Top News:
Fox Sports:
MLB buzz: News and notes from the trade market — Here is the latest on the trade front based on what major-league sources are telling FOXSports.com's Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi: — The Red Sox's trade for first baseman Adam LaRoche should eliminate any chance of them trading for Indians catcher Victor Martinez.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, MLB Daily Dish, NESN.com, Texas Rangers, River Avenue Blues, Rays Index, Plain Dealer, WasWatching.com and MLB Rumors
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Roger Rubin / NY Daily News:
Red Sox trade for Pirates' Adam LaRoche, Cardinals' Chris Duncan … On Tuesday, the Yankees supplanted the Red Sox at the top of the AL East for the first time since June 5. Yesterday, Boston got busy. The Sox made a pair of deals, the bigger of the two for Pittsburgh first baseman Adam LaRoche.
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.
Discussion:
Fire Brand of the …, Empyreal Environs, Hardball Times, NESN.com, Cardinals Diaspora and Red Sox Monster
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:
Morning links: Best deal available? — ESPN's Peter Gammons last night reported that, according to his sources, the Pirates had in place a better offer for Adam LaRoche with another team, one that would bring a better package of prospects, but they chose to go with Boston because the Red Sox were willing to take on his full salary.
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:Adam LaRoche traded to Red Sox; Pearce and Milledge coming?
Discussion:
Baseball Analysts, MLB Rumors, Baseball America, sox1fan.com, Boston Globe, Pittsburgh Lumber Co., Raise the Jolly Roger, Bugs & Cranks, The Fowl Balls, WEEI, Center Field, Bucs Dugout, ESPN, Red Sox Monster, SOX & Dawgs, Yahoo! Sports, The Joy of Sox, Talking Chop, MetsBlog.com, Hardball Times, The Mighty Quinn Media Machine, BBTF's Baseball Primer …, Where Have You Gone … and YFSF
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 …
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Bart Hubbuch / Mets Blog:
Minaya: Mets buyers, not sellers — WASHINGTON — Omar Minaya veered off into fantasy land here today. — Incredibly, the Mets' GM said he doesn't expect to be a seller before the July 31 non-waivers trade deadline because he still thinks his sub-.500 team has a chance at the NL wild card.
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Madden: Minaya should investigate how fast he can fire Tony — I'm going to make this easy for Omar Minaya, who more and more is coming off looking oblivious to the punk that is his VP of player development, Tony Bernazard. — There's no need for any investigation here. Fire the guy and fire him now.
Juan C. Rodriguez / Sun-Sentinel:
Marlins lineup erratic, especially at top — SAN DIEGO - Until Chris Coghlan's two-run homer in the ninth inning Wednesday it appeared the Marlins were headed for their third consecutive game of scoring three runs. This after getting shut out in two of three against the Phillies last weekend.
Discussion:
FishStripes
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Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:
Marlins notes: Offense seeks consistency, Nolasco whiffs, Cantu sits — SAN DIEGO — This is what the Marlins envisioned: a team built on pitching, improved defense and timely hitting. — Still, if the team is to climb back into the National League East race and make a run at the playoffs …
Discussion:
FishStripes
Bill Plunkett / Orange County Register:
Aybar reaching his potential — The switch-hitter is now the hottest hitter in baseball this month. — Recommend — KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Erick Aybar is beginning to look like a shortstop whose time has come. — “That's the talent, the ceiling that everybody saw,” …
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Chicago Sun Times:
Former Sox pitcher Jim Parque confesses: Why I juiced — Former Sox pitcher Jim Parque says he's sorry he juiced, but he wants to ask you one question: What would you have done? — I'm Jim Parque, former major-league pitcher, and I took human growth hormone.
Discussion:
Jorge Says No!
Brian McTaggart / MLB.com:
Two runs in ninth have Astros one game out — Tejada's walk-off hit caps sweep of first-place Cardinals — HOUSTON — When the Astros went into the ninth inning Wednesday night trailing by a run and facing a closer who had blown only one save all season, they still had a belief …
Mike Axisa / River Avenue Blues:
Jews for Jesus (Montero) — That gem of a sign comes from reader Dave Soberman, who was raising hell with his buddies at Saturday's Double-A Trenton game. Here's the email he sent us, which tells the story. Here's a few more pics: Dave with the sign, the sign at field level, the sign with Bolt …
Discussion:
The Yankee Universe
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Bob Dutton / Kansas City Star:
Moore has no doubt that Royals are on the right track for long-term success — General manager Dayton Moore surveys the growing wreckage of a season gone wrong and remains undaunted in his belief — in his certainty — the Royals are poised for eventual long-term success as an organization.
Associated Press:
Mariners 2, Tigers 1 — DETROIT (AP) — Russell Branyan hit a two-out, two-run homer in the eighth inning to give Felix Hernandez and the Seattle Mariners a 2-1 victory over the Detroit Tigers on Wednesday night. — Branyan drove a 1- pitch from Bobby Seay (1-2) into the stands in right-center …
Mark Bowman / Bowman's Blog:
Johnson activated and Conrad optioned to Gwinnett — Kelly Johnson regained his swing with Triple-A Gwinnett and he returned to Turner Field on Thursday morning wearing the smile that had been absent at the beginning of this month. — The Braves have activated Johnson from the 15 …
