LEFT OUT  —  METS UNLIKELY TO SNAG OUTFIELDER AT DEADLINE  —  GET used to seeing Fernando Tatis in the Mets outfield.  —  As of yesterday, the Mets were growing in the belief that they will not obtain a corner outfielder before Thursday's trade deadline.

Eaton optioned to minors  —  Another interesting roster turn just popped across the wire.  —  Adam Eaton has been optioned to the minor leagues, paving the way for what should be the promotion of lefthander J.A. Happ from Triple A Lehigh Valley.  Eaton has not been assigned …

Sexson: Washburn would be big help  —  BOSTON - As of last night, the Yankees and Mariners had not agreed to terms on a trade that would send lefthanded starter Jarrod Washburn to the Bronx.  But that does not mean a deal will not be made in the next several days.

Trade Review: the Impact of Xavier Nady and Damaso Marte  —  With seven straight wins coming out of the All-Star Break and just 2.5 games back of first place in the AL East and one games back in the race for the Wild Card spot in the American League, the New York Yankees decided to take things …

Bay still on the radar  —  The Braves scored 27 runs during this past weekend's series in Philadelphia and won just once.  Things certainly might have been different had they had Chipper Jones and Jason Bay in their lineup.  —  Jones was sidelined by a strained left hamstring and Bay …

Slugger's act has grown very tiresome  —  Kevin Youkilis beats Alex Rodriguez's tag after going from first to third on David Ortiz's first-inning single.  He later scored.  (John Bohn/Globe Staff)  —  Remember the trading deadline in 2004?  —  The Red Sox had a disgruntled superstar …

Treanor to see specialist for injured hip  —  Starting catcher has been on disabled list since July 8  —  CHICAGO — Still feeling discomfort, Marlins catcher Matt Treanor will be examined by a specialist in Philadelphia on Monday.  —  On the disabled list since July 8 with a left hip strain, Treanor had been catching some bullpens.

Maddon rips into Rays  —  KANSAS CITY.  Mo. — Manager Joe Maddon's constant calm and perpetual positivity gave way after Saturday's game as — for the first time in his three-year reign — he ripped into the Rays for their lack of hustle.  —  Maddon's blast was loud, brief (about two minutes) and to the point.

Ken Griffey throws a throat slash toward Jeff Brantley's booth  —  For having played 20 seasons during a baseball era filled with controversy over steroids and escalating salaries, Ken Griffey Jr. has kept his reputation remarkably clean.  Off the top of my head, I can't think of one situation …

Texas Rangers' home attendance on pace to hit 20-year low  —  gjacobson@dallasnews.com  —  Major League Baseball appears immune to the sluggish economy and could set another attendance record this season.  But the Rangers, on pace for their first winning season in four years, are suffering at the gate.

Five Players To Trade, Two To Call Up, One To Stay Put  —  The early movers had it right.  Make a trade early (C.C. Sabathia, Rich Harden), and you get a top player for a longer period of time.  —  But a few contenders have stood pat, waiting for the right deal.

Orioles halt Sunday streak  —  Team ends skid after 15 straight losses; Olson allows 2 runs in 6 innings for win  —  They met at Kevin Millar's locker 30 minutes before today's first pitch, a players-only gathering that was aimed at ending a confounding 15-game losing streak on Sunday …