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San Diego, CA - The San Diego Padres began opening roster spots for their trade deadline acquisitions following Tuesday’s game against Arizona by designating outfielder Jose Cruz Jr. for assignment.

Before the trade deadline, the Padres acquired outfielder Rob Mackowiak from the Chicago White Sox and also picked up third baseman Morgan Ensberg from Houston.

Cruz was hitting just .234 in 91 games with six homers and 21 runs batted in this season. His playing time had dwindled significantly this past month, appearing mostly off the bench as a pinch hitter since the All-Star break.

The 33-year-old veteran was 0-for-16 since his last hit on July 13 and had just two hits in 36 July at-bats.

Cruz has a career average of .248 with 204 homers and 623 RBI in 11 seasons with Toronto, San Francisco, Tampa Bay, Arizona, Boston, Los Angeles and San Diego.

Atlanta, GA - The Atlanta Braves continued to add pieces on Tuesday, as they acquired right-handed reliever Octavio Dotel from the Kansas City Royals for right-hander Kyle Davies.

Outside of Rangers’ closer Eric Gagne, Dotel was probably the best reliever on the market. In his first season with the Royals, Dotel recorded a 2-1 mark to go along with 11 saves and a 3.91 earned run average.

Dotel, who now joins a bullpen that already boasts Bob Wickman and Rafael Soriano, has enjoyed a bit of a resurgence this season after spending much of 2006 recovering from Tommy John surgery.

The 33-year-old hurler has a career record of 39-32 with 82 saves and a 3.75 ERA in nine seasons with the Mets, Houston Astros, Oakland A’s and Yankees and Royals.

Davies, meanwhile, was 4-8 this season with a 5.76 ERA in 17 starts for the Braves, but lost five of his last six decisions. He hasn’t pitched since July 16 against Cincinnati when he was lifted before recording an out, allowing two runs, two hits and walked three.

Hempstead, NY - Running back Tony Fisher, who was signed by the New York Jets last Friday, was released by the team on Tuesday.

Fisher was originally signed by Green Bay as an undrafted rookie free agent in 2002. He played four seasons with the Packers and then signed with St. Louis in 2006. Fisher has rushed for 889 yards with four touchdowns, and has 139 receptions for 1,059 yards and five touchdowns.

The Jets also inked free agent running back Tony Hollings on Tuesday. He has totaled 149 yards on 49 carries, 71 yards on seven receptions and 211 yards on 11 kickoff returns in three NFL seasons, all with Houston.

Napa Valley, CA - The Oakland Raiders on Tuesday signed free agent quarterback Daunte Culpepper to a one-year contract.

Culpepper will give the Raiders a backup option for No. 1 overall draft pick JaMarcus Russell, who has yet to sign a contract.

The 30-year-old Culpepper had worked out earlier on Tuesday before a private gathering of Raiders scouts and coaches.

Culpepper began the 2006 season as the Dolphins’ starter, but due to injury problems he was sacked 21 times in the first four games of the season. The team benched him and eventually placed him on injured reserve.

The Dolphins acquired Trent Green in a trade with Kansas City this past offseason and, after unsuccessfully trying to trade Culpepper, released him on July 17.

Over nine seasons in the NFL, all but one with Minnesota, he has played in 85 games (84 starts) and has completed 64.2 percent of his passes for 21,091 yards with 137 touchdowns and 89 interceptions. Also, he has racked up 2,496 yards on the ground with 30 touchdowns.

Ottawa, ON - The Ottawa Senators announced Tuesday that they have re-signed 26-year old center Chris Kelly to a one-year contract.

Graffiti Wall reports that Kelly, a 6-foot, 200-pound forward, returns to Ottawa following the best season of his NHL career to date. The Toronto product completed the 2006-07 campaign with 15 goals and 23 assists in 82 regular season games. He also played in all 20 of the Senators’ playoff contests, scoring three goals and tallying four assists.

Entering his third full season, Kelly has played in 164 consecutive regular season games, as well as every Ottawa postseason game since the start of the 2005-06 season.

In 2003-04 and 2004-05, Kelly recorded 56 goals and 69 assists in 208 AHL games with the Binghamton Senators. He had previously enjoyed a short stint in the NHL when he was recalled by Ottawa in February of 2004. Kelly was originally drafted by the Senators with the 94th overall pick in the 1999 NHL Draft.

With Kevin Garnett and Allen, the Boston Celtics are now favored to win the NBA Eastern Conference

The rumors are running rampant, fueled by an ESPN report and during the late night hours of Monday they were confirmed.

Graffiti Wall reports that Kevin Garnett is leaving Minnesota after the Boston Celtics agreed to acquire the All-Star forward in a multiplayer trade with the Timberwolves, a Celtics official told The Associated Press on Monday.

Among the players who could be headed to Minnesota are forward Al Jefferson, guard Sebastian Telfair, swingman Gerald Green and center Theo Ratliff, said the official, who spoke on condition of anonymity because the deal had not been completed. The official also said the Timberwolves would get at least one draft choice.

The teams still had some things to clarify with the players’ contracts, but the official said that would not keep the Celtics from acquiring Garnett, although there could be a change in the players ticketed for the Timberwolves.

One of the worst teams last year, the Boston Celtics could suddenly become beasts of the East in 2007/2008.

Garnett, 31, has spent all of his 12 NBA seasons with Minnesota. He would get an extension of his contract, which has one year plus an option year remaining, the official said.

The Celtics had tried to get Garnett late last month, but his agent said he didn’t want to go to Boston.

Since then, Boston acquired seven-time All-Star guard Ray Allen from Seattle in a draft-day deal. Already with Paul Pierce, the Celtics would become instant contenders in the mediocre Atlantic Division with Garnett, even without promising forward Jefferson.

Bet33.com Online Gambling Odds - Proposition Betting immediately slashed odds of Boston winning the NBA Eastern Conference to 7 to 2 odds, making them the favorite with the Detroit Pistons.

Betting Odds - Graffiti Wall: Reports on the latest MLB trades and transactions.

Teixeira heading to Atlanta

Atlanta, GA - The Atlanta Braves have reportedly acquired first baseman Mark Teixeira from the Texas Rangers as part of a six-player deal.

According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, the Braves also picked up pitcher Ron Mahay in the deal and sent the Rangers rookie catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia, minor league infielder Elvis Andrus and a pair of minor league pitchers.

Teixeira was said to be among the most sought-after players at this year’s trade deadline, particularly since he is not eligible for free agency until after the 2008 season. He is, however, arbitration-eligible this winter.

In 78 games this season, Teixeira is batting .297 with 13 homers and 49 runs batted in. He spent about a month on the disabled list earlier this summer with a strained left quadriceps, an injury that ended his streak of 507 consecutive games played.

The 27-year-old switch-hitter, who played collegiately at Georgia Tech, has belted more than 30 homers and driven in at least 110 runs in each of his last three years. He was an All-Star in 2005 when he had career highs with 43 homers, 144 runs batted in and a .301 batting average.

Mahay, in his fifth season with the Rangers, would fill the need for a lefty in the Atlanta bullpen. He has a record of 2-0 with a 2.77 earned run average and one save in 28 games this season.

The 36-year-old veteran, who began his pro career as an outfielder, has also pitched for Boston, Oakland, Florida and the Chicago Cubs since breaking into the majors in 1997 and has a career mark of 18-10 with a 3.98 ERA.

Saltalamacchia has appeared in 47 games for the Braves this season and is batting .284 with four homers and 12 runs batted in. He has started 20 games behind the plate, but also started 11 times at first base to keep his bat in the lineup.

The 22-year-old is also a switch-hitter who didn’t figure into Atlanta’s plans behind the plate with All-Star Brian McCann entrenched there. Saltalamacchia could move right into the Rangers’ catching position — currently manned by Gerald Laird.

Andrus, who will turn 19 in August, was batting .244 with three homers, 37 runs batted in and 25 stolen bases in 99 games at Single-A Myrtle Beach.

Phillies acquire RHP Lohse from Cincinnati

Chicago, IL - The Philadelphia Phillies acquired right-hander Kyle Lohse from the Cincinnati Reds on Monday, in exchange for minor league pitcher Matt Maloney.

Lohse went 6-12 with a 4.58 ERA in 21 starts for the Reds this season, behind the fifth-worst run support in the National League at 3.69 runs per game. He has pitched at least six innings in 15 of his 21 starts, including seven of his 12 losses.

“Kyle is a durable right-handed starter who has postseason experience,” said Phillies general manager Pat Gillick. “We feel that with our offense and his ability to keep us in games, he will add pitching depth to our rotation.”

In his seventh major league season, Lohse holds a 60-74 record and a 4.83 ERA. He has pitched in the postseason with Minnesota in three consecutive years (2002-04) and went 0-2 with a 3.00 ERA in five games (one start).

Philadelphia currently sits 3 1/2 games behind the New York Mets in the National League East Division, and 1 1/2 games back in the NL Wild Card race entering Monday night’s game in Chicago.

Maloney, 23, went 9-7 with a 3.94 ERA for Double-A Reading.

Mets deal for Castillo

Minneapolis, MN- The New York Mets have filled the hole in the right side of their infield, sending a pair of minor-leaguers to the Minnesota Twins for veteran second baseman Luis Castillo.

The 31-year-old Castillo was sent to the Mets in exchange for Double-A catcher Drew Butera and Single-A outfielder Dustin Martin.

Second base has been a sore spot for the Mets all season, thanks to Jose Valentin’s injury problems. Valentin was sidelined from April 29 to June 7 with a partial tear in the ACL in his right knee, and his season ended on July 20, when he fouled a ball off his right leg, breaking his tibia.

Castillo is batting .304 with 18 RBI and 54 runs scores in 85 games this season. He is a career .294 hitter in 12 seasons in the league, all but the last two spent with the Florida Marlins.

Butera, 23, batted .258 with five homers and 22 RBI for Single-A St. Lucie this season before being promoted to Double-A Binghamton, where hit .188 with one homer and four RBI in 30 games.

Martin, 23, batted .287 with five homers and 52 RBI in 93 games with St. Lucie this season.

To replace Castillo’s roster spot, the Twins will recall infielder Alexi Casilla from Triple-A Rochester.

Montreal, QC - The Montreal Canadiens avoided arbitration and re-signed forward Michael Ryder to a one-year deal Sunday. Financial terms of the deal were not disclosed.

Ryder led the Canadiens with 30 goals during the 2006-07 season and added 28 assists in 82 games.

The Newfoundland native has recorded 176 points (85 goals, 91 assists) in 244 NHL regular season games since he made his debut in 2003-04.

With Ryder’s signing, the Canadiens have all of their players under contract for the 2007-08 campaign.

Madrid, Spain - Atletico signed winger Simao Sabrosa from Benfica to a four-year contract on Friday.

Graffiti Wall reports that The 27-year-old Soccer Knocker started his career with Barcelona, but did not make a name for himself until joining Benfica in 2001. With Benfica, Simao helped his club win the Portuguese league championship in 2005, and was named Portuguese Player of the Year last season.

“The experience and maturity that Simao has demonstrated over the course of his athletic career is unquestionable, demonstrating himself to be a responsible player who can throw off defenses,” said Atletico President Don Enrique. “Simao stands out for his skill with the ball and his extraordinary pace. His technical contribution is outstanding, which tells us that we have a great talent.”

A Portugal international, Simao has also collected 55 caps.

Simao is not expected to play in the Intertoto Cup tie on Saturday versus Gloria Bistrita, but is excited for the La Liga opener on August 26, at Real Madrid.

“I think that Atletico should always be in the top three and win titles,” said Simao. “I hope to play the same here as I have the past few years.”

Atletico finished last season in seventh place, 16 points behind title winner Real Madrid

Houston, TX - The Houston Texans announced the signings of rookie defensive tackle Amobi Okoye and free agent wide receiver Keenan McCardell Friday. Per team policy, the terms of both deals were undisclosed.

Graffiti Wall reports that Okoye, the 10th overall pick in the April draft, is the final rookie to sign from the Texans’ 2007 draft class. The 6-foot-2, 287-pound 19-year-old out of Louisville is the youngest player ever to be selected in the modern NFL Draft. He began his Cardinals career as the youngest player in college football, when he enrolled as a 16-year old freshman.

Born in Anambra, Nigeria, Okoye moved to the United States and enrolled in ninth grade at age 12. At Louisville, he played in 48 games (24 starts), and registered 121 tackles, 10 1/2 sacks, and 23 tackles for loss for his career. As a senior, Okoye was a unanimous first-team All-Big East selection, finishing the season with 55 tackles (38 solo) and eight sacks.

McCardell, a 15-year NFL veteran, is a Houston native who signed with the team as an unrestricted free agent.

The 6-foot-1, 191-pound receiver spent last season with the San Diego Chargers and caught 36 passes for 437 yards. For his career, McCardell’s 861 career receptions and 11,117 receiving yards rank ninth and 18th, respectively, in NFL history.

McCardell has played with the Redskins, Jaguars and Buccaneers, in addition to the Chargers. He was a member of the Super Bowl XXXVII champion Bucs in 2002, and caught two touchdown passes in the 48-21 victory over the Oakland Raiders. This season’s season opener against Kansas City will mark McCardell’s 200th career game.

Houston also signed linebacker Eduardo Castraneda as an international practice squad player, and released rookie free agent wide receiver Onrea Jones.