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 …
Howard Fendrich / Associated Press:
Young, Nats close to $10M, 2-year deal — WASHINGTON (AP) — Dmitri Young and the Washington Nationals were on the verge of a $10 million, two-year contract extension Thursday. — Young would earn $5 million each in 2008 and 2009, and the contract also would contain a $6 million option …
Barry Svrluga / Nationals Journal:
Dmitri? — So there's a lot of whispering going on about Dmitri Young right now.
Dmitri? — So there's a lot of whispering going on about Dmitri Young right now.
Discussion:
Mr. Irrelevant
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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Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Costas not upset about Bonds' comment — NEW YORK (AP) — A day after Barry Bonds called him a "little midget man who knows (nothing) about baseball," broadcaster Bob Costas said he wasn't upset with the San Francisco Giants slugger and responded with a jab of his own.
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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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 …
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.
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Hal Bock / Associated Press:
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.
Discussion:
Where have you gone …
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Chicagosports / Hardball:
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.
Discussion:
South Side Sox
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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 …
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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:
Bless You Boys, Mack Avenue Tigers, MLB Trade Rumors, River Ave. Blues and WasWatching.com
Associated Press:
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.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Jim Molony / MLB.com:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Trade Rumors
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 …