Pirates Trade Martin to Padres

The San Diego Padres ended their search for a leadoff hitter Wednesday by acquiring left fielder Al Martin from the Pittsburgh Pirates for utilityman John Vander Wal and two minor leaguers.

The Pirates also get triple-A reliever Jim Sak, who may compete for their closer’s job, and right-hander Geraldo Padua, a borderline prospect.

Martin, 32, replaces Quilvio Veras atop the Padres’ lineup, even though his .337 on-base percentage was low for a leadoff hitter. Martin had a career-high 24 homers and 20 steals last year.

Vander Wal hit .272 with 41 runs batted in last season and can play the outfield or first base.

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New York Met pitcher Bill Pulsipher was unconscious and had difficulty breathing after collapsing on the floor of his bathroom Wednesday, but was resting comfortably in a hospital later in the evening.

Pulsipher, who had worked out earlier in the day at the Mets’ spring training complex in Port St. Lucie, Fla., was breathing without aid and all vital signs were normal, Met General Manager Steve Phillips said on a conference call.

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San Francisco Giant second baseman Jeff Kent was sidelined by a strained rib cage muscle. He was expected to have X-rays and a bone scan done. . . . The St. Louis Cardinals began full-squad spring training workouts without outfielder Ray Lankford, the only no-show at camp. “We’re concerned--we haven’t heard from him yet,” Manager Tony La Russa said. . . . Nearly 2,000 people pressed against the security fences to watch Cincinnati Red outfielder Ken Griffey Jr. take batting practice in Sarasota, Fla. . . . Bill Rigney, a special assistant for the Oakland Athletics and a former manager of the Angels and Giants, was released this week after spending more than two months in the hospital for treatment of lymphoma. The A’s said that Rigney, 82, whose cancer is in remission after several chemotherapy sessions, is back home in Alamo, Calif.