Next week we'll be looking for September call ups who have a decent chance of getting some playing time.

Red Sox activated RHP Tim Wakefield from the 15-day disabled list and placed OF J.D. Drew on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 18, with a lower back strain.

Wakefield rejoins the rotation, eating innings. Drew has both a herniated disc and a muscle strain. It is the strain that put him on the DL, but is the disc that is the longer term concern.

Atlanta Braves acquired OF Luis Sumoza from the Red Sox in exchange for OF Mark Kotsay.

This is a classic simulation trade, not one for the Roto guys out there. Drew goes down, so the Red Sox pick up a very good defender who will be the #4 or #5 outfielder once Drew is back. Sumoza is a five-tool prospect who is hitting .301 with 11 home runs in Low-A. He may have the tools, but he hasn't turned the tools into skills until this year. The Braves see something in him.

Braves recalled OF Josh Anderson from Triple-A Richmond.

Anderson has been up before and he is seen as the center fielder of the future. What is important this time is that he might get some real at-bats, and as he's stolen 42 bases in Triple-A, that makes him a fantasy darling. Real at-bats means a stolen base push for the final month of the season.

Braves placed INF Casey Kotchman on the restricted list.

Casey's mom is in the hospital from an undisclosed illness. The Braves are letting him be with his mom. We hope that she gets well soon.

Orioles activated RHP Greg Aquino from the 15-day DL and designated him for assignment.

He went from competing for the closer spot in spring to -- well, cut.

Dodgers recalled INF Blake DeWitt from Triple-A Las Vegas.

DeWitt converted from third baseman to second baseman in Triple-A, so that is where he might see some time.

Mets recalled C Robinson Cancel from New Orleans and placed C Ramon Castro on the 15-day DL with a strained right quad.

Cancel will get one to two starts a week backing up Brian Schneider. Castro is one of those catchers who has some value even though he only gets 200 at-bats a season. For a $1 in an NL-only league he gives you 7 HR in 128 at-bats.

Mets optioned INF Argenis Reyes to New Orleans.

With Luis Castillo back, Reyes was no longer needed. He'll return on September 1st.

Blue Jays activated INF Scott Rolen from the 15-day disabled list.

Rolen will start pretty much every day from this point forward. Will his bat return to its 2006 form? Probably not.

Nationals placed OF Austin Kearns on the 15-day DL, retroactive to Aug. 25, with a stress fracture of his left foot and activated OF Elijah Dukes from the 15-day DL.

Kearn's injury is likely to keep him out for the rest of the year; so ends a waste of a season. Dukes replaces him in the lineup, and homered twice in his second game back.

White Sox reinstated INF Joe Crede from the 15-day disabled list.

The White Sox kept Crede on his rehab assignment because he was rusty. He didn't improve, but they miss his glove so he will work it out at the Major League level. If you can keep him on your bench, I would recommend you do so until you see some life from him.

Twins acquired LHP Eddie Guardado from the Rangers in exchange for RHP Mark Hamburger and designated INF Mike Lamb for assignment.

I hope you didn't pay too much for Everyday Eddie when he was named the closer. He returns to his first team and will be used as a setup man. Hamburger is a 21-year-old closer who was pitching in rookie ball. The Rangers hope that Hamburger will be a helper in their bullpen in 2010.

Mets placed RHP John Maine on the 15-day disabled list, retroactive to Aug. 24, with a bone spur in his right shoulder and activated INF Luis Castillo from the 15-day disabled list.

Castillo will platoon with Damion Easley as Easley is playing well. The concern with Maine is that he might be done for the year. Sadly, the Mets have been quiet about it. Monitor the situation, but be prepared for a replacement for the rest of the season.

Rangers purchased the contract of OF Nelson Cruz from Triple-A Oklahoma.

Ah yes, Nelson Cruz. He certainly bit me last year in Tout Wars. 300 at-bats from hell. He was hitting .342 with 37 homeruns in Triple-A. You would think that would means .300 with 25 homeruns at the Major League level. (Obviously, I don't mean for the rest of the season.) If you are in an AL-only league and you are looking for power, he certainly has it. Do you take the risk? It might cost you the rest of your FAAB for the season. My instincts say no; you may feel otherwise.

Royals placed INF Alex Gordon on the 15-day DL with a torn right quadriceps muscle and activated INF Alberto Callaspo from the 15-day DL.

Although it sounds bad, he should only miss about four weeks. That might mean that he misses the rest of the season. I know that many of you are disappointed with his performance, but there is growth there. Power is up. On-base is up. Speed is down. The three-year rule for prospects says that the third full season is the breakout year.

Pirates activated RHP Matt Capps from the 15-day DL.

In his last outing there was some major improvement from Capps. I expect him to take over as the closer in the next week.

Rangers recalled RHP Brandon McCarthy from Triple-A Oklahoma.

He's a little rusty and needs to be stretched out, but his first start back from the DL wasn't bad.

Padres reinstated C Josh Bard from the 15-day DL.

The Padres will take it easy on Bard, giving him only four to five starts a week.

Rangers reinstated INF Hank Blalock from the 15-day DL.

He's a first baseman now and can hit when healthy. Maybe playing first base will help in that area.

Tout Wars Update

I'm doing well this block so far, good for #4 overall. I've had a real power outburst thanks to Carlos Delgado and recent addition Nick Swisher. I've moved as high as #4, but dropped to #5 last night. I'm still 13.5 points behind #1, but #1 has the best performance for the block, so I'm not catching him. While I have a plan to win, it is necessary that my opponents above me help me achieve it.

I still see myself gaining potentially three spots in average, possibly four. While I've been crushing the ball, I still have an 18-jack deficit to make up, so I'm not going anywhere there. What the power burst is doing is padding a lead so that I can drop my power for batting average for the last couple of weeks.

My 40-run padding means that I don't have to be concerned here. I'm not going to catch up to my next opponent either. I've cut the deficit in RBI to 11, so there is some hope that I can move up a point there. Again, stolen bases are a spot I can move up a couple. I'm two behind for #3 and #5 is 16 behind me.

From a hitting perspective, I have five of my 13.5 points I need.

In the past two weeks, I have cut my ERA from 3.92 to 3.80. That has given me one spot in ERA. I need to drop it down to 3.69 to earn a third spot or three spots in the standings.

I have a 25-strikeout lead, so I'm still holding that category. I still have a three win lead as well.

I've cut my deficit in saves from eight to three. I can move up two spots in saves. While I have done very well in WHIP, good enough for third overall, I need to move down another .03 for #2, and I don't think I can do that.

Tallying up the points I can find five points in pitching that I can coax out. That is ten points. I'm still a few points behind. Like I said, I need 110% from what I have and help from my opponents. Still, I am dark horse, but still in the running.