Top News:
Mike Axisa / MLB Rumors:
Mets, Braves Swap Church For Francoeur — 6:07pm: Hubbuch clears up some confusion: the Braves are sending the Mets cash in the deal. That makes more sense given the difference in salaries. — 5:48pm: Adam Rubin of The NY Daily News reports that Braves also received cash in the deal.
Discussion:
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Mike Nichols / MetsBlog.com:
Mets trade Ryan Church for Jeff Francoeur — The Mets have traded Ryan Church to the Braves for OF Jeff Francoeur. — Update, 6:47 pm, by Matthew Cerrone: — Omar Minaya said the Mets will receive ‘cash considerations’ in the deal from the Braves with Francoeur.
Discussion:
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David Lennon / Newsday:
Minaya's move for Francoeur a wake-up call to Mets — With the trade only a few hours old, it's impossible to know what Omar Minaya really accomplished Friday by shipping Ryan Church to Atlanta for Jeff Francoeur, who must have been hated even more by his manager and front office than Church was.
John Harper / NY Daily News:
Harper: Minaya's lateral move is only move — Omar Minaya had to find a way to sell some sort of hope to his team as well as his fan base as the Mets' season collapses around him, and that's what he has done here, trading Ryan Church to the Braves for Jeff Francoeur.
Ted Berg / SNY.tv:
An egging most baffling — Francoeur acquisition difficult to explain — About a month ago, when things really started to crumble for the Mets, I wrote this: … Egads. Maybe I jinxed it. Maybe the Mets are fundamentally jinxed. I'm here, so I haven't quit quite yet …
Discussion:
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Associated Press:
New York Mets swap Ryan Church for Atlanta Braves' struggling OF Jeff Francoeur, cash … NEW YORK — The Atlanta Braves traded Jeff Francoeur and cash to the New York Mets for Ryan Church on Friday in a swap of outfielders who had fallen out of favor with their teams. — The deal came with both NL East teams below .500.
Tom Singer / MLB.com:
Werth added to NL All-Star roster — Phillies outfielder replaces Mets' Beltran, who is injured — Phillies outfielder Jayson Werth has been added to the National League All-Star team as a replacement for the Mets' Carlos Beltran. — Werth joins the other two Philadelphia outfielders already …
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Associated Press:
All-Star Game: Philadelphia Phillies OF Jayson Werth, Texas Rangers Nelson Cruz OF named as replacements — NEW YORK — Jayson Werth's power push paid off. — As did Texas Rangers outfielder Nelson Cruz's. — Fresh from homering for the fourth straight game, Philadelphia's Werth outfielder …
Discussion:
Phillies Nation, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, Bats, umpbump.com, Yahoo! Sports and Fox Sports
Marc Carig / New Jersey Online:
Joba Chamberlain struggles as New York Yankees fall 10-6 to Los Angeles Angels … ANAHEIM, Calif. — Joba Chamberlain continued his maddening string of inefficiency, the bullpen proved equally ineffective and the defense provided little help. Considering all that conspired against the Yankees …
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Mike DiGiovanna / Los Angeles Times:
Even without heart of order, Angels don't miss a beat
Even without heart of order, Angels don't miss a beat
Discussion:
6-4-2
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Royals Acquire Yuniesky Betancourt — The Royals acquired Yuniesky Betancourt and cash from the Mariners for a pair of minor league pitchers, according to Joe Hamrahi of Baseball Daily Digest. Betancourt makes at least $10MM before his current deal expires, so it'll be interesting to see how much the Mariners are contributing.
Discussion:
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Kelly Thesier / MLB.com:
Mauer accepts invitation to Derby — Catcher has hit a career-high 15 homers this season — Twins All-Star catcher Joe Mauer has officially accepted an invitation to compete in the State Farm Home Run Derby on Monday night at Busch Stadium. — Mauer will be pitched …
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Associated Press:
Sanchez makes most of opportunity, throws no-hitter in front of father — SAN FRANCISCO — Jonathan Sanchez pitched a no-hitter and that was amazing enough. — If not for an eighth-inning bobble, he could've been perfect. — The San Francisco Giants left-hander threw the majors …
Joe Frisaro / MLB.com:
Bonifacio has fond memories — Florida (45-43) at Arizona (37-50), 8:10 p.m. ET — PHOENIX — Eight years ago, the Arizona Diamondbacks signed Emilio Bonifacio as a non-drafted free agent out of the Dominican Republic. — For the first time as a Marlin, Bonifacio is back in Arizona taking on his former team.
Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 86: Yankees at Angels (updated with Girardi pre-game audio and roster move) — YANKEES (51-34) — Pitching: RHP Joba Chamberlain (4-2, 4.04). — ANGELS (46-37) — Figgins 3B — Izturis 2B — Abreu RF — Rivera LF — Morales 1B — Napoli DH — Matthews CF — Mathis C
MLB.com:
Yankees to celebrate 63rd Old-Timer's Day - and first at Yankee Stadium - with Hall-of-Famers and first-time attendees — The New York Yankees announced today that four Hall-of-Famers and at least six rookie Old-Timers will be on hand at the 63rd annual Old-Timers' Day on Sunday, July 19 at Yankee Stadium.
Discussion:
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Canadian Press:
CECIL OUTPITCHES BERKEN AS BLUE JAYS BEAT THE ORIOLES — BALTIMORE - Brett Cecil outpitched Jason Berken in a duel between struggling rookies, and the Toronto Blue Jays beat the Baltimore Orioles 2-0 Friday night to snap a three-game skid. — Alex Rios hit two doubles and scored a run for the Blue Jays …
TSN.ca:
FELDMAN AND YOUNG LEAD RANGERS OVER M'S — The Sports Network — Seattle, WA (Sports Network) - Scott Feldman continued a nice run with 6 2/3 solid innings and Michael Young slugged a three-run homer, as Texas defeated Seattle, 6-4, in the second of four games from Safeco Field.
Discussion:
Lookout Landing
TSN.ca:
JACKSON BESTS LEE, PITCHES TIGERS PAST TRIBE — The Sports Network — Detroit, MI (Sports Network) - Edwin Jackson threw seven strong innings and Marcus Thames hit a two-run homer, as the Detroit Tigers topped the Cleveland Indians, 5-1, in the opener of a three-game series.
Discussion:
Let's Go Tribe!