01:00 AM EST on Saturday, January 28, 2006

The Indians traded reliever Arthur Rhodes to the Philadelphia Phillies yesterday for outfielder Jason Michaels.

In his only season with Cleveland, the 36-year-old Rhodes went 3-1 with a 2.08 E.R.A. in 47 games. He was a key contributor in the A.L.'s best bullpen for four months in 2005, but missed the last two for family reasons.

Michaels, a right-handed hitter, batted .304 with four homers and 31 RBI in 105 games for the Phillies. The 29-year-old recently was put on six months' probation and ordered to complete 100 hours of community service following a fight with a Philadelphia police officer last year.

"Jason is a hard-nosed, tough player that complements our lineup extremely well," Indians general manager Mark Shapiro said. "He has always been a tough out while recording a high on-base percentage and has the ability to play all three outfield positions well."

Rhodes gives Philadelphia a dependable setup man for Tom Gordon, who is taking over for Billy Wagner as the club's closer.

"We feel more comfortable tonight than we did last night with Rhodes in the bullpen," Phillies GM Pat Gillick said.

And with Rhodes, the Phillies can now move Ryan Madson to the starting rotation.

Madson, 25, had been a setup man the past two seasons. Madson, 6-5 with a 4.14 E.R.A. in 78 games, began the season as the setup man for Billy Wagner, but gave up that role when the Phillies acquired Ugueth Urbina in June.

ROUNDUP

BUYING THE REDS: Procter & Gamble Co.'s top executive is buying a tiny share of the Cincinnati Reds. "I'm a baseball fan, and a longtime Cincinnati Reds fans," A.G. Lafley wrote in an e-mail. Lafley -- chairman, president and chief executive of the consumer products company -- is buying what he called a "micro share" of one of the new ownership units in Cincinnati Reds LLC. Cincinnati businessmen Bob Castellini, who leads a group that just finished buying 75 percent of the team, said last week that small units were being sold to investors around the region. Their names would not be announced until mid-February, once they are approved by Major League Baseball.

WETTELAND WITH NATS: Former All-Star closer John Wetteland was hired by the Washington Nationals as their bullpen coach yesterday. Wetteland, who played for the Montreal Expos, was a roving pitching instructor for the Texas Rangers the last three seasons. "I couldn't be more pleased to add one of the best young pitching minds in baseball to our coaching staff," Nationals general manager Jim Bowden said. "John's high energy, passion, temperament and knowledge will provide invaluable resources for all of our pitchers." Wetteland was 48-45 with 330 saves and a 2.93 E.R.A. for four major league teams from 1989-00. His save total ranks ninth in baseball history.

TAMPA CHANGING NAME? The Tampa Bay Devil Rays are following through on a promise to practically reconstruct themselves under new ownership. The franchise has overhauled the front office and hired a new manager since New York investor Stuart Sternberg took control of the club last fall. Now, officials are pondering a possible name change. "The new management team is looking at everything," spokesman Rick Vaughn said yesterday, adding that discussions about changing the name are still in the "embryonic" stage. "It could be subtle," Vaughn said. "It could be major." The Tampa Tribune reported in yesterday editions that there will be a name change for the 2007 season.

COLOME CONTRACT: Reliever Jesus Colome averted arbitration with the Tampa Bay Devil Rays when he agreed yesterday to an $815,000, one-year contract. The 28-year-old right-hander appeared in 36 games last season, going 2-3 with a 4.57 E.R.A. In parts of five seasons with Tampa Bay, he is 11-22 with a 4.70 E.R.A. in 185 games. He made a career-high 54 appearances in 2003, going 3-7 with a 4.50 E.R.A. and two saves. Colome made $600,000 last season and had asked for $850,000 in arbitration. Tampa Bay had offered $700,000.