Red Sox, Braves bolster chances with trades

Eric Gagne gave up a closing job with the Texas Rangers for a setup role in Boston in the biggest trade Tuesday before baseball’s deadline to make deals without waivers.

Atlanta finalized its seven-player trade to acquire power-hitting first baseman Mark Teixeira from the payroll-paring Rangers. Those were by far the biggest of the 10 trades that involved 25 players.

Many of the big names bandied about in recent weeks stayed put, with no deals materializing for Chicago White Sox outfielder Jermaine Dye, Washington closer Chad Cordero and Cincinnati outfielder Adam Dunn.

Instead, contenders scrambled for whatever relief pitching was available, with the Atlanta Braves obtaining setup man Octavio Dotel from Kansas City and the Los Angeles Dodgers getting Scott Proctor from the New York Yankees for infielder Wilson Betemit.

Gagne, a three-time All-Star and the 2003 National League Cy Young Award winner for the Dodgers, was traded for left-hander Kason Gabbard and minor league outfielders David Murphy and Engel Beltre. Gagne will serve as Jonathan Papelbon’s primary setup man and will close on days Papelbon needs rest.

“We actually love our bullpen,” Boston manager Terry Francona said of his relievers, who have the lowest ERA in the majors at 2.74. “I think it just got a lot better.”

Milwaukee also tried to land Gagne, who can become a free agent after the World Series.

Teixeira went to the Braves with left-hander Ron Mahay for rookie catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia and four prospects.

Teixeira, eligible for free agency after the 2008 season, was an All-Star in 2005 and is a two-time Gold Glove winner. Atlanta also got Dotel from the Royals for right-hander Kyle Davies, and left-hander Royce Ring from San Diego for right-hander Wilfredo Ledezma and lefty Will Startup.

“We’ve got a World Series team,” Braves shortstop Edgar Renteria said. “That makes the whole lineup more dangerous. It’s exciting.”

Among the day’s other trades:

•Boston sent right-hander Joel Pineiro, the former Seattle Mariner, and cash to St. Louis for a player to be named.

•Houston dealt infielder Morgan Ensberg and cash to San Diego for a player to be named or cash.

•San Francisco sent right-hander Matt Morris to Pittsburgh for center fielder Rajai Davis and a player to be named.