Diamondbacks, Cardinals lead pursuit of Pittsburgh's Bay … The Diamondbacks and Cardinals are among the most ardent pursuers of Pirates star outfielder Jason Bay, SI.com has learned.  —  The Mets and Rays, who also seek an outfielder, are among other teams thought to have checked in with the Pirates.

Yankees sign Eric Milton to minor-league deal  —  Gernal manager Brian Cashman confirmed the Yankees have signed lefty Eric Milton to a minor-league contract.  —  Milton, who turns 33 next month, is still recovering from “Tommy John” surgery.  He threw on flat ground today in Tampa, Fla. …

Mariners activate RHP Hernandez from DL  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP)—Seattle ace Felix Hernandez was activated from the 15-day disabled list Friday to start against the Kansas City Royals.  —  Hernandez sprained his left ankle covering home plate on a wild pitch in the Mariners' 5-2 win over the New York Mets on June 23.

Matsui progressing; Pavano close to return? … TAMPA, Fla. (AP) — Yankees outfielder-designated hitter Hideki Matsui could resume taking onfield batting practice Saturday while he progresses in a rehab program for his sore left knee.  —  “I think very soon,” Matsui said Friday through a translator.

DL additions change trade market  —  Wells, McGowan, Bedard and Mulder head to disabled list  —  No major trades went down Thursday, but the landscape of the midsummer trade market shifted slightly.  —  The 15-day disabled list claimed four players — Dustin McGowan and Vernon Wells of the Blue Jays …

Younger Steinbrenner a chip off the old Boss since taking reins  —  TAMPA — Hank Steinbrenner parks his black Cadillac near the front door of the New York Yankees training complex, takes an elevator up four floors and unlocks his office door — and is hit with a potent smell of coconut, the product of a too-strong air freshener.

The best baseball movie never made  —  The snow is piling up on my Maine lawn on a March afternoon.  The phone rings.  —  “How'd you like to hear a baseball story that could be bigger than ‘Field of Dreams’?” the voice on the other end asks.  “This isn't just one movie, it's two, or maybe three.”

Fired O's scout tied to betting probe … Veteran scout Alan Marr was fired by the Baltimore Orioles earlier this month after Major League Baseball's newly formed investigative unit tied his name to sports betting, sources with knowledge of the investigation told SI.com.

Can Mets manager Manuel earn himself extension?  —  Jerry Manuel was the Mets' interim manager for exactly three days when he joked with reporters about getting a three-year extension.  Almost a month later, that's not such a ridiculous idea.  Based on his immediate success in reviving …

Desperate times call for...  The Rangers have made a couple of moves to help their depleted bullpen.  RHP Joselo Diaz and RHP Kameron Loe are on the team.  RHP Wes Littleton was optioned to Triple-A Oklahoma and RHP Scott Feldman was optioned to Double-A Frisco.

3 DOWN: Sexson to the Yanks?  Giambi and Jays OF  —  1. The Yankee problems against lefty pitching are so dire that they will meet in the next day or so to determine whether to make a play for Richie Sexson, Hardball has learned.  Sexson was released Thursday by the Mariners...

Top 100 Prospects Update  —  With three months of the season expired, we have a pretty good idea what the top quarter of the Top 100 Prospects list would look like.  To qualify for this list, a player must be rookie-eligible; he must to be in the minor leagues at the time of the Futures Game …

Girardi catches heat from Posada  —  PITTSBURGH - Criticizing his manager isn't Jorge Posada's way, even as he spent yet another game away from his familiar spot behind the plate.  —  Privately, however, Posada has expressed his dissatisfaction with Joe Girardi's decision to start Jose Molina …

He's back via special delivery  —  Buchholz brings a new motion to Fenway  —  The last time Clay Buchholz was sighted in the major leagues, he was standing between the posts of a locker in the visitors' clubhouse at the Metrodome, a lost and lonely place.  —  He had a torn fingernail …

Big deal unlikely for Tigers before deadline  —  Ten days from now, in the opener of a series in Kansas City, the Tigers will need their No. 5 starter again.  —  It's uncertain who it will be, but he's probably someone in the organization rather than a potential acquisition.

Cashman: Trades not easy to make  —  PITTSBURGH - General manager Brian Cashman isn't making assumptions that two major trades - the Brewers' trade for CC Sabathia and the Cubs' deal for Rich Harden - in early July will mean the trade deadline (July 31) will be more active than in other years.

Wrigley replica cemetery coming for Cubs fans … CHICAGO (AP) — Finally, the perfect answer for a team that has been killing its fans for 100 years: A place to put their remains.  —  A Chicago man and Bohemian National Cemetery on the city's North Side are joining forces to build for Cubs fans …