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Astros trade for closer Cordero

Relief pitcher Francisco Cordero was traded by Toronto to Houston in a 10-player deal on Friday. (Associated Press)
From Wire Services
Relief pitcher Francisco Cordero was traded by Toronto to Houston in a 10-player deal on Friday. (Associated Press)

The Houston Astros acquired closer Francisco Cordero and outfielder Ben Francisco as part of a 10-player trade with Toronto on Friday.

Houston will also receive four minor leaguers in the deal – right-handed pitchers Joe Musgrove and Asher Wojciechowski, left-handed pitcher David Rollins, catcher Carlos Perez and a player to be named later.

The Blue Jays, who entered Friday at 45-47 and in last place in the A.L. East, will receive pitchers Brandon Lyon, J.A. Happ and David Carpenter from Houston.

Cordero has 329 career saves, second among active players to the New York Yankees’ Mariano Rivera (608). In 794 career relief appearances, the 37-year-old Cordero has a 3.28 ERA and has reached 40 or more saves in three seasons. Cordero is 3-5 with two saves in 41 appearances for Toronto this season.

Francisco is hitting .244 in 23 games for Toronto in 2012. He has a .259 career average with 45 home runs in 483 career games with Cleveland, Philadelphia and Toronto.

Lyon signed a three-year, $15 million contract with the Astros in December 2009. He struggled with tendinitis in his right biceps in 2011 and appeared in only 15 games. He’s 0-2 with a 3.25 ERA in 37 appearances this season.

The left-throwing Happ is 7-9 with a 4.83 ERA in 18 starts this season, his third in Houston.

Carpenter, playing for the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate in Oklahoma City, was 0-2 with a 6.07 ERA in 30 relief appearances for the Astros this season.Happ is expected to start in the Blue Jays’ bullpen. Carpenter will report to Triple-A Las Vegas.Lyon is expected to be in a set-up role.The Astros are 34-59, the worst record in the majors.

Clearing the bases

The Colorado Rockies traded right-handed pitcher Jeremy Guthrie to Kansas City in exchange for Jonathan Sanchez, the struggling lefty starter who was designated for assignment this week by the Royals. The 29-year-old Sanchez is 1-6 with a 7.76 ERA in 12 starts this season. The 33-year-old Guthrie is 3-9 with a 6.35 ERA in 19 games this year. In 169 starts with three teams since 2004, he is 50-74 with a 4.37 ERA, 335 walks and 671 strikeouts. Sanchez threw a no-hitter against San Diego in 2009. … Miami Marlins third baseman Hanley Ramirez was held out of Friday’s game against the Pirates with an infection in his right hand. Manager Ozzie Guillen said Ramirez’s hand was swollen when he arrived at Pittsburgh’s PNC Park.