Mets trade Garcia, add to bullpen

Hoping to bolster their bullpen, the New York Mets traded outfielder Karim Garcia to the Baltimore Orioles for reliever Mike DeJean on Monday.

DeJean was 0-5 with a 6.13 ERA in 37 games for the Orioles. After a poor start, he compiled a 4.05 ERA in June and July.

“Mike will bring experience and depth to our bullpen,” Mets general manager Jim Duquette said. “He has had success in the National League and has the savvy of pitching well in close games.”

The Mets were 46-45 and two games behind Philadelphia and Atlanta going into Monday night’s game against Florida. The 33-year-old right-hander will join his new team Tuesday.

“I’m excited to come to New York and be in the middle of a pennant race,” DeJean said. “I played for (hitting coach) Don Baylor in Colorado and know a lot of the guys in the clubhouse. I can’t wait to get there.”

Duquette said DeJean has had trouble with the command of his fastball this season, but the Mets think pitching coach Rick Peterson can help. Peterson has guided New York’s staff to a 3.70 ERA, tied with the Cubs for the best in the majors.

DeJean threw a season-high 2 2/3 scoreless innings Sunday, striking out four against Tampa Bay.

Garcia, 28, hit .234 with seven home runs and 22 RBIs in 62 games with the Mets this year. He made 44 starts in right field.

Pittsburgh to host 2006 All-Star game

The Pittsburgh Pirates will host the 2006 All-Star at PNC Park just 12 years after staging the game at Three Rivers Stadium, according to sources close to the team.

Commissioner Bud Selig will make the formal announcement at a news conference today that the game on July 11, 2006, will be played in Pittsburgh — the third time in 32 years the city will be the All-Star site.

Phoenix and San Francisco were also in the running.

Halladay’s arm too tired to pitch

Toronto Blue Jays right-hander Roy Halladay will miss four to six weeks with a tired arm.

The A.L. Cy Young winner was examined Monday by Dr. James Andrews in Birmingham, Ala. And Toronto general manager J.P. Ricciardi said before the Blue Jays faced the Oakland Athletics there was no serious structural damage to Halladay’s shoulder.

Gonzalez to have Tommy John surgery

Arizona slugger Luis Gonzalez will have season-ending ligament replacement surgery in early August, but is expected to return to the Diamondbacks by next spring.

The left fielder will almost certainly miss a chance at his sixth straight season with 100 RBIs, though he will keep playing until he has the operation. He has played all season with a partially torn ulnar collateral ligament in his right elbow, feeling pain on every throw to the infield. The ligament connects bones in the upper and lower arm.

Provo players in unique feat

Two Provo Angels became the first teammates to go 6 for 6 in a regulation game in more than 100 years.

Ryan Leahy and Sean Rodriguez both had six hits in six at-bats Friday night in Provo’s 23-6 win over Missoula, Mont., in the Pioneer League.

They were the first teammates to accomplish the feat in the minor leagues since two St. Paul players — Harry Spies and Tom Turner — did it in a 41-8 win over Minneapolis in the Midwest League June 5, 1986.

Clearing the bases

Cubs right-hander Mark Prior will skip his scheduled start today against the Cardinals and instead throw a simulated game to test his tender elbow. … The Cubs activated shortstop Alex Gonzalez from the DL and designated Rey Ordonez for assignment. … Twins catcher Joe Mauer was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sore left knee. … Pirates reliever Salomon Torres began a three-game suspension for throwing twice at Damian Miller of the A’s last month in Oakland. … The Expos recalled outfielder Ron Calloway from Triple-A Edmonton to replace Carl Everett, who was traded to the White Sox.