Rangers Obtain Esteban Loaiza

Right-hander Esteban Loaiza was traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the Texas Rangers for minor league infielder Warren Morris and right-hander Todd Van Poppel.

Loaiza was 6-5 with a 4.52 earned-run average in 21 games with the Pirates this season.

Morris, 24, batted .331 with 14 home runs and 73 RBIs in 95 games with double-A Tulsa this season, where he was an All-Star.

Van Poppel, 26, was 1-2 with an 8.84 ERA in four starts with the Rangers this year after being called up from triple-A Oklahoma in June.

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Baseball agent Joe Cubas has secured the final investor needed to make an offer for the Florida Marlins that is above and beyond owner H. Wayne Huizenga’s asking price, his spokesman said.

Rene Guim would not disclose specifics, but said the investment group would have no trouble meeting the $169 million Huizenga is seeking from Marlins’ president Don Smiley, who is struggling to find investors.

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New York Met closer John Franco’s three-game suspension was upheld by National League president Len Coleman after an appeal hearing.

Franco will begin serving the suspension today.

The left-hander was suspended for bumping umpire Angel Hernandez in a game against Atlanta on July 5. Franco was also fined $1,500.

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The Cincinnati Reds put catcher Brook Fordyce on the 15-day disabled list retroactive to July 13, the day after he strained his left shoulder in a home plate collision. They plan to call up catcher Guillermo Garcia from Triple-A Indianapolis today.