Yanks’ Ajax back from bad back
Yankees center field prospect Austin Jackson was activated from Double-A Trenton’s disabled list. New York’s second-ranked prospect by Baseball America was out with a stiff back since Tuesday of last week.

Tribe’s LaPorta will play in Venezuelan League
Indians right field prospect Matt LaPorta will play in the Venezuelan Winter League following Double-A Akron’s run in the Eastern League playoffs. The Brewer’s top prospect according to Baseball America returned on August 28 from the Beijing Olympics where he was part of the the bronze-winning United States baseball team.

O’s Arrieta Carolina League pitcher of the year
Orioles right-hander Jake Arrieta was named Carolina League pitcher of the year. Baltimore’s seventh-ranked prospect by Baseball America has a 3.04 Peripheral ERA in 113 innings pitched. He just returned from the Beijing Olympics where he had only one start for the bronze-winning United States baseball team.

O’s Spoone out for regular and AFL seasons
Orioles right-hander prospect Chorye Spoone will not play for the remainder of the minor league season or in the Arizona Fall League due to a nagging shoulder injury. Hopes were high for Baltimore’s eighth-ranked prospect by Baseball America following his starring role in High-A Frederick’s 2007 Carolina League championship.

Marlin’s Sanchez is Southern League MVP
Marlin’s first base prospect Gaby Sanchez was named the Southern League most valuable player. Florida’s 12th-ranked prospect by Baseball America and the best defensive first baseman in the SL according to the same publication has a franchise-record 41 doubles.

Tribe’s Santana joins Akron of Eastern League playoffs
Indians catching prospect Carlos Santana was promoted to Double-A Akron from High-A Kinston for the Eastern League playoffs. The Dodgers’ 25th-ranked prospect by Baseball America was named MVP of the California League for his performance with Inland Empire. On July 26, Cleveland acquired Santana as part of the Casey Blake deal.

Braves’ Redmond Southern League’s top pitcher
Braves right-hander prospect Todd Redmond was named the Southern League’s most outstanding pitcher. Redmond had been the Pirates 27th-ranked prospect by Baseball America before he was acquired by Atlanta during the past off-season.

Major League rosters expand at midnight
Milb.com has a great rundown of some of the likely call-ups when Major League rosters expand at midnight tonight.

The Arizona Diamondbacks announced today that they have acquired infielder David Eckstein in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for right-handed pitcher Chad Beck.

Eckstein is batting .277 (72-for-260) in 76 games this season for the Blue Jays with 27 runs scored, 18 doubles, a home run and 22 RBI. 

Beck, 23, started the season in South Bend, going 2-0 with a 2.04 ERA (4 ER in 17.2 IP) over seven games, holding opponents to a .186 average (13-for-70) with three walks and 19 strikeouts.  Promoted to Visalia on May 2, appearing in his first 10 games as a reliever, going 1-0 with a save and a 1.37 ERA (4 ER in 16.1 IP).  As a starter for the Oaks, he went 4-5 with a 4.46 ERA (39 ER in 78.2 IP) with 14 walks and 65 strikeouts over 13 games.

…According to a report in the USA Today, New York Yankees phenom Joba Chamberlain threw 35 pitches in a simulated game and seems ready to go.

“The biggest hurdle is just getting over the fact that you were out a little bit because of stuff going on in your shoulder,” Chamberlain said. “You just have to be smart about your body and how it feels.”

When he’s activated from the disabled list, he will most likely return to a very depleted Yankees bullpen. The Yanks are trying to catch the Red Sox for the AL Wild card and could use all the help they can get at the back end of the bull pen.

…John Hickey of the Seattle Post-Intelligencer is reporting that the Mariners are having a hard time signing their #1 draft pick, Josh Fields. According to Hickey, the Mariners and Fields are still about half a million dollars apart. It should be noted that Fields is a Boras client. As it sits right now, if a deal doesn’t get done Seattle will get the pick back in the 2009 draft - but that doesn’t guarantee they’ll get the same caliber of player.

Boras would be more than happy to have his client play next year in the Independent Leagues and then re-enter the draft in 2009. Part of the sticking problem is that the Mariners don’t want to go above ’slot’ (though they’ve done so in the past).

…Speaking of the Mariners they plan to activate pitcher Carlos Silva from the disabled list Monday to make his start against the Rangers. He’s been on the Disabled List since August 16th with a cranky elbow.

…Ken Rosenthal of Foxs Sports is reporting that the Arizona Diamondbacks are in the running for Toronto Shortstop David Eckstein. If this goes down, the Angels who were also in the running for Eckstein will have to go to plan B which includes Giants Shortstop Omar Vizquel and Juan Castro of the Baltimore Orioles. The waiver trade deadline is set for midnight - so post season rosters can be set.

…Scott Lauber of The Delaware Journal News is reporting that the Philadelphia Phillies have released right handed pitcher Kris Benson after last nights game. Benson had let it be known that he’d prefer to be in the rotation as apposed to the bull pen because of how long it takes him to warm up. And with the rotation full, there was no room at the inn. Benson has been spending the season rehabbing after having off season shoulder surgery.

…Pittsburgh Pirates President Frank Coonelly says that Scott Boras is to blame for dragging the Kansas City Royals into the Pedro Alvarez debacle. And because of this Major League Baseball ordered Eric Hosmer to sit, he’s been playing in the KC system.

Quoth Frank Coonelly.

“Eric Hosmer was dragged into the process by Mr. Boras, not the Pirates,” Coonelly said. “The Pirates feel badly that Kansas City’s agreement with Hosmer is now subject to the legal proceeding initiated by Mr. Boras, but that is a necessary consequence of Mr. Boras’ actions, and he knew when he asked the union to file a grievance in an effort to renegotiate Alvarez’s contract that he was putting Hosmer’s contract at risk.”

Jeff Kent was in so much pain on Friday night in the seventh inning, he had to be removed from the game in a key at-bat with Manny Ramirez in scoring position.  The Dodgers lost the game and the sight of Kent limping from the clubhouse following post-game interviews have led to speculation that the 40-year-old second baseman’s season and possibly career could be over.

The Dodgers sent Kent to Los Angeles on Saturday to have an MRI done on his knee which locked up on him on Friday.  Kent has been playing through the pain of a sore knee for six weeks.  Kent described the injury after Friday’s game as “a lot of clicking and popping and pretty painful.” 

The team delivered a much needed win on Saturday without Kent in the lineup over the first-place Diamondbacks and trail Arizona by 3-1/2 games in the National League West.  Kent is hitting .275 with 11 home runs and 57 RBI for the Dodgers in 2008.

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In Saturday’s transactions:

• The Baltimore Orioles sent pitcher Radhames Liz to Triple-A Norfolk to add an extra position player for Saturday and Sunday’s games.  The team recalled infielder Oscar Salazar from Norfolk to take Liz’s roster spot.  The O’s plan to bring Liz back when the rosters expand to 40 players on September 1 and he is still slated to start on Tuesday.
• The Boston Red Sox added pitcher Michael Bowden from Triple-A Pawtucket and sent down infielder Joe Thurston.  The Sox also designated pitcher Eric Hull for assignment.
• Pitcher Ramon Ramirez was recalled by the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday to start against the San Francisco Giants.  Ramirez pitched well in his Major League debut — seven innings, five hits, three runs and six strikeouts — but got a no decision in their 7-6 win over the Giants.  Infielder Adam Rosales was sent down to clear a roster spot for Ramirez.
• Catcher Yorvit Torrealba hit the 15-day disabled list for the Colorado Rockies on Saturday.  The team recalled catcher Adam Melhuse from Triple-A Colorado Springs while Torrealba recovers.  Torrealba has a torn left meniscus and might require surgery to repair.  If surgery is elected, Torrealba will only return in ‘08 if the Rockies make the postseason.
• The busiest team on Saturday was the Oakland A’s.  The A’s placed veteran Frank Thomas on the 15-day disabled list due to a strained right quad.  The team added outfielder Aaron Cunningham from Triple-A Sacramento to fill Thomas’ roster spot.  The A’s also activated pitcher Keith Foulke from the DL and sent down Dan Meyer to Double-A Midland.  Finally, pitcher Andrew Brown was transferred from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day disabled list.
• The Texas Rangers placed pitcher Vincente Padilla on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to August 25.  Padilla landed on the DL thanks to a strained left hamstring and the Rangers recalled pitcher Kameron Loe from Triple-A Oklahoma to replenish their pitching staff with a fresh arm.