Sources: Mariners nixed three-way Felix Hernandez trade sending Padres slugger Adrian Gonzalez to Seattle  —  Lots of stuff has been leaking out in recent days about discussions between the Mariners and Boston Red Sox about a potential Felix Hernandez trade.

Edinson Volquez, Cincinnati Reds pitcher, has Tommy John surgery  —  CINCINNATI — Reds right-hander Edinson Volquez is expected to miss the rest of this season and the first half of next year, too, after having reconstructive elbow surgery Monday, another major setback for fading Cincinnati.

Thomas, Tigers beat O's with ninth-inning homer  —  DETROIT (AP) — For 15 minutes Monday, the Baltimore Orioles made Justin Verlander (FSY) look like one of baseball's worst pitchers.  —  It didn't last.  —  The Detroit ace allowed five runs before getting his second out …

Houston Astros' Roy Oswalt still hurting, will miss next start  —  HOUSTON — Astros ace Roy Oswalt will skip his next scheduled start because he still felt pain in his lower back after a bullpen session Monday.  —  Forced to leave his previous outing because of an irritated disk …

Cubs win, lead Cards by percentage point in NL Central  —  CINCINNATI (AP) — If not for a rookie pitcher, the Chicago Cubs wouldn't be where they are today: First place by a percentage point.  —  Rookie right-hander Randy Wells (FSY) took a shutout into the eighth inning Monday night …

Waiver-wire trade bait, deadline winners and losers and more notes … Several baseball executives are calling this the “softest deadline ever” because they anticipate many more players than ever going unclaimed on waivers and thus remaining eligible to be dealt.

Waiver-wire trade bait, deadline winners and losers and more (cont.)  —  Around the majors  —  • The Phillies' deal for Lee more than anything is what killed the chances for a Halladay trade.  That was the best match for the Jays.  Once that happened, it now appears that the chances for a deal decreased dramatically.

Nats to remain active past Deadline  —  Interim GM Rizzo: ‘We know the targets we have to fill’  —  PITTSBURGH — PITTSBURGH — Before the Trade Deadline passed on Friday, the Nationals were able to acquire center fielder Nyjer Morgan and left-hander Sean Burnett from the Pirates …

Tim Wakefield still hurting  —  2nd cortisone shot for pain a possibility  —  + Recent Articles + Recent Blog Entries + Email + Bio  —  BALTIMORE - Knuckleballer Tim Wakefield [stats] is considering a second cortisone shot to deal with a sciatic problem that has spread to his left calf and delayed his return to the rotation.

Bard untouchable for Red Sox  —  Righty has allowed four hits over past 13 innings with 23 K's  —  BALTIMORE — Untouchable.  —  That word sums up Daniel Bard in a couple of different ways.  For that is essentially what the Red Sox made him when teams came calling prior to the July 31 Trade Deadline.

3 UP: PELFREY, RED SOX PITCHING, WHO TO ROOT FOR  —  Yes, I am on Twitter.  —  1. My column in today's Post is about how important Mike Pelfrey is to the Mets' future.  Right now you have to imagine the Mets' rotation is not going to change all that much between now and the start of next season.

Morales homers twice as Angels sweep three-game series with Twins  —  MINNEAPOLIS — Take away Torii Hunter and Vladimir Guerrero, and the Los Angeles Angels still have one potent offense.  —  Kendry Morales hit two three-run homers to finish with a career-high six RBIs and the Angels beat …

Kemp's five RBIs power Dodgers to win  —  Slugger hits three-run homer; Billingsley gets 11th victory  —  ATLANTA — It was Manny Ramirez that brought out the ESPN cameras Sunday night, and almost as an afterthought, the nation got a look at the rest of the best team in baseball.