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.
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. The Globe's Amalie Benjamin has confirmed that the Sox …
Discussion:
Full Count, NESN.com, Sox vs. Stripes, Around the Majors and The Mighty Quinn Media Machine
Adam Kilgore / Boston Globe:
Epstein on trade — Quick hits from Theo Epstein's conference call about Adam LaRoche: —The Red Sox had “been in a market for a player who can do some damage against righthanded pitching and can help our team's depth in the corner infield” Epstein said.
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.
Discussion:
Associated Press, Yahoo! Sports, MetsBlog.com, New York Mets Fan Blog, Mets Merized Online, SPORTSbyBROOKS, Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog, Amazin' Avenue, Fox Sports, The Daily Stache, MLB Daily Dish, The LoHud Yankees Blog, New Jersey Online, Deadspin, NESN.com, Mostly Mets, Can't Stop The Bleeding and The 'Ropolitans
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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 …
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, Seven Train to Shea Mets Blog, The 'Ropolitans and The Real Dirty Mets Blog
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:
MLB Rumors, Memories Of Kevin Malone, Red Reporter, MetsBlog.com, MASNsports.com, Inside the Dodgers and Sports Illustrated
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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:
Trade Talk, Bats, MLB Babble, Associated Press, MLB Rumors, The Zo Zone, MLB Daily Dish, Baltimore Sun and New York Times
John Manuel / Baseball America:
The Untouchables — Our take on which prospects are too valuable to be dealt
The Untouchables — Our take on which prospects are too valuable to be dealt
Discussion:
Mack's Mets
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) …
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Reid Laymance / Cardinal Beat:
Duncan on way to Boston for Lugo — The Cardinals traded Chris Duncan to Boston for shortstop Julio Lugo this afternoon. — “We felt that Julio could help our club by improving our middle infield depth,” said Cardinals' Vice President/General Manager John Mozeliak.
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 …
Discussion:
NESN.com
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Sportsnet.ca:
Deadline date for Doc deal — TORONTO — J.P. Ricciardi set a loose deadline of next Tuesday for completing a Roy Halladay trade, sending potential suitors a clear message that if they want the ace right-hander they had better ante up soon to get him. — The Toronto Blue Jays general manager …
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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.
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 …
Denver Post:
Rockies' 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 …
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.
Joe Sheehan / Baseball Prospectus:
AL West Quandaries — Making the decision whether to buy or sell isn't just about your team's record in the second half of July. You have to take into account the overall direction of the organization, the level of competition, your team's ability to add what it needs …