Wily Mo has cleared waivers  —  According to a Major League source, Wily Mo Pena has cleared waivers, allowing the Red Sox to trade him up until the Aug. 31 waiver trade deadline.  —  Just in case you were wondering, this has no bearing on the ability of the Red Sox to send Pena to the minors.

Diamondbacks Sign Byrnes To Extension  —  According to Nick Piecoro of the Arizona Republic, the Diamondbacks have reached an accord with outfielder Eric Byrnes in the $30MM over three years.  Piecoro believes that the fallout of the deal will be a trade of right fielder Carlos Quentin.

Barry Bonds' Brace  —  Orthotic Verisimilitude … You don't know Mark Silva, but you know his work.  As a certified orthotist, Silva is one of the top builders of custom sports braces for athletes.  He's made them for football players in his work with the San Francisco 49ers …

Cubs recall right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher  —  Cubs option left-handed pitcher Will Ohman to Triple-A Iowa  —  HOUSTON — The Chicago Cubs today recalled right-handed pitcher Sean Gallagher from Triple-A Iowa.  In a corresponding roster move, left-handed pitcher Will Ohman was optioned to Iowa.

Cleveland Indians call up infielder Cabrera  —  The Indians have designated reserve infielder Mike Rouse for assignment and recalled shortstop Asdrubal Cabrera from Class AAA Buffalo.  —  Cabrera will be in uniform tonight for the start of a three-game series in Chicago against the White Sox.

How To Hook Up With A Deadspin Commenter  —  by SportsGirl365, Strike Zones and End Zones  —  In a world of eHarmony, Match.com, and JDate, internet hook-ups are becoming a socially accepted norm.  There is, however, a much overlooked forum for match-making that has thrived underground - the Deadspin comments section.

Inside Pitch: Impact of Soriano injury  —  Cubs have the personnel to handle loss of star leadoff man  —  HOUSTON — When Alfonso Soriano tore his right quadriceps Sunday night, an injury that will keep the Cubs' $136 million man out until Labor Day, the immediate reaction …

Other side of history?  —  SAN FRANCISCO — Barry Bonds emerged from the third-base dugout shortly after 5 p.m. local time yesterday, a wall of cameras chronicling the San Francisco Giants star's every move as he prepared for perhaps the biggest ballgame of his life.

Stormy loss puts Wells on thin ice  —  ST. LOUIS - Is David Wells finished with the Padres?  —  The Padres weren't saying last night, but after the 44-year-old gave up seven runs to raise his ERA to 14.04 over the past four games, what manager Bud Black didn't say suggested Wells is near the end of line.

Minor League Leadoff Hitters, Ranked  —  Every June, the minor leagues are flooded with a new group of small, fast, up-the-middle players.  Scouting directors take flyers on leadoff types in droves annually, and all the players have one thing in common: speed.

Matt Vasgersian Trashes St. Louis  —  Look, I'm not one to spread rumors, but this seems like it very well could be true.  An email came through the AA wires shortly after the end of the Padres-Cards game last night, and read as follows...  I've tried just about every avenue I can think of to get the video/audio.

Note: Colin Cowherd Rips the Mets  —  ESPN Radio's Colin Cowherd recently ripped the Mets pre-game radio show, by mocking Meet the Mets, among other things, while adding...  ...man, what a cranky jackass...  ...he makes Wallace Matthews look like Mr. Met...

Kershaw promoted; Brooks retires  —  Monday was a bittersweet day for Great Lakes Loons' manager Lance Parrish.  The Loons won for only the fifth time in the last 22 games, but Parrish found out that he would be losing two of his players.  —  Ace pitcher Clayton Kershaw was promoted Monday …

Homing in on a return  —  Sox sign Kielty to minor league pact  —  ANAHEIM, Calif. — "The Yankees showed quite of bit of interest," Bobby Kielty said over the phone yesterday, moments after signing a minor league contract with the Red Sox, "but I definitely felt I'd rather play with the Red Sox than the Yankees.

Cubs bring up Patterson from Triple-A  —  Top prospect was hitting .299 with 14 homers, 62 RBIs for Iowa  —  HOUSTON — The Cubs purchased the contract of Eric Patterson from Triple-A Iowa and placed Alfonso Soriano on the disabled list Monday.  —  The Cubs also designated infielder Brian Dopirak …