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, My Pinstripes, MLB Daily Dish, Texas Rangers, Rays Index, River Avenue Blues, Plain Dealer, NESN.com, WasWatching.com and MLB Rumors
RELATED:
Nick Cafardo / Boston Globe:
This sets the stage for something big — Admit it. With the Red Sox interested in acquiring a hitter, you had visions of Victor Martinez, Adrian Gonzalez, or Nick Johnson. General manager Theo Epstein probably did as well. — Adam LaRoche probably wasn't on your radar.
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.
Discussion:
MetsBlog.com, MLB.com, MLB Rumors, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, Raise the Jolly Roger and Bucs Dugout
Gary Dzen / Boston Globe:Sox trade Lugo for Cardinals' Duncan
Discussion:
Fire Brand of the …, Empyreal Environs, Hardball Times, NESN.com, Cardinals Diaspora and Red Sox Monster
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 …
RELATED:
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
RELATED:
Tom D'Angelo / Palm Beach Post:Marlins notes: Offense seeks consistency, Nolasco whiffs, Cantu sits
Discussion:
FishStripes
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) …
RELATED:
Anthony DiComo / MLB.com:
Yanks dispatch O's for sixth straight win — Four-run first inning enough for Burnett to close out sweep — NEW YORK — If the back-to-back home runs that Brian Bruney served up to Adam Jones and Nick Markakis in the ninth inning on Wednesday meant anything, it was this — the Yankees are not perfect.
Discussion:
Bombers Beat
RELATED:
Paul Daugherty / Cincinnati.com:
Doc: Waiting for Reds' plan — My Pittsburgh Pirates just traded their cleanup hitter to the Boston Red Sox, for a couple bus riders. The Pirates are good at this, the best in the business. Since last July, they've traded five everyday players, for lots of bus people known best by their mothers.
Discussion:
Full Count
RELATED:
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,” …
RELATED:
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!
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
Orioles move spring home to Sarasota — Agreement includes renovation of Ed Smith Stadium — The Orioles ended one era and began another on Wednesday, when they learned that their deal to relocate to Sarasota from Fort Lauderdale had been approved. — The Orioles had agreed on Tuesday …
Discussion:
Hardball Times
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 …
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.
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
RELATED:
John Manuel / Baseball America:The Untouchables — Our take on which prospects are too valuable to be dealt
Discussion:
DRaysBay, The Yankee Universe, iYankees, Pinstripe Alley, Bats, Yahoo! Sports and Inside the Dodgers
Canadian Press:
Jays' McGowan undergoes knee surgery — The sad saga of Toronto Blue Jays pitcher Dustin McGowan has taken another twist for the worse, with Thursday's revelation that the right-hander recently underwent knee surgery. — Already struggling to recover from shoulder surgery on his right labrum last summer …
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Jon Weisman / Dodger Thoughts:
Ramirez pledges Phi Slamma Jamma — This was Kirk Gibson without the limp, without the crust, without the stakes, without the Eck, without the 3-2 count, without the utter improbability. In other words, it wasn't Kirk Gibson. — But whoa, was it ever Manny Ramirez.
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Inge sits to alleviate pain in his knees — Veteran dealing with microtears in left patella tendon — DETROIT — Tigers third baseman Brandon Inge had Wednesday's game off to rest his aching knees, but he doesn't expect it to help much. To this point, nothing has, and he's probably …
