Saltalamacchia-Teixeira deal in the works  —  PLAYER OF THE DAY JARROD SALTALAMACCHIA Catcher, Atlanta Braves  —  Long regarded as one of the top offensive prospects in the game, "Salty" could end up having been the key to the biggest deal of this year's trade deadline.

Milledge on style: What, me worry?  —  Lastings Milledge is aware that his flamboyant style of play might ruffle some feathers around the National League.  He just doesn't care.  —  "I like to use the word 'colorful,' " Milledge said last night before he went 2-for-4 with a double and run in the Mets' 6-3 win over the Pirates.

Nats near two-year extension for Young  —  PHILADELPHIA — First baseman Dmitri Young is close to signing a two-year extension with the Nationals, according to multiple sources.  The move would come a few days after the team signed infielder Ronnie Belliard to an extension.

Fan's thrown water bottle hits Piazza in head  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — Mike Piazza said he will press charges against a fan who allegedly threw a half-full water bottle at him during Wednesday afternoon's Oakland Athletics-Los Angeles Angels game, hitting the A's designated hitter in the back of the head.

Schilling's words bring response from Canseco  —  Sox pitcher called hypocrite and liar  —  Barry Bonds came under fire on HBO's "Costas Now."  (DINO VOURNAS/REUTERS)  —  CLEVELAND — Former big leaguer Jose Canseco called Red Sox pitcher Curt Schilling a "hypocrite and a liar" …

OMAR HAS TWO NATS IN SIGHTS  —  As the trade deadline nears, the Mets are prioritizing a late-game reliever followed by a second baseman - and it just so happens that Omar Minaya's old team has a player at each that the GM has targeted.  —  Minaya drafted and quickly promoted Chad Cordero …

KYLE HAS EYE OF TIGERS  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. - In what only can be described as a strange twist, the Tigers have an interest in taking Kyle Farnsworth off the Yankees' hands.  —  According to multiple sources, the Tigers are looking to make a deal that would bring Farnsworth back to the team he pitched 46 games for in 2005.

Wigginton trade talks intensify near deadline  —  BALTIMORE - With time until Tuesday's 4 p.m. deadline for nonwaiver trades winding down, the market for INF Ty Wigginton appears to be heating up.  —  At least four teams, the Dodgers, Red Sox, Twins and Yankees, have expressed serious interest …

Yank travel secretary subject of IRS probe  —  Yankee traveling secretary Dave Szen is the latest casualty of the IRS' investigation into illegal activity in baseball, the Daily News has learned.  —  Szen is under investigation by the IRS for allegedly failing to declare income derived …

A-Rod gets No. 499 off Meche in KC  —  Another blast will make slugger 22nd member of 500 HR club  —  KANSAS CITY — For some time, it hasn't been a matter of if, but when.  Now, Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez sits just one home run shy of joining baseball's prestigious 500 home run club.

PEDRO: 'EVERYTHING'S GOING GREAT'  —  Pedro Martinez told The Post yesterday that he feels strong and remains hopeful that he'll be back with the Mets next month.  —  "Oh yeah.  I'm optimistic that I'll be [back by then]," Martinez said in a phone conversation.  "So far, thanks to God, everything's going great.

Notes: Podsednik prefers top of order  —  Outfielder expresses desire to bat first or second  —  CHICAGO — Excelling from the leadoff position made Scott Podsednik an All-Star in 2005 and played a strong contributing role in the White Sox first World Series title in almost 90 years, achieved that very same season.

Grudzielanek Leaves Game  —  UPDATE: Turns out Grudz is just day-to-day with knee soreness.  The Mets deny any rumor that they've traded for him.  Two Royal false alarms today, sorry about that.  —  A friendly emailer tells me that Royals second baseman Mark Grudzielanek was in the original lineup …