Top News:
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.
Discussion:
Baseball Analysts, Sox vs. Stripes, Can't Stop The Bleeding, Hardball Times and Surviving Grady
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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, Rays Index, Texas Rangers, My Pinstripes, River Avenue Blues, NESN.com, Plain Dealer, MLB Rumors and WasWatching.com
Dejan Kovacevic / PBC Blog:Morning links: Best deal available?
Discussion:
MLB.com, MetsBlog.com, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, MLB Rumors, 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, Yahoo! Sports, Red Sox Monster and Cardinals Diaspora
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.
Discussion:
New York Mets Fan Blog, MetsBlog.com, New Jersey Online, USA Today, It's About The Money, The Futility Infielder, Amazin' Stories, Bats and MLB
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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.
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 …
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:
MOUTHPIECE, SPORTSbyBROOKS, ESPN, Deadspin, Midwest Sports Fans, Jorge Says No! and Bats
Buster Olney / MLB:
MLB trade: St. Louis Cardinaks, Oakland Athletics talking Matt Holliday trade — The St. Louis Cardinals and Oakland Athletics have been talking about a possible swap of All-Star outfielder Matt Holliday and top prospect Brett Wallace, according to sources, and one person familiar with the talks places the odds of a deal at 50-50.
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
Discussion:
FishStripes
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
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Maury Brown / The Biz of Baseball:
10 Marketing Issues for Major League Baseball — Leave the television on long enough, and at some point, you'll see a star athlete plugging products. Whether it's Dwayne Wade, Tiger Woods, the Williams sisters, Danica Patrick, or Brett Favre, you'll bump into them on the dial.
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Scott Merkin / MLB.com:
Anderson seeks trade, everyday opportunity — Outfielder looking for change of scenery to prove himself — CHICAGO — Brian Anderson wants to be traded. — Almost immediately after reading this sentence, one can imagine the collective rolling of the eyes or snickers coming from the general White Sox fan base.
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:
O'Sullivan goes back to Salt Lake — KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) — The Los Angeles Angels have optioned right-hander Sean O'Sullivan to Triple-A Salt Lake and called up outfielder Terry Evans. — O'Sullivan was recalled from the minors to pitch Monday against Kansas City, but had that start pushed back by rain.
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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.
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 …
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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