Major League Baseball Notes

ANGELS-RED SOX

LA gets Victorino in trade

ANAHEIM, Calif. — The Los Angeles Angels acquired veteran outfielder Shane Victorino and more than $3.8 million from the Boston Red Sox on Monday for infielder Josh Rutledge.

Victorino, 34, is a two-time World Series champion, a two-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glove winner. He has spent the past three years in Boston, batting .245 in just 33 games this season with two stints on the disabled list.

Overall, Victorino has hit .276 with 108 home runs, 486 RBI and 229 stolen bases in 12 major league seasons, including stints with San Diego, Philadelphia, the Los Angeles Dodgers and the Red Sox.

The American League West-leading Angels coveted Victorino’s postseason experience after he played a key role for the Phillies’ championship team in 2008 and again for the Red Sox’s title-winning team in 2013. Victorino memorably hit a grand slam in Game 6 of the American League Championship Series to send Boston to the World Series, where he added a key three-run double in the Red Sox’s title-clinching victory in Game 6.

Victorino mostly played right field for Boston, but seems likely to play in left field against left-handers for the Angels.

Victorino has struggled with injuries throughout his tenure in Boston, although he is currently healthy again.

Boston will pay the Angels $3,801,639 as part of the trade. By the time Victorino reports today for the Angels’ series opener at Houston, he will be owed $5,655,737 of his $15 million salary this season, the final year of his current contract.

Rutledge has spent this season in the minors after playing in 105 games and batting .269 for the Colorado Rockies last season. He is batting.274 for Class AAA Salt Lake.

CUBS

RHP Jackson released

CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs released right-hander Edwin Jackson on Monday, one week after he was designated for assignment.

Jackson, 31, was 2-1 with a 3.19 earned-run average in 23 relief appearances for the Cubs this season. Signed to a four-year deal worth $52 million before the 2013 season, Jackson struggled badly over his first two years with the Cubs, going 14-33 with a 5.58 ERA and was moved to the bullpen near the end of last season.

Cubs General Manager Theo Epstein said the team would “really like” to make a move before Friday’s nonwaiver trade deadline, and he gave some hints about which direction the team is looking to go.

“I do think if we do something on the bigger end it’ll involve players that will help us beyond this year,” Epstein said Monday night. “If we do something on the smaller side, it’ll probably be more for a rental player. And if we do nothing it will be because we couldn’t find anything rational that we could actually do.

“I don’t know which of those three directions it will go yet.”

ROCKIES-BLUE JAYS

Tulowitzki traded

Colorado Rockies All-Star shortstop Troy Tulowitzki has been traded to the Toronto Blue Jays, CBSSports.com reported Monday night.

Fox Sports.com has reported that Tulowitzki and relief pitcher LaTroy Hawkins were traded for Toronto shortsop Jose Reyes and minor leaguers.

Tulowitzki, 30, was drafted by the Rockies in the first round, seventh overall, in 2005 and has spent his entire professional career with the franchise. He’s a five-time All-Star and twice finished fifth in National League MVP voting.

This season, Tulowitzki is hitting .300 with 19 doubles, 12 home runs and 53 RBI. He also has a .348 on-base percentage and .471 slugging percentage.

He is owed a guaranteed $110 million through 2020.

METS-ATHLETICS

Mets get Clippard

NEW YORK — In their second trade in four days, the New York Mets acquired closer Tyler Clippard from Oakland on Monday for minor league pitcher Casey Meisner in a swap of right-handers that increases New York’s payroll by a little more than $2 million.

Clippard, 30, who is eligible for free agency after this season, is 1-3 with a 2.79 ERA and 17 saves in 21 chances. The Athletics obtained him from Washington in January.

On Friday, the Mets acquired infielder Juan Uribe and utilityman Kelly Johnson in a deal with Atlanta.

When Clippard reports today, there will be $3,129,508 remaining from his $8.3 million salary. Oakland will pay the Mets $1 million as part of the trade.

Meisner, 20, was a third-round draft pick in 2013. He is 10-4 with a 2.35 ERA in 18 starts for Class A Savannah and St. Lucie.

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