NL | Fired Mariners GM Bill Bavasi back in game with Reds

One of baseball's most familiar names has a new home with the game's oldest professional team.

Bill Bavasi, executive vice president and general manager of the Mariners before being fired in June, has been hired as a special assistant by the Cincinnati Reds.

Bavasi, 50, is the son of longtime baseball executive Buzzie Bavasi. One of his brothers, Peter, was general manager of the Padres, founding president of the Toronto Blue Jays and president of the Cleveland Indians. Another brother, Bob, co-owned the minor-league Everett AquaSox with his wife Margaret for many years.

Bill Bavasi started his professional baseball career with the Padres in 1974. He was vice president and general manager for the Angels from 1994 to 1999, and was the Dodgers' director of player development in 2002 and 2003 before joining Seattle in 2003.

Atlanta: 3B Chipper Jones, who leads the majors with a .371 batting average, was activated from the disabled list and singled and homered against Arizona.

Chicago: Reliever Kerry Wood, who came off the DL this week after a blister problem on his finger, was unavailable to pitch against St. Louis because of a sore back.

Cincinnati: RHP Aaron Harang is expected to be activated from the DL to start Sunday, giving RHP Edinson Volquez two extra days of rest before his next start.

Florida: C Paul Lo Duca agreed to a minor-league deal. He signed a $5 million, one-year contract with the Nationals last December, but was released after batting .230.

Los Angeles: The Dodgers are in no jeopardy of losing OF Manny Ramirez, but the commissioner's office is reviewing issues surrounding the trade that brought him from the Red Sox. Boston Globe columnist Dan Shaughnessy wrote that Ramirez essentially forced the Red Sox to trade him by "withholding services and playing at half-speed." Ramirez's agent, Scott Boras, denied the charge. ... RHP Brian Falkenborg (2-2, 6.17 ERA), a former Redmond High School standout, was designated for assignment to make room on the roster for RHP Brad Penny's return from the DL.

Milwaukee: OF Ryan Braun has 64 home runs in his first two seasons, ranking sixth all-time. Joe DiMaggio tops the list with 75 home runs in 1936 and '37.

Philadelphia: Phillies reliever Tom Gordon will get a second opinion on his injured right elbow and could be facing Tommy John surgery.

St. Louis: 3B Troy Glaus went 0 for 5 against the Cubs and is hitless in 29 at-bats against them this season.

San Diego: A trade of OF Brian Giles to Boston fell through, but the 37-year-old wouldn't say who killed it. "It's kind of between myself and my agent and Boston and the Padres," he said. He had to consent to be traded, and the Red Sox are one of eight teams on his no-trade list. Giles, who grew up in the San Diego area, said he wants to finish his career with the Padres.

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