NEW YORK – Pitchers Kris Benson and Victor Zambrano were traded to the New York Mets on Friday, boosting a rotation that had relied all season on three aging starters.

A day before the non-waiver trading deadline, the Mets got busy in a big way – and took a huge gamble.

To get Zambrano and minor league pitcher Bartolome Fortunato from Tampa Bay, the Mets sent their best pitching prospect – Scott Kazmir – and minor league pitcher Jose Diaz to the Devil Rays.

“All I can say, I appreciate the opportunity that they gave me. I’m just waiting to get to New York,” he said.

For Benson, eligible for free agency after this season, and minor league infielder Jeff Keppinger, the Mets traded infielder Ty Wigginton, highly touted minor league pitcher Matt Peterson and infielder Jose Bautista to the Pirates. The Mets got Bautista earlier in the day from Kansas City for minor league catcher Justin Huber.

The Mets sent a private plane to Milwaukee to bring Benson to Atlanta, and he planned to start Saturday night against the Braves. He would be facing Atlanta for the third straight time. The Mets, led by starters Al Leiter, Tom Glavine and Steve Trachsel, entered the day trailing the Braves by six games in the NL East. New York, which started a weekend series in Atlanta, also are in the wild-card race. Zambrano, who turns 29 next week, is 9-7 with a 4.43 ERA. Benson, 29, is 8-8 with a 4.22 ERA.

Dodgers, Marlins waiting for approval on trade

SAN DIEGO – The Los Angeles Dodgers and Florida Marlins were waiting for approval from major league baseball Friday night on a six-player trade that would include Paul Lo Duca, Guillermo Mota, Juan Encarnacion, Brad Penny and Hee-Seop Choi.

Lo Duca, Mota and Encarnacion would go from Los Angeles to Florida. The Marlins would send Penny, Choi and a minor league prospect, possibly pitcher Brad Murphy of Double-A Carolina, to the Dodgers.

Yanks’ Giambi diagnosed with benign tumor

NEW YORK – New York Yankees first baseman Jason Giambi has been diagnosed with a benign tumor, but is expected to return to the team later this season after undergoing treatment.

The Yankees announced Friday night that Giambi was placed on the 15-day disabled list and will be treated immediately.

The team, citing privacy issues, declined to divulge where the tumor is or what type of treatment Giambi will undergo.

Yankees manager Joe Torre said he didn’t believe surgery would be necessary.

“I’m just glad that the news, even though there’s something going on, he can be treated and recover completely,” Torre said after the Yankees beat Baltimore 2-1.

Giambi, a former AL MVP, is batting only .221 with 11 home runs and 36 RBIs.

He’s been feeling fatigued virtually all season, and was diagnosed with a parasite on June 29.

He tried to play through it, but began to feel increasingly weaker.