Rockies deal Walker to Cardinals

Outfielder Larry Walker was traded from the Colorado Rockies to the St. Louis Cardinals on Friday night for minor league pitcher Jason Burch and two players to be named.

The addition of Walker, a three-time National League batting champion, gives the Cardinals a power-packed lineup that also includes Albert Pujols, Scott Rolen and Jim Edmonds. They began Friday night with the best record in the major leagues.

“This is a great opportunity for (Walker) to go to a great baseball city and have a chance to win a world championship,” Rockies general manager Dan O’Dowd said. “We tried very hard to put him in a city where he can accomplish his dream of winning a world championship.”

Walker has only played in the postseason once, in 1995 with the Rockies, who were eliminated in the first round.

The 1997 N.L. most valuable player, a seven-time Gold Glove winner, cleared waivers and agreed not to block the deal with his no-trade clause. Colorado is paying St. Louis $7.5 million as part of the trade.

Walker, 37, said no to a trade to the Texas Rangers in July.

Phelps traded to Indians

The Cleveland Indians acquired designated hitter-first baseman Josh Phelps from the Toronto Blue Jays for Triple-A first baseman Eric Crozier.

Phelps, 26, a Rathdrum, Idaho, native, batted .237 with 12 home runs and a team-leading 51 runs batted in during 79 games with Toronto.

Colangelo out as CEO of Diamondbacks

Jerry Colangelo, who brought Arizona a Major League Baseball franchise in 1998 and a World Series title three years later, is being forced out as chief executive officer of the Diamondbacks and will be replaced by Jeff Moorad, an agent for several top players.

Colangelo, the team’s managing general partner, said that after disagreements with the partnership that owns the team about the direction of the franchise, he was asked whether he would be willing to step down.

“It wasn’t planned, but really, when you get down to it, really it was my decision to say, ‘I’m out,’ ” he said.

Bad news for White Sox

Frank Thomas is out for the rest of the season and Magglio Ordonez might be, too.

After the Chicago White Sox announced that Thomas will miss the rest of the season as he recovers from a stress fracture in his left foot, manager Ozzie Guillen said he doesn’t expect Ordonez to return.

“I think Magglio has to be ready for next season. I don’t think Magglio is going to be back. That’s my opinion. Hopefully we get him before, but I doubt it,” Guillen said.

Clearing the bases

Philadelphia placed Kevin Millwood on the 15-day disabled list because of acute tendinitis in his pitching elbow. … New York Mets outfielder Shane Spencer cleared waivers and was released. … Right-hander Wes Obermueller was recalled by Milwaukee from Triple-A Indianapolis and is scheduled to start today at Florida. … Baseball owners will be asked to approve a three-year extension for commissioner Bud Selig that will run through 2009. The extension will be presented for a vote when owners meet in Philadelphia on Aug. 19.