>>Rockies, Blue Jays Swap Shortstops

A person with knowledge of the situation confirms the Colorado Rockies have traded slugger Troy Tulowitzki to the Toronto Blue Jays for Jose Reyes and three pitching prospects in a stunning swap of star shortstops.

In addition to Tulowitzki, the Rockies sent 42-year-old reliever LaTroy Hawkins to the Blue Jays.

Along with Reyes, the Rockies picked up reliever Miguel Castro and two minor league pitchers.

FoxSports.com first reported the teams had agreed to a trade involving Tulowitzki, Reyes and minor leaguers.

The talented but oft-injured Tulowitzki is a five-time All-Star who is hitting .300 with 12 homers and 53 RBIs this season.

>>Angels Acquire OF Victorino

The Los Angeles Angels acquired veteran outfielder Shane Victorino and more than $3.8 million from the Boston Red Sox on Monday for infielder Josh Rutledge.
The 34-year-old Victorino is a two-time World Series champion, a two-time All-Star and a four-time Gold Glove winner. He has spent the past three years in Boston, batting .245 in just 33 games this season with two stints on the disabled list.

Overall, Victorino has hit .276 with 108 home runs, 486 RBIs and 229 stolen bases in 12 major league seasons, including stints with San Diego, Philadelphia, Los Angeles Dodgers and the Red Sox.

The AL West-leading Angels coveted Victorino's postseason experience after he played a key role for the Phillies' championship team in 2008 and again for the Red Sox's title-winning team in 2013. Victorino memorably hit a grand slam in Game 6 of the ALCS to send Boston to the World Series, where he added a key three-run double in the Red Sox's title-clinching victory in Game 6.

Victorino mostly played right field for Boston, but seems likely to play in left field against left-handers for the Angels.

Los Angeles has struggled at the position ever since owner Arte Moreno got rid of $125 million slugger Josh Hamilton in April with no clear replacement. The Angels' left fielders are collectively batting .212 with five homers.

Matt Joyce was expected to be the primary starter in left, but he is batting .178 in an awful season. Joyce also incurred an apparent concussion in Sunday's win over Texas.

Collin Cowgill was batting .180 when he was sidelined May 28 with a sprained right wrist, while Efren Navarro is batting .260 with no homers in 37 games.
Victorino has struggled with injuries throughout his tenure in Boston, although he is currently healthy again.

>>Mets Acquire Reliever Clippard From A's

The active New York Mets acquired first-rate reliever Tyler Clippard from Oakland for a minor league pitcher Monday, completing their second trade in four days and sending another signal they're serious about contending this year.

The suddenly aggressive Mets shipped Casey Meisner to the Athletics in a swap of right-handers that increases New York's payroll by a little more than $2 million.
The 30-year-old Clippard, eligible for free agency after this season, is 1-3 with a 2.79 ERA and 17 saves in 21 chances. The Athletics obtained him from Washington in January.

Oakland also traded starting pitcher Scott Kazmir to Houston last Thursday.

A two-time All-Star, Clippard joins closer Jeurys Familia and gives the Mets an imposing 1-2 punch in the late innings to support their talented rotation.

With former closers Bobby Parnell and Jenrry Mejia also back in the bullpen, manager Terry Collins now has a number of proven relief options - which should take some pressure off the New York starters who have carried the club all season.

After six straight losing seasons and years of rebuilding, the Mets are finally in position to make a playoff run thanks to their stingy pitching staff. The team trails first-place Washington by two games in the NL East and entered Monday 3 1/2 behind San Francisco for the league's second wild card.