Darvish headed to Dodgers

The Texas Rangers traded starting pitcher Yu Darvish to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for prospects, including Oklahoma City Dodgers slugger Willie Calhoun.

The loaded Los Angeles Dodgers made a late trade for Texas ace Yu Darvish on Monday, their boldest move in pursuit of a World Series crown that’s eluded them for nearly 30 years.

The runaway NL West leaders, already with the best record in the majors and the highest payroll, acquired the 6-foot-5 right-hander from Japan for three minor league players, including Oklahoma City Dodgers second baseman/ outfielder Willie Calhoun, in a deal Rangers general manager Jon Daniels said was completed in the last 10 minutes before the nonwaiver trade deadline.

Darvish was an All-Star this year for the fourth time in his five seasons playing for the Rangers. He joined Texas before the 2012 season, and missed all of 2015 after elbow surgery. In 22 starts this season, he is 6-9 with a 4.01 ERA.

In 122 starts overall for the Rangers, he was 52-39 with a 3.42 ERA and 960 strikeouts over 782 2-3 innings. But the pitcher who turns 31 on Aug. 16 was 0-5 with a 5.81 ERA in his last eight starts. He was tagged by the Miami Marlins for a career-worst 10 runs last Wednesday, and later revealed he was tipping his pitches.

Calhoun, 22, hit .298 with 23 home runs and 67 RBIs in 99 games at Triple-A Oklahoma City.

The Rangers also Monday sent reliever Jeremy Jeffress back to Milwaukee for Double-A pitcher Tayler Scott.

Red Sox acquire Reed

The Mets traded reliever Addison Reed to the Boston Red Sox for three 22-yearold right-handed pitching prospects: Jamie Callahan, Gerson Bautista and Stephen Nogosek.

A 28-year-old righthander, Reed is 1-2 with a 2.57 ERA and 19 saves in 21 chances. He took over as New York’s closer this season because of Jeurys Familia’s domestic-violence suspension and shoulder surgery. The Red Sox already have a dominant closer in Kimbrel.

Reed has a $7.75 million salary and can become a free agent after the World Series. New York already has a replacement after acquiring Miami Marlins closer A.J. Ramos on Friday.

Cubs receive Wilson, Avila from Tigers

The rolling Chicago Cubs got a big lift Monday when they acquired reliever Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila in a trade with the Detroit Tigers, bolstering their chance for another long playoff run.

The addition of Wilson gives manager Joe Maddon another late-inning option in front of All-Star closer Wade Davis. The World Series champions had been searching for a veteran to back up catcher Willson Contreras since they cut Miguel Montero a month ago, and Avila is having one of the best seasons of his career at the plate.

Tigers general manager Al Avila traded away his son, but his club received minor league infielders Jeimer Candelario and Isaac Paredes and a player to be named or cash. The 23-year-old Candelario was considered one of Chicago’s top prospects, but he was blocked at the major league level by NL MVP Kris Bryant and first baseman Anthony Rizzo.

Yankees trade for Gray

Last year at this time, the New York Yankees were looking toward the future.

Turns out, that future arrived pretty fast.

In an aggressive move designed to boost their starting rotation for an unexpected playoff run, the Yankees acquired pitcher Sonny Gray from the Oakland Athletics for three minor league prospects on Monday.

A 27-year-old righthander who has been slowed by a series of injuries, Gray is 6-5 with a 3.43 ERA in 16 starts this season and 4-2 with a 1.37 ERA in his last six outings. He makes $3,575,000 and is not eligible for free agency until after the 2019 season.

Nationals acquire Twins’ closer

After adding three relievers in two weeks, the Washington Nationals still aren’t sure who’s going to be their closer.

They suddenly have plenty of candidates.

The NL East leaders added another Monday by barely beating the trade deadline to acquire Minnesota Twins All-Star right-hander Brandon Kintzler, who is 28 of 32 in save opportunities this year.

Kintzler joins newly acquired Ryan Madson and Sean Doolittle, both obtained July 16 from the Oakland Athletics, in the back of the bullpen. The deals transformed the Nationals’ biggest weakness into a strength.

Indians add to bullpen depth

Looking to again ride their bullpen deep into the postseason, the Cleveland Indians added another arm by acquiring reliever Joe Smith from Toronto for two minor leaguers Monday.

A 33-year-old righthander, Smith is 3-0 with a 3.28 ERA in 38 appearances this season. He returns to Cleveland after pitching for the Indians from 2009-13.

Cleveland closed the deal on the deadline for making trades without waivers. Toronto received lefthander Thomas Pannone infielder Samad Taylor. and