Rays lose setup man Grant Balfour for 4-6 weeks with injury

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In news that helps explain the Rays' acquisition of Chad Qualls this morning, Grant Balfour is expected to miss 4-6 weeks with a strained intercostal/rib muscle.

Balfour was brilliant for the Rays in 2008, struggled for much of last season, and has been dominant again this year with a 2.08 ERA, .218 opponents' batting average, and 44/13 K/BB ratio in 43.1 innings.

Qualls' secondary numbers suggest he's a very good bet to pitch significantly better than his hideous performance in Arizona, but he's still a big downgrade as a replacement for Balfour.

 

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Yankees acquired RHP Kerry Wood and cash from the Indians for a player to be named later.


The Yankees will be paying about $1.5 million of $3.6 million still owed to Wood. The reliever was just activated from the disabled list Saturday, so the Yanks are taking a bit of a risk given his performance this year. However, they're not paying him much and he does possess lights out stuff when he's on. Wood will give the Yanks insurance for the eighth inning.