The Atlanta Braves acquired All-Star center fielder Nate McLouth from the Pittsburgh Pirates for three minor leaguers Wednesday, a move to beef up Atlanta's offense in hopes of contending in the NL East.
The 27-year-old McLouth was an All-Star last season and set career highs with a .276 average, 26 homers and 94 RBIs. The Braves desperately needed more offense from an outfield that produced only 10 homers through the first 51 games.
It was a day of big moves for Atlanta. The trade was announced less than an hour after the Braves released 305-game winner Tom Glavine, saying they didn't feel the 43-year-old had shown during three minor league rehab assignments that he could still be effective in the big leagues.
In the McLouth deal, Atlanta gave up outfielder Gorkys Hernandez, one of their top prospects, along with pitchers Charlie Morton and Jeff Locke.
McLouth is hitting .256 with nine homers and 34 RBIs this season. He won a Gold Glove in 2008.
HOCKEY
Granato is fired by Avalanche
The Colorado Avalanche promoted Greg Sherman to general manager and fired Coach Tony Granato and five others in a sweeping shake-up.
Sherman has spent the last seven years as the team's assistant general manager and replaces Francois Giguere, who was fired in April after the team's worst finish since moving to Denver in 1995.
PRO FOOTBALL
Dungy, Harrison headed for TV
Former Indianapolis Colts coach Tony Dungy and two-time Pro Bowl safety Rodney Harrison are joining "Football Night in America" as analysts, NBC announced.
Dungy retired from the Colts after last season, capping a career that included becoming the first black coach to win a Super Bowl. Harrison announced his retirement from the New England Patriots earlier Wednesday.
Philadelphia Eagles running back Brian Westbrook will have surgery on his right ankle Friday. . . . A developer scrapped a plan to build a $1-billion stadium in San Diego as part of a redevelopment of the land around Qualcomm Stadium. Developer Perry Dealy told the San Diego Chargers and the mayor's office in an e-mail that he is abandoning the project. Last week, the Chargers rejected the proposal.
PRO BASKETBALL
James back home after jaw surgery
Cleveland Cavaliers star LeBron James has been released from the Cleveland Clinic after a five-hour procedure to remove a benign growth from his jaw a day earlier.
