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.
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 …
Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yanks trade for Hinske, bolster outfield — New York sends pair of Minor Leaguers to Pirates in deal — NEW YORK — The Yankees moved Tuesday to add a multi-purposed bat to Joe Girardi's lineup card, acquiring Eric Hinske from the Pirates in exchange for Minor League right-hander Casey Erickson and outfielder Eric Fryer.
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Wilson questions trade (now with audio), Salazar coming up tomorrow — Shortstop Jack Wilson questioned the Nyjer Morgan/Sean Burnett trade, one of several players — again — palpably bothered by one of general manager Neal Huntington's moves that removes from the current team.
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Bill Ladson / MLB.com:
Nats swap with Bucs, acquire Morgan — Club also gets Burnett in exchange for Milledge, Hanrahan — WASHINGTON — The Nationals have traded reliever Joel Hanrahan and outfielder Lastings Milledge to the Pirates for reliever Sean Burnett and outfielder Nyjer Morgan on Tuesday afternoon.
Discussion:
Oleanders and Morning Glories
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Done deal: Morgan, Burnett to Nationals
Done deal: Morgan, Burnett to Nationals
Discussion:
Mondesi's House, Pittsburgh Lumber Co., Raise the Jolly Roger, Where Have You Gone … and Honest Wagner
Amalie Benjamin / Boston Globe:
Bailey in Baltimore — BALTIMORE — Jeff Bailey has arrived in Baltimore, and will take the spot of Mike Lowell if the Sox decide to place the third baseman on the disabled list. — Lowell got an injection of Synvisc in his hip yesterday, and had 15 ccs of fluid drained from the hip.
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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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Steve Silva / Boston Globe:
All-Star voting: Youk pulls ahead, Pedroia closes gap
All-Star voting: Youk pulls ahead, Pedroia closes gap
Discussion:
Angels Unplugged
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.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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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 …
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.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Yanks Considered Trading Rivera For Wells In '95 — Former Yankees GM Gene Michael told John Harper of the New York Daily News that he considered dealing Mariano Rivera to the Tigers for David Wells back in 1995. Rivera was still considered a starter then, and he was one of the players the Tigers had interest in.
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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
Adam Rubin / Surfing the Mets:
Source: Steadman finds bruise, recommends rest thru ASG — Carlos Beltran's trip to Vail, Colo., provided a reassuring diagnosis, a source familiar with the examination told the Daily News. — Dr. Richard Steadman, who examined Beltran (pictured right) on Monday, agreed …
Discussion:
The 'Ropolitans
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Polls / Brew Beat:
Brewers to “take a look” at Backe — The Brewers will do their due dilligence on right-hander Brandon Backe, the former Astro who was designated for assignment last week and refused a trip to Houston's Triple-A club on Monday. — Backe, 31, missed two months with an oblique injury …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
Inside MLB Attendance - Interleague 2009 — With Sunday's games in the books, Interleague Play for MLB in 2009 is nearly concluded (a June 16th rainout between the Cubs and White Sox still needs to be replayed), seeing average attendance drop from last year's record setting pace.
Associated Press:
Pujols homers twice off Unit, but Giants hold off Cardinals — ST. LOUIS (AP) — Randy Johnson won his third straight decision and 303rd of his career despite surrendering two home runs to Albert Pujols in the San Francisco Giants' 6-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday night.
Discussion:
NBCSports.com
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 …