Top News:
TSN.ca:
BLUE JAYS RELEASE RYAN, ACTIVATE DOWNS — The Toronto Blue Jays gave reliever B.J. Ryan his unconditional release and activated left-hander Scott Downs from the 15-day disabled list and on Wednesday. — Ryan, 33, had appeared in 25 games this season, posting a 1-1 record with just two saves and an ERA of 6.53.
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Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
Ricciardi getting plenty of calls on Halladay — Toronto GM J.P. Ricciardi said today he's already received “several calls” from interested teams for pitching ace Roy Halladay, but he also said hold your horses. — “It would take a lot for us to part with him,” Ricciardi said.
Discussion:
Projo Sox Blog
Ken Davidoff / Newsday:
If Mets falter, trading Sheffield may not be easy — Let's say that the Mets get neither increasingly healthy nor increasingly productive, which looks like the safe bet at this point. — Let's say they raise the white flag and decide to be sellers rather than buyers - a longer leap …
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Phils Are Early Favorites For Halladay — One source told Ed Price of MLB Fanhouse that “the Phillies are leaders at this point” in the Roy Halladay sweepstakes. However, that doesn't mean the Jays ace will be dealt. As another source points out, J.P. Ricciardi is not in a hurry to trade Halladay …
Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Toronto's Roy Halladay has Angels' attention — Blue Jays are fielding offers for their ace right-hander, but the price may be too high for GM Tony Reagins. — Toronto General Manager J.P. Ricciardi has made public what the Angels have known for weeks, that the Blue Jays are fielding trade offers …
Discussion:
Boston Globe, Jorge Says No!, Fack Youk, MLB Daily Dish, MLB Rumors and The Globe and Mail
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
HALLADAY UPDATE, PHILS AS FRONTRUNNERS — I have talked to a half-dozen baseball executives this morning and the general consensus is that the Phillies should be viewed as the front-runner if Roy Halladay does get traded. Boy the news keeps getting worse and worse for the Mets.
Discussion:
The LoHud Yankees Blog
Jon Weisman / Dodger Thoughts:
Kershaw twirls more zeroes in Dodger romp — As they say in the news biz, “We have a developing story.” And it's not about Manny Ramirez. — Clayton Kershaw pitched six shutout innings in the Dodgers' 8-0 blanking of the New York Mets. — In his past five starts …
Discussion:
FanGraphs Baseball, LADodgerTalk.com, Mets Geek, Mike Scioscia's Tragic Illness, 6-4-2 and Fox Sports
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Ben Walker / Yahoo! Sports:
Crew chief: Ump told Jeter he was tagged, too — Buzz up! — NEW YORK (AP)—Given another swipe at the play, the umpires said Derek Jeter — was told he got tagged, too. — A day after a disputed call left the New York Yankees and their captain peeved, crew chief John Hirschbeck tried Tuesday night to quell the ill will.
Discussion:
NY Daily News, River Avenue Blues, Newsday, Associated Press, Pinstripe Alley, Lady At The Bat and New Jersey Online
Denver Post:
Morales happy to rejoin team in any role — Franklin Morales jogged in from the heat and needed a quick drink of water. He rejoined the Rockies as a reliever Tuesday, a role he doesn't expect to be a cup of coffee in the big leagues. — “I am ready to do my job, whatever they ask,” …
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Larry McShane / NY Daily News:
Strike three for Lenny Dykstra: Former Met files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection — It's strike three - and Chapter 11 - for Lenny Dykstra. — The one-time Mets hero, facing divorce, foreclosure on his mansion and a multitude of lawsuits, filed for bankruptcy protection in California, his attorney said Wednesday.
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Reuters:
Dykstra files for Chapter 11 — NEW YORK — Lenny Dykstra, the former star center fielder for the New York Mets and Philadelphia Phillies, has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, court records show. — Dykstra, 46, has no more than $50,000 in assets and between $10 million …
Discussion:
Mike Silva's …
ESPN.com:
Bartolo Colon of Chicago White Sox missing with Triple-A start scheduled Thursday — Chicago White Sox pitcher Bartolo Colon is scheduled to make a minor league rehab start for Triple-A Charlotte on Thursday. — Problem is, the White Sox don't know where he is. — “I know where he is supposed to be right now.
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Dan Steinberg / D.C. Sports Bog:
How the Nats Lost Last Night — Yesterday evening, I wrote that one of the reasons you have to keep watching this baseball team every night is because of the chance “that you'll see something the universe has never seen before.” That was well-timed. — “In a weird, out of body experience way …
Associated Press:
WADA president John Fahey urges MLB to adopt its drug code — MONTREAL — The president of the World Anti-Doping Agency on Wednesday urged Major League Baseball to adopt its code, which includes a two-year suspension for an athlete's first positive test. — MLB and the players' association …
Mike Celizic / NBCSports.com:
Time to get over steroids — Outrage over drug use doesn't matter to people who see it as only a game — Manny Ramirez may be a drug cheat in the eyes of media members and baseball diehards, but the casual fans could care less, writes Mike Celizic. — The Mets' play-by-play guy couldn't believe what he wasn't hearing.
Discussion:
THE BOOK
Associated Press:
MLBPA board unanimously approves Michael Weiner as new union leader — NEW YORK — Michael Weiner has been approved unanimously by the Major League Baseball Players Association executive board to succeed Donald Fehr as the union's head. — The board decided during a conference call Tuesday …
