SAN DIEGO - The Miami Marlins are serious about contending in the NL East. If signing slugger Giancarlo Stanton to a massive contract last month wasnt proof enough, a late flurry at the winter meetings sure made it clear.Miami acquired right-hander Mat Latos from the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday morning for pitching prospect Anthony DeSclafani and minor league catcher Chad Wallach, just a short nap after landing All-Star second baseman Dee Gordon in a flashy seven-player trade with the Los Angeles Dodgers late Wednesday night.We want to build and we want to be competitive every year, and we want our team to play into October, said Mike Hill, Miamis president of baseball operations.The Reds traded away two arbitration-eligible starters in quick succession Thursday morning to help meet payroll restrictions. They also sent Alfredo Simon to the Detroit Tigers for two more youngsters, right-hander Jonathon Crawford and infielder Eugenio Suarez.This is it for now, Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said after a busy final morning at the winter meetings. We got close to where we need to be — payroll-wise.The Marlins gave up their top pitching prospect, left-hander Andrew Heaney, in the deal for Gordon and right-hander Dan Haren.Haren has indicated he might retire rather than play for a team far from his family in Southern California, and Miami dealt its next-best pitching prospect in DeSclafani to add rotation depth.I think the Latos deal has really insulated us from that, so if anything happens in that direction, we still have a formidable rotation, Hill said. And if he stays, we have the player that we wanted.The 27-year-old Latos is coming off an injury-plagued season. He made only 16 starts because of knee and elbow problems, going 5-5 with a 3.25 ERA. He will help bolster a Miami rotation that will be without 2013 NL Rookie of the Year Jose Fernandez, who is recovering from May elbow-reconstruction surgery, until the middle of 2015.That was the one thing we really wanted to do, is to make sure our rotation didnt have a drop-off and we remain strong until the return of Jose, Hill said.The Reds had to decide which starters to trade and which to try to sign after the season with Simon, Latos, 20-game winner Johnny Cueto and Mike Leake all in line for significant raises. Latos made $7.25 million in the final year of a two-year deal last season and is eligible for arbitration — as is Simon.Latos and Simon both could become free agents after next season. Trading the pair gives the Reds — 12th with a $115 million payroll this year — at least a chance to sign Cueto long-term.Im not sure well be able to do something or not, but its something well explore, Jocketty said. Obviously.The Marlins are adding pieces around Stanton, given a record $325 million, 13-year contract last month.Gordon led the majors with 64 stolen bases last season and made his first All-Star team. He was surprised by the trade but is excited to play in Florida in front of family, including his father, former major leaguer Tom Gordon.Gordon is especially excited to make noise on the bases for Stanton, the NL home run champ. Gordon got to know him while in Double-A.He hit the farthest home run I think Ive ever seen in my life, Gordon said. Its going to be amazing to hit in front of him.Hill said the Marlins arent done yet: Theyre looking for a first baseman.DeSclafani, who will turn 25 in April, was a sixth-round pick by Toronto in the 2011 draft. He made 13 appearances, including five starts, for the Marlins this year, and went 2-2 with a 6.27 ERA.He impressed Jocketty enough that hell get a shot at starting for the Reds.We think that DeSclafani will be a guy who will probably fit in our rotation, he said. He made some great strides with them at the end of the year.Wallach is the son of former big leaguer Tim Wallach. The 23-year-old was the Marlins fifth-round pick in the 2013 draft.Also, the Marlins sent Dan Jennings, a 27-year-old left-handed reliever, to the Chicago White Sox on Thursday for 26-year-old right-hander Andre Rienzo.___AP Sports Writers Ronald Blum and Joe Kay contributed to this report. Ethan Pocic Jersey . Braves reliever David Carpenter was also fined for throwing at Rockies outfielder Corey Dickerson in the same game, which featured several ejections, including Colorado manager Walt Weiss. Michael Dickson Jersey . Starters, when they struggle, have to live with it for five days. For Sergio Santos and Steve Delabar, two of the three men who authored one of the ugliest pitched innings in Blue Jays franchise history on Thursday night, the bounce-back chance came right away. http://www.officialseattleseahawksfootball.com/authentic-frank-clark-jersey-womens .Y. -- AJ Allmendingers journey is almost complete. D.J. Fluker Jersey . -- Raiders wide receiver Jacoby Ford made it through a third straight practice without any setbacks and expects to play in Oaklands regular-season finale against San Diego. Will Dissly Jersey . Ellis had a season-high 37 points and two key assists late, Dirk Nowitzki led a fourth-quarter rally with 14 of his 35 points, and the Mavericks spoiled Howards best offensive night in Houston with a 123-120 victory over the Rockets on Wednesday night. LOS ANGELES -- There was no warm welcome back. No video montage of highlights that brought back the good old days. That didnt keep Dwight Howard from thoroughly enjoying his first road game against the team he left as a free agent after one tumultuous season. Howard had 20 points and 13 rebounds for the Houston Rockets in 134-108 rout of the Los Angeles Lakers on Wednesday night that extended the Rockets winning streak to eight games. "Were always going to have fun when were playing basketball. We love what were doing," Howard said. "Were playing great, and we just want to have as much fun as possible." The streak is Houstons longest since a franchise-record, 22-game run in 2007-08 under Rick Adelman. James Harden scored 11 of his 29 points in the final 1:25 of the third quarter and added 11 assists. Wesley Johnson scored 24 points for Los Angeles, and Kendall Marshall had 20 points and 16 assists. The injury-ravaged Lakers remained tied for last place in the Western Conference with Sacramento at 18-36. "The Lakers have always found a way to get back to the top, and they will one day. But I cant focus on the Lakers," Howard said. "My focus is on the Rockets and what were trying to accomplish." It was Howards third game against the Lakers since leaving the organization to sign a four-year, $88 million contract with the Rockets in July. Los Angeles offered the eight-time All-Star and three-time Defensive Player of the Year a five-year, $118 million deal to stay. "Hes having a great year there, but I felt he did the same thing here," Lakers guard Jodie Meeks said. "The numbers are almost identical. He had a pretty good year last year -- and for whatever reason, some people didnt think so." Howard played 76 games last season, averaging 17.1 points and a league-best 12.4 rebounds despite residual pain from back surgery -- compounded by a torn labrum in his right shoulder. Howards only season in Tinseltown ended with a whimper -- a four-game sweep by San Antonio in the first round of the playoffs, when he was ejected from what would turn out to be his final game as a Laker for protesting a non-call. The sellout crowd booed Howard every time he touched the ball. It began during warm-ups about 45 minutes before the game, after a few of his ex-teammates came over to say hello at midcourt.dddddddddddd. The fans then drowned out public address announcer Lawrence Tanter before he could get Howards name out of his mouth during the introductions. Howard received a technical foul just 78 seconds into the game after dunking on Chris Kaman. "I think it was more emotion than anything," Howard said. "I dont know if the ref thought I was talking to Kaman, but one of my friends was sitting courtside and I was just looking at him and having some fun. It wasnt nothing toward the Lakers or any of their guys. I was just talking trash to one of my friends." Less than 90 minutes before tipoff, the Lakers dealt guard Steve Blake to the Golden State Warriors for reserve guards Kent Bazemore and MarShon Brooks. Coach Mike DAntoni was still talking about Blake in the present tense during his pregame session with reporters before the deal was consummated, and the trade left him with only eight players in uniform and his 28th different starting lineup due to injuries to Kobe Bryant, Pau Gasol, Steve Nash, Xavier Henry and Nick Young. Jordan Farmar returned to the lineup after missing four games because of a sore hamstring, and Meeks was back in action after sitting out five games with a sprained right ankle. Harden helped the Rockets build a 64-43 halftime lead with 15 points in the first game for both teams following the All-Star break. Howard added 14 points and 10 rebounds -- the 10th time this season that he had a double-double by halftime. NOTES: The Rockets were 18 for 35 on free throws, after attempting more than 50 in each of the previous two meetings. ... Bryant hasnt played in any of the games against Houston since he and Howard became ex-teammates. In fact, hes played in only six games altogether. The season series concludes on April 8 at Los Angeles. ... The Lakers have lost seven games by margins of at least 20 or more points. ... Harden scored at least 30 points in each of his previous four games against the Lakers. ... The Rockets began a five-game road trip that will end right back here at Staples Center against the Clippers. 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