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Touch 'Em All: Braves add Bourn as deadline closes

As the non-waiver deadline passed at 4 p.m. Sunday, several contenders made trades, with the Atlanta Braves trying to stay in the NL East race by picking up centerfielder Michael Bourn from salary-dumping Houston.

As the non-waiver deadline passed at 4 p.m. Sunday, several contenders made trades, with the Atlanta Braves trying to stay in the NL East race by picking up centerfielder Michael Bourn from salary-dumping Houston.

Boston added a starting pitcher and St. Louis and Pittsburgh picked up hitters.

Bourn, who is hitting .303 and leads the majors with 39 stolen bases, is expected to give the Braves their first true leadoff hitter since Rafael Furcal left after the 2005 season.

"We haven't had that kind of threat in the top of our lineup in a long time," said long-time third baseman Chipper Jones, one of the numerous Braves slowed by injuries.

Phillies fan will remember Bourn as the key piece used to acquire closer Brad Lidge before the 2008 season.

The Red Sox acquired oft-injured lefthander Erik Bedard plus righthander Josh Fields (a first-round pick in 2008) from Seattle in a three-team trade.

Boston sent catcher Tim Federowicz and righthanders Juan Rodriguez and Stephen Fife to the Dodgers for two minor-league outfielders, who then were flipped to Seattle.

The Cardinals acquired Furcal from the Dodgers, and the Padres sent outfielder Ryan Ludwick to Pittsburgh and relief pitcher Mike Adams to Texas.

Also, Arizona got reliever Brad Ziegler from Oakland.

Trade talk

Not every trade works out exactly as planned. Shortstop Orlando Cabrera joined the San Francisco Giants in Cincinnati on Sunday after being acquired in a deal with Cleveland. He went 0 for 3.

Outfielder Carlos Beltran is 2 for 17 with an RBI for the Giants since coming over from the Mets on Thursday.

Blue Jays outfielder Colby Rasmus went hitless in his first 13 at-bats (with six strikeouts) after being acquired from St. Louis on Wednesday.

Read his blog at www.philly.com/incites.

This article contains information from the Associated Press.