The Associated Press

CHICAGO - The New York Yankees acquired Ruben Sierra in a trade Friday with Texas, getting a much-needed left-handed bat.

The Yankees sent minor-league outfielder Marcus Thames to the Rangers.

The 37-year-old Sierra, a switch-hitter, is batting .258 with three home runs and 12 RBI. His salary this season is $600,000, more than affordable for the team with the majors' highest payroll.

METS: Tom Glavine has never been on the disabled list during his major-league career. He never has missed a start, in fact.

Which is why the notion of skipping a game, even with a sore left elbow, does not appeal to him.

"When you're only going to go out there 35 times a year, you don't want to give too many of them away," the New York Mets pitcher said Friday.

Glavine was forced to leave Thursday night's start against Milwaukee in the second inning when his elbow flared up. It had been bothering him since a game May 13 in Colorado.

For now, Glavine is unsure whether he'll pitch Wednesday at Texas.

"We're working with a timetable of 48 hours," he said. "I wasn't sure what to expect today. It's not any worse."

Glavine is 5-6 with a 4.82 ERA in 13 starts.

MARINERS: Seattle strengthened their bullpen by acquiring left-hander Matt White from the Boston Red Sox for minor-league outfielder Shelton Fulse.

The Mariners already have an excellent bullpen, with Jeff Nelson, Arthur Rhodes, Kazuhiro Sasaki and Shigetoshi Hasegawa. But only Rhodes is a lefty.

"We've been looking for another left-hander to add to our bullpen depth, and we think Matt should fit in nicely," general manager Pat Gillick said.

White had an 0-1 record and a 27.00 ERA in 3 2/3 innings for the Red Sox.

RED SOX: Pitching coach Tony Cloninger will go on medical leave to focus on treatments for bladder cancer.

Cloninger approached the team about a leave of absence, but it was not clear how long the coach would be gone.

ANGELS: Shortstop David Eckstein was scratched from Friday's lineup after injuring his left hand in warmups.

Eckstein was struck by a batted ball. He is listed as day-to-day.