With their sights set firmly on the World Series, the Angels pulled off a blockbuster deal Tuesday to acquire slugger Mark Teixeira from the fading Atlanta Braves.

Los Angeles sent first baseman Casey Kotchman and minor-league pitcher Steve Marek to the Braves, who raised the white flag on this season after a rash of key injuries.

“Our goal is to win a world championship,” Angels general manager Tony Reagins said. “The team is playing well at this point, but being able to add a player like Mark Teixeira just makes us that much better.”

Los Angeles went into Tuesday night's game at Boston with an 111/2-game cushion in the AL West, by far the most commanding lead for any first-place team. But the Angels were more concerned with setting up a roster that can go all the way in October.

“Hopefully, I can just go over there and be one more piece of the puzzle,” Teixeira said before leaving Turner Field.

The first baseman is making $12.5 million and will be eligible for free agency after the season.

Atlanta general manager Frank Wren said the team was rebuffed in spring training when it offered Teixeira a deal that would have made him “one of the highest-paid players in the game.”

There were no further contract discussions between Wren and Teixeira's agent, Scott Boras. With Atlanta fading in the NL East, Wren thought he had little choice but to get something of value before losing Teixeira, 28, especially with the way this season is going.

“We have too many players hurt right now to really compete,” Wren said. “It's time to start rebuilding our club.”

The Angels made the deal knowing they are unlikely to sign Teixeira to a long-term contract before everyone has a shot at him in free agency. In fact, he said he would prefer no contract talks with his new team until after the season.

That didn't stop the Angels from pursuing the deal, which was done with plenty of time to spare before Thursday's non-waiver trade deadline.

Teixeira was among the top names in the rumor mill, and should boost a club that wanted to add another big bat to back its potent pitching staff.

Teixeira is batting .283 with 20 home runs and 78 RBIs. The switch-hitter joins Vladimir Guerrero and Torii Hunter in a lineup that ranks in the bottom half of the American League in average, homers and runs.

“The Angels have always been one of the best teams in the league,” Teixeira said. “They've always had great pitching, great defense and find a way to win games. I want to be the one who hopefully gets them over the top.”

Los Angeles is 66-40 after John Lackey came within two outs of a no-hitter in Tuesday night's 6-2 victory at Boston. The Angels won their only World Series title in 2002, and have spent millions more trying to win another title.

“I'm not saying we're the team to beat,” Teixeira said. “But I do know we have a great team and I look forward to coming aboard.”

"I still have to pinch myself to realize that I've had the type of career I've had," said Gossage, after becoming just the fifth reliever enshrined at Cooperstown.

"My whole career is kind of a storybook. If I had to write a script, I wouldn't change a thing," said Gossage, who spent 22 years as one of baseball's most menacing and dominating relief pitchers.

Gossage was inducted Sunday, along with Dick Williams - one of Gossage's former managers - who managed six teams in a 21-year career, winning the World Series with the Oakland Athletics in 1972 and 1973. He also won league pennants with the Boston Red Sox in 1967 and San Diego Padres in 1984.

But the crowd of 14,000 was decidedly New York Yankees fans, cheering Gossage with choruses of "Goooooose!

"I'm like a kid going on his first ride at Disney World and not getting off for 22 years," Gossage said during his acceptance speech.

Gossage had to pause twice to collect his thoughts - including once when he was moved to tears talking about now dead teammates Thurman Munson and Bobby Murcer.

Gossage was elected in January on his ninth try, almost unimaginable given his pioneering place in the evolution of today's relief pitcher.

Gossage -entering the hall wearing a New York Yankees hat - finished his career in 1994 with a 124-107 record, 1,502 strikeouts and 3.01 ERA in 1,002 games. He ranks third in both wins in relief (115) and innings pitched in relief (1,556).

Of his 310 career saves, Gossage worked more than two innings 52 times. By comparison, prior to the 2008 season, Yankees closer Mariano Rivera had done that just once in 443 saves and San Diego's Trevor Hoffman, the career saves leader, has never done it.

In 125 of his saves, Gossage recorded at least six outs.

The 57-year-old Gossage, a nine-time All-Star, joins Bruce Sutter, Hoyt Wilhelm, Rollie Fingers, and Dennis Eckersley as relievers enshrined in Cooperstown.

Gossage signed with the Chicago White Sox in 1970. Chicago manager Chuck Tanner made a special trip to Class-A Appleton of the Midwest League in 1971 to teach Gossage to throw a changeup. Gossage finished the season 18-2, was selected league player of the year, and made the jump to the White Sox the next season.

In Gossage's rookie year, roommate Tom Bradley dubbed him "Goose," saying Gossage looked like a goose when he leaned over on the mound to get the catcher's sign. And at 6-foot-3 and 220 pounds with a 99-mph fastball, Fu Manchu mustache and menacing stare, "Goose" became one of the era's most intimidating pitchers.

Gossage told the crowd he developed his unorthodox pitching form as a teen throwing in the backyard with his older brother, who call him a sissy and challenge him to throw harder.

"That's where that wild flailing came from, all arms and legs coming right at you," Gossage said.

Gossage said he was blessed to have some of the greatest pitch instructors help him: Johnny Sain, Larry Sherry and Galen Cisco, among them. He said former slugger Dick Allen "taught me about pitching from a hitter's perspective."

It was Sain who taught him "the art of off-speed pitching. That pitch, with my power, was exactly what I needed," Gossage said.

Gossage played for nine teams but his star shone brightest in the six years he spent in Yankee pinstripes.

Gossage signed as a free agent with New York in November 1977 and in his first season in the Bronx had 27 saves and a 2.01 ERA to help lead baseball's most storied franchise to its second straight World Series triumph.

Williams, known for his no-nonsense approach, credited the late Branch Rickey and former manager Bobby Bragan with having the greatest influence on him as a manager. Williams also spent 13 years as a utility player.

"It's hard to believe that at age 79, this has to be one of my most memomorable times," said Williams, whose 1,571 wins are good for 17th place all-time.

Despite his successes in Boston, Oakland and San Diego, Williams said in his own opinion he did his best managing in Montreal, where he won 90-plus games in back-to-back seasons with a young, starless Expos team.

Gossage and Williams, who worked 10 years as a Yankee scout, both gave George Steinbrenner a plug for induction into the hall of fame, saying the Yankees owner had made baseball better everywhere by raising the level of competition.

Others inducted Sunday were former Dodgers owner Walter O'Malley, former Pirates owner Barney Dreyfuss, former commissioner Bowie Kuhn, and former manager Billy Southworth, all deceased. Along with Williams, they were voted in by the revamped Veterans Committee.

Also honored were the late Larry Whiteside, a pioneering black journalist, who received the J.G. Taylor Spink Award; and Ford C. Frick Award winner Dave Niehaus.

Who was the only player in NHL history to score a goal in all five possible game situations in the same game: even-strength, power-play, short-handed, penalty shot, and empty-net. (Answer below.)

News Makers

Gehrig's speech ranked top Bronx memory

All season, there's a long goodbye going on at Yankee Stadium, which opened April18, 1923. A new Yankee Stadium opens next door in 2009. The Sporting News made a list of the top 10 events at the park known as the “House That Ruth Built,” and ironically, the top two memories do not include Babe Ruth . Topping the list is Lou Gehrig 's “luckiest man on the face of the earth” speech, July4, 1939. And No.2 was Don Larsen 's perfect game in the World Series against the Dodgers, Oct.8, 1956.

What They're Writing

An editorial in the French newspaper “Liberation” after cyclist Riccardo Ricco became the third rider kicked out of the Tour de France because of a failed drug test: “As a sport, cycling is dead. As a spectacle, it is still running – like a chicken with its head cut off.”

Trivia answer

Mario Lemieux . On December31, 1988, against New Jersey. He scored eight points in the game, including assists.

New York finalized the trade with the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday, and Nady and Marte made their Yankees debuts in a 10-3 victory over the Boston Red Sox.

The former Pirates went from a team that was 48-55 and 12 games behind in the NL Central to one that is 58-45 with eight straight wins and a solid shot in the tight AL East race.

"To be able to play for the Yankees is a big surprise for me," said Marte, one of the top left-handed relievers in baseball. "It's exciting to be a Yankee. It's unbelievable."

Nady was hitting .330 with Pittsburgh when he was pulled after the first inning of Friday night's game against San Diego.

"It's a crazy industry," he said Saturday. "I heard my name, rumblings the last couple of weeks. I was ready to walk out (on deck) and the manager called me back. He was on his cell phone. It's not often you see the manager on his cell phone during the game."

The Pirates got four minor leaguers in the deal: top outfield prospect Jose Tabata and right-handers Dan McCutchen, Jeff Karstens and Ross Ohlendorf.

"It was hard to give up the players we did. I like those players," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said before Saturday's game. "The players we got back - Marte and Nady - both will hopefully contribute to the 2008 season and we have them for '09."

Cashman said he had been talking about Marte for a few days and Nady's name came up during his drive to Boston on Friday afternoon, with discussions heating up during batting practice Friday and carrying late into the night.

"I wouldn't have done it if it was rented for a few months," Cashman said.

Nady batted seventh and played left field against Boston. He went 0-for-3 with a walk and scored a run. He also was hit by a pitch.

With New York leading 7-3 in the seventh, Marte entered with runners at first and second and one out and struck out Ortiz, the only batter he faced.

"That's why we got him. He's not uncomfortable against left-handers," manager Joe Girardi said. "I wasn't going to put him in a situation where it didn't mean anything."

To make room, the Yankees optioned outfielder Brett Gardner to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and designated reliever LaTroy Hawkins for assignment.

"I think it's a very good move for us," Girardi said. "Xavier is having a very good year. He's a guy that can play left field for us and another right-handed bat. And then we get Marte, who has been very good against left-handed hitters - and right-handers, too."

The teams agreed to a deal Friday, pending physicals for the players involved. The Yankees confirmed the trade was completed early Saturday afternoon.

It was initially thought New York's package would include minor league pitchers Phil Coke and George Kontos rather than McCutchen and Karstens. But when the Pirates made their final selections Saturday from a list of players the Yankees offered, Pittsburgh chose a group that included McCutchen and Karstens, according to a person familiar with the trade who spoke on condition of anonymity because those details of the talks were not disclosed.

The Yankees, with Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada on the disabled list and possibly lost for the year, needed another right-handed bat for their lefty loaded lineup.

"If I didn't have the injuries to Matsui or Posada, I may not have been looking for a hitter," Cashman said.

Nady had 13 home runs and 57 RBIs in 88 games with Pittsburgh, and Marte was 4-0 with a 3.47 ERA and 47 strikeouts in 46 2-3 innings for the Pirates.

Ohlendorf was 1-1 with a 6.53 ERA in 25 games with the Yankees this season. He was demoted June 27 and had a 1-1 record with a 4.03 ERA in five starts with Scranton/Wilkes-Barre.

Tabata was batting .248 with three homers and 36 RBIs with Double-A Trenton entering play Friday.

High-ranking Yankees officials gathered for meetings at their spring training complex Thursday. After a three-hour meeting, co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner confirmed one of the topics was indicted home run king Barry Bonds.

Steinbrenner wouldn't say if the Yankees are interested in Bonds, but it appears highly unlikely the team will pursue him after acquiring Nady.

The Indians, who also sent cash to the Dodgers as part of the trade, received catcher Carlos Santana and right-hander Jonathan Meloan.

The versatile Blake was in Los Angeles' starting lineup Saturday night against Washington, playing third base and batting sixth.

"He's the type of player I think that can help this ballclub," Dodgers manager Joe Torre said. "We're not necessary looking for some blockbuster move, but a piece that can really add to what we're trying to do. And the more people you can acquire that have the work ethic that he does, I think it's got to be a positive."

The Dodgers (50-52) have been looking for a dependable bat for weeks, and Blake's name first came up when they were in trade talks with the Indians for ace CC Sabathia, who was dealt to Milwaukee.

"There were quite a few rumors out there," said Blake, playing for his fifth big league club and first in the National League. "Nothing like this has ever happened to me, so it's all a new experience. A lot of emotions hit me at once and I didn't really have a lot of time to let any of them soak in. I kind of got anxious real quick."

This was the first time Blake has been traded since making his major league debut with Toronto in 1999. He was claimed off waivers three times, eventually signing with the Indians in December 2002 after stints with the Blue Jays, Orioles and Twins.

"It's kind of tough because I'm not mentally attached to this team yet, but hopefully it won't take long to get to know these guys," Blake said. "I played against them a month ago, and you could tell they seem like a great bunch of guys and a great team. They should win this division. You couldn't ask for a better situation."

Los Angeles began the night one game behind first-place Arizona in the NL West. Blake, who has also played right and left field, is expected to play third exclusively for now because the Dodgers haven't gotten what they needed from rookies Andy LaRoche and Blake DeWitt at that position.

DeWitt was optioned to Triple-A Las Vegas to make room for Blake.

"I like the idea that Casey does play a number of positions," Torre said. "But right now we're just thinking third base, knowing that whatever future decisions we make will be based on his versatility. I watched him for a number of years when I was over in the other league. He was a guy who gave them a tough out, especially in key situations, and he's got a grinding attitude."

Blake, who turns 35 on Aug. 23, is batting .289 with 11 homers and 58 RBIs, and he has been Cleveland's most clutch player, hitting .398 with runners in scoring position. He was batting only .234 through the end of May, but is hitting .352 in 45 games since then with 29 RBIs.

"I've had a pretty good approach for a couple of months now," Blake said.

During the three-game interleague series the Indians played at Dodger Stadium from June 20-22, Blake had an RBI in each game and was 4-for-13.

"Casey Blake is a gamer," Dodgers general manager Ned Colletti said. "His experience and character will be a plus as we head down the stretch."

When Sabathia was traded, Blake moved into the left-hander's old locker in Cleveland's clubhouse. Now, he's on the move.

Blake played the infield and outfield for the disappointing Indians. He struggled at the plate with runners in scoring position last year, batting just .190 and was often a target of Indians fans, who never seemed to appreciate his all-around value.

This year, Blake was one of Cleveland's most reliable players. He signed a $6.1 million contract at the start of the season, and the Iowa native has said he would like to finish his career with the Indians.

Shapiro said the Indians are assuming a sizable portion of what remains of Blake's salary this season. The GM said Cleveland will pursue Blake in the offseason if he becomes a free agent.

"I have a lot of great friends over there and I loved my experience in Cleveland," Blake said. "I have a lot of fond memories, but it's part of the game and you've got to move on.

"I still have a chance to finish my career there. I mean, this isn't it after this season, so we'll see. But I'm here now and I'm happy to be here. I don't ask why things happen."

Cleveland came within one win of the World Series last year and was favored to defend its AL Central title. But costly injuries and underachievement by some top players dropped the Indians back in the division and forced general manager Mark Shapiro to begin retooling for the future.

"This was a tough one emotionally because of what Casey meant to our clubhouse," Shapiro said. "We weren't determined to trade him. We had to be compelled to make a move and we felt this was compelling.

"We're in a situation we didn't want to be in, but we're committed to taking advantage of it the best we can," he added. "There's always a conflict of emotion, but you have to separate from that emotion and make good, solid decisions for the organization."

Meloan pitched in five games as a reliever for the Dodgers last season. The club converted him into a starter this year, and the 24-year-old right-hander was 5-10 with a 4.97 ERA at Triple-A Las Vegas. The Indians have transferred his option to Triple-A Buffalo, where he will pitch in relief.

Shapiro said Meloan could join the Indians this season.

Santana, a 22-year-old switch hitter, batted .323 with 14 homers and 96 RBIs at Class-A Inland Empire. He led the California League in RBIs, on-base percentage (.431) and runs (88). Since June 26, he's batting .393 with six homers and 30 RBIs in 28 games.

"He has the rare combination of plate discipline and run production at a premium run-producing spot," Shapiro said.

The Indians said Santana will report to Class-A Kinston.

Manny has punched his ticket out of town. It's over. O-VA. Adios, amigo. Good night, Irene. Turn out the lights. Friday night's 1-0 loss to the Yankees (think they could have used Manny?) was the proverbial last worthless evening.

Ramirez sealed his fate with the club Friday afternoon. After longtime enabler Terry Francona filled out a lineup card with Manny batting fourth, the Sox made an announcement that Manny could not play in the biggest game of the season. Seems there were problems with his right knee. Manny was a late scratch.

It was extraordinary. In the past, management and the manager would do handstands to excuse Manny's strange acts. No more. This time, the manager - apparently confident there's nothing wrong with the slugger - put Manny's name in the lineup, then sat and waited for Manny to pull himself out of the lineup. Manny complied. Never concerned with wins or losses, Manny told Brad Mills he was unable to play and took himself out of the batting order for the (thus far) biggest game of the season.

It was predictable. It was ridiculous. It was the last straw.

Former state treasurer Bob Crane happened by the EMC Club, pregame, and spoke for many fans when he said, “Manny's got to go. Enough's enough. Fans are finally sick of this guy.”

The possibility exists that Manny truly has a sore right knee. No one can get inside his head and evaluate game-readiness. If Manny's knee is killing him, there is no way for us to know, and we are wildly unfair to question his condition. I'm willing to take that chance. I don't believe him.

Call me a cynic. Call me a nitwit. Whatever. I'm comfortable with the theory that Manny is using his alleged knee injury to send a message to the ballclub. We don't know why. We never know why. Manny shut it down in 2006 and he's toying with the Red Sox again. In the middle of a pennant race. It is despicable. And the front office and his teammates are burning. Off the record, of course.

Ramirez had an MRI Friday and it was clean. This time, the Sox plan to do something about this situation. Soon.

Ramirez was in the throes of an 11-game hitting streak (.487, 11 for 39) when he showed up at Safeco Field in Seattle Wednesday and told Francona he could not play and could not pinch it. It was odd.

For the first time in memory, the manager made no effort to excuse his savant slugger. Francona said that Ramirez's name had not appeared on the injury report and the injury took him by surprise.

When the clubhouse doors were thrown open to the media at 3:30, Manny was sitting in front of his locker with an ice pack on his right knee. Despite this, his name was in the starting lineup and when Francona was asked about Manny just after 4 p.m., the manager said, “We told him, ‘If you can't play, come tell us.“'

While Tito was speaking, Manny went to Francona's aide-de-camp, Mills, and said he was unable to play.

“Veteran move,” said GM Theo Epstein.

Something's got to give. The owners are mad. The manager is frustrated. The GM is frustrated. Teammates are angry. Even with sycophants who excuse everything, Manny may have finally exhausted his reservoir of goodwill. He quit on the team in 2006 and now it looks like he's quitting again. Is that OK with you, Red Sox Nation?

High-ranking Yankees officials gathered for meetings at their spring complex Thursday, a day off for the team before an important three-game series starts today in Boston.

Missing injured sluggers Hideki Matsui and Jorge Posada, the Yankees discussed ways to improve for the stretch run as next Thursday's trade deadline approaches. After a three-hour meeting, co-chairman Hank Steinbrenner confirmed that one of the topics was the indicted home run king.

“We covered everything, including Bonds,” Steinbrenner said.

Steinbrenner wouldn't say if the Yankees are interested in Bonds, but it appears unlikely the team will pursue him – partly because it's so late in the season. The slugger, who turned 44 on Thursday, became a free agent when the San Francisco Giants did not bring him back this season.

A day before the All-Star game at Yankee Stadium last week, Bonds' agent, Jeff Borris, said the seven-time MVP had not received a single offer.

Borris previously said Bonds would be willing to play for a prorated share of the $390,000 minimum and donate his salary to buy tickets for kids.

In addition to Hank Steinbrenner, his brother, co-chairman Hal Steinbrenner, president Randy Levine, general manager Brian Cashman, special adviser Gene Michael and senior vice president of baseball operations Mark Newman were among those at the meetings.

Matsui has been on the disabled list since June 23 with a balky knee that could require season-ending surgery. Posada could also be looking at surgery for his right shoulder, after an MRI exam showed fraying in the tendons around the labrum.

Both are trying to rehab, and their progress over the next week could go a long way toward helping the club decide what moves to make before the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

Hank Steinbrenner declined to get into specifics about potential trades, but said “there's a couple things that might be promising.”

New York already added first baseman Richie Sexson, who was released by Seattle.

The Yankees have won six straight since the All-Star break. They began Thursday 31/2 games behind AL East-leading Tampa Bay.

“We're playing great. That's the key thing,” Hank Steinbrenner said. “Considering we're not 100 percent because of the injuries, it's pretty impressive. Where we can add, we'll look into it.”

Among the players the Yankees are thought to be looking at are San Francisco catcher Bengie Molina, Colorado left-hander Brian Fuentes, Pittsburgh lefty Damaso Marte and Seattle starter Jarrod Washburn.

Molina is the brother of Yankees catcher Jose Molina, who is getting most of the playing time behind the plate following Posada's injury.

Jeter speaks

Yankees shortstop Derek Jeter spoke about whether he could play for another team and the business of baseball on Bloomberg Radio's “On the Ball” program. The interview will air this weekend.

On whether he could see himself playing for another team: “Hopefully not. It's a business and you don't always have that final say so. I hope I never have to answer that question and stay here.”

On whether he could ever play for rival Boston: “You're asking me right now, this (the Yankees) is the only team I ever wanted to play for and the only team I would play for.”

On what he's learned from Michael Jordan about endorsements: “You like to think that people have learned from people who come before them. I'm pretty close with M.J., I learned a lot from him. Some of the younger athletes coming up, I think they're learning, doing some great things. You look at what's happened in the past and try to apply it to yourself.”

General Manager Omar Minaya should have waited until the morning after the Mets beat the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., on June 16 to dismiss Randolph instead of making it public at 3:18 a.m. New York time, Wilpon said.

“I know I screwed up,” Wilpon told reporters at SportsNet New York's Manhattan studios. “I should have said, ‘Wait a second.'”

New York (53-47) is 19-12 since Jerry Manuel replaced Randolph. The team, which was 61/2 games out of first place before Manuel, is now one game behind the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies.

Minaya told Wilpon of his decision on Randolph after the Mets' doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in New York on June 15. Wilpon said he told Minaya that he couldn't let Randolph go on Fathers Day and that they should talk about it again early the following day.

Wilpon said he regrets not speaking up when Minaya told him the next day that he was going to California and tell Randolph in person after the game. Because of the three-hour time difference, the firing was left out of New York newspapers.

“I wasn't smart enough to say, ‘You are going to cut the New York press out?'” Wilpon said. “I didn't even think of it.”

Wilpon's remarks came as he spoke to reporters at the announcement of the club-owned SportsNet New York deal to broadcast more than 125 Big East college football and basketball games a year as the league's official television station.

Wilpon has been an owner of the Mets since 1980 when he purchased a controlling interest in the Major League Baseball franchise with Nelson Doubleday for $21 million. He bought out Doubleday in 2002 and became the sole owner. Wilpon said he intends for his family to retain control of the Mets.

“Everything has a price, but not the Mets,” Wilpon said. “I'm never going to sell; my family is going to have this asset.”

General Manager Omar Minaya should have waited until the morning after the Mets beat the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., on June 16 to dismiss Randolph instead of making it public at 3:18 a.m. New York time, Wilpon said.

“I know I screwed up,” Wilpon told reporters at SportsNet New York's Manhattan studios. “I should have said, ‘Wait a second.'”

New York (53-47) is 19-12 since Jerry Manuel replaced Randolph. The team, which was 61/2 games out of first place before Manuel, is now one game behind the division-leading Philadelphia Phillies.

Minaya told Wilpon of his decision on Randolph after the Mets' doubleheader against the Texas Rangers in New York on June 15. Wilpon said he told Minaya that he couldn't let Randolph go on Fathers Day and that they should talk about it again early the following day.

Wilpon said he regrets not speaking up when Minaya told him the next day that he was going to California and tell Randolph in person after the game. Because of the three-hour time difference, the firing was left out of New York newspapers.

“I wasn't smart enough to say, ‘You are going to cut the New York press out?'” Wilpon said. “I didn't even think of it.”

Wilpon's remarks came as he spoke to reporters at the announcement of the club-owned SportsNet New York deal to broadcast more than 125 Big East college football and basketball games a year as the league's official television station.

Wilpon has been an owner of the Mets since 1980 when he purchased a controlling interest in the Major League Baseball franchise with Nelson Doubleday for $21 million. He bought out Doubleday in 2002 and became the sole owner. Wilpon said he intends for his family to retain control of the Mets.

“Everything has a price, but not the Mets,” Wilpon said. “I'm never going to sell; my family is going to have this asset.”