Cubs, Rays eye Pedro  —  A source close to Pedro Martinez indicated tonight that both the Chicago Cubs and Tampa Bay Rays have watched Martinez throw in the Dominican and both teams have begun to at least explore how much money it would take to lure Martinez back to the mound.

Sox draft Michael Yastrzemski  —  Someday in the distant future, there might just be another Yaz in the Red Sox outfield.  —  In the 36th round of the MLB First-Year Player Draft this afternoon, the Red Sox selected St. John's Prep (Danvers) outfielder Michael Yastrzemski.

Red Sox rally for eighth straight vs. Yankees  —  BOSTON — J.D. Drew [stats] hit an RBI single to spark an eighth-inning rally, then scored the go-ahead run on Mike Lowell's fly ball Thursday night to help the Boston Red Sox [team stats] beat New York 4-3 and improve to 8-0 against the Yankees this year.

Source: Chien-Ming Wang to remain in New York Yankees rotation  —  Despite having a 21.61 ERA as a starter, Yankees right-hander Chien-Ming Wang is expected to remain in the rotation, a source told ESPN The Magazine's Buster Olney.  —  Wang has the highest starter's ERA through five starts since 1913 …

Orlando Hernandez agrees with Rangers  —  ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — El Duque will try to make a comeback with the Texas Rangers.  —  Orlando Hernandez, who has been part of four World Series championship teams, agreed to a minor league contract Thursday with the Rangers.

Phillies Minor League Player Ozuna Suspended  —  The Office of the Commissioner of Baseball announced today that Philadelphia Phillies Minor League infielder Pablo Ozuna has received a 50-game suspension after showing an elevated Testosterone/Epitestosterone ratio, a performance-enhancing substance violation …

Maine's Start Is Pushed Back, but Mets Say It's No Cause for Alarm  —  The Mets pushed John Maine's next start back a day, to Saturday at Yankee Stadium, because of shoulder discomfort that he described as “nothing serious.”  In his next sentence, Maine said, “It's just maybe a little dead.”

Angels draft boxing legend Ali's son  —  Catcher led high school team to division title in Michigan  —  His world-famous father lived for the late rounds, winning his fights with his famous rope-a-dope strategy.  A late round — the 40th, to be precise — was where Asaad Ali …

St. Louis Cardinals' manager Tony La Russa defends Hal McRae  —  MIAMI — The Cardinals enjoyed the National League's most productive offense in April.  They have endured its least productive one since.  To manager Tony La Russa, the same players celebrated for the earlier breakout …

If the Nats could trade Strasburg  —  Opinions vary on what Washington could get in return for its No. 1 pick  —  It's time once again to play America's favorite second-guessing game — What If?  —  Here's this week's mesmerizing hypothetical question: If baseball teams were allowed to trade draft picks …

John Maine on the DL  —  The Mets have put Mets RHP John Maine on the 15-day disabled list due to fatigue and weakness in his right shoulder.  —  Following the game, Omar Minaya told reporters that Maine had an MRI earlier in the week, which showed no structural damage.

Autopsy: Driver of car Adenhart rode in was DUI  —  Courtney Stewart had a blood-alcohol content of .06, above the legal limit for someone her age, prosecutors say.  —  Recommend  —  An autopsy report showed Courtney Frances Stewart had a blood-alcohol content above the legal limit …

Utley HR, Werth catch lift Phils past Mets in 11  —  NEW YORK — Jayson Werth took a big gamble that paid off for the Philadelphia Phillies.  —  The right fielder saved his team with a diving catch, moments before Chase Utley's second homer of the game sent Philadelphia to a 5-4 victory …