>>Blue Jays Add Prized Lefty Price

Toronto acquired All-Star left-hander David Price from the Detroit Tigers on Thursday, the second major move in less than a week by the Blue Jays as they chase their first postseason appearance since 1993.

After obtaining slugging shortstop Troy Tulowitzki from Colorado, the Blue Jays tried to shore up their rotation by adding Price, likely the top remaining starting pitcher on the market.

The Blue Jays sent left-handers Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd and Jairo Labourt to the Tigers in the deal. Price can become a free agent after this season.

Later Thursday, Detroit dealt closer Joakim Soria to Pittsburgh for minor league infielder JaCoby Jones.

Speaking in the Detroit clubhouse before the Tigers faced the Orioles in Baltimore, Price was excited about joining a contender - even if he did refer to the Blue Jays as "they" instead of "we."

Toronto has scored more runs than any other team in the major leagues but still had a .500 record heading into Thursday night's game against the Royals. The Blue Jays trailed Minnesota by two games for the AL's second wild card and were seven behind the AL East-leading New York Yankees.

>>Dodgers, Marlins, Braves Complete 3-team, 13-player deal

The first-place Los Angeles Dodgers bolstered their pitching staff on the eve of the trade deadline, completing a 13-player deal with the Atlanta Braves and Miami Marlins that sent two starters and two relievers to the NL West leaders on Thursday.

Clinging to a half-game lead over San Francisco, the Dodgers acquired right-hander Mat Latos from the Marlins and left-hander Alex Wood from the Braves, two pitchers who can move right into the rotation behind aces Clayton Kershaw and Zack Greinke. Also, Los Angeles obtained relievers Jim Johnson and Luis Avilan from Atlanta, adding needed depth to the bullpen.

The rebuilding Braves kept up their massive overhaul, also surrendering top infield prospect Jose Peraza to the Dodgers largely to land 30-year-old Cuban defector Hector Olivera, an infielder who has impressed in the minors since signing a $62.5 million, six-year deal with Los Angeles this year.

As for the Marlins, it was another familiar salary dump. Out of contention in the NL East, Miami rid itself of Latos and first baseman Michael Morse for three minor leaguers. Morse didn't last long with the Dodgers, who designated him for assignment shortly after the trade.
The deals worked like this:
-The Dodgers got Wood (7-6, 3.54 ERA), Johnson (2-3, 2.25, nine saves), Avilan (2-4, 3.58), Peraza (.294 with 26 stolen bases for Triple-A Gwinnett) and pitcher Bronson Arroyo from the Braves, along with Latos (4-7, 4.48), Morse (.214, four homers, 12 RBIs) and cash considerations from the Marlins. Arroyo is coming back from Tommy John surgery and hasn't pitched this season, his inclusion in the deal mainly a financial benefit to the Braves.

-Atlanta received Olivera, who is hitting a combined .348 with two homers and seven RBIs in 19 games at three different levels of the Dodgers' farm system this season, along with injured left-hander Paco Rodriguez and minor leaguer Zachary Bird, a right-handed pitcher. The Braves also got a draft pick from the Marlins.

-Miami acquired minor league right-handers Kevin Guzman, Jeff Brigham and Victor Araujo from the Dodgers, none of whom has pitched above Class A.

While the Dodgers spent lavishly to land Olivera, they decided the organization has enough depth at second base to make the deal.

>>Astros Land OF Gomez From Brewers

The Astros have added another bat to their lineup as they make a push for the postseason, acquiring two-time All-Star outfielder Carlos Gomez from the Milwaukee Brewers.

Houston also received right-hander Mike Fiers in the deal and sent four prospects to the Brewers: left-hander Josh Hader, right-hander Adrian Houser and outfielders Brett Phillips and Domingo Santana.

Milwaukee general manager Doug Melvin said a trade fell through Wednesday that would have sent Gomez to the New York Mets for infielder Wilmer Flores and injured pitcher Zack Wheeler.

Luhnow said he had been talking with Melvin for a few weeks and that they resumed talks on Thursday morning. He raved about Gomez.

When Gomez was called into the manager's office by the Brewers on Thursday, he thought they were going to explain to him what happened the day before.

To add to the crazy week Gomez has had professionally, he's also a new dad. Already the father to a 6-year-old boy and a 15-month-old boy, Gomez and his wife welcomed a third child 10 days ago.

Houston's move came a week after the Astros obtained top starter Scott Kazmir from the Oakland Athletics. Seeking its first postseason appearance since 2005, Houston entered Thursday with a one-game lead in the AL West.

The 29-year-old Gomez is hitting .262 with eight homers and 43 RBIs in 74 games for the Brewers this season. He is making $8 million this season and $9 million in 2016, then can become a free agent.

Gomez, who won a Gold Glove in 2013, is a nine-year veteran coming off a career-best season last year, when he hit .284 with 34 doubles, 23 homers, 73 RBIs and 34 steals. Gomez and Mike Trout are the only players with at least 100 steals and 50 home runs over the last four seasons.

Gomez played for the Mets and the Twins before joining the Brewers in 2010.

>>Giants Trade For Cincinnati RHP Leake

After whiffing on Cole Hamels, the San Francisco Giants got starter Mike Leake from the Cincinnati Reds for a pair of prospects on Thursday night.

The defending World Series champions acquired one of the hottest pitchers in the majors. The 27-year-old Leake has allowed only two earned runs in his last four starts, all victories.

He threw eight innings of four-hit ball in a 4-0 win in St. Louis on Tuesday, completing his sensational month of July. Overall, Leake is 9-5 with a 3.56 ERA in 21 starts this season.

The Giants trail the Dodgers by a half-game in the NL West and currently are in line for the second wild card behind Pittsburgh. The Reds completed the deal following a 15-5 victory over the Pirates on Thursday night.

San Francisco has won World Series titles in 2010, '12 and '14. The Giants thought they needed one more starter to set them up for a down-the-stretch run at another title.

They were interested in Hamels, who waived his no-trade clause to consider the Giants. He ultimately went to Texas, and the Giants went after Leake, who was on their "small list" of pitchers they thought could help them, Evans said.

The move will affect Tim Hudson, who is 6-8 with a 4.80 ERA and hasn't gone seven innings in a game since June 3. Hudson won his first championship after 16 major league seasons last year and plans to retire at the end of 2015.