The Giants have traded third baseman Conor Gillaspie to the White Sox for minor league pitcher Jeff Soptic.

Gillaspie, 25, spent parts of three seasons with the Giants, hitting .205 with a home run and four RBIs in 29 games and 44 at-bats.

The Red Sox have acquired Mike Carp from the Mariners in exchange for a player to be named later or cash considerations.

Carp is expected to compete with Daniel Nava, Mitch Maier, Mark Hamilton and Lyle Overbay for at-bats as a left-handed option in the lineup.

"It increases the competition, particularly at first base and left field," manager John Farrell said. "We've had a chance to talk to some other guys that might be directly impacted by that, but we've been able to add a talented player to camp here -- someone we've had conversations about throughout the course of the offseason, and finally he became available. So another left-handed hitter who has that versatility on the defensive side.

"Personally, I have seen a very good approach at the plate -- a guy that doesn't seem to be overexposed with one certain type of pitch thrown."

The Yankees today announced they have acquired right-handed pitcher Shawn Kelley from the  Mariners in exchange for minor league outfielder Abraham Almonte.
 
Kelley, 28, went 2-4 and posted a 3.25 ERA in 47 appearances over three stints with Seattle in 2012, averaging more than one strikeout per inning.
 
Originally selected in the 13th round of the First-Year Player draft by Seattle, Kelley has a 10-9 career record with a 3.52 ERA over parts of four Major League seasons with the Mariners.
 
In a corresponding roster move, 3B Alex Rodriguez has been placed on the 60-day disabled list. 
  

The Royals have acquired Elliot Johnson from the Rays as the player to be named later in the December trade involving James Shields, Wade Davis and top prospect Wil Myers.

Johnson, 28, appeared in 123 games for the Rays in 2012. He posted a .242/.304/.350 batting line with six home runs in 331 plate appearances.

The Oakland Athletics have acquired Jed Lowrie and Fernando Rodriguez for Chris Carter, Brad Peacock and minor leaguer Max Stassi in a trade with the Houston Astros.

Lowrie hit .244 with 16 homers for the Astros in 2012.

Carter hit 16 homers in 67 games for the A's last season.

“This trade gives us power, pitching and catching,” Astros GM Jeff Luhnow said. “Three valuable commodities that will help improve our organization.”