hoping the buzz from California Chromes run for the Triple Crown might build support for a bill that would place the U. Fake Phillies Jerseys . Sources tell TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun the international tournament will likely return in September 2016 rather than 2015. Scott Kingery Jersey . The club says Fridays surgery was successful. Holiday, a former Eastern Conference All-Star acquired from Philadelphia last summer, has not played because of the shin injury since Jan.HOUSTON -- The Texas Rangers put left-handers Matt Harrison and Martin Perez on the disabled list Wednesday, and could be without both starters for an extended period. General manager Jon Daniels said that Harrison was diagnosed with significant nerve irritation in his vertebrae. He will have an injection Friday in an attempt to alleviate the symptoms before considering other options, including surgery. Harrison, who made only two starts last season before two operations on a herniated disk in his lower back, came out in the second inning of his start Tuesday night at Houston. Daniels said the pitcher had a tingling sensation down his left leg, similar to what he experienced before having surgery last year. Perez has a partial tear of his ulnar collateral ligament in his left elbow. He could have an injection and rehab that could keep him out three months, or possibly have Tommy John surgery and miss a year. Right-hander Nick Tepesch was recalled from Triple-A Round Rock for his scheduled start Wednesday night against Houston. The Rangers also purchased the contracts of right-handers Scott Baker and Miles Mikolas from Round Rock, and designated right-hander Justin Germano for assignment. Tepesch was starting in place of Yu Darvish, who threw 126 pitches in his near no-hitter Friday night. The Japanese ace was given extended rest and is set to start Friday at home against Toronto. When Tepesch took the mound against the Astros, he became the 22nd different player to pitch for the Rangers this season and the 38th player overall. Both are the most in the majors. Texas has 13 players on the disabled list. Among the other hurt Rangers is left-handed starter Derek Holland, who is rehabbing from off-season left knee surgery after being tripped by his dog on the stairs in his home. Holland, who has been throwing live batting practice at the Rangeers complex in Arizona, is scheduled to be in Arlington this weekend for an evaluation and to throw for Rangers coaches.dddddddddddd He is still several weeks away from a possible return. Perez allowed six runs and 14 runners (nine hits, four walks and a hit batter) in 3 2-3 innings of an 8-3 loss to Boston on Saturday night, and reported discomfort in his elbow the following day. Since the end of his 26-inning scoreless streak over three games, Perez (4-3) has given up 19 runs over 13 1-3 innings in his past three games. Rangers team physician Dr. Keith Meister diagnosed the partial tear for Perez. Dr. James Andrews also reviewed the MRI and agreed that was the issue. Harrison was examined Wednesday by Dr. Drew Dossett, who did the two operations last year. Daniels said there was no evidence of disk herniation, but that the spondylolisthesis Harrison is now experiencing was considered a possible risk after the operations -- "If it didnt work as you would hope, this would be the outcome. Unfortunately, thats come to pass," the GM said. The options for Harrison included rehab and to live with the problem or have surgery that Daniels described as spinal fusion. Daniels said players have returned to the major leagues after have such fusions, but there are no guarantees. "Its more involved surgery and changes of coming back are lesser than some of the more traditional baseball surgeries," Daniels said. "If he did opt to have surgery, he would be out for the year with a chance to rehab and come in and compete in spring training." Infielder Donnie Murphy (neck strain) and left-hander Joe Saunders (left ankle) are scheduled to begin injury rehabilitation assignments with Round Rock on Thursday night. It will be the first rehab game for Murphy and the third for Saunders, who made only his first start of the season for the Rangers. ' ' '