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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 |

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.

La Russa still plays hard 9, but only with media  —  I began writing this column before the start of Wednesday's Cardinals-Marlins game.  I was planning on raising static about Juan Encarnacion's blatant lack of hustle in Tuesday's game, and how this seemed to be OK with manager Tony La Russa.