Red Sox claim Giles  —  The Union-Tribune has learned that the Boston Red Sox have claimed Padres right fielder Brian Giles off the waiver wire, if only to keep him away from the two teams with better records in the American League.  Thus, Boston entered a 48-hour period in which the Sox …

Trade made  —  Orioles reliever Chad Bradford has been assigned to the Tampa Bay Rays, via a waiver claim.  In exchange, the Orioles will receive a player to be named later.  —  That's how much times have changed in the AL East.  The Rays are acquiring a veteran reliever for the stretch drive.

Chamberlain Is Placed on the Disabled List  —  ARLINGTON, Tex. — Joba Chamberlain will throw again this season.  The question the Yankees cannot answer is when he will pitch.  —  The Yankees placed Chamberlain on the disabled list Wednesday with rotator cuff tendinitis …

Ranking baseball's ethical transgressions  —  Imagine a college course where students hang out with Ron Coomer in the bowels of the Metrodome, watch video of Lenny Randle on all fours trying to blow Amos Otis' famous squibbler into foul territory, spend hours debating nuanced baseball ethics …

Mark Teixeira Rumors  —  By Tim Dierkes [August 7 at 9:46am CST]  —  It's not fair to lump all Orioles fans into one big group.  But as you might expect, some of the team's fans are pushing for a signing of Maryland native Mark Teixeira.  Teixeira, for his part, said all the right things while remaining noncommittal.

Ryan Church may not return to Mets  —  It appears the Mets no longer have their hopes up that Ryan Church will return this season.  The right fielder has been out since July 6 due to aftereffects from a pair of concussions.  He has been evaluated several times, but doctors haven't cleared him to play.

HUGHES NEAR ‘MAJOR’ STEP  —  ARLINGTON - Phil Hughes, rehabbing from a fractured rib, could be two minor-league starts away from providing help to the Yankee rotation.  —  Hughes starts tonight for Triple-A Scranton, and is expected to throw in the area of 60 pitches.  His next outing would be an 80-pitch effort.

Lies, Damned Lies  —  Bonds Bingo  —  Oh, it was going to happen.  It was just a matter of when.  Not in March or April, maybe, and probably not in May or June.  As the trade deadline approached, some team was going to look out at the trade market, realize they were going to need to give …

New faces join Tribe for Jays series  —  Cleveland (49-64) at Toronto (57-56), Friday, 7:07 p.m. ET  —  ST. PETERSBURG — One guy is finding his form, another has found his health, and both are coming back to the big leagues to help the Indians find their way in a lost season.

As players clear waivers, Sox look for bullpen help  —  KANSAS CITY, Mo — A number of players across baseball have cleared waivers in the first week of August, making them available to trade.  —  Relievers Scott Schoeneweis and Duaner Sanchez have cleared, though neither player interests the Sox much.