Rangers trade Benes, place Benoit on DL

Atlanta — The Texas Rangers traded disgruntled pitcher Alan Benes after he balked at a demotion, sending the right-hander back to the Chicago Cubs for minor league infielder Steve O’Sullivan Wednesday.

Benes, who was traded from Chicago to Texas on May 9, went 0-3 with a 12.00 ERA in four starts for the Rangers. He was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma on May 29, but didn’t report for a scheduled start Monday.

Benes was initially traded to the Rangers for a player to be named. Team spokesman John Blake said that deal has yet to be resolved, even though Benes is now back with the Cubs.

The Rangers also announced that right-hander Joaquin Benoit, scheduled to start Thursday against the Atlanta Braves, will be put on the 15-day disabled list with tendinitis in his elbow.

Dodgers place Dreifort on 15-day disabled list

Los Angeles — Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Darren Dreifort, making a successful comeback following his second reconstructive elbow operation, was placed on the 15-day disabled list Wednesday because of a sprained ligament in his right knee.

The Dodgers replaced Dreifort on the roster by recalling left-hander Victor Alvarez from Triple-A Las Vegas.

Dreifort underwent ligament-replacement surgery on his right elbow in July 2001 and didn’t pitch again until this season. It appeared he was going to return last summer, but he needed arthroscopic surgery on his knee.

Dreifort, a 31-year-old right-hander, is 4-4 with a 4.03 ERA in 10 starts this season. He has 67 strikeouts in 601/3 innings.

Against Colorado on May 28, he allowed six runs and nine hits in three innings in his shortest outing of the year.