POLANCO DEALT TO TIGERS

The Phillies acquired reliever Ugueth Urbina from the

Tigers for infielder Placido Polanco yesterday.

The Phillies also get infielder Ramon Martinez in a move that clears the

way for Chase Utley to play second base every day.

Urbina, who helped the Marlins win the World Series in 2003, is 1-3 with

nine saves and a 2.63 ERA in 25 games. He hasn't allowed a run in his last 10

innings.

Polanco, who platooned with Utley and started at three other positions, is

batting .316 with three homers and 20 RBIs. Martinez is hitting .268 in 19

games, including 15 starts.

"The price was high, but to be able to get a proven bullpen arm who has

pitched at a championship level, it was too good to pass up," Philadelphia

general manager Ed Wade said, adding that Detroit president Dave Dombrowski

told him he was close to moving Urbina to another team in the NL East.

Urbina, 31, will pitch in a setup role with the Phillies and be used as a

closer when Billy Wagner needs a rest. Urbina provides depth in a bullpen that

also features Ryan Madson, who has pitched well setting up Wagner.

A versatile infielder, Polanco was a full-time starter in his first 2 1/2

years with the Phillies after arriving in a trade that sent third baseman Scott

Rolen to St. Louis in July 2002. Polanco had his best season last year,

hitting .298 with a career-high 17 homers and 55 RBIs in 126 games.

The Orioles, thin on the bench because of injuries, acquired

outfielder-first baseman Eli Marrero from the Royals for minor-league infielder

Pete Maestrales.

Marrero, 31, will undergo a physical today. If he passes, he will join the

Orioles in Cincinnati tomorrow, when a 25-man roster move will be made to

accommodate him. Maestrales, 25, was hitting .303 with eight homers and 16 RBIs

at Class A Delmarva.