Top News:
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
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.
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Jerry Crasnick / ESPN:
Source: Young close to two-year deal with Nats … First baseman Dmitri Young is close to agreement on a two-year, $10 million contract with the Washington Nationals, a baseball source told ESPN.com. — Young, who signed a minor league contract with the Nationals in February …
Barry Svrluga / Nationals Journal:
Dmitri? — So there's a lot of whispering going on about Dmitri Young right now. The Nationals are definitely talking to him about an extension, but I'm hearing both sides. There has been, as I've said before, some internal lobbying to keep him, and Young has said he is willing to stay — but for the right price.
Discussion:
Mr. Irrelevant
New Jersey Online:
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.
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Sports Illustrated:
Jon Heyman: Rangers at the center of trade talks — Also in this column: — People familiar with the Mark Teixeira trade talks say the Angels are belying their usual California cool and being "very persistent" in their efforts to land the switch-hitting slugger who'd be the perfect complement …
David O'Brien / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Possible Teixeira trade sets clubhouse abuzz — San Francisco — There was a buzz in the Braves' clubhouse, and it had nothing to do with Barry Bonds. — Players were excited to hear the Braves have been discussing a possible trade for Texas Rangers slugger Mark Teixeira …
Anthony Rieber / Newsday:
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.
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ESPN:
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.
Discussion:
Catbird in the Nosebleed Seats
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
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" …
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New York Post:
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 …
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Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
Cash: Hands off young arms — KANSAS CITY - Just call them The Untouchables. With the trade deadline five days away, several teams would love to pry Phil Hughes, Joba Chamberlain or Ian Kennedy away from the Yankees, but Brian Cashman has no intention of dealing any of the three.
George King / New York Post:
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.
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors, Bless You Boys, Mack Avenue Tigers, River Ave. Blues and WasWatching.com
Marc Topkin / St. Petersburg Times:
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 …
NY Daily News:
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 …
Discussion:
The Biz of Baseball
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
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.
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Mark Hale / New York Post:
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.
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
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.
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