Top News:
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Mock Draft 4.0 — Bonus demands adds more confusion to wide-open draft — When team officials head to bed the night before the draft, they usually have a pretty good idea of who they're going to take in the first round. They may not know exactly who's going to fall to them …
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Kevin Goldstein / Baseball Prospectus:
The Mock Draft — This one could be a mess folks, and it's all about bonus demands at this point. Right now, you have as many as four high school pitchers—Jacob Turner, Tyler Matzek, Matt Purke, and Shelby Miller—looking for big, big money, with the first three all telling teams they're looking …
Discussion:
By Gosh, It's Langosch, 6-4-2, The Nats Blog, Bucs Dugout, Pinstriped Bible, Texas Rangers, Bottom9 Baseball and Baseball America
Baseball Analysts:
The 2009 MLB Draft is (Finally) Upon Us — The Major League Baseball First-Year Player Draft begins today at 6 p.m. ET. The MLB Network will broadcast the first round from its Studio 42 in Secaucus, N.J. with MLB.com providing on-air coverage of the remainder of the draft …
Discussion:
Baseball America, DRaysBay, Athletics Nation, The Yankee Universe and River Avenue Blues
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
Ninety Minutes & Counting . . . And I just got my makeup done here at MLB Network, so I look pretty. — As mentioned in this morning's complete first-round projection, many of the projected first-round high schoolers threw out bigger asking prices than expected.
Philly.com:
Lidge goes on disabled list — Righthander Brad Lidge was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a sprained right knee, retroactive to June 7, the Phillies said today. — To take his spot on the 25-man roster, the Phillies selected the contract of catcher Paul Bako from double-A Reading.
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Associated Press:
Phillies' Lidge on DL with sprained knee — NEW YORK (AP) — Philadelphia Phillies closer Brad Lidge has gone on the 15-day disabled list because of a sprained right knee. — The move was announced before Tuesday's series opener at the New York Mets and was retroactive to Sunday.
Tony Massarotti / Boston Globe:
A missed mark — Even now, as Mark Teixeira continues to pound away at opposing pitchers at a frantic rate, the impact of his arrival in the American League East has yet to be felt. For the Red Sox, after all, Teixeira was not as much about the present as he was about the future.
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John Manuel / Baseball America:
And The Rockies Select . . . Matzek! — Colorado has two picks and has been silent, no one seems to know what was happening here. — Now we do. The Rockies take Tyler Matzek, the lefthander out of Capo Valley High in Califorina, and no one thought that was happening.
Discussion:
Purple Row
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Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Yanks leading in AL East, All-Star votes — Teixeira drives past Youkilis; Jeter remains in lead at short — The votes, following Mark Teixeira's other numbers, are beginning to mushroom for the New York Yankees first baseman. — First base in the American League is considered the most loaded …
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Associated Press:
Jays' Litsch set for John surgery, out for season — TORONTO (AP) — Blue Jays starter Jesse Litsch will have Tommy John surgery and miss the rest of the season, a major blow to a team trying to keep pace in the competitive AL East. — Toronto is already missing starting right-handers Dustin McGowan …
Dave Sheinin / Washington Post:
Strasburg Negotiations Between Nationals, Boras Could Result in Historic Signing — Nationals, Boras Set to Negotiate After MLB Draft — They are separated by 2,700 miles, a negotiating gap that could be as large as $40 million and a philosophical chasm regarding players' rights …
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Alden Gonzalez / MLB.com:
West, Carroll enjoy big nights in Florida win — Starter takes no-hitter into seventh; outfielder nearly cycles — MIAMI — While facing off against a guy now closely related with the number 300, it was the number 1 that seemed to ring loudest at Land Shark Stadium on Monday.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com
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Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Game 56: Phillies at Mets — (UPDATED 2.0) The injury-depleted Mets will at least have Johan Santana to rely on tonight when they begin a grueling stretch with a three-game series against the NL East rival Phillies at Citi Field. — Santana has won each of his past three starts …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation
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Associated Press:
Rangers' Hamilton has surgery on torn abdomen — ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Rangers outfielder Josh Hamilton has had surgery in Philadelphia to repair a partially torn abdominal muscle. — Manager Ron Washington said the surgery Tuesday went well and that Hamilton is expected back in Texas on Wednesday.
Trsullivan / Postcards from Elysian Fields:
Rangers acquire RHP Grilli to replace Benson — The Rangers have acquired RHP Jason Grilli for cash considerations, according to a source. He was designated for assignment by the Colorado Rockies last week. — He was 0-1 with a 6.05 ERA in 22 games for the Rockies as a reliever.
Mark Feinsand / NY Daily News:
X-man making progress; pitchers take their cuts — Xavier Nady continues to make progress with his injured right elbow in Tampa, leaving open the possibility the outfielder could rejoin the Yankees next week for their nine interleague games in National League parks.
Joe Posnanski / Sports Illustrated:
Talkin' about the underappreciated base on balls, with Bill James … People have violently different views about walks in baseball. I like them because I believe that they are still the most underappreciated weapon in baseball. Bill likes them because they epitomize team play — “Hey …
Discussion:
BBTF's Baseball Primer …
