Bobby Abreu has another chance to prove he can thrive under playoff pressure.

The New York Yankees acquired the two-time All-Star right fielder and starting pitcher Cory Lidle from the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday for four minor league prospects.

Desperate for pitching and a productive bat in their depleted outfield, the Yankees took on Abreu's hefty contract, hoping he can help them catch first-place Boston in the AL East.

"It's a team everyone wants to go to," said Abreu, who slumped badly in the second half last season when the Phillies finished one game behind NL wild-card winner Houston.

A .301 career hitter, Abreu fills a major void in the lineup. New York has been without injured outfielders Gary Sheffield and Hideki Matsui for most of the season.

"Things started heating up with Philadelphia in the last few days," Yankees general manager Brian Cashman said. "The commitment left with Bobby is a pretty good commitment. This club has worked so hard and with so much fight. If I could, I wanted to give it a chance to win."

Abreu's arrival could mean Sheffield won't return to New York next year. The Yankees hold a $13 million option on his contract for 2007.

The Phillies get left-hander Matt Smith and Class-A shortstop C.J. Henry — a first-round draft pick in 2005. They also landed rookie league catcher Jesus Sanchez and right-hander Carlos Monasterios.

"You never think you got enough, but we're happy with what we got," general manager Pat Gillick said.

Abreu, who already has an apartment in New York, received $1.5 million from the Phillies to waive his no-trade clause and accept the deal. The Yankees owe him about $4.3 million of his $13.5 million salary this year, plus $15.5 million next season. He has a club option for $16 million in 2008 with a $2 million buyout. The Yankees did not exercise that option.

Abreu was batting .277 with eight homers and 65 RBIs. His 91 walks led the majors and his .427 on-base percentage was third in the National League. He has 198 home runs and 841 RBIs over 10 seasons.

Lidle provides depth in a rotation that has struggled due to injuries and inconsistency. The 34-year-old right-hander is 8-7 with a 4.74 ERA in 21 starts this season.

"I wouldn't do it if I didn't get a pitcher back," Cashman said. "I had to get Lidle or the deal didn't get done. Philadelphia got some players in this deal. I'm tired of giving players. I want to get players."

Lidle has won his past four starts, pitching eight innings in each of the past two.

"I'm excited about the opportunity," he said.

OTHER DEALS

INDIANS-CARDINALS

Cardinals get: 2B Ronnie Belliard (.291, 8 HRs, 44 RBIs). An All-Star in 2004, Belliard gives the NL Central leaders a steady, everyday second baseman for the stretch run. He can become a free agent after the season. "Sometimes you have to seize the moment," manager Tony La Russa said. "This is our chance to win."

Indians get: INF Hector Luna (.291, 4 HRs, 21 RBIs). The 26-year-old Luna is a versatile player who could see more action with the disappointing Indians, who are 45-58. La Russa said he thinks Luna can become a "special" player.

RANGERS-RED SOX

Red Sox get: RHP Bryan Corey (1-1, 2.60 ERA in 16 relief appearances) before he was designated for assignment last Tuesday. Corey allowed 15 hits and eight walks in 17 1/3 innings with 13 strikeouts.

Rangers get: Minor league RHP Luis Mendoza (1-5, 6.38 ERA in nine starts for Double-A Portland). Mendoza began the season at Class-A Wilmington, where he went 5-4 with a 3.14 ERA in 13 starts. The Rangers will send him to Class-A Bakersfield.

ROCKIES-RANGERS

Rangers get: C Miguel Ojeda (.230, 2 HRs, 11 RBIs in 25 games with Colorado this year). Ojeda was sent to the minors on June 2. He has played in parts of four major league seasons with San Diego, Seattle and Colorado. Ojeda has a .222 average with 15 home runs in 207 career games. Texas assigned him to Triple-A Oklahoma.

Rockies get: Cash.

ANGELS

COLON GOES ON DL

Los Angeles placed Bartolo Colon, the 2005 AL Cy Young Award winner, on the 15-day disabled list yesterday with tendinitis in his right triceps. Right-handed reliever Greg Jones was added to the roster to replace Colon.

Jones was 4-5 with a 4.00 ERA at Triple-A Salt Lake.

Angels manager Mike Scioscia did not have a replacement yet for Colon's scheduled start tomorrow.

DODGERS

GARCIAPARRA ON DL

Los Angeles placed first baseman Nomar Garciaparra on the 15-day disabled list yesterday because of a strained ligament in his right knee.

The move was made retroactive to July 25, one day after Garciaparra was injured trying to make a tag play at second base on a bloop double by San Diego's Josh Barfield.

Garciaparra, who signed with the Dodgers as a free agent in December, missed the first three weeks of the season because of a strained right intercostal muscle.

The six-time All-Star and two-time AL batting champ is hitting .327 with 12 homers and 57 RBIs in 79 games. This is the eighth time he had been on the DL in his 11-year career.

DIAMONDBACKS

CLARK TO PLAY CATCH

Tony Clark, on the disabled list since July 15 with right shoulder inflammation, will attempt to take another step back when he is scheduled to play catch on the side today when the team arrives in Chicago for four games with the Cubs.

"We'll see how it goes," manager Bob Melvin said of Clark. "We'll just see how he feels playing catch and go from there.