florida marlins

The Chicago Cubs acquired right-handed reliever Kevin Gregg from the Florida Marlins on Thursday, a move than means closer Kerry Wood won't return.

Wood, the 1998 NL Rookie of the Year who saved 34 games this year, had been the longest-tenured player on the Cubs.

General manager Jim Hendry said Wood was deserving of a three- or four-year deal and the Cubs are not prepared to offer him one.

The Florida Marlins traded power-hitting first baseman Mike Jacobs to the Kansas City Royals for pitcher Leo Nunez.

The Marlins were shopping Jacobs because he was due a big raise in arbitration. In exchange on Thursday, they got a right-handed pitcher who was 4-1 last year with a 2.98 ERA in 45 relief appearances.

Any chance Johan Santana can pitch on no days' rest?

Desperate to stay in the playoff race, the New York Mets brought back their ace early and he delivered, pitching a three-hitter that led them over the Florida Marlins 2-0 on a rainy Saturday.

With the crowd standing and chanting his name, Santana (16-7) assured the Mets will play at least one more meaningful game at Shea Stadium.

The Mets began the day one game behind Milwaukee in the NL wild-card race and two games in back of Philadelphia in the NL East.

Both the Brewers and Phillies played later in the afternoon.

The Florida Marlins bolstered their bullpen Thursday by acquiring left-hander Arthur Rhodes from the Seattle Mariners for minor league right-hander Gaby Hernandez.

Florida, in the thick of the NL East and wild-card races, made the deal a few hours before baseball's 4 p.m. EDT trade deadline.

The 38-year-old Rhodes is 2-1 with a 2.86 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 22 innings.

Florida Marlins second baseman Dan Uggla left Saturday night's game against the Arizona Diamondbacks because of an apparent right leg injury.

Uggla tried to stretch a single into a double in the fourth, appearing to injure himself as he pulled up to go back to first base.

He was tagged out hobbling in the baseline, favoring his right leg.