The Associated Press

HOUSTON - The Astros traded right fielder Richard Hidalgo to the New York Mets on Thursday for right-handers David Weathers and Jeremy Griffiths.

Hidalgo was in the midst of a disappointing season with the Astros, and he recently lost his starting job to Jason Lane.

"I love it here. This is like my second home," Hidalgo said outside Houston's clubhouse.

Weathers and Griffiths can pitch in middle relief for Houston, which is in desperate need of help there. The Mets also get cash consideration from the Astros as part of the deal.

The 28-year-old Hidalgo is batting .258 with four homers and 30 RBI. Weathers is 5-3 with a 4.28 ERA in 32 appearances. Griffiths was 5-2 with a 3.47 ERA at Triple-A Norfolk.

MARLINS-WHITE SOX TRADE: Florida acquired reliever Billy Koch from the Chicago White Sox for minor-league infielder Wilson Valdez late Thursday night. The deal was announced shortly after the Marlins beat the White Sox 2-1 in 12 innings.

The Marlins acquired Koch and cash from the White Sox, who recently had replaced the right-hander with Shingo Takatsu - Japan's all-time saves leader - as the team's closer. Koch, 29, appeared in 24 games this season with eight saves in 11 opportunities and a 1-1 record - but had a 5.40 ERA. Koch allowed 24 hits and 15 runs in 23 innings.

ANGELS: All-Star reliever Brendan Donnelly was activated from the disabled list by Anaheim. Donnelly had missed the entire season after breaking his nose in 20 places in a spring training accident. He was injured March 9 while shagging flies during batting practice, and doctors said he lost half the blood in his body.