BOSTON – The Boston Red Sox acquired center fielder Marlon Byrd from the Chicago Cubs on Saturday for pitcher Michael Bowden and a player to be named.

With Jacoby Ellsbury sidelined by a partially dislocated right shoulder, the Red Sox were in desperate need of some help in the outfield. Byrd, 34, is off to a terrible start this season with just three hits in 43 at-bats, but he hit .276 in 119 games last season and made the NL All-Star team in 2010.

The Cubs also sent cash to the Red Sox.

Bowden, 25, began this season on Boston’s opening-day roster and had a 3.00 ERA in two relief appearances before he was designated for assignment on April 15.

To make room on the roster for Byrd, the Red Sox designated Nate Spears for assignment.

YANKEES: New York shut down right-hander Michael Pineda after he felt weakness in his shoulder during an extended spring-training game.

Advertisement

Pineda will see a doctor in Tampa, Fla., before the team determines how to proceed.

Meanwhile, Andy Pettitte will probably make his next start in Double-A Trenton and be limited to 80 to 85 pitches. He would have one or two more minor league starts after that.

PHILLIES: Philadelphia placed Cliff Lee on the 15-day disabled list, three days after he strained a muscle in his left side in the 10th inning at San Francisco.

RANGERS: Third baseman Adrian Beltre hurt his left hamstring and left the first game of a doubleheader at Detroit, although Manager Ron Washington was optimistic the injury wasn’t serious.

DIAMONDBACKS: Arizona, already troubled by injuries, placed right-hander Daniel Hudson on the 15-day disabled because of a right shoulder impingement.

Hudson was 1-1 with a 6.00 ERA in three starts. He allowed two runs and six hits in 72/3 innings Wednesday against Pittsburgh.

Advertisement

NATIONALS: Third baseman Ryan Zimmerman was a late scratch against Miami because of mild right shoulder inflammation.

Zimmerman had been listed as the starter when lineups were posted before the game. But when the players took the field, Mark DeRosa was at third base.

CUBS: Right-hander Ryan Dempster was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a strained right quadriceps.

Outfielder Tony Campana was called up from Triple-A Iowa.

DIAMONDBACKSORIOLES: Arizona acquired third baseman Josh Bell from Baltimore for a player to be named.

ATHLETICS: Oakland optioned pitcher Graham Godfrey to Triple-A Sacramento, one day after he lost his third consecutive start.

ROYALS: Reliever Greg Holland was placed on the 15-day disabled list because of a left rib stress reaction.

Comments are no longer available on this story