The Philadelphia Phillies acquired
Ty Wigginton from the Colorado Rockies, adding a versatile
player to a team that will start the Major League Baseball
season with at least one All-Star on the disabled list.

The Rockies will receive either a player to be named or
cash for the 34-year-old infielder, the Phillies said on their
website. Philadelphia, which has won the National League East
division title for last five seasons, will pay him half of the
$4 million he is owed in the final year of his contract,
according to MLB.com, which didn’t list the source of its
information.

Wigginton played at least 20 games each at first base,
third base and left field last season. The Phillies’ starting
first baseman, three-time All-Star, Ryan Howard, will begin the
2012 campaign on the disabled list recovering from a torn
Achilles tendon, the team said on its website. Third baseman
Placido Polanco may also be sidelined as he recovers from
sports-hernia surgery.

Wigginton has hit .265 with 158 home runs and 548 runs
batted in during a 10-year career that began in 2002 with the
New York Mets. Last year, his only season in Colorado, he hit a
career-low .242 with 15 home runs and 52 runs scored.

To contact the reporter on this story:
Eben Novy-Williams in New York at
enovywilliam@bloomberg.net

To contact the editor responsible for this story:
Michael Sillup at
msillup@bloomberg.net

Read More: Chase Utley (2B – PHI), Placido Polanco (3B – PHI), Philadelphia Phillies

The Philadelphia Phillies have been atop the NL East all season, and they’ve usually been doing it at less than full strength. Chase Utley came back at the end of May and the infield was intact for most of June, but third baseman Placido Polanco went on the the disabled list with a back problem on July 15. Now, though, Jon Morosi reports that Polanco is coming back:

Phillies activate Polanco, option Domonic Brown.

The good news is that Polanco is back, taking at-bats away from Michael Martinez, who was inexplicably hitting second whenever he played. The bad news is that Phillies connoisseurs don’t get to watch super-prospect Domonic Brown anymore, with the Phillies hoping that there’s a little more juice left in the husk of Raul Ibañez.

With the lineup fully healthy, though, and with the addition of Hunter Pence, the Phillies have never been stronger. Prediction: they make the playoffs. You read it here first.

Read More: Shane Victorino (CF – PHI), Pete Orr (2B – PHI), Philadelphia Phillies

Philadelphia Phillies center fielder Shane Victorino, who was placed on the disabled list on July 9 (retroactive to July 4) with a thumb sprain, will be activated and available for Tuesday night’s game at Wrigley Field against the Cubs. MLB.com has the details:

Victorino has been on the disabled list since July 4 because of a strained ligament in his right thumb, but after a few rehab games he said he is ready to go. The Phillies optioned Pete Orr to Triple-A Lehigh Valley after their 3-1 loss on Monday, opening a spot for Victorino.

Victorino said he still feels some discomfort in the thumb, and he expects to continue to feel it. But he said he should be fine on the field.

Victorino, who plays with abandon, tested it out Monday night in a rehab game in Reading, Pennsylvania:

Shane Victorino, making his second straight rehab start, stole home during a double steal with Freddy Galvis, plating Reading’s first run before Mike Spidale’s RBI single drove in Galvis.

This was Victorino’s second prolonged absence from the Phillies’ lineup this season. He’s usually been replaced by John Mayberry, who’s performed well enough to cement his role as the club’s fourth outfielder.

Sure, John Mayberry Jr. has heard the talk: The Philadelphia Phillies are looking for a right-handed bat.

“Yeah, I’m aware of that,” he said.

He’s got a candidate — himself.

Mayberry drove in five runs to set another career best, Vance Worley pitched well enough and the Phillies got off to a strong start after the All-Star break by beating the New York Mets, 7-2, on Friday night.

Mayberry singled and doubled with the bases loaded. It marked the second straight game where he established a personal high in RBIs — on the Phillies’ final day of the first half, he hit three doubles and drove in four runs against Atlanta.

“I definitely feel like I have a great opportunity in front of me,” he said.

Now in his third stay with the Phillies this season, Mayberry is beginning to blossom. Of his last 12 hits, 10 have been for extra bases. And he’s made good use of some batting tips suggested by manager Charlie Manuel.

“I like big, tall, lanky guys,” Manuel said.

Raul Ibanez contributed a home run and a diving catch in left field for the NL East leaders. The Phillies (58-34) own the best record in the majors — no surprise, they also have the best ERA (3.01) in the big leagues.

“We’ve got to stay after it,” Manuel said. “If we keep playing the way we have the last five years, we’ll be fine.”

Promoted from Triple-A before the game for his fourth stint of the year with Philadelphia, Worley (5-1) pitched shutout ball into the sixth inning. The rookie right-hander, one of the few pitchers who wears glasses on the mound, walked off with a 2.15 ERA.

Worley picked up his first career RBI and avenged his worst start as a major leaguer. The Mets tagged him for eight runs and 12 hits in only three innings at Citi Field on May 29, his lone loss this season.

Phillies closer Ryan Madson came off the disabled list and pitched a perfect seventh inning, striking out two. Philadelphia put All-Star third baseman Placido Polanco on the disabled list because of inflammation in his lower back.

Carlos Beltran hit his 14th homer as the Mets lost their third straight and dropped back to .500. They have gone 1-2 in all three previous series against Philadelphia this year.

“This team has a little window to see where we’re headed. Tomorrow, we have to pick up the pieces and try to win the series,” losing pitcher R.A. Dickey said.

Down 4-0, New York loaded the bases against the 23-year-old Worley in the sixth with two walks and a single. Manuel summoned lefty reliever Juan Perez, who struck out pinch-hitter Scott Hairston on a wild pitch that scored a run and then retired pinch-hitter Ronny Paulino on a grounder.

“I definitely wanted to finish that inning,” Worley said.

Mayberry broke it open with a three-run double in the eighth, which came right after shortstop Ruben Tejada’s two-out error. Mayberry was the first batter faced by Ryota Igarashi, recalled from Triple-A earlier in the day to fill the roster spot left when closer Francisco Rodriguez was traded to Milwaukee.

Mayberry hit a two-run single in the second off Dickey (4-8). Worley followed Mayberry’s go-ahead hit with a groundout that made it 3-0.

Ibanez ran into the alley to catch Tejada’s leadoff drive in the fifth. In the sixth, Ibanez hit his 13th home run and rounded the bases to a mix of boos from Mets fans and calls of “Rauuul!” from Phillies rooters who made the two-hour drive.

• NOTES: Antonio Bastardo pitched a perfect ninth for the Phils. He has not allowed a hit in his last 13 appearances, spanning 12 innings. … Mets CF Angel Pagan raced back for an over-the-shoulder grab that robbed Ryan Howard of extra bases. … Batting .107, Dickey singled in the third. He hesitated when Justin Turner hit a blooper that bounced in front of RF Domonic Brown and would have easily been forced at second, but Brown bobbled the ball for an error. Dickey’s shaky baserunning cost Turner a hit — he was given a fielder’s choice. … Mets SS Jose Reyes (left hamstring) did some running Friday and plans to run hard on the bases Sunday. It will then be determined if he can come off the DL when he’s eligible Monday. Reyes sidestepped questions about how this week’s trade of Rodriguez to Milwaukee will affect his status — he can become a free agent after the season. “I don’t know,” he said. … Mets star 3B David Wright (stress fracture in his lower back) played his first rehab game at Class A St. Lucie. He doubled and scored his first time up, then walked and struck out. He started at 3B and left in the sixth inning of the rain-delayed Florida State League game at Lakeland.

NEW YORK (AP) — Sure, John Mayberry Jr. has heard the talk: The Philadelphia Phillies are looking for a right-handed bat.

“Yeah, I’m aware of that,” he said.

He’s got a candidate — himself.

Mayberry drove in five runs to set another career best, Vance Worley pitched well enough and the Phillies got off to a strong start after the All-Star break by beating the New York Mets 7-2 on Friday night.

Mayberry singled and doubled with the bases loaded. It marked the second straight game where he established a personal high in RBIs — on the Phillies’ final day of the first half, he hit three doubles and drove in four runs against Atlanta.

“I definitely feel like I have a great opportunity in front of me,” he said.

Now in his third stay with the Phillies this season, Mayberry is beginning to blossom. Of his last 12 hits, 10 have been for extra bases. And he’s made good use of some batting tips suggested by manager Charlie Manuel.

“I like big, tall, lanky guys,” Manuel said.

Raul Ibanez contributed a home run and a diving catch in left field for the NL East leaders. The Phillies (58-34) own the best record in the majors — no surprise, they also have the best ERA (3.01) in the big leagues.

“We’ve got to stay after it,” Manuel said. “If we keep playing the way we have the last five years, we’ll be fine.”

Promoted from Triple-A before the game for his fourth stint of the year with Philadelphia, Worley (5-1) pitched shutout ball into the sixth inning. The rookie right-hander, one of the few pitchers who wears glasses on the mound, walked off with a 2.15 ERA.

Worley picked up his first career RBI and avenged his worst start as a major leaguer. The Mets tagged him for eight runs and 12 hits in only three innings at Citi Field on May 29, his lone loss this season.

Phillies closer Ryan Madson came off the disabled list and pitched a perfect seventh inning, striking out two. Philadelphia put All-Star third baseman Placido Polanco on the disabled list because of inflammation in his lower back.

Carlos Beltran hit his 14th homer as the Mets lost their third straight and dropped back to .500. They have gone 1-2 in all three previous series against Philadelphia this year.

“This team has a little window to see where we’re headed. Tomorrow, we have to pick up the pieces and try to win the series,” losing pitcher R.A. Dickey said.

Down 4-0, New York loaded the bases against the 23-year-old Worley in the sixth with two walks and a single. Manuel summoned lefty reliever Juan Perez, who struck out pinch-hitter Scott Hairston on a wild pitch that scored a run and then retired pinch-hitter Ronny Paulino on a grounder.

“I definitely wanted to finish that inning,” Worley said.

Mayberry broke it open with a three-run double in the eighth, which came right after shortstop Ruben Tejada’s two-out error. Mayberry was the first batter faced by Ryota Igarashi, recalled from Triple-A earlier in the day to fill the roster spot left when closer Francisco Rodriguez was traded to Milwaukee.

Mayberry hit a two-run single in the second off Dickey (4-8). Worley followed Mayberry’s go-ahead hit with a groundout that made it 3-0.

Ibanez ran into the alley to catch Tejada’s leadoff drive in the fifth. In the sixth, Ibanez hit his 13th home run and rounded the bases to a mix of boos from Mets fans and calls of “Rauuul!” from Phillies rooters who made the two-hour drive.

NOTES: Antonio Bastardo pitched a perfect ninth for the Phils. He has not allowed a hit in his last 13 appearances, spanning 12 innings. … Mets CF Angel Pagan raced back for an over-the-shoulder grab that robbed Ryan Howard of extra bases. … Batting .107, Dickey singled in the third. He hesitated when Justin Turner hit a blooper that bounced in front of RF Domonic Brown and would have easily been forced at second, but Brown bobbled the ball for an error. Dickey’s shaky baserunning cost Turner a hit — he was given a fielder’s choice. … Mets SS Jose Reyes (left hamstring) did some running Friday and plans to run hard on the bases Sunday. It will then be determined if he can come off the DL when he’s eligible Monday. Reyes sidestepped questions about how this week’s trade of Rodriguez to Milwaukee will affect his status — he can become a free agent after the season. “I don’t know,” he said. … Mets star 3B David Wright (stress fracture in his lower back) played his first rehab game at Class A St. Lucie. He doubled and scored his first time up, then walked and struck out. He started at 3B and left in the sixth inning of the rain-delayed Florida State League game at Lakeland.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)