The Los Angeles Angels gave their starting rotation a boost on Friday night, acquiring Tampa Bay Rays left-hander Scott Kazmir for third baseman Matt Sweeney, left-hander Alex Torres and a player to be named later.

While Kazmir has been solid in his last three starts, his velocity is down and he’s always an injury risk. Still, this move gives the Halos much-needed depth in their starting rotation and they also net a pitcher who has plenty of experience against the Yankees and Red Sox. (Two teams the Angels could face in the postseason.)

For the Rays, Kazmir never panned out to be the ace the club thought he would become when they acquired him from the Mets earlier this decade. Injuries have limited his effectiveness, although he still owns a career ERA of 3.92. He’s also the club’s career leader in wins, strikeouts and innings pitched.

Overall, Tampa gets significant salary reliever in the trade by shedding most of the three-year, $28.5 million extension Kazmir signed in May of last year.

They also get a solid strikeout prospect in Torres, who can pitch for the groundout and has been largely overlooked in the Halos’ organization. Sweeney has 25-30 home run potential, but an ankle injury cost him virtually his entire ’08 season and he’ll have to work his way up from High-A ball.

Pennant races this season are not quite as exciting as last season, but that doesn’t mean we won’t have a few good races in September. The power rankings this week have not changed much, but the Rockies and Rangers swapped places. The Rays, who were on the cusp of cracking the Top 10, traded Scott Kazmir to the Angels yesterday, making us all scratch our heads and wonder if they are conceding the race.

1. New York Yankees (80-48)—The first team to 80 victories is officially in cruise control. The question is, can they carry it over into the postseason? Because we all know how you-know-who performs in October.

2. Los Angeles Angels (76-51)—If newly acquired Scott Kazmir stays healthy, this scrappy Angels team could be wearing new jewelry. Then again, October has been none to kind to them recently as well.

3. St. Louis Cardinals (75-55)—The Cardinals now have a 9 game lead on the woe-as-me Cubs. The good franchises always add the right parts when they are in a pennant race, and Matt Holliday and John Smoltz are those guys for the Redbirds.

4. Philadelphia Phillies (74-52)—The Phils may have given the slightest ray of hope to the Marlins and Braves, but then they remembered that they were the world champs.

5. Los Angeles Dodgers (76-53)—Their lead over the Rockies shrunk to 2 games this past week. It’s now back to 4, but this NL West race is not going to be a landslide as everyone thought. In fact, it’s now a 3-team race.

6. Boston Red Sox (74-54)—Don’t think the Sox can’t still catch the Yankees. If not, they should be able to hang on to the wild card, and adding Billy Wagner certainly doesn’t hurt their chances.

7. Colorado Rockies (72-57)—The wild card is not what these Rockies have in mind, and they just keep right on winning and closing the gap.

8. Texas Rangers (71-56)—Slipping in the power rankings and slipping in their quest for a wild card berth.

9. San Francisco Giants (70-59)—Got a big lift from Lincecum last night against the Rockies, but Giants need to sweep this weekend if they want to remain in contention.

10. Detroit Tigers (68-59)—T-men hanging tough, but watch out for the surging Twins, is all I’m sayin’.

- ESPN’s Buster Olney is reporting that the Angels have interest in Rays’ starter Scott Kazmir, although its unclear at this point if this could be a precursor to a trade for Tampa, who apparently has their eyes on Roy Halladay and Cliff Lee.

- Sticking with the Angels theme, owner Arte Moreno tells the L.A. Times that he remains interested in landing one of the top arms on the market, which includes Halladay and Lee. Apparently he’s also willing to pay a hefty price to acquire one of the big names.

- Speaking of Lee, ESPN’s Jayson Stark says he is available, but it appears that the Indians would have to be overwhelmed by a deal. Stark is also reporting that the Reds will listen to offers for starter Bronson Arroyo.

- According to the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Twins are interested in Oakland shortstop Orlando Cabrera and reliever Michael Wuertz.

- The Padres are making Heath Bell available.

- SI.com’s Jon Heyman is reporting that the Rays are kicking the tires on possibly acquiring Cleveland catcher Victor Martinez.

- Brian Anderson has asked the White Sox to trade him according to MLB.com.

According to a report by Jon Paul Morosi of FOX Sports.com, the Indians are apparently considering trading ace Cliff Lee to the Rays for a couple of minor league prospects. Who those prospects are, however, seem to be the sticking point in Tampa pulling the trigger.

The article reports that Cleveland GM Mark Shapiro is asking for multiple high-end prospects in return for Lee, and that Shapiro specifically has his eyes set on Class AAA Durham pitcher Wade Davis. But the Rays value Davis, who is 8-6 with a 3.22 ERA in the minors this season and has a fastball that reaches 95 mph.

Along with Davis, we’re also hearing rumblings that the Tribe want 22-year-old outfield prospect Desmond Jennings as part of the package for Lee. Much like some of the other outfielders (i.e. Carl Crawford and B.J. Upton) that have come up through Tampa’s farm system, Jennings is big, strong and incredibly fast, but he’s raw and he would need some more polishing in the minors before eventually making his major league debut.

It’ll be interesting to see if the Rays and Indians can come together on a trade for Lee and what the eventual compensation would be. Considering Scott Kazmir’s performance/injury troubles this season, Lee would be a tremendous addition to their rotation and could help close the gap between them and the Yankees and Red Sox.

Whether it’s that reliever that always seems to blow tight games in late innings, that batter that leaves runners on the bases, or that starter that walks seven batters an inning, every team has at least one player that as a fan, you’d rather set your eyelids on fire than watch trot onto the field for just one more inning.

I’ve compiled a list of 10 infuriating, punch-a-hole-through-your-wall MLB players to watch. Granted, this list is by no means all-inclusive (and I implore you the reader to list the guys that drive you nuts in the comments section). But these are the 10 that seem to make my blood boil on a consistent basis, whether they’re playing for my favorite team or not.

Julio Lugo, OF, Red Sox
I would lose the respect of all Boston fans if I didn’t have Lugo’s name on this list. It’s not only that Lugo can’t field and flails at pitches like a schoolgirl trying to swat away a bee on the playground, but also that he’s being paid $9 million a year to look so bad. He has zero range defensively and he also has a knack for turning double plays at a snail’s pace. Granted, he’s been delegated a backup behind Nick Green at short, but just the mere idea that Lugo is still on the roster must make BoSox fans want to toss their last meal. Whenever the BoSox do decide to get rid of him, Boston fans might try to make that day an official holiday.

The Cubs’ outfield collection of Alfonso Soriano, Milton Bradley and Kosuke Fukudome
Nothing says overpaid and overrated like the Cubs’ outfield. Whether you love brutal defense, swing-at-everything offense, or just plain stupidity, the Cubs’ outfield collection of Soriano, Bradley and Fukudome have it all. Soriano can’t judge fly balls and even when he does, he’s always prone to making an error with his unnecessary hop, skip and a jump catch. Bradley has turned out to be one of the worst offseason signings of the year while failing to produce at the dish, fighting with manager Lou Piniella and forgetting how many outs there are in an inning. Fukudome is fine defensively, but his mini-tornado batting approach is almost laughable to watch sometimes. Whenever the trio is in the outfield at the same time, you’d swear you’re at the circus instead of the “Friendly Confines.”

Chris Duncan, OF, Cardinals
Despite currently owning the best record in the NL Central, the Cardinals actually have a couple of players that fans wouldn’t mind taking on a tour of the Arch, only to leave them at the top with no way down. Reliever Dennys Reyes is one of those players, Joe Thurston is another, but Duncan takes the cake. Not only is he brutal both offensively and defensively, but he also continues to bat in front of superstar Albert Pujols and not produce. Pitchers give him hittable pitches on a nightly basis knowing that Pujols is behind him, yet the best Duncan can do is produce a sub-.250 batting average and a paltry five home runs. Couple that with his brutal defense and it’s amazing that he still has a starting job. (Although he can thank a rash of injuries for that.)

Edgar Renteria, SS, Giants
At least twice this year I read that Renteria was a solid offseason signing for the Giants by two different media outlets. If by solid they meant that the Giants once again overpaid for a free agent, then yes, Renteria was a solid signing. Watching him trying to go to his left on a ball hit up the middle is like watching an insect trying to scramble to get out of water after you flushed it down your toilet. Unless the ball is hit right at him, he can’t move and God help the first baseman when he tries to rush a throw. He’s still okay with the bat at times, but Bruce Bochy refused to move him out of the two-hole for most of the first half despite Renteria’s willingness to suck. At No. 6 or No. 7 in the lineup, he’s serviceable. At No. 2, he’s maddening.

Melvin Mora, 3B, Orioles
Whether it’s at the dish, in the field or on the base paths, Mora seemingly makes a bone-headed play at least once a game. He’s 37 years old, his production is almost non-existent and he doesn’t have much of a future in Baltimore past next year. Yet he continues to take up space in the middle of the O’s lineup because manager Dave Trembley refuses to play youngsters over the vets. It’s bad enough that Baltimore fans have to succumb to watching their team lose on a regular basis. But to also make them watch old, crusty vets lose is just downright cruel.

Johnny Damon, OF, Yankees
Don’t get it twisted – Damon is a fine offensive player. I have no idea how he can still hit over 12 home runs almost every year despite his age, but he does and he’s been a very good offensive player for the Bombers. But his chicken wing has always been an issue and Yankee fans must cringe every time a ball his hit into left field. He used to be able to make up for his little league arm with his speed, but he’s definitely lost a step over the years and he has trouble making adjustments on balls hit over his head. The Yankees will take his offensive production, but they’d probably be better off with a scarecrow set up in left field.

Scott Kazmir, SP, Rays
Granted, Kazmir is starting to slowly turn things around since coming off the DL a couple weeks ago. But he’s got to be one of the most frustrating supposed-aces in baseball and what’s maddening is that he has outstanding stuff. But he can’t stay healthy and he’s way too inconsistent to be counted on as a top-of-the-rotation pitcher. If he were a No. 3 or No. 4 starter being paid No. 3 or No. 4 money, fans could deal with his ups and downs. But he’s Tampa’s highest paid pitcher (fourth highest player behind Carl Crawford, Carlos Pena and the equally-frustrating Pat Burrell) and his ERA is almost 7.00 this season.

Magglio Ordonez, OF, Tigers
This is obviously in correlation to this year, because Maggs has been outstanding for the Tigers since he was acquired from Chicago in 2005. He’s supposed to be a significant bat in Detroit’s lineup, yet he’s batting just .266 with four home runs and 28 RBI. Worse yet, he’s still collecting a massive paycheck (he’s the currently the Tigers’ highest paid player) and he’s frightening to watch in the outfield. Maybe he’ll bounce back and I’ll have to eat my words but until then, he has to be driving Detroit fans nuts right now, even with the Tigers in first place.

Russell Martin, C, Dodgers
What the frack happened to this kid? Once one of the most promising catchers in all of baseball, Martin is hitting just. 248 this season with one dinger. At 26, he still has a ton of potential and maybe with Manny Ramirez back in the Dodgers’ lineup he’ll turn it around in the second half. But once a promising player with a decent amount of pop, Martin now he hits like Chone Figgins without the high average.

Bob Howry, RP, Giants
I went to a Giants-Cardinals game in St. Louis recently and wound up making small talk with a Red Bird’s fan next to me. The game eventually went into the tenth tied 1-1 and San Fran had two relievers warming up in the pen: Brian Wilson and Bob Howry. I turned to my new Cardinals friend and said, “If Bruce Bochy puts Wilson in we’re looking at more baseball. If he puts the black angel of death in, you’ll be sucking down a cold one enjoying a Cards’ victory in no time.” Lo and behold, Bochy put Howry in and against his first batter, he gave up a walk off to St. Louis centerfielder Colby Rasmus. Granted, Pablo Sandoval dropped a pop up in foul territory during the at bat and the umpire squeezed him on a pitch that would have struck Rasmus out, but nobody is better at blowing late inning games than Howry. Cub fans, you know what I’m talking about.

Those are my ten…which players infuriate you the most?

1. The defending champs needed that one…
Staring 0-3 in the face, the Phillies rallied from a 10-3 deficit in the seventh inning to beat the Braves 12-11 on Wednesday. Raul Ibanez homered and drove in three runs as Philly went on to score eight runs in the seventh inning. While 1-2 isn’t the start the defending champs would have liked, maybe now their offense has awaken from their slump and they can use this game as a confidence builder.

2. And I was like, Emilio!
I know, I know – it’s only one sweep of the Nationals (and at home no less). But the Marlins’ 3-0 start (they beat Washington 6-4 on Wednesday) should raise some eyebrows because this team is loaded with bright, young talent. Granted, Emilio Bonifacio isn’t going to hit .571 the rest of the way, but he gives the Fish a strong table setter at the top of the lineup and catcher John Baker has been a nice surprise so far in the two-hole. If the young starting pitching can hold up and five-tool 22-year old outfielder Cameron Maybin can grow up in a hurry, the Mets, Phillies and Braves will definitely have competition this year in NL East.

3. The Tigers might not have a good year, but Miggie will.
For all intents and purposes, it looks like the Tigers are due for another down year, although outside of Justin Verlander, the starting pitching has looked good the past two nights. But one thing that won’t hold Detroit back this year is Miguel Cabrera, who hit two dingers and drove in four runs in the Tigs’ 5-1 victory over the Blue Jays on Wednesday. It’s early, but Cabrera looks like he’ll be a favorite for the AL MVP all season.

4. Yankees start 0-2 – the horror!
Yankee-haters love seeing the Bronx Bombers struggle no matter what time of year it is, but remember that this is a veteran club and their 0-2 start (NY lost to Baltimore 7-5 on Wednesday) means very little. Would they like to be 2-0 right now? Sure, but don’t buy into a Yankee-free fall just yet. Yes, the starting pitching has looked bad out of the gate, but the lineup will get Alex Rodriguez back in a couple weeks and CC Sabathia won’t look as out of control all season as he did in the Opener. Let’s give the O’s some credit here, too – they have a nice young lineup. Nick Markakis (3 for 3, 3 RBI, 2 R, 1 HR) is an absolutely stud and Brian Roberts is one of the better leadoff hitters in baseball. Throw in an emerging talent like Adam Jones and quality veteran bats like Aubrey Huff and Melvin Mora, and Baltimore will give some opponents trouble this year.

5. Is it time to hop of the Volquez bandwagon yet?
Edinson Volquez had himself quite a season last year, compiling a 17-6 record and 3.21 ERA for the Reds after three lackluster years in Texas. But pundits were a little leery of the 25-year old’s breakout year and the word “fluke” was tossed around plenty this offseason. Well, Volquez did little to silence critics in his ’09 debut as the Mets smacked him around for six hits and four earned runs as he lasted just 4.1 innings in the Reds’ 9-7 loss. To be fair, it was only one loss, but would anyone be surprised if Volquez struggled this year?

6. Kazmir good, Lester…not so much.
Rays’ ace Scott Kazmir looked solid in Tampa’s 7-2 win over the Red Sox on Wednesday, allowing just one run on five hits and striking out four in six innings of work. Boston’s Jon Lester struggled, however, giving up five runs on eight hits and served up the long ball to Carlos Pena in the fifth. Here’s hoping Kaz can stay healthy for an entire year and maybe knock on the door of 15-plus wins, because he certainly has the talent for it.

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Offseason Movement: One of the busier teams this offseason, the Orioles acquired OF Felix Pie and LHP Rich Hill from the Cubs, while also adding free agents Ty Wigginton, Mark Hendrickson, Cesar Izturis, Gregg Zaun, Ryan Freel, John Parrish, David Pauley, Chris Gomez, Chad Moeller and Japanese pitcher Koji Uehara.

Top Prospect: Matt Wieters, C
Wieters isn’t only the best prospect in Baltimore – he’s the best prospect in baseball. He can flat out rake and once he gets some experience under his belt, he could be a .300 hitter who produces 12-15 home runs a year. Unfortunately, Baltimore fans that were hoping to see him play early this season will have to wait. Wieters is expected to start the first two months in the International League, but could be called up before the All-Star Break with the O’s not expected to be in contention. Some have compared Wieters to Joe Mauer and Mike Piazza.

The Big Question: Can the starting pitching come through?
Jeremy Guthrie will assume the role of ace again this season after posting 10 wins and a 3.63 ERA. After Guthrie is a relative unknown in Koji Uehara, who went 12-0 last year in Japan. Mark Hendrickson adds a veteran arm to the rotation, but he won’t dazzle anyone and Rich Hill had issues with his control last season in Chicago. Throw in David Pauley and this is one of the worst starting rotations in all of baseball.

Outlook: The Orioles have a nice collection of position players starting with Nick Markakis, who is one of the best young outfielders in the game. The club also hung onto 2B Brian Roberts despite offseason trade rumors, so at least they’ll have a quality bat at the leadoff position while Aubrey Huff, Melvin Mora and Luke Scott add to a promising lineup. If newly acquired Felix Pie and former top prospect Adam Jones ever develop, the O’s would have one of the better young lineups in all of baseball. But the starting pitching is horrible and the O’s play in one of the toughest divisions in the league. The Rays came out of nowhere last year, but at least they had a true ace in Scott Kazmir and a nice developing youngster in Matt Garza. Baltimore’s lineup shows some potential, but the pitching staff will doom this club once again this year.

Projection: 5th AL East.