MLB Trade Report | Manny Ramirez, Ken Griffey Jr. on the move

With more than 1,100 homers between them, two of baseball's greatest sluggers switched leagues just before the trade deadline Thursday to play prominent roles for playoff contenders.

Unhappy in Boston, Manny Ramirez got his wish when he was shipped to the Los Angeles Dodgers in a blockbuster, three-team deal that sent outfielder Jason Bay from Pittsburgh to the Red Sox.

The 38-year-old Ken Griffey Jr. also agreed to a trade, leaving his hometown Cincinnati Reds to get back in a pennant race with the Chicago White Sox.

"I just think there's a lot of added things he can bring," Chicago's Nick Swisher said. "I mean, I had posters of that guy on my wall growing up. So I think it's going to be an awesome thing for all of us."

Griffey played right field the last two seasons, but will return to center — taking over for Swisher, who moves to first base in place of the slumping Paul Konerko. Swisher also will give up his No. 30 to Griffey, who wore it during his earliest years in Cincinnati.

Griffey was on pace to break Hank Aaron's home-run record when he came to Cincinnati in a trade with Seattle before the 2000 season. A series of severe injuries dropped him well off the pace. He finally hit No. 600 this season — only the sixth player to reach the mark — but struggled mightily at the plate.

The Reds agreed to pay some of the money left on Griffey's contract to get the deal done. He makes $12.5 million this season, and has an option for 2009 at a $16.5 million salary. If the White Sox don't want to pick up next year's option, Griffey will be owed a $4 million buyout.

Despite all kinds of names being thrown around, only a handful of deals were completed in the days leading up to the deadline. But the ones that did get done featured several big-name stars.

Mark Teixeira went from Atlanta to the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday. The New York Yankees acquired Ivan Rodriguez and Xavier Nady within the past week. And a pair of top pitchers were traded in early July, with CC Sabathia going to Milwaukee and Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs.

The only other deals announced Thursday drew little attention. Florida acquired left-handed reliever Arthur Rhodes from Seattle for Class AA pitcher Gaby Hernandez, and the Yankees sent slick-fielding shortstop Alberto Gonzalez to Washington for pitcher Jhonny Nunez in a swap of minor-leaguers.

Teams can still make trades but the players involved must pass through waivers first, which limits availability.

Ramirez and Griffey could have blocked their trades, but both were happy to find new homes. It was the first time two players with at least 500 homers have been traded during the same season — let alone on the same day, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

"When a player like Manny becomes available, I don't think there's a manager in baseball who wouldn't say they're interested," said Dodgers skipper Joe Torre, whose Yankees teams went toe-to-toe with Ramirez for years. "It was something that happened very quickly, obviously."

As of early Thursday, it appeared Ramirez might be on his way to the Florida Marlins. But when those talks fizzled, the Red Sox and Pirates found a willing third partner in the Dodgers.

Boston will pay the estimated $7 million owed to the 36-year-old Ramirez through the end of the season, at which time he can become a free agent. Ramirez was in the final guaranteed year of an eight-year, $160 million contract. As part of the trade, the club options were eliminated.

The Pirates gave up Bay and received four young players: reliever Craig Hansen and outfielder Brandon Moss from Boston and third baseman Andy LaRoche and pitcher Bryan Morris from the Dodgers.