Top News:
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Latest trade talk on Washburn, Halladay, Lee, Martinez and others … Knowing their chances remain slim for superstar pitcher Roy Halladay and even slimmer for star pitcher Cliff Lee, the Yankees called the pitching-strong Mariners on Saturday to inquire about their status as buyer or seller.
Discussion:
bronxbanterblog.com, Yankees N More, iYankees, A Die Hard Yankees Fan and Sliding Into Home
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Geoff Baker / The Seattle Times:
Vultures are circling to pick up the veteran Mariners pieces of this ruined weekend — OK, so maybe that photo above does show a bunch of seagulls. But they might as well be vultures. This Mariners team just left its 2009 season dead and buried where the 2009 playoffs are concerned.
Ben Nicholson-Smith / MLB Rumors:
Heyman On Washburn, Halladay, Red Sox — 1:21pm: Heyman hears that Adrian Gonzalez may be Boston's top target now, especially since discussions about Victor Martinez aren't progressing. — 11:51am: Jon Heyman of SI.com has the latest on Roy Halladay and the next-best options for pitching-starved teams.
Bob Cooney / Philly.com:
Phillies Notebook: Source: Blue Jays turned down Phillies' offer for Halladay
Phillies Notebook: Source: Blue Jays turned down Phillies' offer for Halladay
Andy Martino / Philly.com:
Phillies also have an eye on Indians' Cliff Lee
Phillies also have an eye on Indians' Cliff Lee
Discussion:
Philliesflow.com
Bill Madden / NY Daily News:
Selig mulling pardon for Rose — Rickey Henderson (second from left) accepts his Cooperstown plaque with (from l.) Hall of Fame president Jeff Idelson, HOF chairperson Jane Forbes Clark and Bud Selig. — COOPERSTOWN - Thanks to the behind-the-scenes lobbying from some of the most influential Hall …
Discussion:
ESPN, Baseball Nerd, Jeff Schultz, MOUTHPIECE, Deadspin, LA Times Sports Blog, Mark My Word, Hardball, It's About The Money, The Big Lead and MLB FanHouse
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Joel Sherman / Hardball:
BERNAZARD FIRED — The Mets haved fired Tony Bernazard, the Post has learned. GM Omar Minaya will make that official this afternoon at a press conference. — Reached by phone, Bernazard did not want to comment on the situation. But a second source has now also confirmed his removal to me
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Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Mets fire Tony Bernazard, hot-headed VP for player development — Mets VP for player development Tony Bernazard has been fired, multiple sources with ties to the organization confirmed to the Daily News. The move is expected to be made official at a press conference at Citi Field this afternoon.
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Joel Sherman / Hardball:
LATEST ON HALLADAY, LEE AND V.MARTINEZ — Stuff I have heard today so far: —The Rays and Red Sox are both talking to the Indians about deals that would bring them both Cliff Lee and Victor Martinez. Tampa is willing to part with touted pitching prospect Wade Davis.
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Phil Wallace / Native Intelligence:
Dodger delusions — I am convinced that the Dodgers …
Dodger delusions — I am convinced that the Dodgers …
Discussion:
Dodger Thoughts, Memories Of Kevin Malone, The Yankee Universe and BBTF's Baseball Primer …
Joe Posnanski:
A Thought About Jim Rice — Well, Jim Rice is in the Baseball Hall of Fame ... and the world has not ended. The Hall of Fame has not crumbled to the ground or become a baseball version of Baltic Avenue. The parade of Jim Rice comps has not started its march toward Cooperstown's door.
Discussion:
Boston Dirt Dogs
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Kevin Thomas / pressherald.mainetoday.com:
Tazawa gets a promotion — The Sea Dogs leave on a road trip after learning their top starting pitcher is headed to Triple-A. — PORTLAND — The Sea Dogs knew they were not going to hold on to pitcher Junichi Tazawa much longer. — Word finally arrived Sunday. Tazawa, 23, has been promoted to Triple-A Pawtucket.
Discussion:
Over the Monster
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David Schoenfield / ESPN:
Not appearing in Rumor Central — We present the majors leaguers with the least trade value — As we all wait and maybe hope for a Roy Halladay trade, let's take a pause and generate a list of the anti-Halladays: the players no team would want to trade for.
Discussion:
Bottom9 Baseball
Adam Rubin / NY Daily News:
Redding's spot saved by injuries — HOUSTON - Tim Redding, who was on the verge of being released as the Mets started a 10-game trip to open the second half, is off the chopping block, a team insider told the Daily News. — The Mets privately had resolved to eat the remainder …
Discussion:
Mets Fans Forever
Jen Langosch / By Gosh, It's Langosch:
Pirates still scouting Tigers — Larry Corrigan, one of GM Neal Huntington's special assistants, stayed to scout the Tigers through Detroit's weekend series with the White Sox. Corrigan has been watching the Tigers every day since last Tuesday. — Detroit is mulling a couple different directions …
Discussion:
Bless You Boys, Mack Avenue Tigers, Raise the Jolly Roger, PBC Blog and Where Have You Gone …
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Greg Barr Senior / Houston Business News:
Astros tie ticket prices to runs scored — Now that the team's bats are finally swinging, the Houston Astros are linking their new-found run production to a ticket promotion to try to sell more premium seats. — For every run that the team scores during its July 27 to 30 series on the road …
Tim Marchman / Wall Street Journal:
A Computer Cracks the Cooperstown Code — Now that Rickey Henderson and Jim Rice have been inducted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame, fans the country over can return to the only thing they like as much as watching games: Arguing over who should join them in Cooperstown.
Brian Costa / New Jersey Online:
Will NY Mets' slide in standings lead to drop in attendance at Citi Field? … Two years ago, as Citi Field was steadily rising behind Shea Stadium, the notion that the Mets might have trouble selling tickets at their new ballpark was almost unfathomable. By design, there would be 15,000 fewer seats …
New York Post:
HALL INDUCTEE SAYS REYES NEEDS TO GET BACK ON FEET — COOPERSTOWN — Even dur ing Hall of Fame weekend the Mets are Team Chaos. Rickey Henderson, who was inducted into the Hall yesterday, said Jose Reyes has struggled with leg injuries this season because he has gotten away …