BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- The Chicago White Sox tonight acquired catcher Charles Johnson and designated hitter Harold Baines from the Baltimore Orioles to shore up their quest for the team's first division title since 1993.

The White Sox, who have the best record in the American League, sent starting backstop Brook Fordyce and minor league righthanders Miguel Felix, Juan Figuero and Jason Lackman to Baltimore, which made its third deal in 36 hours.

In Johnson, the White Sox get a Gold Glove catcher who is enjoying a breakout offensive season. The 29-year-old was batting .294 with a career-high 21 homers and 55 RBI in 84 games for Baltimore.

Baines, 41, begins his third stint with Chicago, which retired his uniform No. 3 in 1989. Baines batted .266 with 10 homers and 30 RBI in 72 games for the Orioles. He has been red-hot of late, hitting .350 (28-for-80) since June 15.

"Harold gives us a veteran lefthanded bat and Charles is one of the game's top defensive catchers," White Sox general manager Ron Schueler said. "Both will play key roles with our club, and their experience will be a plus. It's great to add both to our team for the stretch drive."

Baines is the most prolific designated hitter ever, ranking first all-time in games (1,608), hits (1,664), home runs (234) and RBI (961). In his 21st season, Baines has 383 career home runs and 1,612 RBI. The RBI total is 22nd all-time and one behind former teammate Cal Ripken for second most among active players.

Baines, who spent his first nine-plus seasons with the Sox and played another 236 games for them between 1996-97, was traded before the July 31 trade deadline for the second straight year. He went from Baltimore to Cleveland in 1999 before re-signing with the Orioles after the season.

"I was happy about being at home but this is a business," said Baines, who makes his home in St. Michael's, Maryland. "It means that I know somebody still wants me. Hopefully, I can go and help them win."

Johnson, who hit his 100th career home run in the opener of Baltimore's day-night doubleheader with Cleveland today, is a four-time Gold Glove Award winner. He has thrown out 41 percent of would-be basestealers in his career but is a lifetime .245 hitter.

"It is a good thing for me," said Johnson, who made no secret of his desire to leave Baltimore when his contract expired at the end of this season. "I have to look at the positives, and they are that I'm going to a good team that is playing great.

The Orioles get Fordyce, who was batting .272 with five homers and 21 in 39 games for Chicago. He has thrown out 33 percent of potential basestealers this season and shown no ill-effects from a broken bone in his left foot suffered February 29.

Figueroa, 21, was 2-3 with a 3.40 ERA in 10 starts for Class AA Birmingham of the Southern league. Lakman, 23, was 2-2 with a save and 4.14 ERA in 27 games for Birmingham. Both will report to Bowie of the Eastern League, Baltimore's Class AA affiliate.

Felix, 23, was 0-0 with a 7.64 ERA in 27 relief appearances for Class A Winston-Salem of the Carolina League. He will report to the Orioles' affiliate -- Frederick -- in the same league.

"I think we had a plan of improving pitching, period," Orioles director of baseball operations Syd Thrift said. "With the addition of these new pitchers in recent days, it puts these pitchers in good positions.

"The White Sox have done a marvelous job of scouting pitchers in recent years. We acquire young pitchers, they all have high upsides. Figueroa has a chance to pitch in the major leagues in September."