sports trade

(Newser) - If your impression of minor league baseball is still Bull Durham -era, Forbes has an update for you. Gone are dirt-poor players traveling to low-tech stadiums on creaky buses: The top 20 teams are worth an average $21.2 million each, and they pulled in $9.8 million per team last season, of which 49% came from ticket sales. More »

(Newser) - The Red Sox traded Manny Ramirez at the deadline today, shipping the disgruntled outfielder to the Dodgers in a three-way deal that sends outfielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh to Boston, reports New England Sports Network. Earlier, Ken Griffey Jr. agreed to a trade from the Reds to the White Sox, boosting the odds that the 20-year veteran will finally play in a World Series, Fox Sports reports. More »

(Newser) - After recently being touted by his coach as NBA MVP, LeBron James backed up that statement with another superb performance, leading the Cavaliers in a 90-89 nail-biter over Washington. James hit the winning free throws with 8 seconds left as part of his 33-point, 15-rebound night, while playing nearly the entire game because Cleveland dressed only eight players, reports AP. More »

(Newser) - The Cleveland Cavaliers are answering LeBron James’ prayers: ESPN sources say three-way trades will bring four new faces to the team, including the Chicago Bulls’ Ben Wallace and the Seattle Supersonics’ Wally Szczerbiak. The Bulls will grab four Cavs, including Drew Gooden and Larry Hughes, while the SuperSonics take on Cavs Ira Newble and Donyell Marshall plus Bull Adrian Griffin. More »

(Newser) - Shortly after the Suns and Lakers each made high-profile trades for big inside men, the San Antonio Spurs moved to follow suit, picking up veteran center Kurt Thomas from the Seattle SuperSonics. In return, the Spurs send under-utilized Francisco Elson and frequently injured Brent Barry, along with a 2009 first-round draft pick, reports the San Antonio Express-News . More »

(Newser) - Mike Bibby is headed to Atlanta as part of a trade that will give the Sacramento Kings four expiring contracts and a second-round draft pick, and allow the Hawks to (so they hope) make a run at the playoffs, reports the Sacramento Bee . "I had some good times here in Sacramento," said the veteran point guard, who had expected a trade. More »

(Newser) - The New York Mets made a deal this afternoon for Johan Santana, the left-handed, two-time Cy Young winner from the Minnesota Twins, USA Today reports. The Mets are giving Minnesota four players for the star pitcher: outfielder Carlos Gomez and pitchers Phil Humber, Deolis Guerra, and Kevin Mulvey. But the price seems to be worth it, as Santana will give the Mets the best rotation in the NL East. More »