pennant race

The Boston Red Sox have outfield depth after completing a trade with the Atlanta Braves for center fielder Mark Kotsay.

The Red Sox, in a tight pennant race, acquired Kotsay on Wednesday, only one day after placing J.D. Drew on the 15-day disabled list with a lower back strain.

The 32-year-old Kotsay hit .289 with six home runs and 37 runs batted in 88 games with the Braves.

Greg Maddux is headed back to the Los Angeles Dodgers. San Diego and Los Angeles agreed to a trade that puts the 353-game winner in a pennant race again, according to a person familiar with the deal who spoke on condition of anonymity Monday night because no announcement had been made.

It's unclear what the Padres will receive in return for the 42-year-old Maddux, who will join a Dodgers team tied...

Don't expect to see Barry Bonds showing up in a pennant race. Bonds has not received a single offer, agent Jeff Borris said Monday.

He dismissed recent reports of interest from Arizona, the New York Mets and Boston. "I'm an optimistic guy by nature," Borris said, "and I've told Barry that the prospects look bleak." Bonds, who turns 44 in two weeks, led the majors last season with a .480 on-base...