Manny says he won't block any trade from BoSox … Manny Ramirez is willing to help the Boston Red Sox if the team decides they are better off without him.  —  “If the Red Sox are a better team without Manny Ramirez, they should trade me; I will not object,” said Ramirez in a telephone interview with ESPNdeportes.com on Sunday.

GO 'WAY, JOSE  —  EXPERTS FEAR TABATA'S MORE FOOL THAN JEWEL  —  Boston - OF SIXTEEN scouts and executives polled, 12 thought the Yankees won their trade with Pittsburgh anywhere from mildly to a slam dunk, two viewed the deal as having equal value for both sides, and just two favored the Pirates' side of the transaction.

The other Reyes makes an impression on Manuel  —  Argenis Reyes will never be mistaken for that other guy named Reyes on the Mets, even though two guys with the same last name who grew up nearby one another in the Dominican Republic spent last night on either side of second base at Shea Stadium.

Rodney takes over closing duties  —  Leyland makes announcement prior to Sunday's game vs. Sox  —  DETROIT — While the Tigers continue to look for bullpen help, they made a major internal change in the relief corps on Sunday.  Fernando Rodney has replaced Todd Jones as Detroit's closer for the time being.

Gossage: Too much ‘loving’ in today's game  —  COOPERSTOWN, N.Y. - Goose Gossage never met a hitter he couldn't intimidate.  In part, he says, that's because he never got to know them.  —  On the day before his induction into baseball's Hall of Fame, the 57-year-old Gossage criticized modern players …

Yankees taking a hard look at Bannister as trade deadline nears  —  Should the Royals send pitcher Brian Bannister back to New York if offered outfielder Melky Cabrera or another run-production bat in return?  —  Such an offer might be forthcoming, because the Yankees appear determined …

Orioles get to Santana, Angels early for win  —  Garrett Olson held the Angels to two runs and seven hits in six-plus innings, breaking a run of eight games in which an Orioles starter failed to get through the sixth  —  Baltimore takes a 5-2 victory for its first triumph on a Sunday since April 6.

SNY's Burkhardt goes from showroom to showtime  —  Four dozen teenagers were paying rapt attention, which itself is an accomplishment.  —  This obviously was a speaker accustomed to grabbing and holding an audience, to making his points quickly and clearly, and to displaying a casual likability.

Four Teixeira deal targets  —  It's decision time for the Braves, who have until Thursday at 4 p.m. to complete a deal to either add to their roster or build for the future by trading impending free agents Mark Teixeira, Will Ohman and Mark Kotsay.  —  The potential centerpiece of a deal is Teixeira …

Washburn pitching, so no trade immediately at hand  —  Well, Jarrod Washburn's finished doing his warmups and the game is underway in Toronto.  —  So at least for the moment, talk about a trade to New York can be put on hold.  —  Not that talks aren't ongoing, but consider the logistics.

Knight to Olympics, Pedro to pitch Friday?  —  Any thought about keeping Brandon Knight around as a long reliever went out the window when the Saturday night game lasted into Sunday morning.  Beause it went 14 innings and the entire bullpen was used—and Aaron Heilman was maybe a little overused—the Mets had to get an arm, fast.