Chicago White Sox closer Bobby Jenks will be placed on the disabled list after all, the Chicago Sun-Times reported. Jenks has been day-to-day with a sore back since his last outing on June 29 and can be placed on the DL retroactive to that date.

With the All-Star break coming up, Jenks should not be required to miss much time, so long as he doesn’t suffer any setbacks in his recovery. In his absence, set-up man Scott Linebrink will act as the team’s closer. Linebrink has converted 1-of-2 save opportunities since Jenks has been out, and he has given up runs in each of his last three outings. Read more »

A day after division rival Milwaukee landed CC Sabathia in a trade with Cleveland, the Chicago Cubs landed their own ace in a six-player deal with Oakland, the Associated Press reported on Tuesday evening. The NL Central-leading Cubs hold suit with the Brewers and get a significant boost to their rotation for the low, low cost of four prospects.

Though he changes teams and changes leagues, health remains the key to Harden’s success. When healthy, he has some of the most dominating stuff in baseball. Harden leaves Oakland with a 5-1 record, 2.34 ERA and 92 strikeouts in 77 innings, but had pitched just 72.1 combined innings in the 2006-07 seasons because of back, elbow and shoulder injuries. Read more »