Top News:
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Adam LaRoche traded to Red Sox; Pearce and Milledge coming? — The Pirates' clubhouse is abuzz with word that a trade involving first baseman Adam LaRoche is imminent, and this is the reason the lineup has taken so long to get posted this morning. — That said, LaRoche is hitting …
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Alex Speier / Full Count:
UPDATED: Red Sox acquire Adam LaRoche for two prospects — WEEI.com has confirmed that the Red Sox and Pirates are close to finalizing a deal that would send first baseman Adam LaRoche of the Pittsburgh Pirates to Boston in exchange for two minor leaguers. Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette …
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Red Sox Acquire Adam LaRoche — 2:09pm: Kovacevic says the Pirates are not sending any cash to the Red Sox. — 1:09pm: Danny Knobler of CBS Sports reports that the Pirates are sending cash to the Red Sox to contribute to the remainder of the $7.05MM LaRoche makes this year.
Sean McAdam / Boston Herald:
Sox trade Julio Lugo to Cardinals — ARLINGTON, Texas — As it turns out, Adam LaRoche isnt the only left-handed bat the Red Sox [team stats] obtained today. — The Sox confirmed this afternoon that they have acquired outfielder Chris Duncan and a player to be named later (or cash) …
Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Sox acquire Adam LaRoche — The Red Sox have acquired lefthanded-hitting first baseman Adam LaRoche from the Pittsburgh Pirates for a pair of prospects. — The trade was first reported by the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette's Dejan Kovacevic and confirmed by the Globe's Amalie Benjamin.
Jon Wiener / NY Daily News:
Red Sox trade for Pirates' Adam LaRoche, Cardinals' Chris Duncan … The Boston Red Sox traded for Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche and St. Louis Cardinals outfielder Chris Duncan on Wednesday, a sign that the Sox are more than just feeling some immediate heat from the red-hot Yankees …
Gary Dzen / Boston Globe:
Sox trade Lugo for Cardinals' Duncan — The Red Sox today officially closed the book on the Julio Lugo era, trading the shortstop who never quite fit in Boston to the St. Louis Cardinals for outfielder Chris Duncan and a player to be named later (or cash considerations). Duncan will be optioned to Triple A Pawtucket.
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:Epstein on trade, Sox going forward
Discussion:
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Sources: Tony turns Met farm into zoo … WASHINGTON - The Binghamton Mets clubhouse nearly turned into a scene out of WWE Raw recently, when VP for player development Tony Bernazard removed his shirt and challenged the Double-A players to a fight during a postgame tirade, multiples sources told the Daily News.
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Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Bernazard also in K-Rod incident — WASHINGTON — It turns out that ripping his shirt off and challenging minor-league players to fight him isn't even Tony Bernazard's most recent incident of outrageous, hot-headed conduct. — Mets All-Star closer Frankie Rodriguez confirmed this afternoon …
MLB:
Tony Bernazard, New York Mets executive, reportedly challenges minor league team to fight in clubhouse tirade — Tony Bernazard, a New York Mets executive, recently challenged one of club's minor league teams to a fight during a postgame clubhouse tirade, the New York Daily News reported, citing multiple sources with ties to the team.
Gordon Edes / Yahoo! Sports:
Lee is an attractive fallback option — Buzz up! — During the telecast of the Indians-Blue Jays game on the Indians' TV network Tuesday night, the viewer poll asked this question: Which pitcher would be traded - Cliff Lee — , Roy Halladay — , both, or neither?
Discussion:
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Jayson Stark / MLB:
Roy Halladay of Toronto Blue Jays talks expected to pick up next week, general manager says — Toronto Blue Jays general manager J.P. Ricciardi expects the Roy Halladay trade talks will come to a head early next week, he said Wednesday. — Ricciardi said the Blue Jays …
Discussion:
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John Manuel / Baseball America:
The Untouchables — Our take on which prospects are too valuable to be dealt — As the July 31 non-waiver deadline approaches, names of baseball prospects loom larger than usual. Their names pop up in reporters' notebooks, or on the crawl on ESPN as trade rumors come and go.
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Marquis' start moved back; Timlin works out again — DENVER — There will be an all-star pitching Friday at Coors Field. But it won't be Jason Marquis. — What set up as one of the best pitching matchups of the season has dissolved. Marquis will not face Giants' all-star Matt Cain Friday …
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Peter Abraham / The Journal News:
Ransom has a good night — NEW YORK - Cody Ransom didn't know until he arrived at Yankee Stadium yesterday that he would be starting at third base against the Orioles. — Manager Joe Girardi decided to use Alex Rodriguez as the designated hitter, part of the plan to lessen the load on his surgically repaired right hip.
Thomas Harding / MLB.com:
Corpas to have bone chips removed — Rockies reliever hopes to return in September — DENVER — Rockies right-handed setup man Manuel Corpas revealed Wednesday that he'll undergo arthroscopic surgery to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow. He said it's possible he could return in September.
Denver Post:
Helton joins exclusive hit club with 500th double — Todd Helton has become the 50th player to hit 500 doubles, driving one off the right-field scoreboard in the third inning of Colorado's game today against Arizona. — The Rockies first baseman received an ovation and the game was halted briefly …
Joe Posnanski / Sports Illustrated:
My Top 100 Players … Here's the idea: We're looking for the Top 100 players in baseball RIGHT NOW. We're not talking about the best in two years. We're not talking about building a team to win over the next 10 years. There are no Stephen Strasburgs here, no Matt Wieters and, frankly, no B.J. Uptons, either.
Chris Jaffe / Hardball Times:
Most Recent 10-game winning streaks for all 30 teams — Earlier today, Philadelphia's 10-game winning streak came to an end. In their honor, here is a list of the most recent ten-game winning streaks for all 30 teams. Included is the day they won #10 (which is also how they're ranked …
