Phillies get Blanton from A’s

The Oakland Athletics traded away their second starting pitcher this month, sending right-hander Joe Blanton to the Philadelphia Phillies for three minor leaguers Thursday.

A’s General Manager Billy Beane traded Blanton a week after sending Rich Harden to the Chicago Cubs -- and that’s with his team in contention in the American League West, six games behind the first-place Angels.

The minor leaguers involved are left-hander Josh Outman, who was in double A, and second baseman Adrian Cardenas and outfielder Matt Spencer, both in Class A.

Blanton, 27, a 14-game winner last season, was 5-12 with a 4.96 earned-run average in 20 starts for Oakland. He has underachieved in 2008 in his fifth big league season after being the opening-day starter in March against the Boston Red Sox in Tokyo.

Last December, Beane traded ace Dan Haren to the Arizona Diamondbacks. He traded Tim Hudson and Mark Mulder in a three-day span in December 2004.

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First baseman Richie Sexson and the New York Yankees reached a deal, a week after the Seattle Mariners cut the slumping slugger.

Sexson has hit .344 with five home runs in 71 at-bats against left-handers this year. That was the bright spot during a season in which he has hit .218 overall with 11 homers and 30 runs batted in.

The Yankees will be picking up a fraction of Sexson’s contract, leaving the Mariners to pay the rest of his $14 million salary.

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Florida Marlins left-hander Andrew Miller will be put on the disabled list retroactive to Monday because of tendinitis in his right knee.

Miller, who has a 5-9 record with a 5.63 ERA, gave up seven runs in 1 2/3 innings against the Dodgers on Sunday.

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The Diamondbacks acquired first baseman Tony Clark from the San Diego Padres for minor league pitcher Evan Scribner.