Olney's Latest: Atlanta's Potential Trade Partners  —  ESPN.com's Buster Olney chimes in with some players and teams that could matchup in a trade with the Braves, who could dangle Javier Vazquez and/or Yunel Escobar as bait.  Most of the rumors are just Olney's own speculation, but let's round 'em up anyway.

Manny did the time, but what about the crime?  —  In first game back from drug suspension, Ramirez is the celebrated straw that stirs the drink, with fans and teammates welcoming him with open arms, no questions asked.  —  From San Diego — Manny Ramirez was released from the substance slammer Friday …

Reynolds speaks up after D-backs loss  —  Infielder vents after Arizona commits three errors  —  DENVER — A sellout crowd turned out at Coors Field looking forward to a postgame fireworks show.  —  As it turned out, Mark Reynolds provided one of his own following the D-backs' 5-0 error-filled loss to the Rockies.

Rafael Palmeiro continues to deny knowingly using performance-enhancing drugs  —  Rafael Palmeiro spent some time reflecting before he was inducted into the College Baseball Hall of Fame on Friday in Lubbock, Texas, on Friday.  —  Palmeiro's legacy shifted in the summer of 2005.

Marlins wives to hold annual tackle box auction July 4  —  The Florida Marlins Wives are teaming together to host the Annual Marlins Wives Tackle Box Auction on Saturday, July 4, during the Marlins-Pirates game at Land Shark Stadium, which starts at 6:05 p.m. Gates open at 4:30 p.m.

Phillies torch Livan Hernandez and beat Mets 7-2  —  PHILADELPHIA — Rodrigo Lopez took a three-hitter into the seventh inning in his first outing in two years, helping the Philadelphia Phillies snap a six-game home losing streak with a 7-2 victory over the Mets on Friday night.

Gehrig, veterans honored this weekend  —  MLB to promote ALS awareness and wear Stars & Stripes  —  When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth …

Conrad makes presence felt with Braves  —  Called up from Minors, delivers game-winning homer  —  WASHINGTON — Brooks Conrad was ready to take his first at-bat in the top of the second inning of the Gwinett Braves' game Thursday, when manager Dave Brundage asked the infielder if he still wanted to hit.

Lawyer Says 2003 Clemens Drug Test Was Negative  —  In recent months, Alex Rodriguez and Sammy Sosa have been linked to the list of 100 or so players who tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs in 2003, the first season such tests were conducted by Major League Baseball.

Three runs in 16th give Tigers victory over Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Placido Polanco hit a pair of extra-inning RBI singles, the second giving the Detroit Tigers the lead for good in an 11-9 victory over the Minnesota Twins in 16 innings Friday night.  —  Polanco drove in a run in the top …

Alfonso Soriano moved to sixth in Cubs' batting order  —  Alfonso Soriano will move to the sixth spot in the Cubs batting order and Kosuke Fukudome to the leadoff spot “for a while,” manager Lou Piniella said Saturday.  —  The move, hinted at Friday after another 0-for-5 day for Soriano …

Source: Padres to extend Black's contract  —  Buzz up!  —  SAN DIEGO - Rebuilding under new ownership, the San Diego Padres intend to extend manager Bud Black's contract in the coming weeks, according to a club source.  —  Black, 52, is in his third season managing the Padres …

Johnson's 11th-inning double lifts Mariners over Red Sox  —  BOSTON (AP) — Rob Johnson doubled home two runs in the 11th inning and the Seattle Mariners beat the Boston Red Sox 7-6 on Friday night.  —  George Kottaras hit his first major-league homer in the bottom of the 11th for the Red Sox …

Giants look to acquire left-handed bat  —  is going to walk through that door.  But the San Francisco Giants, who headed into the holiday weekend on top of a 10-team pack separated by just four games for the National League wild-card berth, are also past the point of conceding they can't win …

Red Sox In Serious Talks With Cuban SS  —  The Red Sox are in serious talks to sign Cuban shortstop Jose Iglesias for about $8MM, according to Jon Heyman of SI.com.  No deal is complete, but Heyman's sources are optimistic that the sides will agree.  Iglesias, who is listed as 19, defected from Cuba last year.