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Indians Acquire Michaels From PhilliesThe Philadelphia Phillies and Cleveland Indians reached agreement Friday on a Jason Michaels-for-Arthur Rhodes trade, a deal that could trigger a bigger swap involving the Boston Red Sox. Rhodes was in Philadelphia taking a physical, two people familiar with the deal told The Associated Press. They spoke on condition of anonymity because the trade had not been finalized. If the trade is completed, the Indians could turn around and send center fielder Coco Crisp to the Red Sox to fill the gap left when free agent Johnny Damon left for the New York Yankees. Boston had been trying to send third base prospect Andy Marte and reliever Guillermo Mota to Cleveland. Trades involving the three teams had a hitch earlier this week when the Indians got an unfavorable medical report on Mota. The righty reliever spent about a month on the disabled list with Florida last season because of elbow inflammation. Philadelphia Phillies, Cleveland Indians Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Piazza Opens Discussions With PhilliesFree-agent catcher Mike Piazza and the Philadelphia Phillies have had "very preliminary" discussions in the past few days, ESPN reported. The potential future Hall of Famer has a career batting average of .311, with 397 home runs and 1,223 RBIs. The Phillies could use Piazza as a complement to Mike Lieberthal, who could go to part-time duty, and the team also needs a right-handed bat to play first base and give Ryan Howard days off against left-handed pitching, ESPN said. Philadelphia Phillies Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Phillies Close To Sending Michaels To ClevelandThe Phillies are close to filling a hole in their bullpen with a trade that would send outfielder Jason Michaels to the Cleveland Indians for veteran reliever Arthur Rhodes, baseball sources confirmed last night. The deal is contingent on the Indians completing a trade that would send outfielder Coco Crisp to the Boston Red Sox for reliever Guillermo Mota and infielder Andy Marte. That deal appeared to be done, pending physicals for the players involved. Rhodes, 36, is a well-traveled lefthander coming off a strong season with the Indians. He would likely become the Phillies' primary setup man for closer Tom Gordon. The acquisition of Rhodes would allow the Phillies to shift Ryan Madson to the starting rotation. Rhodes would likely have to pass a physical before the deal could be finalized. An announcement could come early this week. For Michaels, the trade would mark the close of a four-year stay in Philadelphia that ended in controversy. He was arrested on July 3 and charged with assaulting a Philadelphia police officer outside a nightclub. He avoided a trial and last week was placed on six months probation and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service. Philadelphia Phillies Read the Full Story Discuss Send Feedback Buy Tickets Phillies Jan 2006 Archive
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