BREWERS GET SORIA FROM WHITE SOX

MILWAUKEE» Two-time all-star closer Joakim Soria was acquired by the Milwaukee Brewers from the Chicago White Sox on Thursday for a pair of pitching prospects, lefthander Kodi Medeiros and right-hander Wilber Perez.

As part of the trade, Chicago will send Milwaukee $1,064,516 to cover part of the $4,145,161 remaining in the guaranteed portion of Soria’s $25 million, threeyear contract.

The 34-year-old righthander from Mexico was 0-3 with a 2.56 ERA and 16 saves in 40 relief chances with the rebuilding White Sox this season.

Astros land catcher Maldonado.

The Houston Astros acquired catcher Martin Maldonado from the Los Angeles Angels for lefthander Patrick Sandoval and $250,000 in international signing bonus pool allocation. Maldonado’s contributions behind the plate helped the Angels’ starters post a 3.77 ERA, which ranked fifth in the AL despite numerous injuries and significant inexperience in their rotation.

Yankees acquire Happ from Toronto.

The Yankees acquired left-hander J.A. Happ from Toronto to bolster their starting rotation, a deal that sent infielder Brandon Drury and minor-league outfielder Bill McKinney to the Blue Jays. Happ turns 36 in October. He is 10-6 with a 4.18 ERA in 20 starts and was a first-time all-star.

Bucket on head might have saved fan injured at Wrigley.

A man might have saved himself from serious injury when a large metal pin fell from Wrigley Field’s centerfield scoreboard because he had a plastic bucket on his head during a Cubs game.

Cubs spokesman Julian Green told the Chicago Tribune that the 19-yearold man was hit by a 6- to 8-inch pin during Tuesday night’s game against the Arizona Diamondbacks. Green said the man received five staples to close a cut on his head.