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MLB roundup: Orioles acquore OF Morse

The Baltimore Orioles were one of several contending teams that added players on Friday.

The Orioles acquired outfielder Michael Morse from the Seattle Mariners for minor league outfielder Xavier Avery.

The Orioles claimed Morse off waivers earlier this week.

Morse, 31, is batting just .226 with 13 homers and 27 RBIs in 283 at-bats this year.

The Orioles hope to get something closer to the Morse who batted .303 with 31 homers and 95 RBI in 2011.

Moving Morse allows the Mariners to get a longer look at outfielders Dustin Ackley and Michael Saunders.

---The St. Louis Cardinals acquired right-handed relief pitcher John Axford from the Milwaukee Brewers for a player to be named later.

Axford, 30, is 6-7 this season with a 4.45 ERA in 62 games. The former closer has no saves this year. He led the National League with 46 saves in 2011 when the Brewers won the Central Division title.

---The Cleveland Indians obtained outfielder Jason Kubel from the Arizona Diamondbacks for a player to be named later or cash.

The Indians also recalled left-handed pitcher Scott Barnes and placed him on the 60-day disabled list with a sprained wrist.

Kubel was designated for assignment by the Diamondbacks on Tuesday. He is batting just .220 with five home runs and 32 RBIs this season.

---The Philadelphia Phillies reached a revised agreement with Cuban pitcher Miguel Alfredo Gonzalez after an earlier deal fell through.

Originally, the Phillies agreed to terms with the 26-year-old on a six-year contract worth more than $50 million. But the deal was nixed by the club, possibly due to concerns about the health of the right-hander's pitching elbow.

The two sides revised the deal, which has been reduced to three years and $12 million, the club announced.

---The Cleveland Indians signed free agent catcher Kelly Shoppach to a minor league deal and assigned him to Class AAA Columbus.

Shoppach, 33, batted .196 with three homers and nine RBI for the Seattle Mariners in the first half of the season before the club released him June 20.

---Major League Baseball announced that three Houston Astros minor leaguers were suspended for violating the Minor League Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.

Shortstop Jose Fernandez, first baseman Michael Martinez and outfielder D'andre Toney have each been banned 50 games without pay after testing positive for an amphetamine.