Yanks demote Melky, cut Sexson  —  Club recalls Gardner and Ransom; Britton recalled, too  —  NEW YORK — TThe Yankees reshaped their roster prior to Friday's game with the Royals at Yankee Stadium, optioning outfielder Melky Cabrera to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre and designating first baseman Richie Sexson for assignment.

Pirates, Alvarez AGREE to terms; Scheppers unsigned  —  The Pirates and first-round draft pick Pedro Alvarez agreed to contract terms, just before the midnight deadline Friday: $6 million bonus, plus college.  —  More in a bit.  —  12:40 a.m.: Tanner Scheppers and all the other unsigned picks remained that way.

Reds sign first-round pick Alonso  —  Club agrees to terms with first baseman before deadline  —  CINCINNATI — It went down to the wire, but when midnight ET struck and moved Friday into Saturday, first-round Draft pick Yonder Alonso was signed and sealed as a member of the Reds.

O's reach agreement with Matusz  —  First-round pick gets major league deal, $3.2M signing bonus  —  The Orioles and first-round pick Brian Matusz have agreed to terms on a major league deal that would immediately insert him onto the club's 40-man roster and toward the top of the organization's list of pitching prospects.

Yankees fire 2 scouts amid kickback investigation  —  A Major League Baseball source said Friday that the New York Yankees decided to fire two scouts for taking kickbacks from Dominican prospects after being briefed by MLB investigators on the financial scandal and the role the men played in it.

Angels' Maicer Izturis out for the season  —  Maicer Izturis was injured when diving for a ground ball.  Now he's out for the season.  —  Injury to left thumb sidelines the shortstop.  Erick Aybar will be the starter.  —  CLEVELAND — Maicer Izturis' left thumb injury was far worse than the Angels feared.

Closer Percival is the latest Ray to land on DL … The Tampa Bay Rays are starting to run into the bad luck they have avoided for most of this magical season.  Rays closer Troy Percival will go on the 15-day disabled list because of a knee injury.  He is the third Tampa Bay player to go on the DL this week.

Suzuki HR in 9th lifts A's by White Sox  —  OAKLAND, Calif. (AP)—Kurt Suzuki gave the slumping Oakland Athletics something to celebrate.  —  Suzuki hit a game-winning, pinch-hit two-run homer in the bottom of the ninth inning and the A's rallied to beat the Chicago White Sox 6-4 on Friday night …

Webb wins 18th to snap Astros's run at 8  —  HOUSTON (AP)—Arizona's hitters with ties to Houston helped Brandon Webb and the Diamondbacks end the Astros' eight-game winning streak.  —  Webb struck out six in eight sharp innings and Houston natives Chris Snyder and Chris Young …

Torre praises Kemp's progress  —  LA manager says outfielder is ‘more sure of himself’ at plate  —  LOS ANGELES — As player, manager and broadcaster, Joe Torre has seen them come and go.  —  But he said he hasn't seen anyone quite like Matt Kemp.  —  “For where he's come from over the first three …

Nats No Go On Crow, Sign Ramirez Instead  —  The Nationals signed 15th round pick J.P. Ramirez, a lefthanded-hitting outfielder with a smooth stroke and a Tulane commitment, for $1 million.  —  Ramirez is a solid consolation prize, but the Nats missed on their top pick.

Hargrove wants to manage again: ‘Edge is back’  —  CLEVELAND — Mike Hargrove wants another shot at managing in the major leagues.  —  A little over a year ago, Hargrove shocked baseball by walking away from the Seattle Mariners, becoming the first manager since 1900 to resign as his team was on an eight-game winning streak.