Baseball notes: Pirates bring back Aramis Ramirez

Pittsburgh acquired veteran third baseman Aramis Ramirez and cash considerations from Milwaukee for minor league pitcher Yhonathan Barrios. Ramirez, 37, a three-time All-Star who began his major league career with the Pirates in 1998, is hitting .247 with 11 home runs and 42 RBIs in what he says is his final season. The trade occurred 12 years to the day after Pittsburgh sent Ramirez to the Chicago Cubs. The playoff-contending Pirates needed infield help with regular third baseman Josh Harrison and shortstop Jordy Mercer both out at least another month with injuries.

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Cubs rookie third baseman Kris Bryant’s jersey has been the top seller in baseball since he was called up from the minors in mid-April, Major League Baseball said. San Francisco left-hander Madison Bumgarner, MVP of the 2014 World Series, had the most popular jersey overall during the first half of the season. The rest of the top 10: Buster Posey, Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, Bryce Harper, Hunter Pence, Angels star Mike Trout, Matt Harvey, David Ortiz and Anthony Rizzo. . . . New York Mets third baseman David Wright, on the disabled list since April 15 because of a back injury, will begin baseball activities next week and catcher Travis d’Arnaud is set to begin a minor league rehab assignment, the team said.