Dodgers enter race for Halladay; Jays freezing out Yankees, Red Sox … While the Phillies remain almost everyone's favorite to land superstar pitcher Roy Halladay, and the best-in-baseball Dodgers are now believed to be showing interest, two big-market contenders for the summer's big pitching prize …

Red Sox cut ties with Lugo  —  Club has 10 days to make move with shortstop  —  TORONTO — It appears that Julio Lugo has played his last game for the Red Sox, as the shortstop — according to a report on WEEI.com — was designated for assignment on Friday.

MLB nixes Yanks' signing after ID fraud … A top New York Yankees prospect is not who he claims to be, sources tell SI.com.  Two weeks ago, the Yankees signed a shortstop purporting to be 16-year-old Damian Arredondo from the Dominican Republic to an $850,000 bonus.

Banner Day, 2009  —  The Mets' last Banner Day was staged years ago but it was revived by The New York Times over the past week and produced some pretty clever results.  —  Close to 100 people used words and images to comment on the 2009 season, which, for the Mets, has been a succession of minor calamities.

Pirates offer extensions to Wilson, Sanchez  —  Best-friend infielders ‘excited’ after team approaches them jointly  —  The Pirates have approached shortstop Jack Wilson and second baseman Freddy Sanchez about multiyear contract extensions, putting on hold, for now, the possibility that either …

Rockies sign Herges to minor league deal  —  DENVER — The Rockies are going back to their past for potential help in the future.  They signed reliever Matt Herges to a minor-league deal, agent Danny Horwits told the The Denver Post tonight.  —  The 39-year-old will report to Triple-A Colorado Springs.

San Diego Padres ace Jake Peavy has protective boot removed from ankle  —  SAN DIEGO — San Diego Padres right-handed pitcher Jake Peavy had his right ankle removed from a protective boot Thursday and will begin a rehabilitation program.  —  Peavy  —  Peavy, who has been on the 15 …

Astros ruin Manny Ramirez's homecoming  —  Five pitchers combine for a shutout.  Randy Wolf's good outing is wasted.  —  The fans at Dodger Stadium rose and roared as the left fielder stepped into the batter's box.  —  The left fielder was Juan Pierre.  —  That Manny Ramirez didn't receive …

Dickerson battling back spasms  —  Cincinnati (42-46) vs. Milwaukee (46-43), 7:10 p.m. ET  —  CINCINNATI — Reds manager Dusty Baker had expected outfielder Chris Dickerson to be past his back spasms and ready to play to the point that he had him in Thursday's starting lineup leading off and playing right field.

Braves aren't shopping Escobar  —  Yunel Escobar returned to the Braves lineup on Thursday night and as long as he remains healthy, it appears he'll stay there throughout the remainder of the season and likely beyond.  —  While Escobar doesn't necessarily into the same untouchable category inhabited …

Phils' Ibanez homers twice as Moyer masters Marlins again  —  MIAMI (AP) — The mismatches between Jamie Moyer and the Florida Marlins are becoming more one-sided.  —  Moyer allowed one hit in seven innings to continue his domination of Florida, Ryan Howard hit his 200th homer to sustain …

BOSS OPTIMISTIC ABOUT GETTING 7TH RING  —  The Boss wants a seventh World Series ring.  —  In other years, George Steinbrenner wouldn't have been pleased being three games behind the Red Sox at the All-Star break and winless in eight games against the Yankees' blood rivals.

Fastest to 200, How high will Ryan Howard go?  —  As you've heard, Ryan Howard bashed his 200th career home run in last night's win over the Marlins.  He was also the fastest player in major league baseball to hit that many home runs.  At 29 though, he is too far into his career arc …

Matt Kemp: Likes His ESPYs Drunk, Dates Topless  —  More than one source tells me today that Matt Kemp of the Dodgers was an absolute trainwreck at the ESPYs last night.  —  Despite appearing upright on the red carpet for an interview with KSPN-AM's Mason & Ireland before the festivities …