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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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 …

Botts eyeing one-way trip to Arlington  —  Tearing it up in Triple-A, slugger ready for return to Rangers  —  OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. — Jason Botts has a new attitude, a new approach to hitting and a .318 batting average with 74 RBIs for Triple-A Oklahoma.  —  Everything has gone well for him …