Top News:
Joel Sherman / New York Post:
MELKY TO MINORS, SEXSON WAIVED — YANKEES PROMOTE GARDNER, RANSOM — In a move designed to boost the Yankees' sagging offense, the team today will demote Melky Cabrera to the minors, waive Richie Sexson, and promote Brett Gardner and Cody Ransom from Triple-A, The Post has learned.
Discussion:
MLB Rumors, Walkoff Walk, WasWatching.com, iYankees, Sliding Into Home and River Ave. Blues
RELATED:
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
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.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Melky optioned; Sexson released — I'm not at the Stadium today. But word from the Bronx is that Melky Cabrera has been optioned down to Triple-A Scranton and Richie Sexson was released. — OF Brett Gardner and INF Cody Ransom will be added to the roster.
Jim Baumbach / Newsday:
Yankees demote Melky Cabrera, waive Sexson — On the heels of a disappointing road trip and with their playoff hopes fading, the Yankees acted swiftly Friday. — The Yankees sent Melky Cabrera to Triple-A and designated Richie Sexson for assignment. To take their spots on the roster …
Roderick Boone / On the Yankees beat:Tonight's lineup and plenty of pregame news/nuggets
Discussion:
Pinstripe Alley
ESPN.com:
Yankees fire two scouts amid kickback probe — 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.
RELATED:
Ronald Blum / Associated Press:
Source: Yankees fire 2 scouts amid probe — NEW YORK (AP)—The New York Yankees have fired two scouts under investigation in a probe of possible skimming from contracts with Latin American players, The Associated Press has learned. — The Yankees terminated the contracts of Carlos Rios …
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Alvarez, Scheppers have not agreed yet — The Pirates and Pedro Alvarez have unequivocally not yet agreed to terms, according to a high-level team source, contrary to one local radio report. — UPDATE 11:11 p.m.: Second source confirms — not that it was needed after that first one — that there is no deal yet.
RELATED:
Buster Olney / ESPN:
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.
RELATED:
Dan Connolly / Baltimore Sun:
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.
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
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.
Discussion:
Baseball Musings
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John Manuel / Baseball America Draft Blog:
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.
Discussion:
Fire Jim Bowden
MLB.com:
Reds sign top Draft pick — 1B Yonder Alonso agrees to Major League contract — CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds tonight announced they have signed to a Major League contract 2008 first-round draft pick Yonder Alonso. He will report to the club's spring training facility in Sarasota.
Steve Gilbert / MLB.com:
Cruz eyes free agency with uncertainty — D-backs reliever eligible at the end of this season — HOUSTON — Juan Cruz will be a free agent at the end of the year. — Whether or not he'll be an Arizona Diamondback next season remains to be seen. — “Every player, when they sign …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
John Manuel / Baseball America Draft Blog:
Yanks Get Bleich Done — If Gerrit Cole follows through and goes to UCLA as he has said, then Stanford lefthander Jeremy Bleich will be the Yankees' top signee from the 2008 draft. The Yankees signed Bleich Friday night, though terms of the deal have not been reported.
Jim Callis / Baseball America Draft Blog:
Rangers Sign Smoak — The Rangers have signed South Carolina first baseman Justin Smoak, their first-round pick, for a $3.5 million bonus.
