The New York Yankees got David Cone, Ruben Sierra and Darryl Strawberry. The Baltimore Orioles added Bobby Bonilla, and the Texas Rangers acquired Bobby Witt.
Still, the Seattle Mariners might be ready to play the trump card in the wild-card race - Ken Griffey Jr.The Mariners, who have hung in the chase for 21/2 months despite missing Griffey, won their season-high fifth in a row Wednesday night, beating the Chicago White Sox 11-8.
Mike Blowers and Jay Buhner each homered during a seven-run fourth inning as the Mariners moved within one game of the Yankees in position for the wild-card spot. Texas and Seattle are tied.
The Mariners' push for their first-ever postseason slot could get a big boost within in a week if Griffey returns to the lineup. Out since breaking his left wrist May 26, he's expected to begin a rehabilitation assignment this weekend with Triple-A Tacoma.
"Obviously, it's going to help to have Junior back," Blowers said.
Red Sox 9, Indians 5
At Boston, Erik Hanson overcame one bad inning and pitched Boston to its seventh consecutive win. The Red Sox swept the two-game series between division leaders at Fenway Park and sent Cleveland to its third loss in a row.
Pinch-hitter Matt Stairs singled home the tiebreaking run in the eighth inning and Chris Donnels, called up from the minors earlier in the day, followed with a two-run triple.
Angels 9, Royals 1
At Kansas City, Tim Salmon homered twice and Jim Edmonds and J.T. Snow also connected as California won its eighth straight road game.
Salmon drove in four runs with his 25th and 26th homers. Edmonds homered for the third straight day, giving him 25, and also doubled and scored three times.
Orioles 7, Yankees 2
At New York, Cal Ripken homered, doubled twice and drove in four runs, drawing a standing ovation from the fans at Yankee Stadium. It was the first time he'd ever had more than two RBIs in 90 career games in New York.
Only one thing did not go right for Ripken - he made his first steal attempt of the season and was thrown out.
Rangers 13, Tigers 5
At Arlington, Texas, Lou Frazier, a former Detroit farmhand, had three hits and scored the go-ahead run in the sixth inning on a single by Ivan Rodriguez.
Frazier, who recently moved from Montreal to Texas, drove in four runs. Otis Nixon also had three of the Rangers' season-high 17 hits.
Brewers 12, Blue Jays 7
At Milwaukee, Juan Guzman walked three straight batters in the first inning and left with soreness below his right armpit, and Milwaukee sent Toronto to its sixth straight loss. Blue Jays pitchers walked 13, one short of the team record.
Athletics 6, Twins 3
At Minneapolis, Geronimo Berroa doubled home the go-ahead run in the 10th at the Metrodome. Oakland won despite losing Rickey Henderson with a hamstring injury in the fifth inning.