Blue Jays grab Bautista

Utilityman Jose Bautista was acquired by the Toronto Blue Jays from the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday for a player to be named.

“It’s just a guy we’ve liked for a long time,” Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi said. “Since we’ve got a month to go, we’ll just get as many bats in there as we can get.”

The 27-year-old Bautista hit .242 with 12 homers and 44 RBIs in 107 games for Pittsburgh this season, then was sent to Triple-A this month.

Despite his demotion, Bautista has already homered more times this year than any player for the Blue Jays, whose 87 home runs are the fewest in the American League. Matt Stairs leads Toronto with 11 homers.

Bautista impressed Toronto manager Cito Gaston when he hit a two-run homer to help Pittsburgh beat Toronto 6-3 on June 21.

Glavine has surgery

Atlanta Braves pitcher Tom Glavine underwent surgery on his left elbow and shoulder and is expected be ready for spring training.

Glavine’s partially torn tendon in his elbow was repaired by Dr. James Andrews, who also cleaned up Glavine’s shoulder. The Braves said the 42-year-old left-hander should be able to start a throwing program by January.

Mariners farmhand suspended

Former major league pitcher Jorge Sosa, now in the Seattle Mariners’ organization, was suspended for 50 games after testing positive under baseball’s minor league drug program.

The 31-year-old right-hander, who began this season with the New York Mets, tested positive for an amphetamine – considered a performance-enhancing substance – while pitching for Triple-A Tacoma in the Pacific Coast League.