The New York Yankees today acquired outfielder Greg Golson from the Texas Rangers in exchange for minor league infielder Mitch Hilligoss. Golson, 24, batted .258 (118-for-457) with 27 extra-base hits and 40 RBI in 123 games with Triple-A Oklahoma City in 2009. He is a .263 (674-for-2,558) career minor league hitter with 120 doubles, 36 triples, 48 home runs and 265 RBI in 634 combined games in the Philadelphia Phillies and Rangers minor league systems. Originally selected by Philadelphia in the first round of the 2004 First-Year Player Draft, he has appeared in seven Major League games, six with Philadelphia in 2008 and one with Texas in 2009, going hitless in seven at-bats and scoring two runs. Prior to the 2009 season, Baseball America named the Austin, Tex., native as the ?Best Athlete,? ?Fastest Baserunner? and ?Best Outfield Arm? in the Texas organization.

The Toronto Blue Jays acquired Merkin Valdez from the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations on Wednesday. Valdez appeared in 48 games for the Giants last season, going 2-1 with a 5.66 earned-run average in his first full big-league season. "He throws up to 98," Blue Jays GM Alex Anthopoulos said via email. "We're just adding some depth, taking a shot on a power arm."

The Red Sox have acquired infielder-outfielder Bill Hall from the Mariners in exchange for first baseman Casey Kotchman. It was reported earlier in the week that Boston would send Kotchman to Seattle, but what they would receive as compensation wasn't known. Hall, who hit 35 for the Brewers in 2006, was acquired by the Mariners from Milwaukee in August.

The Red Sox finalized their trade with the Mariners on Thursday, sending first baseman Casey Kotchman to Seattle in exchange for utility infielder/outfielder Bill Hall, a Minor League player to be named and cash. Last year, which Hall split between the Brewers and Mariners, he started 59 games at third base, 22 games in left field, 12 games in right, two at second base and one game in center field. He used to be a starting shortstop, but hasn't played that position since 2006. The 30-year-old Hall struggled mightily at the plate in 2009, hitting .201 with eight homers and 36 RBIs in 334 at-bats. He clocked a career-high 35 homers in 2006, followed by 14 in '07 and 15 in '08.