Top News:
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
YANKS OBTAIN HINSKE — The Yankees acquired veteran lefty hitter Eric Hinske from the Pirates for two minor leaguers not considered significant prospects, righty pitcher Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer. — The move was made by the Yankees for several reasons:
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MLB:
Pittsburgh Pirates trade Nyjer Morgan to Washington Nationals, Eric Hinske to New York Yankees — PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates, swapping outfielders at a rapid rate for the second successive season, sent starting left fielder Nyjer Morgan to the Washington Nationals in a four-player deal involving outfielder Lastings Milledge.
Dave Cameron / FanGraphs Baseball:
The Morgan-Milledge Deal — Over the last few years, one of the easier running jokes in baseball was to suggest that any available outfielder would interest the Washington Nationals. Jim Bowden couldn't hide his love of toolsy, athletic underperformers, so every kid who had ever been ranked …
Chico Harlan / Nationals Journal:
Nats Trade Milledge, Hanrahan To Pittsburgh For Morgan, Burnett — [UPDATE, 3:30 p.m.] — Done deal. Absolutely finalized. Look for a more detailed news story here in a few minutes. GM Mike Rizzo will address the media about the deal at 4:10 p.m. — [UPDATE, 2:55 p.m.] - The trade is actually a 2-for-2.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Yankees acquire Hinske from Pirates — Eric Hinske will be joining the team today. No word on who is being sent down although it would figure to be Ramiro Pena. — The release from the Yankees: — The New York Yankees today acquired infielder/outfielder Eric Hinske from the Pittsburgh Pirates along …
Bill Ladson / MLB.com:Nats swap with Bucs, acquire Morgan
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
Jeff Seidel / MLB.com:
Lead gets away from Boston bullpen — Masterson, Okajima, Saito combine to allow 10 runs — BALTIMORE — The Red Sox did not expect to lose this game. — Why would they? There were so many factors on their side, so many things going their way. Starter John Smoltz breezed through …
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 76: Mariners at Yankees (with pre-game updates and Cashman audio — 8:05 new first pitch time) — YANKEES (43-32) — Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 3.81). — MARINERS (39-36) — Ichiro RF — Branyan 1B — Lopez 2B — Griffey LF — Sweeney DH — Gutierrez CF
Geoff Baker / Boston Herald:Mariners hang close, fall to late Yankees' push
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
John Harper / NY Daily News:At start of Mariano Rivera's Yankee career, Gene Michael almost traded him
Corey Brock / MLB.com:
Hill has Tommy John surgery — Padres righty out 10-14 months after procedure last week — SAN DIEGO — The Padres confirmed Tuesday that right-handed pitcher Shawn Hill had elbow reconstruction surgery last week, the second time since 2004 he has had the procedure on his right elbow.
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Doug Miller / MLB.com:
Red Sox duo locked in close All-Star votes — Youkilis pulls ahead, Pedroia very near in balloting's final days — On his march to the Major Leagues, the little guy who plays second base for the Boston Red Sox has heard over and over again that he can't, but then he laces up his spikes, throws on his glove and proves everyone wrong.
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Rick Morrissey / Chicago Tribune:
Fair or not, Chicago Cubs' failures are Jim Hendry's fault — Fair or not, blame for failures squarely on Hendry's shoulders — If you think Milton Bradley is having a rough year so far, how about Jim Hendry? — The Cubs' general manager is responsible for signing the .238-hitting …
Tom Verducci / Sports Illustrated:
Tom Verducci's AL, NL All-Star selections … With only three days left before polling closes, it's time to recognize the players who should be going to the All-Star Game, as if Ben Zobrist and Aaron Hill have any chance of catching Dustin Pedroia in the balloting.
Associated Press:
Haren hits first career homer, pitches Diamondbacks past Reds — CINCINNATI (AP) — Dan Haren held the Cincinnati Reds scoreless into the seventh inning, showing why he's been the NL's stingiest pitcher in June, and connected on his first career homer Tuesday night during a 6-2 victory …
Discussion:
AZ Snakepit
Los Angeles Times:
Dodgers are shut down by Rockies' Jason Marquis — L.A. gets only two hits against Colorado ace, who becomes the first 10-game winner in the National League. — The Dodgers' Chad Billingsley pitched well Monday night in his quest to become the National League's first 10-game winner.
Associated Press:
Prado's four RBI propels Braves past Phillies in 10 — ATLANTA (AP) — Martin Prado singled in the winning run in the 10th inning to finish with a career-best four hits and four RBIs, helping the Atlanta Braves beat Philadelphia 5-4 on Tuesday night for their first home win over the Phillies since 2007.
Joe Posnanski:
2 + 2 = ? — This is, on the surface, all about the Kansas City Royals. But really, I think, it's not. It's about unexpected consequences, the vision thing and why two plus two does not always equal four. — So, here's the thing: Royals general manager Dayton Moore knows about a hundred times more about baseball than I do.
Discussion:
Twinkie Town
