Sox dealing with reality: Costs can be steep when talking trades  —  At this time of year, especially, the obvious truth is that most trades never come to fruition.  And as the Red Sox [team stats] move toward the July 31 trading deadline, what they can add depends largely on what they would give up.

Franco slammed by ex-teammates  —  SAN DIEGO - That Julio Franco found work with the Atlanta Braves isn't surprising.  —  What was surprising, however, were the lack of references, especially when it came to the "clubhouse leadership" issue.  —  Manager Willie Randolph said Franco …

Notes: Olsen returns from suspension  —  Left-hander pitches a bullpen session on Wednesday  —  MIAMI — After serving his two-game suspension for insubordination and conduct detrimental to the team, Scott Olsen rejoined the Marlins and the left-hander is on schedule to start on Friday.

Chicago Cubs trade Cesar Izturis to Pittsburgh for a player to be named later  —  Cubs select catcher Jake Fox from Double-A Tennessee  —  CHICAGO — The Chicago Cubs today traded shortstop Cesar Izturis and a cash consideration to the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for a player to be named later.

Byrnes wants deal done  —  Sides appear far apart; outfielder 'optimistic' but won't rule out free agency  —  MILWAUKEE - Eric Byrnes knows that his chances of remaining with the Diamondbacks beyond this season diminish with each passing day.  —  Byrnes says he remains optimistic about the chances of a deal getting done.

SMITH-EREENS!  —  JOE'S MELTDOWN DOOMS MET COMEBACK  —  Ultimately it all turned out to be for naught.  It was an astonishing comeback but still inadequate.  —  Last night the Mets delivered a dramatic and stunning rally against the Padres, fighting back from a three-run deficit in the eighth inning with two outs and nobody on.

Slide step  —  Sox drop another; division lead at 7  —  The fixation with the team that plays on 161st Street and River Drive in the Bronx makes it much harder for fans to abide the win-one, lose-one approach that has marked the Red Sox' play for the better part of two months.

White Sox might be ready to move Dye  —  PLAYER OF THE DAY  —  Jermaine Dye, OF Chicago White Sox  —  All indications out of Chicago are that Dye wouldn't mind a trade away from the team for which he won the World Series MVP award in 2005.  Reports from inside the White Sox clubhouse …

MELKY'S HARD WORK PAYS OFF  —  When Melky Cabrera's batting average was lean, he wasn't.  But Cabrera, one of the team's hottest hitters entering yesterday, has added bulk to his batting average while subtracting from his weight.  —  Hitting coach Kevin Long said yesterday Cabrera …

Gung-ho Floyd makes Piniella flinch a little  —  Cliff Floyd returned to the lineup with a pair of hits and an RBI Wednesday, after missing the last three games with a shoulder strain he suffered while attempting a diving catch Saturday.  —  The Cubs are 20-11 when Floyd starts in right field.

HUGHES '100 PERCENT'  —  TWO MORE STARTS, THEN TO YANKS  —  Phil Hughes moved a step closer yesterday to making the Yankees' rotation whole for the first time this season.  —  On a hot, muggy day at Waterfront Park, Hughes pitched four innings and allowed one run in the Thunder's 5-1 victory over the Binghamton Mets.