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.

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.

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 …

Treanor: Marlins need Olsen focused on baseball  —  MIAMI GARDENS Whether the unpaid two-game suspension of left-hander Scott Olsen had the desired effect won't become apparent until he pitches Friday.  —  Back from his banishment for fighting with a teammate in the dugout last weekend …

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.

Stark: Rumblings and Grumblings  —  Looking to add a quality starter for a stretch run?  Good luck.  Teams in the hunt will have to settle for scraps.  Rumblings and Grumblings  —  • Tim Kurkjian: No big names available |  Buster Olney: All quiet  —  • Baseball Today: Joe Mauer |

Escobar helps Angels avoid sweep to Rays  —  ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. (AP) — Kelvim Escobar gave the Los Angeles Angels a much-needed lift.  —  Escobar won his career-best fifth consecutive decision and Garret Anderson drove in two runs to help the AL West-leading Angels avoid a three-game sweep …

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.

Bonds returns to lineup, hits homers No. 752, 753  —  CHICAGO — Barry Bonds hit his 752nd and 753rd home runs Thursday, ending his worst slump in six years with two of his biggest swings this month — and he only needs two more to tie Hank Aaron's record.  —  He was rested and ready, all right.

Player Profile  —  Brandon Phillips  —  Following a string of poor performances after promising low-minors work, Brandon Phillips was handed a chance to be the Reds' full-time second baseman in 2006.  In a Cincinnati offense that often has troubles with scoring runs, Phillips has provided power and speed at a low cost.