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.

Red Sox in a surprise fight to make the playoffs and more (cont.)  —  The struggle to sign Strasburg  —  Nationals president Stan Kasten's acknowledgement over the weekend that Washington may not sign ballyhooed No. 1 draft choice Stephen Strasburg should be taken seriously.  This is not a baseless threat.

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.

Phillies Nab Colvin for $900,000  —  Baseball America has confirmed that Louisiana State signee Brody Colvin has spurned the defending national champions to sign with the Phillies, who drafted him in the seventh round.  Colvin signed for $900,000, the second-highest bonus in the seventh round …

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.

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.

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).

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 …

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.

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 …

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 …