MIDDAY TRADE CONFIDENTIAL, JULY 28  —  News, notes and rumors from around the league:  —In the late afternoon on Monday, the Rangers were convinced they were the front-runners to get Ryan Garko from the Indians.  They were surprised when he ended up going to the Giants instead.

MLB trade deadline buzz: Monday's edition  —  With the July 31 MLB non-waiver trade deadline fast approaching, FOXSports.com baseball reporters Ken Rosenthal and Jon Paul Morosi have all the latest buzz.  All times below are ET.  —  The latest on Halladay — 10:03 p.m.

WORLDS APART?  RED SOX AND MATSUZAKA STRUGGLE TO FIND MIDDLE GROUND … Though he is now in his third year in the United States, it is increasingly clear that Daisuke Matsuzaka and the Red Sox still are dealing with their differences as they approach the issue of how to keep the pitcher both healthy and effective.

Rubin: Lobbying for the truth  —  I want to get something straight.  —  Everything I wrote about Tony Bernazard - bombshell stories that appeared in the pages of the Daily News over the last week - is accurate.  —  My reporting was solid, met the journalistic standards of sourcing and beyond …

Garko traded to Giants for Class A lefty  —  First baseman Ryan Garko has been traded from the Indians to the Giants for Class A left-hander Scott Barnes.  —  Garko had been in the Tribe's lineup at designated hitter but was yanked about an hour before the first pitch against the Angels at Angel Stadium.

Astros lose pitcher's duel with Cubs in extra innings  —  Soriano delivers game-winning slam in bottom of 13th  —  CHICAGO —Alfonso Soriano drilled a majestic walk-off grand slam in the 13th inning Monday night, putting a sudden end to what had been a tight ballgame at Wrigley Field.

Nats' Win Is Worth 2 Grand  —  Willingham Hits A Pair of Slams: Nationals 14, Brewers 6  —  Before Monday — before a market correction on all his bad luck blasted a path into history — Josh Willingham was merely another middle-of-the-order outfielder who saved his best for the smallest moments.

Social Networking and Sports Summit  —  Lest there be any doubt about the power of social networking and sports, one need only look at the diversity of this compilation to see it in action.  From beat writers, columnists, those in television and radio, blogs, an MLB club, and others in sports business …

The countdown to 100 pitches  —  When pitch counts reach the century mark, the end is near ... but why?  —  ESPN The Magazine  —  Kirby Lee/Image of Sport/US Presswire  —  It's typical for a manager like Ron Gardenhire to remove a pitcher close to the 100-pitch mark.

UPDATING THE HALLADAY TALKS  —  The latest I have learned from talking to officials who are involved in the Halladay negotiations:  —After their latest round of meetings, Toronto officials are more dug in than ever that they should receive an elite package for Roy Halladay or they will simply wait until the offseason again.