MORRIS SHELVED: The Cincinnati Reds put backup first baseman Hal Morris on the 15-day disabled list Friday with a broken wrist that will sideline him for three to four weeks.
The Reds called up catcher Jason LaRue from Triple-A Indianapolis to fill Morris' roster spot. Cincinnati also signed first-round draft pick Ty Howington, a high school pitcher from Vancouver, Wash., to a minor league contract.
RANGERS ACQUIRE FASSERO: Struggling Jeff Fassero, who has allowed a major league-high 34 home runs, was traded from the Seattle Mariners to the Texas Rangers on Friday for a minor league player to be named.
The 36-year-old left-hander was 4-14 with a 7.38 ERA in 30 games for Seattle, allowing 123 runs and 188 hits in 139 innings.
ORIOLES TRADE BAINES TO INDIANS: Needing a left-handed bat as they prepare for the postseason, the Cleveland Indians acquired Harold Baines from the Baltimore Orioles on Friday for a minor league pitcher and a player to be named.
The Indians, who tried to get Baines before the July 31 trading deadline, claimed both the 40-year-old and right-hander Scott Erickson off waivers on Thursday and had until 1 p.m. Friday to make a deal with the Orioles.
Cleveland backed off on Erickson because Baltimore wanted too much in return and opted to pick up Baines for right-handed pitcher Juan Aracena.
OWNERS WARN UMPS: Baseball umpires were warned Friday that they will be fired if they strike next week.
AL president Gene Budig and NL president Len Coleman sent the warning in a letter many umpires received Friday.
Some of the umpires backing union head Richie Phillips have talked about striking over baseball's refusal to allow 22 umpires to withdraw their resignations, which are effective Thursday.
Baseball's labor contract with umpires, which runs through Dec. 31, contains a no-strike clause.
Contents of the memo were disclosed by a baseball official speaking on the condition he not be identified. He said the memo told umpires baseball officials were confident they would not strike, but that anyone who did would be "terminated.