Yankees Sign Heathcott For $2.2 Million  —  The Yankees have signed first-round pick Slade Heathcott for $2.2 million.  He was drafted 27th overall, and the MLB recommendation for his slot was $1,107,000.  —  A two-way star at Texas High (Texarkana, Texas), Heathcott will be an outfielder in pro ball.

Stare Down  —  Nats, Potential Ace Strasburg Enter Final Day to Show Hands  —  Peel away the excess — the tangled story lines that have turned a single pitcher into a referendum on an organization's competence and an agent's ingenuity — and Stephen Strasburg is simply a 21-year-old with a decision to make.

Reeling Red Sox in a surprise fight to make the playoffs and more … The Red Sox were rightly considered a winner on deadline day for acquiring big-time hitter Victor Martinez, who has continued to thrive since leaving Cleveland for Boston.  But now, a couple weeks later …

Coonelly: Russell will be back in 2010  —  Decisions on rest of coaching staff coming after season  —  CHICAGO — The Pirates will bring back manager John Russell for the 2010 season, team president Frank Coonelly said yesterday at Wrigley Field.  —  Coonelly did not elaborate …

Tigers get Huff from Orioles for pitching prospect … BALTIMORE (AP) — The Detroit Tigers bolstered their offense for a pennant drive by obtaining first baseman Aubrey Huff from the Baltimore Orioles for a minor leaguer.  —  The Tigers began Monday leading the Chicago White Sox by 2 1/2 games in the AL Central.

Church tells Wright not to rush back … Ryan Church, who arrives at Citi Field with the Braves tomorrow, exchanged text messages with David Wright on Saturday night.  Church's advice to his former teammate: Don't hurry back, no matter what.  —  “He's going to need to rest,” said Church …

2009 Draft signing deadline looms  —  Clubs have until tonight at midnight ET to agree with selections  —  It's going to be a busy day (and night) in the Commissioner's Office, across Major League front offices and perhaps most notably, at Boras Corp headquarters.

Cubs' Carlos Zambrano: 'I've been lazy'  —  Cubs ace says he'll get ‘serious’ about ab work to help back problems  —  Admitting “my problem is I've been lazy” about between-start workouts, Carlos Zambrano vowed to “be serious” about a prescribed routine that will strengthen his stomach muscles.

Jeff Blair  —  Put aside the world citizen stuff and Usain Bolt matters in a way that no athlete has since Muhammad Ali because he makes us uncomfortable with truth (albeit in a different way) and that's very, very good.  —  Because he's a sprinter, we wonder if he won't go all Ben Johnson …

Yankees Sign Murphy For $1.25 Million  —  The Yankees have signed J.R. Murphy, and BA's Aaron Fitt has confirmed that his bonus is $1.25 million.  That's the highest bonus in the second round this year, and more than double MLB's $477,900 guideline for his draft slot (No. 76).

Rays Break Off Talks With Top Picks  —  The Tampa Bay Rays, who have already signed several of their top picks to above-slot deals, have released a statement saying they don't expect to sign their top two picks, outfielder LeVon Washington and shortstop Kenny Diekroger.

Orioles Sign Ohlman For $995,000  —  The Orioles have signed 11th-round pick Michael Ohlman for $995,000.  With Ohlman and 22nd-rounder Cameron Coffey (who got $990,000), Baltimore has paid the two highest bonuses known after the 10th round this year.  —  A catcher from Lakewood Ranch High …

A's Sign Stassi For $1.5 Million  —  The Athletics have signed Yuba City (Calif.) High catcher Max Stassi for $1.5 million.  That breaks the fourth-round bonus record set just a few days ago by the Royals' Chris Dwyer at $1.45 million.  —  This entry was posted on Monday, August 17 …

Brewers Ink Hall For $700,000  —  The Brewers have signed Brooks Hall for $700,000.  His bonus is the third-highest in the fourth round this year and more than three times MLB's $198,000 recommended bonus for his draft slot (No. 136).  —  Hall was a two-way star at Hanna High (Anderson, S.C.) but will focus on pitching as a pro.

Jeter sets all-time shortstop hits mark  —  Veteran Yankee passes Aparicio with 2,674th knock at short  —  SEATTLE — For years, few have been as reliable as Derek Jeter has been at shortstop for the Yankees.  And now, no one has been more productive.  —  With a three-hit performance …