Contenders bolster playoff rosters

Andrew McCutchen is shaving his beard for a possible World Series run. Ryan Madson is switching bullpens, trying to help another team win a title.

And Josh Donaldson is hoping he’s healthy enough to contribute

The Brewers? They were a busy bunch, swinging trades to get starter Gio Gonzalez, outfielder Curtis Granderson and reliever Xavier Cedeno.

Several contending teams swung into action Friday, making trades to bolster potential playoff rosters. A player must be on a club by Aug. 31 to be eligible for the postseason.

“I think what happens in September is that the whole calculus of this thing changes,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said after the Brewers acquired Cedeno from the White Sox, and before they beat the Nationals 4-1 at Nationals Park. After the win, the Brewers said they had gotten Gonzalez from the Nats and Granderson from the Blue Jays.

All three of the Brewers trades were for minor leaguers. So, too, were the swaps that sent Donaldson from the Blue Jays to the Indians, Madson from the Nats to the Dodgers and McCutchen from the Giants to the Yankees.

The Dodgers made a late deal to get infielder David Freese from the Pirates. The Yankees also added one more player deep into the night, acquiring shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria from the Pirates.

The Athletics, who finished last in the AL West the last three years, tried to improve their playoff chances by getting righthanded reliever Cory Gearrin from the Rangers for a pair of minor league pitchers.

In another deal, the Rockies got backup catcher Drew Butera fromthe Royals for a minor league lefty.