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.

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" …

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.

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.

Pirates end Mets' 3-game winning streak  —  NEW YORK (AP) — After five innings Thursday, the Pittsburgh Pirates had managed one scratch one infield hit against Oliver Perez and trailed by a run.  Eleven batters had gone down in a row, four straight on strikeouts.

Another White Sox trade possibility  —  You know Kenny Williams doesn't want to trade Jon Garland.  But the Mariners appear to have joined the Yankees in the pursuit.  If Seattle does a deal for Garland, it will probably revolve around outfielder Wladimir Balentien, who has the potential to develop into a big-time power hitter.

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 …

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.

Trade Winds: D-Train on the block?  —  Sources indicate Marlins may have softened stance on Willis  —  Will the D-Train be pulling out of the South Florida station?  —  The Marlins have publicly insisted they want to keep Dontrelle Willis, not trade him, but multiple Major League sources …

Utley breaks right hand  —  PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Phillies All-Star second baseman Chase Utley broke his right hand when he was hit by a pitch during Thursday's 7-6 loss to the Washington Nationals.  —  Utley was hit in the fifth inning by Washington's John Lannan, who was making his major league debut.

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 …

Positional Rankings - Second Base  —  Second base is rarely a deep position in the minors, as many future big league jobs on the right side of the middle infield will be filled by players who are currently shortstops.  Nonetheless, there are a few decent prospects here, but overall …