Top News:
Jim Callis / Baseball America:
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.
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WasWatching.com, Hardball Times, River Avenue Blues, Zell's Pinstripe Blog, MLB Rumors, Pinstripe Alley, NESN.com and New York Post
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Bryan Hoch / MLB.com:
Yankees sign first two Draft picks — Outfielder Heathcott, catcher Murphy reportedly agree to terms — SAN FRANCISCO — The Yankees have secured their first-round selection in the First-Year Player Draft, agreeing to terms on Monday with outfielder Slade Heathcott.
Jason Beck / MLB.com:
Tigers acquire infielder Huff from O's — Veteran brings left-hand bat to lineup and versatility in the field — DETROIT — Finally, the Tigers found help at the plate on the trade market. In turn, Aubrey Huff found arguably his best chance to finally get to the postseason.
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Billfer / The Detroit Tiger Weblog:
Tigers acquire Aubrey Huff — The Tigers have acquired Aubrey Huff from the Orioles for Brett Jacobson. Joel Zumaya has been moved to the 60 day DL. “Huff is a quality major league hitter, who adds a lefthanded bat to our lineup and brings versatility to our club with his ability …
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
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 …
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Chad Finn / Boston Globe:
Smoltz released — John Smoltz's brief and disappointing stay with the Red Sox has come to its official end. — The Red Sox have confirmed this afternoon that, as expected, they have released the 42-year-old righthander, who won just two of eight starts with the Sox while posting an 8.33 ERA.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
Carroll Rogers / Atlanta Journal-Constitution:
Braves not interested in Smoltz — The Boston Red Sox severed ties with John Smoltz on Monday, announcing they were releasing the former Brave, which made him available to other teams at a pro-rated major league minimum salary. The Braves are not among the teams interested in signing him though …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
Chris Hine / New York Times:
Hernandez Continues to Struggle; So Do Mets — Manager Jerry Manuel had considered dropping Livan Hernandez from the rotation after watching him struggle in his recent starts. Manuel kept him in the rotation because, he said, Hernandez had shown an ability to bounce back after such a run.
Discussion:
Yahoo! Sports
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Kristie Ackert / NY Daily News:Wright feels fine, just ‘embarrassed’ to land on DL
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NESN.com
Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:
Nats' offer to Strasburg about $12.5M … The Nationals' offer to No. 1 pick Stephen Strasburg, the right-handed phenom from San Diego State who's become the most anticipated amateur ever, was for about $12.5 million, sources said. — Nationals president Stan Kasten said over the weekend …
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Jon Heyman / Sports Illustrated:Red Sox in a surprise fight to make the playoffs and more (cont.)
Discussion:
Hardball Times
Nathan Rode / Baseball America:
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.
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Jim Callis / Baseball America:
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 …
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John Manuel / Baseball America:
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 …
Discussion:
MLB Rumors
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Peter Abraham / The LoHud Yankees Blog:
Game 119: Yankees at Athletics (with draft signing updates) — YANKEES (74-44) — Pitching: RHP AJ Burnett (10-5, 3.71). — ATHLETICS (52-65) — Kennedy 3B — Davis CF — Suzuki C — Hairston LF — Sweeney RF — Ellis 2B — Cust DH — Crosby 1B — Pennington SS
Dejan Kovacevic / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette:
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 …
Spencer Fordin / MLB.com:
O's rally but come undone in 13th frame — Bullpen allows nine runs in fateful extra inning vs. Halos — BALTIMORE — They bent and then they broke. The Orioles played from behind for most of Sunday's game and tied things up in the ninth inning, only to see the Angels pull away in extras.
Troy Renck / All Things Rockies:
Talks ongoing with Matzek as deadline nears — WASHINGTON D.C. — Tyler Matzek didn't attend classes at Oregon today, the latest indication that he's interested in signing with the Rockies. As the day has progressed, the scales began to tip slightly toward the Rockies signing the prized left-hander.
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Behind The Ducks Beat
