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Dodgers acquire Blake

The Dodgers expect Casey Blake to add some punch to their offense. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)
Associated Press
The Dodgers expect Casey Blake to add some punch to their offense. (Associated Press / The Spokesman-Review)

The Cleveland Indians traded versatile third baseman Casey Blake and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor leaguers on Saturday.

Blake is joining the Dodgers for the playoff push. They’re one game behind the first-place Arizona Diamondbacks in the N.L. West. Blake, who has also played right and left field and first base, is expected to play third for the Dodgers, who haven’t gotten what they needed at the position from rookies Andy LaRoche or Blake DeWitt.

In exchange for Blake, the Indians got catcher Carlos Santana and right-hander Jonathan Meloan.

The Dodgers (50-52) have been looking for a dependable bat for weeks, and Blake’s name first came up when the Dodgers were in trade talks with the Indians for ace CC Sabathia, who was dealt to the Milwaukee Brewers.

Blake is batting .289 with 11 homers and 58 RBIs, and he has been Cleveland’s most clutch player, batting .398 with runners in scoring position.

Yankees’ deal finalized

Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte were with the Yankees and both played against the Boston Red Sox after New York finalized a six-player trade with the Pirates.

The Yankees are sending top outfield prospect Jose Tabata and minor league right-handers Dan McCutchen, Jeff Karstens and Ross Ohlendorf to Pittsburgh.

It was initially thought New York’s package would include minor league pitchers Phil Coke and George Kontos rather than McCutchen and Karstens.

Clearing the bases

Anthony Reyes, who won Game 1 of the 2006 World Series for St. Louis, was traded by the Cardinals to Cleveland for minor league pitcher Luis Perdomo. … The Cardinals expect Chris Carpenter, out since opening day 2007 because of an elbow injury, to return to the rotation Wednesday against Atlanta. … Blue Jays right-hander Dustin McGowan will have season-ending surgery to repair fraying of the labrum in his shoulder. … Twins center fielder Carlos Gomez will likely miss the rest of this weekend’s series in Cleveland after crashing into the padded wall while making a spectacular catch Friday night. He bruised his lower back and tailbone.