RED SOX
Benintendi on DL
ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. -- The Boston Red Sox have placed rookie left fielder and former Arkansas Razorback Andrew Benintendi on the 15-day disabled list with a left knee sprain.
Benintendi was hurt in the seventh inning of a 4-3 loss in 11 innings to Tampa Bay on Wednesday night. He tried to avoid a tag while running toward second base, but was tagged out on a double play.
Red Sox Manager John Farrell said team doctors are evaluating the results of an MRI exam on Thursday. The severity of the injury isn't clear, Farrell said, and will be determined after the review.
Farrell said he is hopeful Benintendi, a first-round draft pick in 2015, will return before the season ends.
Chris Young will be the primary left fielder with Benintendi sidelined. Infielder Marco Hernandez was recalled from Class AAA Pawtucket.
DODGERS
Philly catcher swap
LOS ANGELES -- The NL West-leading Los Angeles Dodgers have swapped catchers with Philadelphia, getting Carlos Ruiz and trading A.J. Ellis to the Phillies.
The deal was announced Thursday. The Dodgers also got cash while giving up Ellis, minor league pitcher Tommy Bergjans and a player to be named or cash.
Ruiz, 37, was hitting .261 with 3 home runs and 12 RBI in 48 games as a backup to Cameron Rupp. Ruiz has hit .340 (16 for 47) since the All-Star break.
Popular with Phillies fans who loved to call out his nickname "Chooch," Ruiz will be reunited in Los Angeles with former Philadelphia star Chase Utley.
Ruiz was an All-Star in 2012 and is a .353 hitter in 11 World Series games.
Ellis hit .194 with 1 home run and 13 RBI as a backup to Yasmani Grandal.
Bergjans was 3-13 with a 4.98 ERA at Class A Rancho Cucamonga.
NATIONALS
Rzepczynski acquired
WASHINGTON -- The Washington Nationals have acquired left-handed reliever Marc Rzepczynski from the Oakland Athletics for minor league infielder Max Schrock.
The A's also sent cash to the Nationals as part of the trade announced Thursday: $500,000 to be paid on Sept. 30.
Rzepczynski gives Washington another lefty out of the bullpen since trading Felipe Rivero to Pittsburgh and putting Sammy Solis on the disabled list. He is 1-0 with a 3.00 ERA in 56 appearances this season for Oakland.
The 32-year-old joins the sixth team of his major league career. He pitched in the postseason from 2011-2013, winning the World Series with the St. Louis Cardinals in 2011.
Rzepczynski has pitched well against lefties most of his career but has struggled against them this season and has been better against righties. His 70.5 percent ground-ball rate this season is second best in the majors behind Baltimore Orioles closer Zach Britton, a potential Cy Young candidate whose streak of 43 consecutive appearances without allowing an earned run was snapped Wednesday by the Nationals.
Schrock, 21, was a 13th-round pick in 2015.
MARLINS
Francoeur Miami bound
MIAMI -- The Miami Marlins acquired Jeff Francoeur from the Atlanta Braves in a three-team trade Wednesday night, hoping the well-traveled outfielder can provide a boost toward a playoff spot.
Francoeur was the only major leaguer included in the deal that also involved Texas. Any big-league player traded after Aug. 1 had to first be put on waivers.
As part of the trade, the Braves will send Marlins $104,959 to help offset Francoeur's contract.
Francoeur hugged his Atlanta teammates and coaches goodbye in the visiting dugout early in Wednesday's game at Arizona.
"It's hard. He's a great kid. He's one of the finest human beings I've ever been around," Braves interim manager Brian Snitker said. "We'll miss him. He's going to play meaningful games, good for him."
Atlanta got minor league shortstop Dylan Moore from Texas and catcher Matt Foley from Miami and the Rangers obtained two international signing slots from Miami and one from Texas.
Miami is contending for an NL wild-card spot and isn't sure whether star outfielder Giancarlo Stanton will return this season from a severe groin strain.
Francoeur hit .249 with 7 home runs and 33 RBI in 99 games for the Braves. The 32-year-old plays both left field and right field and is known for a strong arm.
The Marlins will be Francoeur's eighth team in the majors. Besides Atlanta, he has played for Kansas City, the New York Mets, San Francisco, Philadelphia, Texas and San Diego.
"He's been great for our young kids and has been great on the field as well," said Braves assistant general manager Billy Ryan. "Unfortunately, the circumstances of where we are as an organization, the Marlins are in contention, they're going for it, so it was an opportunity for him to get some meaningful at-bats and hopefully get in the postseason."
Sports on 08/26/2016