Astros acquire lefty Kazmir from A’s
The Houston Astros, in a hot race with the Los Angeles Angels in the American League West, acquired left-hander Scott Kazmir from the Oakland Athletics for two minor-league pitchers on Thursday.
The A’s received catcher Jacob Nottingham and right-hander Daniel Mengden.
Houston, which had led the AL West for much of the season, has fallen two games behind the streaking Angels, who have won seven in a row.
Kazmir, a 31-year-old Houston native, is 5-5 with a 2.38 ERA in the final season of the two-year, $22 million contract he signed with Oakland last year.
Aramis Ramirez goes to Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates, trying to keep pace with the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central, acquired third baseman Aramis Ramirez from the Milwaukee Brewers for minor league pitcher Yhonathan Barrios.
The 37-year-old Ramirez started his career with the Pirates, who traded him exactly 12 years ago to the Chicago Cubs. Pittsburgh also will receive cash considerations as part of the deal.
In 18 games this season for the Brewers, Ramirez was batting .247 with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs, but he is hitting .352 in July.
Steelers re-sign Tomlin through 2018
Coaching stability remains a constant in Pittsburgh, where coach Mike Tomlin is now signed through 2018.
On Thursday, Tomlin signed a two-year extension, which ESPN.com reported will pay him at least $7 million a year and will put him among the five highest-paid coaches in the NFL.
Since 1969, the Steelers have had just three coaches: Chuck Noll, Bill Cowher and Tomlin.
Tomlin, 43, is entering his ninth season as Steelers coach. The Steelers hired him despite his one season of experience as Minnesota Vikings defensive coordinator and no experience as a head coach at any level. He became the youngest head coach in NFL history to coach in — and win — a Super Bowl when he led the Steelers to a 27-23 victory over the Arizona Cardinals in Super Bowl XLIII.
Patriots to sign cornerback Brown
Cornerback Tarell Brown agreed to a one-year deal with the New England Patriots pending a physical.
CSSNE.com reported the deal was in place Thursday.
Brown, 30, spent seven seasons with the San Francisco 49ers and started in 14 games with the Oakland Raiders last season, when he played most of the year — from Week 4 to Week 15 — with a broken bone in his foot. He has 11 interceptions in his career but none is his past 27 games.
The Patriots are trying to replace starting cornerbacks Darrelle Revis and Brandon Browner. The tandem left for more money in free agency.
Earlier, the Patriots re-signed rookie wide receiver Zach D’Orazio. Undrafted out of Akron, D’Orazio signed with the Patriots on May 26 but was released June 11.
The 6-foot-2, 212-pounder was a two-year starter at Akron who finished his career with 119 receptions for 1,422 yards and five touchdowns after converting from quarterback in 2012.
Packers’ defensive tackle suspended
Letroy Guion, a defensive tackle for the Green Bay Packers, reportedly has been suspended for the first three games of the upcoming season.
He plans to appeal immediately, ESPN Milwaukee reported Thursday.
Guion was arrested Feb. 3 on felony charges that include possession of 357 grams of marijuana and possession of a firearm. He entered a no-contest plea in the case and paid a $5,000 fine.
Guion signed a one-year deal worth up to $2.75 million in March.