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. …

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.

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.

Angels' Kelvim Escobar to have surgery, putting his 2009 season in jeopardy  —  The right-hander hasn't pitched in the majors this season because of a shoulder tear.  —  OAKLAND — Kelvim Escobar has elected to undergo surgery to repair a shoulder tear, a procedure that not only eliminates …

Sources: Nats GM, assistant under investigation … Federal authorities and Major League Baseball are investigating Washington Nationals general manager Jim Bowden and special assistant Jose Rijo for their possible roles in a growing financial scandal involving the signing of players …

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.

Record columnist hurt in baseball game  —  Bob Klapisch has pitched for the Hackensack Troasts since 1989 and the Morris Mariners since 1996.  —  Klapisch was pitching in relief for the Morris Mariners at a Parsippany baseball field when a ground ball took an errant hop and caught …

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...

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 …

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.”

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.

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …