Top News:
Jayson Stark / ESPN:
Source: Indians, Dodgers close to deal sending Blake to L.A. … The Cleveland Indians are closing in on a trade that would send third baseman/outfielder Casey Blake and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor leaguers, according to a source with knowledge of the deal.
RELATED:
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Blake a possibility as help in outfield — The Mets have narrowed their trade focus to acquiring a corner outfielder, and one team insider expressed optimism that Cleveland's Casey Blake, Seattle's Raul Ibanez or Pittsburgh's Jason Bay could be obtained next week.
Associated Press:
Dodgers acquire Blake from Indians — CLEVELAND — The Cleveland Indians have traded third baseman Casey Blake and cash to the Los Angeles Dodgers for two minor leaguers, a person familiar with the deal told The Associated Press on Saturday. — Blake, who is eligible for free agency following this season …
Tom Krasovic / San Diego Union-Tribune:
At Hoffman house, ‘Hells Bells’ also marks arrival of Brody Time — PITTSBURGH - The passage of time in Trevor Hoffman's home can be marked by the sound of 11-year-old Brody Hoffman's guitar. The oldest of Hoffman's three sons, Brody has become competent at playing a song near and dear to Hoffman's heart: AC/DC's “Hells Bells.”
Discussion:
Can't Stop The Bleeding
Alejandro Leal / MLB Rumors:Mets Actively Looking For Corner Outfielder
Discussion:
24 Hours From Suicide
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Breaking news: Trade reconfigured — The Yankees are sending RHP Dan McCutchen, RHP Jeff Karstens, OF Jose Tabata and RHP Ross Ohlendorf to Pittsburgh for Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte. — LHP Phil Coke and RHP George Kontos are not in the deal. — Nady and Marte are on their way to Boston.
RELATED:
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 103: Yankees at Red Sox — YANKEES (57-45) — RED SOX (60-44) — Andy Pettitte (11-7, 3.86) vs. the Boston hitters. — Tim Wakefield (6-7, 3.69) vs. the New York hitters. — Just for kicks, here is Damaso Marte vs. the Boston hitters. — Notes: Sorry for the delay, they were waiting on Nady to arrive. ...
Discussion:
Sports Illustrated, seattlepi.com Mariners blog, MLB Rumors, Mariners Blog, ESPN and iYankees
Dan Shaughnessy / Boston Globe:
Now he's a guaranteed out — The Red Sox have had it with Manny Ramírez. — Manny has punched his ticket out of town. It's over. O-VA. Adios, amigo. Good night, Irene. Turn out the lights. Last night's 1-0 loss to the Yankees (think they could have used Manny?) was the proverbial last worthless evening.
RELATED:
Sean McAdam / Providence Journal:
Ramirez faces penalty from Sox if he sits today — BOSTON — The Red Sox' long, sometimes contentious relationship with Manny Ramirez appears to have reached the tipping point. — After Ramirez yesterday informed the club that he was unavailable for the second time in as many games …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, MLB Rumors, Hot Stove New York, SOX & Dawgs, River Ave. Blues and The Joy of Sox
Steve Buckley / Boston Herald:
Latest episode means it's time to get rid of Manny Ramirez — Let's see if today is the day the Red Sox [team stats] will reclaim their dignity and toss Manny Ramirez [stats] out on his arse. — For years now, the team has been suffering in silence as Manny more or less spits in their collective faces.
Discussion:
MLB FanHouse
Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
Chamerblain adds new buzz to Youkilis feud — BOSTON - The pitch was mid-90s and next to Kevin Youkilis' batting helmet. The message was clear: Take this Joba and shove it! — Yankees ace-in-the-making Joba Chamberlain and Boston's All-Star first baseman have some bad blood in their history …
Discussion:
Fenway West
RELATED:
Mike Puma / New York Post:YOUKILIS NEARLY KNOCKED OUT OF SOX ONCE AGAIN
Discussion:
Yankee GM Blog, New York Times, iYankees, New Jersey Online and Yankee Stadium Insider Blog
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Two pitchers changed in trade; Pearce up — Two names have changed in the Pirates-Yankees trade, and those should be known soon. The names are on the New York side, not Pittsburgh's. — UPDATE 12:33 p.m.: One added is Daniel McCutchen, pictured at right. Not sure who is out or who the other is yet.
Geoff Baker / Mariners Blog:
Mariners at Toronto Blue Jays: 07/26 game thread — R.A. Dickey is going to have to get off the extra-base-hit-per-inning pace he's on, or it'll be a long day for his team. Seattle is down 3-1 after Dickey yielded a leadoff double to Joe Inglett, hero of last night's game.
Discussion:
Associated Press
Paul Hoynes / Cleveland Sports News:
Indians acquire Anthony Reyes from St. Louis for minor leaguer — The Indians, in another move to bolster their starting pitching depth, today acquired St. Louis right-hander Anthony Reyes for Class AA reliever Luis Perdomo. — Reyes, who won Game 1 of the 2006 World Series for the Cardinals …
